In a recent study by a New Zealand researcher, it was found that the faces of little LEGO people have become increasingly angry over the last couple decades. The impact of this shift on the psyche of children has yet to be fully realized.
According to CNN Money, LEGO toys have come with less smiley faces and stethoscopes, and with more grimaces and weapons. Christoph Bartneck is a robot expert at the University of Canterbury in New Zealand, and as a robot expert, he was concerned enough about LEGO people that he conducted a study on their faces. He uncovered a not so startling fact - LEGOs have become angrier and more violent since the 1990s.
The Guardian reports on Bartneck's concern that the little faces may impact the kids that play with them. Kids could associate the emotions displayed by their toys with how they should react to real life situations.
It should come as no surprise that LEGO's little people have more dynamic face options. The Guardian says that when LEGO first starting producing faces in 1978, their LEGOs were all smiles. But now the figures come from such worlds as Harry Potter, Star Wars, and the upcoming LEGO Marvel Superheroes video game.