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Lego Paradisa
Lego theme (1992–1997) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Lego Paradisa was a Lego subtheme of Lego Town, released between 1992 and 1997. It was one of Lego's first concerted efforts to market sets specifically to girls, following earlier themes such as Homemaker, which had ended in 1982.[1]
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Paradisa sets were designed with a focus on leisure and vacation, showcasing beach scenes, horseback riding, and surfing. Unlike most Lego Town sets from that era, Paradisa featured a higher number of female minifigures and incorporated new elements such as ponytail hairpieces, faces with eyelashes and freckles, and torsos with strapless tops. These parts introduced a new design approach to female minifigures and were exclusive to the Paradisa line.
Although Paradisa was technically a subtheme of Town, it is widely regarded as a precursor to later girl-oriented themes such as Scala, Belville, and eventually Friends.[2]
Despite its relatively small size—only 18 sets were released—Paradisa has remained a nostalgic favorite for many fans of 1990s Lego. The sets typically depicted peaceful, coastal lifestyles, such as beach cafés, lighthouses, pool parties, and country clubs.[2]
A more recent cultural reevaluation of Paradisa has emerged, particularly with regard to its visual and thematic inspirations. The theme’s pastel-heavy aesthetic is reminiscent of 1980s art deco revival trends, often associated with shows like Miami Vice. Some observers have humorously speculated on a darker subtext within the seemingly idyllic Paradisa world—pointing to sets like Dolphin Point and Poolside Paradise as locations for covert deals and smuggling operations.[3]
For example, in the Island Arcade set, figures are seen engaging in what resembles gambling around a "wheel of fortune", while prams without babies have sparked whimsical theories of hidden smuggling compartments for cookies.[3] Though tongue-in-cheek, these reinterpretations reflect how adult fans revisit and reinterpret childhood themes with a mix of nostalgia and critical reflection.
Paradisa has also seen homage in contemporary Lego products. In 2025, the Lego Ideas set 21358 Minifigure Vending Machine featured minifigures wearing Paradisa-themed beach attire, reflecting the enduring visual legacy of the theme. These figures sparked commentary when compared to more constrained licensed characters, such as Princess Leia in recent Star Wars sets, highlighting differences in design freedom between Lego's in-house themes and licensed content.[4]
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