The Belville theme which was introduced in 1994 and later discontinued in 2009 was created to appeal primarily to girls. While the sets revolved around the concept of the LEGO system it featured doll-like figures known as Belville Figures instead of regular LEGO minifigures. The Belville Figures featured multiple joints to make play more like normal doll play and were larger than minifigures. The Belville theme was the predecessor to LEGO Friends.
1997 LEGO Sets
In 1997, the LEGO Group faced significant challenges, experiencing its first-ever decline in sales as the toy market evolved and competition intensified. This period of introspection and transformation pushed LEGO to explore new avenues beyond traditional brick sets, leading to its first major venture into video games with the release of LEGO Island for PC. This groundbreaking title introduced open-world gameplay and interactive storytelling, setting the foundation for LEGO’s future success in digital entertainment.