A llama wearing sunglasses and colorful clothing that shakes green maracas to the rhythm of the music. A mermaid with white hair and pink streaks who sings while playing the guitar and waving her tail. An alien DJ whose first contact with Earth was a couple of years ago who performs anti-gravity dances with fluorescent rods in his hands. These are some Lego characters that, while in the physical world they remain immobile, in the digital world they come to life thanks to an augmented reality app and dance, sing and eat the stage.

EL PAÍS has tested Lego Vidiyo, a game developed by the Lego group and Universal Music Group (UMG) that will be available from March 1. The objective is that children from seven to 10 years old can first assemble their toys with the mythical Lego pieces of different sizes and colors and then direct, produce and share music videos performed by figures from the Danish company.

The first step in recording a video clip is to choose the members of the band. Among the main musicians, in addition to those already mentioned, there is also a punk pirate with a crest, tattoos and a hook who plays the guitar; a droid with several robotic arms that break dances; and a DJ unicorn with a blue horn and pink mane who enjoys when it rains glitter. In addition to the main artists, there are more than a dozen figures that can also be part of the band. While a shark or a cowboy can do the choirs, there is also a rabbit and a fox that go everywhere with a big cassette radio, an alien that plays the keyboard or an ice cream that gives everything with the saxophone.

To bring all these characters to life, you have to download the Lego Vidiyo app and create a video clip. The first step is to choose the music. During the tests carried out by this newspaper, it has been possible to choose between about twenty songs. In addition to some classics, there are also some that are on the contemporary charts. Some of the songs available are Where are we going by Morat, Therefore I am by Billie Eilish, Believer by Imagine Dragons, Don't call me up by Mabel or Sucker by the Jonas Brothers.

Joshua Burke, vice president of strategic marketing and global partnerships at Universal Music Group, explains that the app includes music from around the world “and provides the opportunity for artists from all walks of life make their music heard by millions of children and families.” Nine out of 10 parents believe that playing with Lego bricks helps develop creativity, improves problem solving and builds confidence, according to the Danish company. In addition, according to the same company, 76% of parents and children between the ages of 5 and 12 believe that music helps them express who they are.

Once the song is chosen, you have to scan the figures of the characters that will make up the band. "Ready to move," says the app after doing so. But not only the characters are scanned. In the box, each figure is accompanied by several BeatBits. These are small flat and square figures designed to be placed in the scenarios that the user himself assembles with Lego bricks. These pieces also come in the band's main and minor artist boxes.

Special Effects

BeatBits are special effects. Some are sound, but there are also new backgrounds and costume changes. While the video clip is being recorded, you can choose between all these effects. For example, to make it rain glitter or confetti, for the characters to dress up as dinosaurs, for them to do different dance steps, for the audience to throw tomatoes at them, for bears to appear on the stage, for a sax solo to sound, or for popcorn to come out. , lights or stars on the ground.

Once the band members and BeatBits have been selected, all you have to do is point your mobile camera at a certain place. In this way it is possible to transport Lego characters to the real world. Anything goes. A room, a patio, a park or even the kitchen table can become the perfect setting. And to dance. For 60 seconds, it is possible to take creative control of the video clips, activating dance movements and audiovisual effects. The experience is quite positive and the results are original. It is advisable to practice a little to get a worthwhile video clip.

With this game, the boundaries between the virtual and the physical world are blurred. Morgan Walker, design director of the Lego group, indicates that "children do not differentiate between digital and physical play and for them everything is just a game." “This is the reality we live in now. But we know that it's really important to parents that any screen time is creative time and I think Lego Vidiyo is a truly open-ended creative experience with no winners or losers."

In addition to sharing video clips, the app allows you to design all the members of the band. For example, the user can change their clothes or hair color. It is also possible to choose the name of the band among multiple somewhat extravagant options. The group may be called Thoughtful Giants, Yellow Boys, Banana Trick, The Wonderful Toasts, or The Bed Society.

Walker is convinced that music and creative play are important in children's development. For this reason, he assures that Lego is always looking for "new ways to feed the imagination." “Lego Vidiyo opens a new creative canvas for children to express themselves with bricks, sound and vision,” he says. The limits of the creations are in the imagination of each user.

Share video clips

As if it were a social network, you can share up to 20 seconds of your creations in the app and view those of other users. For example, it is possible to publish the cover of an album or any video clip. The application has a tab called "social" that is quite reminiscent of TikTok and has three sections. In "for you" appear creations that the app selects for the user. By clicking on "discover" it is possible to reach other content. Finally, a section called "activities" encourages the user to do different challenges. For example, to release their first single or to record a video clip with a specific character.

In this context, one of the points to take into account is how Lego and UMG guarantee the privacy of users. The Danish company claims to take the digital security of minors very seriously. Therefore, it indicates that all posts are made anonymously and shared content is reviewed by external moderators. In this way, it is intended to avoid, for example, identifiable people appearing in a video. In this case, the user could store the video on his device but not share it with other Internet users.

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