I still remember the excitement (both among my siblings and in the community!) when LEGO’s Collectable Minifigure Series (CMF) first came out 2010—but even now, twelve years and almost 40 series later, there’s still tons of potential and unexplored possibilities.

Today I had the opportunity of chatting with Robert8, one of the first and best fan artists at straightforward, brilliant, and thorough minifigure concept art, and definitely a legend when it comes to custom Collectable Minifigure series. Scroll on down to find out why!

Isaiah: Thanks for chatting with BrickNerd about your custom CMF concepts!

Roberto: Hi everyone. My name is Roberto, but I call myself Robert8.

Isaiah: What inspired you to start making your own minifigure series in the first place? What was it about the CMF series that inspired you beyond other sets and themes?

Roberto: Back in the day, lots of people used to post their wishlist for the next regular CMF series, and so did I. It was around late 2015-early 2016 that I decided to draw them instead of just posting the list of names. At first, I was only doing it for myself, like a hobby. But then I wondered what would people think of them and I just went ahead and posted them. And I'm glad I did because I got lots of positive feedback which encouraged me to keep going. Around that time I had a wishlist of +500 characters. I couldn't just post random characters here and there, so I went with the idea of making waves of 16 minifigures as LEGO would do. I made the first one and named it SERIES ALPHA, but a short time later I changed it to SERIES A.

Isaiah: Has it gotten easier as you go along? Harder? Do you ever run low on ideas, or are there just more always coming and coming?

Roberto: Easier. A lot easier actually. At the beginning, I had to draw everything from zero, but as time went by, I not only became faster at drawing but also I've gathered a pretty decent library of accessories and pieces. So, now I only have to copy/paste them from a different file instead of drawing them. Even after creating 30 series, I'll still have a wishlist of around 100 characters left as I ran out of spots to include them. So, as you can see, there was never a shortage of ideas.

Isaiah: Your drawings/concept art are so beautiful, real, and LEGO-like. How did you start, and how did you arrive at where you started your CMF series?

Roberto: Thanks for the compliments. Back in the day, I don't remember a lot of people doing this. Ashnflash started shortly after me and then it blew up from there. Nowadays there are countless Instagram accounts that post CMF drafts. At this point, I'm left behind because I refused to change my style even though some people have offered to teach me how to render my characters to make them look like real 3D pieces with a more realistic effect. I preferred to end with the same style I started so all my characters would look the same.

Isaiah: What was the initial motivation for your series? There are so many minifigures that many LEGO fans would want!

Roberto: One of the reasons I started posting them was LEGO shifting to licensed series with The Simpsons and such. I just wanted to show how many ideas were left for regular series.

Isaiah: You’ve also designed just over 500 new parts (some of which have since become or very nearly exactly become new LEGO elements, like the turtle, violin, lute, and so on! I only wish all of your element ideas had become a reality!) Can you tell us a little about the thought and design processes that go into those?

Roberto: That's an interesting question. I honestly try to imagine how the piece would look as an actual LEGO piece. Some pieces are easier because they are really close to the real thing, like the crook the Series F Egyptian Empress is holding. Or even the lute the Minstrel had in the same series.

Isaiah: Some certainly seem easier than others…

Roberto: There are some really tricky ones.... things like feathers or such are always hard to reproduce as a solid piece. So I try to look on the internet for references, like maybe a statue or a fridge magnet depicting the same object I'm trying to draw. That’s how I drew the Shar-Pei dog mold from Series S: I found a picture of a Shar-Pei dog figurine and traced over it. Then I LEGO-fied it. It took me several hours to make it look right (at least in my eyes)

Isaiah: Which is your favorite of all those?

Roberto: Pieces or minifigures? My favorite original piece might be the hunchback torso from the Series S Bell Ringer. But also the belly I made for the Series Q Expecting Mom. Those two are great pieces I think LEGO could actually produce at some point. My favorite hairpiece might be the Series R Centaur. Accessory-wise I'd say the Series J Cerberus that came with the Underworld King

Isaiah: There are a few of your minifigs that have almost exactly come out in the official LEGO CMF series (like the giraffe suit guy, piñata boy, minstrel, and so on). What is your take on that?

Roberto: I’m sure it’s a coincidence 100%. LEGO is the biggest toymaker in the world. I really doubt they would waste their time looking at my doodles. It's just fanart. And also none of them really looked like my own, except the Giraffe costume, but that's how giraffes look, so it’s only natural they look alike.

Isaiah: It’s incredibly hard to have a single favorite out of so many amazing minifigures, but if you could have one of the minifigs you’ve designed turned into an official LEGO minifigure you could hold it in your hand, which would it be and why?

Roberto: About having a favorite minifigure: I honestly can’t. There are several I really love and I'm proud of. It's really hard to bring myself to pick one. Hmmmmmmmmmmmm.............. I guess I'll go with the Series Ñ Valkyrie.

Isaiah: Why is F your favorite of your CMF series so far? Which is your favorite official LEGO CMF and CMF series?

Roberto: I think Series F has everything a real CMF series needs to have: colorful interesting characters, unique collectible designs, things LEGO hasn’t made before like a 40s-style black and white cartoon (although they eventually made the Disney ones but this was before). There is not a single minifigure I'd call a filler in that series. It’s pretty similar to Series 6 in that regard. That's why Series 6 is my favorite of the real CMFs. It's the quintessential CMF series.

Isaiah: You're almost finished with all the letters of the alphabet with your CMF series! What comes next? Any plans?

Roberto: Nothing… :/ Series Z is the end. I don't really see myself making more of these. But never say never: I might try my hand with some licensed series here and there but I really doubt it.

Isaiah: How can we get you into the LEGO CMF design team?!

Roberto: There is no way. I'm not a professional graphic designer and I really doubt they'd hire an amateur. Also, there are lots of people who are a lot better than me and actually have a degree in graphic design. I have a couple of names I'd really like to see getting a job there. I'm sure they'd be great at it, and I'd be the first one to buy whatever they come up with!

Isaiah: Well, thanks for sharing a bit about your amazing drawings and minifigure series. I’m honestly blown away every time I start scrolling through your work! It’s so hard to stop scrolling, haha!

Roberto: Thanks for the interview. I wish I had more interesting things to say, but it just happens that I'm pretty dull. :D

Isaiah: Not at all, thanks for your time! I’m really excited to get the chance to share your minifigures with our readers! Looking forward to your final series!

And speaking of the final series, Roberto was kind enough to share an exclusive preview of his upcoming and last CMF series with us: the Cecelia!

Follow Robert8 on Flickr and check out the dedicated thread on Eurobricks to check out all the previous custom series and catch the new one when it comes out in May!

Which is your favorite of Robert8’s CMF Series and minifigures? How were you inspired by the official Collectable Minifigure Series? And what would you want for a custom minifig? Share your thoughts in the comment section below.

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