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LEGO announced its first ever LEGO Shrek sets yesterday, and the main event is actually quite incredible. It’s a fully brick-built Shrek and Donkey with a delightful minifigure of Puss in Boots. It’s also a whopping $130 if you actually want it. Alongside the spectacular Shrek set, LEGO also revealed a more affordable set of BrickHeadz for only $24.99. This set of figures includes Shrek, Donkey, and Gingy.
But as a LEGO fan myself, I can’t help but have an opinion on these types of sets. The BrickHeadz theme is one of my least favorite things LEGO has ever done. The idea itself has merit, but I’ve never liked any of the designs this line of sets has put out. The fact that you can get three little figures for $24.99 while the equivalent Funko Pop figures cost just as much for a single figure is tempting. But what you’re actually getting for that price is an inferior product, in my opinion. It’s my hope that if people just stop buying these types of sets, eventually they will go away and LEGO will be forced to build a more exciting affordable option.
I don’t want to yuck anyone’s yum who likes the design of LEGO’s BrickHeadz figures, but I can’t help but view them as an afterthought. On one hand you have this beautifully designed Shrek set for $130 and on the other hand you have some less-detailed blocky figures that appear to be made from the scraps left over from the larger build. In the case of the Shrek figures, I can appreciate how well a character like Gingy can be built using this format, but both Shrek and Donkey immediately lose many of the details that make them iconic characters when you start stripping away pieces.
What’s the Alternative?
Obviously it would be better if you’re able to spend the $130 and get the more extravagant Shrek set, but if you’re just looking for little figures to display, I do think there are better affordable options available to you. Funko Pop has a line of shrek figures that offer more details. There are also various plushies you can buy for around the same price as this set of BrickHeadz. You won’t get the added benefit of being able to build them yourself, but I can’t help but think they just look better.
Jacob Kienlen is a Senior Audience Development Strategist and Writer for IGN. Born and raised in Portland, Oregon, he has considered the Northwest his home for his entire life. With a bachelor’s degree in communication and 10 years of professional writing experience, his expertise is spread across a variety of different pop culture topics — from TV series to books and the latest Pokémon games.
