The Wonderful World of Mixels was a five-part behind-the-scenes documentary series produced by Tongal and released on the LEGO website in the leadup to season three.
It contains interviews with various people on both the LEGO and Cartoon Network sides of the partnership, and explores all aspects of the franchise; particularly the toys and cartoon.
Official Description
Welcome to the wonderful World of MIXELS! Builders at The LEGO® Group and the creative team at Cartoon Network pull back the curtain give us the inside scoop on the wonderful world of MIXELS. A fun group of wacky, colorful characters who can be broken up and mixed into other characters, each with its own unique personality and special abilities.
Episodes
Episode |
Title Card |
Release Date |
Description |
---|---|---|---|
Part 1 - The World of Mixels | 12/9/15 (website) 12/10/15 (YouTube) |
The concept of Mixels is explained in detail for unaware viewers, to lead into the other chapters. | |
Part 2 - The History of Mixels | 12/11/15 (website) 12/12/15 (YouTube) |
Cartoon Network executives visited LEGO's Concept Lab and saw prototype Mixels, at the time called Hungry Monsters. They suggested a partnership and both companies got to work, having meetings and developing the franchise together. | |
Part 3 - The Toy Design of Mixels | 12/16/15 (YouTube) 12/17/15 (website) |
LEGO designers create sketch models of new sets, have kids test them, and after that build the final versions. They are then digitally sent off to a different department, where instructions are made. | |
Part 4 - The Animation of Mixels | 12/17/15 (website) 12/19/15 (YouTube) |
The team at Cartoon Network animates the next episode. Miranda Dressler and Timothy Barnes speak about their jobs (character design and art direction, respectively). | |
Part 5 - The Voice of Mixels | 12/18/15 (website) 12/21/2015 (YouTube) |
The voiceover session of A Quest for the Lost Mixamajig is seen. Later, everyone discusses the potential of Mixels in the future, due to 2016 taking place in Mixopolis. |
Transcript
For a full transcript of "The Wonderful World of Mixels", click here. | |
People Involved
In order of appearance.
- Camilla Haahr - LEGO Marketing Manager
- Andrew Seenan - LEGO Design Manager
- Jordan Reichek - Supervising Producer, Cartoon Network
- Michael Diederich - Storyboard Artist, Cartoon Network
- Rob Sorcher - Chief Content Officer, Cartoon Network
- Anne-Marie Andersen - LEGO Building Instruction
- Miranda Dressler - Character Designer, Cartoon Network
- Tim Barnes - Art Director, Cartoon Network
Production Information
- The project came about due to a funded pitch.[1]
- The documentary was pitched from May 13 to May 20, 2015, and immediately after being accepted, was in production from May 27 to August 4, 2015.
- This implies that work on Series 7 and 8 was underway while A Quest for the Lost Mixamajig was being finished.
Trivia
- Notable sneak peeks of 2016 content:
- A designer is seen making a 3D model of LEGO Kuffs on a computer.
- Miranda is seen drawing the Series 8 medical tribe on a computer.
- Behind Andy, there is concept art of Mixopolis.
- Behind Michael, there is a drawing of Paladum on a computer and possible upcoming background Mixels on a poster.
- Storyboards from the untitled Series 7 special appear.
- In one shot of storyboards being played on a computer, there is a single sticky note that reads "2000 ONE OF THE STARS". It is possible that "One of the Stars" may be the title for the episode.
- Miranda is seen drawing Paladum on a computer.
- Designers are seen building the MCPD.
- Files of the Series 7 Mixes, Maxes and Murps appear on a computer.
- Scenes from the Mixels Main Title of season one, Changing a Light Bulb, Another Nixel, Epic Comedy Adventure, Hamlogna Conveyor Belt Madness, Mixel Moon Madness and Calling All Mixels cutscenes are used.
- A Quest for the Lost Mixamajig scenes also appear on screens in the background of some shots.
- Chapter 3 was released on YouTube before being released on the LEGO website.
Errors
- According to Chapter 2, the original Mixels concept was called Hungry Monsters, even though prototypes simply called Monsters have been found online. It is possible that "Hungry Monsters" may have been incorrectly stated from memory, or that "Monsters" was an alternative name for the pitch.
- Chapter 5 was accidentally released with Chapter 1's video. However, the file for Chapter 5 was still found in the website.[2] This was fixed the following day.
- In the compiled version, several transitions from part-to-part are slightly glitched, sometimes repeating a blip of audio from the end of the preceding video.
Memorable Quotes
- “It’s actually all about creativity, it’s all about these monsters that can basically explode together and recombine and remix into brand new characters. LEGO’s all about being creative, but this is such a correlated experience, it’s all about rebuilding, it’s all about kids creating their own stuff whilst they’re playing.”
- — Andy Seenan
- ““Well, what do you do with them?” And they said “Oh, you know, you take them and you break them apart and you mix them into other characters.” And then one of the other execs said “Well, Mixels! We should call them Mixels!” And that’s where the idea started.”
- — Jordan Reichek
Gallery
- Main article: The Wonderful World of Mixels/Gallery
Sources and References
Coconapple / Hot Lava Shower / Cookironi / Electrock / Nixels / Murp / Pothole / Mailman / Another Nixel / Changing a Light Bulb / Rockball / Wrong Colors / Nixel "Mix Over" / Bar B Cubes / Snow Half Pipe / Hamlogna Conveyor Belt Madness / Vaudeville Fun / Fang Gang Log Toss / High Five / Elevator / Epic Comedy Adventure / Murp Romp Mixels Special / Mixed Up Special Season 2 (Series 4-9)
Other Untitled unaired episode (Season 1) / Travel Guide (Season 2) / The Wonderful World of Mixels | |