The brand-new original series "LEGO DREAMZzz," launched this August by the Danish toy company LEGO, is an incredibly ambitious new product line infused with a multitude of mind-blowing elements. Not only was a significant amount of time spent on research, but the animated series "Trials of the Dream Chasers" was also released in May. In this Toy People review, we're going to dive into this all-new LEGO theme, featuring three sets: "71453 Izzie and Bunchu the Bunny", "71456 Mrs. Castillo’s Turtle Van", and "71469 Nightmare Shark Ship". Join us as we experience the psychedelic charm of the "Dream World."
LEGO's "DREAMZzz" is an original theme born from five years of development, involving research and surveys with approximately 23,000 children and 7,000 consumers. Over these five years, Tommy Andreasen and Tommy Kalmar of The LEGO Group delved deep into the study of "dreams" and "sleep." The final result is this LEGO DREAMZzz series, which can represent two worlds: the "reality of the waking world" and the "fantasy of the dream world"! The main story follows characters like "Mateo" and "Izzie" on a series of extraordinary adventures in the so-called "Dream World," using their imagination to defeat the "Nightmare King." The LEGO Group also hopes that this line of sets will help children subconsciously overcome the problem of having nightmares.
Tommy Andreasen and Tommy Kalmar are also the showrunners for "LEGO Ninjago."
Now, let's start building! First up is the small set, "71453 Izzie and Bunchu the Bunny," with only 259 pieces. The overall design is based on the Dream World from the animated series "Trials of the Dream Chasers," with a giant-sized Bunchu the Bunny printed on the front.
▼ The top of the box displays the minifigure lineup and a 1:1 scale representation.
▼ The contents include 3 bags of parts and one instruction manual.
▼ Unlike most LEGO set instructions which feature a photo of the finished model on the cover, the DREAMZzz series manuals use illustrations. This better conveys a dream-like visual effect and adds a touch of warmth.
▼ Even the minifigure assembly section is thoughtfully designed, making it feel like you're reading a small storybook.
▼ There's a printed piece of a "magic hourglass" on the chest, which echoes the lore that Bunchu was created by Izzie in the Dream World using "dream sand" and imagination.
▼ The printed facial expression is truly adorable.
▼ The tube-shaped parts, often used as tree trunks in the past, are now rendered in a light sky blue, adding a three-dimensional feel and forming the legs.
▼ Let's get to the easy build!
▼ And it's finished in no time! A bunny composed of sky blue, pink, and purple, creating a vibrant palette that will surely appeal to young girls!
▼ The ball joint at the neck allows for flexible rotation, with a greater range of motion than expected!
▼ The tail is so cute!
▼ Next up is one of the biggest features of the DREAMZzz series: the build divergence point! You can decide which version of the LEGO model you want to create, and of course, you can also use your own imagination to build something uniquely yours.
▼ First is the version where Bunchu is equipped with roller skates and gloves, ready for a powerful dash!
▼ The other option features a bee stinger (tail) and wings, and you can even have Izzie stand on its back to pilot it, though you might need to adjust the distance yourself.
▼ The minifigures include Izzie (Dream World version), a Grimspawn, and a Bunchu the Bunny plushie.
▼ The hair piece, with its gradient coloring and glittery texture, is absolutely beautiful.
▼ The small black monster "Grimspawn," created for the DREAMZzz series, has a head piece with the same specifications as a standard LEGO minifigure, but its body is incredibly tiny—the more you look at it, the more peculiar it gets! The key thing is that it can still hold accessories, creating a super comical visual effect.
Next is the second set, "71456 Mrs. Castillo’s Turtle Van," with 434 pieces! In "Trials of the Dream Chasers," Mrs. Castillo is an old lady who runs a burrito food truck. Even if you haven't seen the animation, the appearance of this vehicle is appealing enough on its own. The ability to add parts and transform it into a turtle van is simply perfect. This set is personally my favorite in the DREAMZzz series.
▼ The top of the box also displays the minifigure lineup for this set.
▼ The contents include 5 bags of parts, one instruction manual, and one sticker sheet.
▼ You can see that many stickers on the sheet are not numbered; these are for you to decorate the model freely after assembly.
▼ The cute illustrations that accompany the minifigure assembly steps are surely the biggest feature of the DREAMZzz instruction manuals.
▼ Second set, let the build begin!
▼ A look at all the contents!
▼ The van is equipped with two types of window pieces.
▼ A super creative illustration explaining the construction of a Dream World object.
▼ Let's first take a look at the van, which leans more towards its real-world appearance in the animation! The rounded lines and soft color scheme are quite charming.
▼ The turtle van as it appears in the dream—Party Mode! The setup with a carrot dangling in front is just too classic XD.
▼ The way the tur... turtle's head is constructed is very interesting. A piece often used for the top of building windows serves directly as the turtle's lower jaw.
▼ The other build option is the Flying Submarine Mode!
▼ Even the cactus is taking off!
▼ The minifigures include the Dream World versions of Mateo, Zoey, Mrs. Castillo, Mateo's creation Z-Blob, and one Grimspawn.
Finally, we have the main event, the "71469 Nightmare Shark Ship," with a piece count of 1389. Not only do you get an awesome minifigure of the main villain, the "Nightmare King," but the black and purple nightmare shark is also incredibly menacing.
▼ From the minifigure lineup on the top of the box, you can see that the Grimspawns in this set even have names!
▼ The contents include 15 bags of parts (14 numbered bags + one bag of special parts), an instruction manual, and a sticker sheet.
▼ The illustrated version of the Nightmare Shark Ship is so cool!
▼ The third and final set, let's get building!
▼ Let's first take a look at everything after assembly! As expected of a beast that measures 60 cm long and 30 cm high when completed!
▼ Now let's admire it from various angles.
▼ The assembly process for the shark's head starts with using curved parts to build the lower jaw, then adding the upper part which is based on a large special piece. Paired with fluorescent green teeth and yellow 1×1 round tile eyes, the whole thing looks super evil!
▼ You can also use the knobs on both sides of the head to adjust the length of the anchor line and the opening angle of the mouth.
▼ The middle section of the body simultaneously showcases the appearance of a shark skeleton and the function of a cage. You can also open a cellar door on the deck to throw captured individuals inside.
▼ The side fins also have an articulated mechanism.
▼ There's a stud shooter located behind the shark's head.
▼ The giant eye in the middle can be removed to investigate its mysteries.
▼ Could what's hidden inside be Izzie's Bunchu the Bunny plushie? What a contrast!
▼ A super luxurious helm position.
▼ Next is my favorite part, the propulsion system. It's formed by interlocking two parts that look like spiked wheels. Combined with the glitter-effect translucent canopy and eye pieces, this badass and exaggerated jet engine is complete.
▼ The tail is constructed from two bat-wing pieces and features two points of articulation.
▼ Set 71469 includes a total of 6 minifigures. The villains include the Nightmare King, the winged Grimspawn Susan, and the Grimspawn Snivel. The printing on all of them is quite exquisite!
▼ The Nightmare King is just incredibly cool. That tattered cape has so much character.
▼ The hero lineup includes Mateo, Izzie, and Nova, who is trapped in the cage having a nightmare.
▼ Z-Blob can be attached to the top of the green vine piece.
Considering the length of this review and to allow our fellow toy lovers to have more fun, we'll leave the Nightmare Shark Ship's alternate tank mode for you to explore on your own!
LEGO 71453, 71456, 71469 Review Summary:
For this DREAMZzz series, I personally think it can be viewed from the perspective of different age groups. For young LEGO fans, it undoubtedly showcases the fun and boundless creativity of LEGO. Models like the turtle van and the shark ship are novel experiences that you wouldn't get in the City series. And with the two officially guided build modes, it might even inspire new ideas.
For adult LEGO fans and experienced MOC builders, these sets are fantastic for providing a wealth of brightly colored parts and rarer special pieces. This includes black wings, the giant fin (sail) exclusive to the Nightmare Shark Ship, the translucent canopy with glitter, Bunchu the Bunny's blue and pink parts, and more. They are certainly excellent parts for creative projects. Furthermore, the boundary-pushing designs might allow many fans who prefer the 18+ LEGO sets to experience a different kind of charm from LEGO bricks.
LEGO 71453 Izzie and Bunchu the Bunny
Suggested Retail Price: TWD 819, Total Parts: 259, Available Now
LEGO 71456 Mrs. Castillo’s Turtle Van
Suggested Retail Price: TWD 1,739, Total Parts: 434, Available Now
LEGO 71469 Nightmare Shark Ship
Suggested Retail Price: TWD 4,669, Total Parts: 1389, Available Now