For my penultimate LEGO® Friends set review, I’m taking a look at the second largest of the new sets. It’s also quite an important location in Heartlake City as the school is where the new group of LEGO Friends meet. The Heartlake International School is also the focus of the feature-length first episode of the LEGO Friends The Next Chapter animated series. The school brings together students from across Heartlake City and beyond, hence the international moniker. It’s not the first time a school has been the subject of a Friends set, but it’s certainly the most unique, offering a modular-type build. So here’s a closer look at what the Heartlake International School has to offer.
Product Details
Set Name: Heartlake International School | Set Number: 41731 | Pieces: 985 | Theme: LEGO Friends
RRP: £89.99/$99.99/99.99€ | Number of Bags: Bags x 7 (plastic) + Loose Elements | Instructions: Paper + Builder App | Mini-dolls: 5 | Stickers: Sheets x 2
Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & General Retail
As one of the larger of the new LEGO Friends sets, there are a number of ways you can choose to build it. Firstly, the build is split across three paper instruction booklets. With each one focused on a different section of the school. You can also use the LEGO Builder app, where you’ll find 3D instructions for the set, allowing you to zoom in and rotate the model as you build. It’s also one of just a handful of LEGO sets which can be built using the ‘Build Together’ function of the LEGO Builder app. This splits the building of the set up into unique sections which can be built by up to 4 people.
As mentioned above, this isn’t the first time a school has been the subject of a LEGO Friends set. Previous sets have focused on an art school, space school and theatre school along with a generic school. The International School is a far more modern take on a place of learning. It’s the second-largest school in terms of parts, to the Andrea’s Theatre School, but feels like a much bigger set due to the nature of its layout.
It’s essentially a series of 8×16 sections, which are then connected together to create the overall building. Obviously, due to how some of these sections are built, their shapes offer a few differences but overall, most of the main sections of the schools are built on an 8×16 plate. In addition to these base sections, the set also features a smaller area used as a bathroom and a corner part of the building, along with a small basketball court and an outdoor staircase. All the sections are connected together using a pair of Technic pins.
There are some interesting features found on the exterior of the school building. These include a colourful food service hatch, along with an equally colourful rainbow staircase. The main entrance is bordered by transparent pink columns and topped with another excellent 3D sign. This one is an open book and combines elements and stickers to create a cool-looking sign. I also like how some of the windows are mounted in a way to have them protruding out of the building.
But the set really excels when you head ‘inside’. Like many LEGO sets of this style, it features an open back area, which allows easy access to the interior detail. There are six enclosed areas of the school along with a sort of outdoor, rooftop garden. Obviously, with the set being a school, most of these sections are classrooms. These include an AV room, which features some really annoying chairs. These easy become detached and the ‘Weetabix’ rests look a little odd. Above this is an art room, with various pieces of art created by some of the Friends characters. All are created with stickers.
The next section features, the school’s entrance area and a very, very small section of lockers, which use the newly introduced cupboard element. This is only the second set to feature this new element in orange. Above that section, is the best part of the entire set – a science room. This is no bigger than other sections but it has some of the best details. Many of these are fairly simple but add so much to the area. Although it does seem safety standards are a little lacklustre here, with an unattended bunsen burner bubbling up some unknown liquid. A beaker of another unknown liquid, spilt over the floor and a loose hamster for good measure. The classroom also features a skeleton, which uses the minifigure-style design, which seems a little odd next to the Friends mini-dolls.
The other sections include a smaller room which acts as the corner anchor for the other sections of the school to connect to. Because of this, there is a section of the roof, which does feel as if it should have had something built on it. Although it is hidden away, it’s quite visible when heading in the back area of the school. The other room section is a kitchen area, which connects to the open hatch mentioned above. The area on top of the kitchen is partly a bit of the building but is mostly an outdoor seating area. This can be accessed via the colourful stairs.
Despite the set being inspired by a location where the new LEGO Friends characters meet, only three of the main characters are included in the set. Only one of those main characters is unique to this set, with Aliya featuring a unique outfit. She’s joined by two additional characters, who are both unique to this set. I would have liked a couple more characters to have been included in the set, maybe more than one teacher. Especially, as teachers feature quite a lot in the animated special.
Overall
I love how colourful the set is, it gives it a modern, fun feel. Some of the other Friends schools have been a little more traditional in appearance. But this one seems to fit the new direction of the theme. I also like the modular nature of the set, it lets you configure the building it’s different ways, offering a different sort of play experience. But the best feature of the set has to be all the tiny details, especially in the classrooms. This makes great use of elements to create fun little features. Although the minifigure skeleton is a little freaky next to the set’s mini-dolls. Speaking of which, I definitely think the set needed more teachers.
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This set was provided BricksFanz and provided by the LEGO Group for review purposes. The thoughts within this review are that of BricksFanz and do not reflect those of the LEGO Group. Providing a set for free does not guarantee a favourable opinion of the set.
