The making of “Robots!”

Few toys have the kind of staying power that LEGOs do, and the little plastic construction toys have earned their reputation for being the building blocks of imagination. Just ask Chicago-based animator David M. Pickett, who’s been using the tiny blocks as the sets and characters for a variety of stop-animation videos. In 2009, Pickett began animating what would become “The Nightly News at Nine,” a comedic web series centered on a news team in a fictional town called New Block City. Since launching “Nightly News,” Pickett’s garnered an ardent fan base. And he has now turned to those fans for help: Pickett recently launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the second chapter in the series, “Robots!” and is offering up some pretty neat rewards for people who want to chip in. Ever curious about LEGO animations, The A.V. Club visited Pickett’s studio in his Lakeview apartment to discuss the animation process, why the news format is perfect for his storytelling style, and Shakespeare’s role in his LEGO adventures.