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Lego is asking what you're doing in its swamp with the first ever Lego Shrek sets, and honestly, I'm impressed.
Two kits have been announced to celebrate the franchise's 25th anniversary, and these Lego Shrek sets come in a couple of unique flavors: a full display model with over 1,403 pieces and a smaller, more affordable trio of BrickHeadz figures. While the latter is fun, the for-adults display piece is what really caught my eye. It combines Shrek, Donkey, and Puss in Boots for a surprisingly feature-rich diorama taking place in the ogre's signature swamp. It looks fantastic; it certainly gives the best Lego sets a run for their money.
The bigger of the two Lego Shrek sets takes us back to his signature swamp and provides a full-size rendition of the ogre rather than a minifig. However, he's not alone; he's brought a (surprisingly spot-on) Donkey along with a minifigure version of Puss in Boots. The result is made up of over 1,400 pieces and stands over 9.5in (24 cm) high.
UK price: £109.99 at Lego
Want a more affordable ode to the loveable ogre? A BrickHeadz rendition of Shrek, Donkey, and Gingy ("Do you know the Muffin Man?") are also available, and Donkey is sending me. Just look at his adorably buck-toothed design.
UK price: £19.99 at Lego
Both Shrek Lego sets are available to pre-order now.
As noted by Raquel Ojeda, who is creative lead for Lego, "Shrek has always celebrated imagination, friendship, and a little bit of mischief, which are values that translate perfectly into LEGO play. We’re ogre the moon to partner with this beloved universe and see how fans build their own fairy-tale adventures. This is just the beginning, so keep your eyes peeled for lots more LEGO Shrek magic!"
Meanwhile, global commercial officer of consumer products, games, and digital at Universal, Rafa Macias, says that partnering with Lego "marks an exciting moment as we celebrate the franchise’s 25th anniversary. These sets bring Far Far Away to life with innovative design, fun Easter eggs for fans to discover, and storytelling-- honoring the legacy that has made Shrek a cultural icon and inviting fans back to the swamp where it all began."
I can't get over how good that main 18+ display piece is. Besides absolutely nailing Donkey's expression and providing a very-Shrek pose for the titular ogre, I love how much they've managed to cram onto a relatively small base. Besides suitably swampy plants and a river running through the middle, there are plenty of neat call backs from the frog on a lily pad (which makes me think of Fiona's dad, the king) to the hand-painted "Beware, ogre" sign. It ticks off enough nostalgia to make fans very happy... and it's not as expensive as I initially thought it might be.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised, though. Lego's been on a roll with its larger characters recently; Lego Luigi perfectly captures the plumber's spirit, while the new One Piece Tony Tony Chopper figure is freakin' adorable. This is just the latest in a line of excellent character sets, and long may it continue. Which it may well do, judging by Raquel Ojeda's comments above...
What do you think of the new Shrek Lego sets?
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