Highlights
- LEGO and Nintendo have collaborated on a series of Animal Crossing sets, featuring different villagers and locations from the game.
- The sets vary in size and price, with the smallest set priced at $15 and the largest set priced at $75. A release date of March 1 is listed on each, and though this may be a placeholder, it indicates a release window at the very least.
- Each set focuses on a specific part of the Animal Crossing experience and includes minifigures of popular characters like Isabelle and Tom Nook. Standout pieces include a balloon gift, a poster referencing an in-game song, and a recreation of Nook's Cranny.
Following a hugely successful collaboration between LEGO and Mario, it was a matter if time before the block-building brand worked with Nintendo once again. While fan suggestions ranged from The Legend of Zelda to Metroid, the two companies ultimately decided on a series that feels like a perfect fit for such a crossover: Animal Crossing. With its charming characters and aesthetic making it fun for all ages, the collaboration is ideal, and fans now have details on what sets the partnership will produce.
In total, there will be five different sets available as part of the Animal Crossing LEGO program. While the March 1 date listed for the sets could just be a placeholder, it does at least indicate a rough release window for these special sets. The sets vary in size, and each focuses on one or two Villagers and locations, meaning that it could be quite a pricey endeavor for Animal Crossing fans who want every single piece.
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The Price and Content of Every LEGO Animal Crossing Set
- Julian’s Birthday Party: $15, 170 pieces including a Julian minifigure and party setting.
- Bunnie’s Outdoor Adventures: $18, 164 pieces including Bunnie minifigure and camp setting.
- Kapp’n’s Island Boat Tour: $30, 233 pieces including Kapp’n and Marshal minifgures and an island setting.
- Isabelle’s House Visit: $40, 389 pieces including Isabelle and Fauna minifigures alongside a Villager house setting with an outdoors area.
- Nook’s Cranny and Rosie’s House: $75, 535 pieces including Rosie and Tom Nook minifigures alongside both a Villager house and Nook’s Cranny shop.
When considering these sets, there are a few things that buyers will want to keep in mind. First, they all vary greatly in size and price, with the cost of the sets matching the amount of content offered. The smallest set available will be Julian’s Birthday Party, which will be over 3.5 inches high, 6.5 inches wide, and 4 inches deep. The largest will be Nook’s Cranny and Rosie’s house, which is over 6 inches high, 15 inches wide, and 5.5 inches deep. Players who want one large set to spend some proper time working on may want to spring for the pricier options.
Another thing to keep in mind is which Villagers are offered within each set. For example, though the name of the set "Kapp’n’s Island Boat Tour" does not mention another Villager minifigure being included, it does come with Marshal, who is a fan favorite dreamie that many players hunt for in-game. Similarly, Fauna is included in Isabelle’s set. Animal Crossing fans who see minifigures as the big draw can focus on getting sets with the characters they like. Lastly, fans should take a close look at what each set is based on, as all focus on a specific part of the Animal Crossing experience. For fans of fishing, the boat and rod from Kapp’n’s set could be a big draw, while the shovel, net, and vaulting pole of Bunnie’s set can be attractive to those who like other aspects of the game. For players who want a proper interior to decorate, "Isabelle's House Visit" is a must.
While some of the props included in these sets, like a pink guitar, flowers, and food items look like things that could be featured in other cute LEGO sets, some items are distinctly Animal Crossing. A poster on the wall referencing some music from Animal Crossing: New Horizons is one example of this, as is the book Kapp’n is holding that depicts K.K. Slider. One of the balloon gifts is available in the Isabelle set. Perhaps the best example of all is the trees, as LEGO fans will be able to insert fruit like cherries into the tree piece by piece, with the way the fruit is aligned looking just like it does in-game. Though the houses for Rosie and Fauna do not look like their homes in-game, they do fit the Animal Crossing aesthetic, and the exterior of Nook’s Cranny is faithfully recreated.
While this LEGO collaboration seems to capture a good chunk of the Animal Crossing experience, hopefully Nintendo and LEGO will continue to work together on more Animal Crossing sets going forward. After all, it is easy to imagine more set ideas. The Roost cafe, Blathers' museum, and a fishing adventure for Flick and CJ instantly come to mind as possibilities, though for now fans should only be expecting these five confirmed sets.
The LEGO Animal Crossing sets are set to release in March 2024.
Source: LEGO