# Playful Imitation Adults turn to modern toy recreations to merge play with media awareness. By [Tana Makmanee](https://www.trendhunter.com/tmak), SVP, Research Services at Trend Hunter | Published Mar 16, 2014, updated Apr 3, 2014 | Category: [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/pro/category/life-stages) Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/playful-imitation ## Key Figures - Trend score: 3.3/10 - Evidence articles: 6 ## What is the Playful Imitation trend? **Playful Imitation:** With societal demands for maturity and sophistication continuously placed upon adults, the need for more youthful, carefree activities becomes essential for those seeking a link to their childhood. Offering a playful outlet for adult consumers, pop culture recreations that utilize infamous children’s toys like LEGO allow individuals to blend youthful tendencies with the mature desire to stay culturally connected. ## At a Glance - Evidence: 6 featured examples - Articles from: Jan 16 to Mar 16, 2014 - Published: Mar 16, 2014 - Patterns: [Divergence](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/divergence), [Redirection](https://www.trendhunter.com/pattern/redirection) - Megatrends: [Tribalism](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/tribalism), [Youthfulness](https://www.trendhunter.com/megatrend/youthfulness) ## Audience - Gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial - Top markets: North America, Europe, Asia ## Themes within the Playful Imitation trend ### Reimagining Popular Culture with LEGO LEGO recreations of pop culture and media phenomena, such as famous video games and TV shows, offer a fun way for individuals to connect to their childhood alongside their mature appreciation of contemporary popular culture. ### Celebrity Selfie Recreations Recreating popular culture phenomena, like Ellen DeGeneres' famous Oscar selfie, provide a postmodern, ironic tribute to these events and their cultural value. ### Crossover Popular Culture with Playful Aesthetic The playful imitation of famous children's toys like LEGO allows individuals to merge their media awareness with their desire for youthful, carefree activities. ## What the Playful Imitation trend means for industry ### For Toy Industry Companies can capitalize on the emerging trend of LEGO recreations by creating toy models specifically for adult fans who enjoy the media they are based upon and seek a lighthearted outlet that allows them to connect with their childhood. ### For Entertainment Industry Using LEGO to create playful recreations of popular media franchises can expose consumers to a new, fun twist on the franchise and increase brand awareness, loyalty and nostalgia. ### For Art and Culture Industry Interacting and mounting exhibits that feature playful LEGO recreations of pop culture icons can inspire conversation, debate and creativity among art lovers and creators who enjoy engaging in playful, lighthearted cultural critiques. ## Trend signals for Playful Imitation Trend score 3.3 out of 10, from popularity 51%, activity 41%, freshness 8%. - Popularity: 51% - Activity: 41% - Freshness: 8% ## Examples of the Playful Imitation trend 6 featured examples from Jan 16 to Mar 16, 2014. - [Inflated Oscars Selfie Recreations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/oscars-selfie): This Artist Turned Ellen's Oscar Selfie into Balloon Art (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: Disruptive innovation opportunity: Integrating unconventional materials and techniques into traditional art forms to create unique and eye-catching pieces. - [LEGO Sitcom Recreations](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/seinfeld-as-lego-minifigs): This Series Re-Imagines the Seinfeld Cast as LEGO Pieces (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: The toy and game industry can capitalize on creating licensed LEGO sets based on popular culture, especially those appealing to older demographics. - [LEGO TV Show Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-big-bang-theory): This LEGO Big Bang Theory Set Reimagines the Geeky Sitcom in Toy Bricks (Category: Life-Stages) Implication: Creating LEGO sets based on popular TV shows can drive sales and revenue for the toy manufacturing industry, as fans of these shows seek to collect and build these themed sets. - [LEGO-Remade Comercials](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/LEGO-ad-break): The LEGO Ad Break Parodies Traditional British TV Commercials (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: Opportunity for advertising agencies to create unique and attention-grabbing campaigns using LEGO and stop motion animation. - [Scary LEGO Movie Scenes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-recreation): This LEGO Recreation Restages the Alien Chestburster Scene (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: The popularity of fan-made LEGO recreations of movie scenes opens up disruptive innovation opportunities for film studios to collaborate with toy companies to create official LEGO… - [LEGO Zombie Gamer Tributes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/lego-last-of-us): This LEGO Last of Us Video is Zombie-Crushing Fun (Category: Pop Culture) Implication: The gaming industry can capitalize on the trend of LEGO gaming parodies by partnering with LEGO to create official collaborations and merchandise. ## Recent trend clusters - [Automated Upkeep](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/automated-upkeep) (Tech) - [Serial Snacking](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/serial-snacking) (Lifestyle) - [Autumn Teasers](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/autumn-teasers) (Business) - [Ambient Assistance](https://www.trendhunter.com/protrends/ambient-assistance) (Tech) ## Trending in Life-Stages - [Mini Clog Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/cars-x-crocs-blind-box) - [Thoughtfully Designed Lunchboxes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/glacier-lunchbox) - [Larger-Format Brainteaser Games](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/kanoodle-party) - [Historical Character Collectibles](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/polly-pocket-x-american-girl) All articles: [Life-Stages](https://www.trendhunter.com/life-stages)