Bricks in Motion
We are a friendly filmmaking community devoted to the art of stop-motion animation using LEGO® and similar construction toys. Here, you can share your work, join our community of other brickfilmers, and participate in periodic animation contests!
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I recently had this idea in my head of a Lego Sitcom. Now I know sitcoms can be cliché sometimes, but what would make a good sitcom? I was thinking since I am in high school, that a sitcom in a high school environment would be cool, and also easy to write. What can I do in my writing to differ from other types of similar shows and make mine stand out?
In my opinion, Sitcoms are not for LEGO animation. Sitcoms should stay on CBS. I guess there's nothing wrong with situation comedies, but the situations are not quite as funny in LEGO if they are acting as humans. With sitcoms, people can relate to the characters on the sitcom, and that's what makes them funny. With LEGO, people can relate somewhat, but not completely, so the sitcom gets boring and stale.
I suppose what would make a good LEGO sitcom is if the LEGO minifigures somewhat acknowledged that they were LEGO bricks and that they could take their heads off, or build with giant bricks, or blow up a city and rebuild it again. That would probably be the only way that a LEGO sitcom could work.
However, if you want to make a sitcom, do your best, and I'll be sure to check it out! 
Really appreciate it man! 
I agree with Rioforce about almost everything. However, I believe that all of today's sitcoms tend to mimic the formulaic storylines of the episodes of other shows. I can't think of one sitcom that has written a creative, well-constructed, non-clichéd segment. I would suggest developing a series about a group of unusual minifigures (i.e. Woody from Toy Story or Yoda or an OYO Sports Toy figure--whatever you've got) who start to get acquainted with an ordinary-looking minifig. The sitcom can revolve around the struggling bonds the figures make with each other, and the hijinks and obstacles they face, with a good underlying message about race relations and accepting someone as who they are. I mean, that isn't something we normally see incorporated into a brickfilm. But, it's just an idea.
Chalksters 55, though I respect his opinion, I totally disagree with rioForce here. Writing a Lego SitCom is a challenge, and takes a lot of work, but it is rewarding. And if you did half as good a job as the writers of what passes for entertainment on network TV today, you WILL have characters that people will care about! I would like to direct you to a Lego sitcom that is very funny, has great characterization too. Now it's a bit comic-y in its presentation, as it's about a guy obsessed with the perfect toilet. Please watch JOE BRICKMOND. You can watch the entire series here:
http://www.youtube.com/user/CJAandPhaleneStudios
Never listen to people who say DON'T DO IT. I'm not saying it's RioForce's reasoning, but quite often people who discourage people have failed themselves and are sour about it. As the author/animator of a Brickfilm Sitcom series, I would LOVE to see more of this genre in Lego. There are so few around. And besides Joe Brickmond, of those few only the two-episode LET GO is remotely funny.
High School is a gold mine for comedic series! Think of a character like yourself as the main character, if you wish. At least use your experiences as a net to catch ideas for plots and complications. As you develop solid stories, think about your supporting cast and how each character 1) is unique and 2) has a special trait that compliments the main character.
I'd also like to guide you to a my Guide to Brickfilming. I wrote this to give back what I learned to the BiM community for all they've taught me. Chapter 4 covers writing in general and chapter 5 specifically is on writing a Lego sitcom (originally those were articles I posted to BiM by people who asked for pointers). The guide is in PDF format and can be dled here:
https://app.box.com/s/lovv0zlxhe2z10stsjsm
I hope it helps with your inspiration. And if you want to discuss any of your ideas with me, send me an email at holdingourown "at" ymail "dot" com.
Last edited by HoldingOurOwn (November 3, 2014 (11:03am))
I think sitcoms can work well in LEGO, although you'd have to create really good characters in order to make sure the series didn't get too stale. However, if you establish a good formula and think you have something great - go ahead! I'd suggest working on a pilot episode before going wild with a 20 series long extravaganza...
@Holding
I believe you put the wrong link for the second one
I think an advantage of a sitcom is you can keep the number of sets down. Once you build a locker room you will always keep that locker room. Once you've built a classroom, you'll always have that class room. Assuming you have enough bricks to not break down and rebuild all the time.
Boats Are rockable.. you are right! The link will be corrected as you read this!
TogFox, this is true. For my sitcom, I keep all sets that I intend to use again. So far, that includes just the home's living room and the school, but starting the next episode, the basement.
I'd like to know what Chalksters 55 thinks about all this.
Last edited by HoldingOurOwn (November 3, 2014 (11:04am))
A sitcom could work, but you need to make sure it's visually interesting. Two guys sitting on a couch doesn't tend to work if your animation style is slow, or blockish, or a bit static. Funny someone should bring this up, because we've been talking about soaps, sitcoms and the idea of "ordinary" TV in my TV Analysis lectures.
The best LEGO sitcoms that I can think of, which you should really go check out, are Nathan Wells' Alex and Derrick brickfilms, and Filmyguy's Tim and Fred series. Both are quite experimental and, even when they're just about morning routine or ordering something in the mail, they manage to be quite zany and a pleasure to watch. By that, I mean variance in visual content and angles. You don't necessarily need to have more than one set with two to three characters to achieve something that's fun to watch, but in my opinion it needs to look as good, if not better than, the dialogue sounds.
A sitcom could work, but you need to make sure it's visually interesting. Two guys sitting on a couch doesn't tend to work if your animation style is slow, or blockish, or a bit static. Funny someone should bring this up, because we've been talking about soaps, sitcoms and the idea of "ordinary" TV in my TV Analysis lectures.
The best LEGO sitcoms that I can think of, which you should really go check out, are Nathan Wells' Alex and Derrick brickfilms, and Filmyguy's Tim and Fred series. Both are quite experimental and, even when they're just about morning routine or ordering something in the mail, they manage to be quite zany and a pleasure to watch. By that, I mean variance in visual content and angles. You don't necessarily need to have more than one set with two to three characters to achieve something that's fun to watch, but in my opinion it needs to look as good, if not better than, the dialogue sounds.
This is exactly what I meant in my post. Jampot can explain things much better. I didn't mean "Don't do it", I simply meant, that if not done right, it can be kind of boring.
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