LEGO Ideas Gremlins: Gizmo (21361) – Don’t Get Him Wet!

When it comes to buildable figures, LEGO have them locked down. From Super Mario and K-2SO, to all the Up-Scaled Minifigures, they are nothing short of stunning – the same can be said for the latest addition, from the Ideas platform, Gizmo!

When the original fan design, by terauma was in the support stage, we knew it was going all the way, who could resist that cute face? Once LEGO approved it and officially announced the set, we just had to have it, being a fan of the movies it was a no-brainer. I held off purchasing it on release day as Mrs Brick Post wanted to get it for me as a Christmas present. Knowing it was under the tree waiting for me was both a joy and a curse, it was taunting me for almost a month (we put up the Christmas tree early this year, don’t judge).

Let’s kick off the review in the usual Brick Post style, the box and what’s inside, the build itself, and my final thoughts – sadly there isn’t a Minifigure included so we can’t talk about one.

The Box & Contents:

The Ideas theme has gone through many changes since it’s conception, but it’s the latest box design particularly like. It follows the Icons (18+) range of sets, with black gradient backgrounds, the set front and centre, and the details below it. This box is no different and we see Gizmo in all his cuteness, above him is his name name in the Gremlins font. Flip the box around and you’ll see some of the build features including the small splash of water in his back.

Inside the box are 10 numbered bags and a smaller than usual instruction manual.

The Build:

Onto the build now and wow what an incredible one it is, from the very first bag to the last, it’s a pure joy to put together.

Starting off with the body section of Gizmo, you start with a simple but sturdy central block of Bricks and SNOT (studs not on top) elements. This leads on to building up the belly, back and sides, layering plates and sloped parts to create a convincing curve. In the photo below you can see the first hand full of stages, the central bottom section has a gap missing, this is because you have a choice to make, standing or sitting?

Depending on how you want to display Gizmo, you’ll either continue in the manual as normal or jump to a specific page. We opted for the standing position whilst our good friend Mark (@the.brickloft) went for the sitting option. We agreed to share our photos with one another to take advantage and showcase both options available to the builder.

There doesn’t look too much difference between the legs themselves, it’s more the design of the lower-body section. Certain sloped and angled parts are swapped out for straight ones, to allow the legs in different positions. It’s sad you can’t have both display options in one, just a handful of extra bits would allow this, but it’s not the end of the world, so we’ll move on.

The head is spaced out across the last few bags and is quite involved, compared to the rest of the build. The layering of parts inside, the angles used to create definibg shapes, the eyelids, gross ear-hair, and the ears themselves. Looking at the images below the head is the same if not more parts than the body, arms, and legs combined. This is on no way a bad thing, as Gizmo has a rather big noggin, it’s what makes him the cutest Mogwai around.

I particularly like the eyes and how they sit between the eyelids. They are fully printed and look absolutely stunning. Clipping into place with flesh coloured wheel arches ats eyelids, it’s a great use of parts, used to awesome effect. The bottom jaw has very limited movement, but there is some wiggle room. The eaes are built up in a mirrored fashion, to create the same consistent shapes. One done they simply pop into place behind the ear-hair parts.

3D Glasses are a nice little side build to include and do add more charm to the set – Gizmo looks cool when wearing them, although keeping them in place is difficult at times. Positioning the fingers to hold the 3D Glasses isn’t easy either, balancing them can be tricky. There should have been a bare stud around his eyes to hold the Glasses in place on his head, that is the only very very slight grumble I have, with an otherwise perfect set.

Popping the pieces of Gizmo together is a simple task, thanks to the ball joints and sockets, this is the first time you see him complete and just how cute his is. He stands a mighty 20cm tall, head-to-toe, and almost 30cm wide, from ear-to-ear – the perfect shelf-sitter size.

The Final Thought:

As a collectors Ideas set goes, it’s perfect – the build is enjoyable and well paced, the techniques are varied and different, the option to display standing or sitting is great, and the final result is both cute and cool. This is truly an Adult collectors dream, especially if you’re a fan of the movies.

Watch this save for more shots of Gizmo throughout the year, different seasons, location and more. Thank you for reading through this review, please tell us your thoughts on the set via the comments section below, we love hearing from you.