Review: 71453 Izzie and Bunchu the Bunny
Posted by CapnRex101,Several of the main characters from DREAMZzz are accompanied by fantastical creatures in the Dream World, usually influenced by things from the Waking World. Bunchu is perhaps the most interesting design, transforming from a cuddly toy into an enormous blue rabbit!
Containing 259 pieces, 71453 Izzie and Bunchu the Bunny is among the smaller DREAMZzz sets in this wave. Nevertheless, the titular bunny looks fantastic and forms an integral part of the Dream Chasers in the animated series, so should provide an ideal introduction to this theme.
Summary
71453 Izzie and Bunchu the Bunny, 259 pieces.
£18.99 / $19.99 / €20.99 | 7.3p/7.7c/8.1c per piece.
Buy at LEGO.com »
Despite lacking the expected texture; Bunchu is nicely designed and affordably priced
- Bunchu looks adorable
- Good articulation overall
- Outstanding Izzie minifigure
- Lacks some animalistic features
- Only one Grimspawn
The set was provided for review by LEGO. All opinions expressed are those of the author.
Minifigures
Every member of the Dream Chasers team is colourfully dressed, although Izzie is probably the most eye-catching of all. I love her sparkly hair, which seems to combine trans-opalescent light blue and trans-pink plastics and has drawn fitting comparisons with Sweet Mayhem's hair from The LEGO Movie 2. The texture in the hair piece looks fantastic too, so I would be interested to see it in conventional colours.
Izzie's lavender shoulder armour was designed for the Praetorian Guards in LEGO Star Wars, but looks nice in this colour and complements her dual-moulded boots. Some versions of the character wear a fabric skirt and that would have been appealing, but the dual-moulded legs work nicely alone, in my opinion.
The flame yellowish orange decoration across the torso and legs is particularly effective. The subtle metallic silver accents look lovely too, alongside the Dream Chasers' hourglass symbol on Izzie's belt. The minifigure also comes equipped with an hourglass accessory, displaying the same emblem on a printed 1x1 round tile on top.
A dual-moulded sword is provided too, with a stunning trans-blue blade. The stud above the hilt could be useful for modifying the weapon further. Izzie is also accompanied by Bunchu in plush form. This piece first appeared with the Pyjama Girl Collectable Minifigure, although its medium azure colour, with coral and metallic silver printing, is unique to DREAMZzz.
Grimspawn are found in almost every DREAMZzz set and this nightmare creature, wearing a knight's helmet, looks superb. The trans-pink plume introduces some colour and I like how this exaggerates the size of the helmet, which is larger than the Grimspawn's whole body! The body element is excellent too, with connection points for accessories under the arms. This character comes with a net.
The Completed Model
Unusually, there is a substantial difference between Bunchu's animated form and this version, which stands upright, rather than bounding around on all fours. I find the character's animated design more endearing, but this model is probably better for play and appears adorable too, as one would expect of a medium azure and coral bunny!
Bunchu's scale beside minifigures does reflect the animation though, as this figure measures 19cm in height, including the large ears. These are attached using ball joints, which provide a splendid range of motion and make the ears quite expressive. The neck, shoulders and ankles also incorporate ball joints, while the hips and wrists are reasonably articulated too.
As usual, the small ball joints are limited to shades of grey and these look awkward, especially on the ears. Otherwise, the colour scheme of medium azure, dark azure, coral and lavender is very appealing. I like the lavender elements on the cheeks in particular, while Bunchu's printed face looks marvellous too, complete with metallic silver highlights.
The coral fur on Bunchu's chest stands out well, although the texture could be much-improved because these curved slopes and tiles are obviously completely smooth. Attaching the Dream Chasers' emblem here looks peculiar as well, further giving the impression of the coral pieces comprising armour or clothing, instead of fur.
Fortunately, the tail, hands and feet fare better in that regard. The texture on the tail looks nice and the continued use of coral 1x1 bows across the figure is effective. Moreover, the large feet provide a stable base for the figure, which can stand comfortably even on one leg or in dynamic running poses.
Most DREAMZzz sets can be partially reassembled for different situations and Bunchu is no exception. A selection of flame yellowish orange pieces are included, first becoming a pair of rocket-powered roller skates and gloves! The gloves seem underwhelming, as they only cover part of the bunny's hands.
However, the roller skates are the most important feature and look more impressive, with huge flames fitted on the back. This textured piece appears across the DREAMZzz theme in multiple colours and this combination of flame yellowish orange and trans-yellow plastics is brilliant, also available in 71456 Mrs. Castillo's Turtle Van.
Sometimes speed across the ground is not enough though, so Bunchu can sprout antennae, wings and a stinger. These bee-inspired features are an odd combination with Bunchu's blue and coral colours, but re-using the flame elements as wings is clever. The addition of the little antennae is fun as well, despite the exposed studs looking strange in Bunchu's others forms.
The wings are simply connected to a platform on the back of the figure, where Izzie can stand and has a reasonable view between Bunchu's ears. However, the wings are only able to move forwards and backwards, lacking any upward motion, unfortunately. The stinger which replaces the bunny's normal tail looks excellent though, tipped with a black spike.
Overall
71453 Izzie and Bunchu the Bunny undoubtedly satisfies the vibrant and fantastical aesthetic associated with the DREAMZzz range. I love the colour scheme and the articulation is perfect for displaying the figure, which is easy to balance, even when wearing roller skates! However, I wish Bunchu's furry texture was represented in some way.
Compared with animals in NINJAGO, for example, this rabbit seems almost robotic in design, which is disappointing. A second Grimspawn would have been welcome too, as including only one leaves the villain hopelessly outmatched. Even so, this is an enjoyable set on the whole and I think the price of £18.99, $19.99 or €20.99 represents fair value.
114 likes
46 comments on this article
Giant bunny on roller skates.
Where has this set been all my life?
Its adorable AND well priced!!
I'm still waiting for my pre-order to arrive :)
Yep, this is an easy pickup. Colorful and very fun.
I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. Everything looks good to me, cute rabbit face, rabbit paws, even a tail. I don't get it, this appears to have everything??? This feels like a non-issue.
Great set at a great price. I'm loving this theme so much. I really hope this theme sells well and sticks around, a la Monkey Kid.
Maybe those are not gloves but wrist-protectors. Because when you have rocket-propelled roller skates, you might be the coolest rabbit in town, you are still bound to fall and hurt your wrists.
Both 71453 and 71454 are good introductory sets at a decent price. For some reasons, 71455 has roughly the same number of parts but costs double.
I love this set! Izzie has been my favorite character so far, and I'm sure her excellent design is a part of that. Hopefully this theme will stick around for a couple of waves. I'm hoping next year's Dreamzzz polybag will contain a full minifig(preferably Izzie, but that's doubtful). I also hope we see her hair and sword in more recolors! Lego IPs always introduce the best minifig elements.
What the freak?? So unsettling weird. I want to turn this evil and make it a robot controlled by a Batman villain. Yes! I think I shall do that.
@Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. (...)"
Perhaps this one lacks the animalistic feature of pooing all over the carpet...?
@bananaworld said:
" @Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. (...)"
Perhaps this one lacks the animalistic feature of pooing all over the carpet...?
"
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke... Rabbits will use litter boxes ;)
I will buy this
What if Bunchu had a depressed introvert Wolfchu pining after her who decided to learn martial arts from a cranky Panda? Absurd. Unless...
I like ths look of this set but wish it had some back-side tiling too.
@Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. Everything looks good to me, cute rabbit face, rabbit paws, even a tail. I don't get it, this appears to have everything??? This feels like a non-issue."
The set is far more humanoid than its TV series counterpart. The set can't really achieve a believable all-fours pose like the show version.
This was the set that jumped out when looking through Dreamzz as a 'must get'
The theme doesn't appeal but a giant bunny mech does
@kdu2814 said:
" @bananaworld said:
" @Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. (...)"
Perhaps this one lacks the animalistic feature of pooing all over the carpet...?
"
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke... Rabbits will use litter boxes ;) "
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke…Rabbits will dine on some of those poos too. :o)
It's a great set and I'll be sure to buy it, but - alright, it's obvious that Izzie and Bunchu are the heroes of the set, but just for a second, I want you to stop and appreciate the massive cojones on that little Grimspawn, trying to catch a Kaiju-sized rabbit with a butterfly-net.
That Grimspawn, or at least what's left of it, deserves a military funeral.
@yellowcastle said:
" @kdu2814 said:
" @bananaworld said:
" @Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. (...)"
Perhaps this one lacks the animalistic feature of pooing all over the carpet...?
"
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke... Rabbits will use litter boxes ;) "
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke…Rabbits will dine on some of those poos too. :o)
"
Note to self: stop reading Brickset comments while eating.
Thanks for the review.
Another cool Dreamzzz set and maybe I'll nominate Dream world Izzie for Minifig of the year.
Why not include a hunter Grimspawn in this one? Shhh. Be vewy vewy quiet, I'm hunting bwue wabbits. huh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh-uh!
This reminds me of the fabu-force moc's from a long time ago, I love it, I can't wait to get these sets next month.
Oh, bunny bunny.
@Ridgeheart said:
"It's a great set and I'll be sure to buy it, but - alright, it's obvious that Izzie and Bunchu are the heroes of the set, but just for a second, I want you to stop and appreciate the massive cojones on that little Grimspawn, trying to catch a Kaiju-sized rabbit with a butterfly-net.
That Grimspawn, or at least what's left of it, deserves a military funeral."
The set also contains the smaller Bunchu so it seems to me what happened here is it tried to capture a little plush toy only to be caught completely unprepared when Izzie made it into a huge warrior-rabbit!
@Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. Everything looks good to me, cute rabbit face, rabbit paws, even a tail. I don't get it, this appears to have everything??? This feels like a non-issue."
Comparing this model of Bunchu to animals in NINJAGO and Monkie Kid, I think the texture and detail could be better. As it is, the figure looks a little robotic to me, rather than organic. Perhaps I am in the minority in thinking that though.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. Everything looks good to me, cute rabbit face, rabbit paws, even a tail. I don't get it, this appears to have everything??? This feels like a non-issue."
Comparing this model of Bunchu to animals in NINJAGO and Monkie Kid, I think the texture and detail could be better. As it is, the figure looks a little robotic to me, rather than organic. Perhaps I am in the minority in thinking that though."
I guess you could compare it to the ninjago wolf set that's out right now, and you'd have a point, maybe some of the parts could have been swapped for the 2x2 fur/foot element...
Sad that they couldn't make a dual-molded Darksaber. Lego hates SW.
@StyleCounselor said:
"Sad that they couldn't make a dual-molded Darksaber. Lego hates SW."
Star Wars is apparently being forced to pay off the Chima mold debt.
Good set but after watching the show I am confused why it havent got "All fours" mode which was presented in animation?
Day...(roughly calculates)...minus-forty-ish order for me. Ordered it right 'round when pre-orders went up, along side 71454: Mateo and Z-Blob the Robot. Kinda' hoping this series breaks the '3 year curse'; that Chima, Nexo Knights, Hidden Side, and other stuff couldn't...
@Ridgeheart said:
"..., I want you to stop and appreciate the massive cojones on that little Grimspawn, trying to catch a Kaiju-sized rabbit with a butterfly-net....."
Tiny net! He has a net and it is tiny!
@CapnRex101 said:
" @Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. Everything looks good to me, cute rabbit face, rabbit paws, even a tail. I don't get it, this appears to have everything??? This feels like a non-issue."
Comparing this model of Bunchu to animals in NINJAGO and Monkie Kid, I think the texture and detail could be better. As it is, the figure looks a little robotic to me, rather than organic. Perhaps I am in the minority in thinking that though."
Okay I think I'm now understanding better where you're coming from then!
I think the difference here with this set is that it's meant to be less an animal, and more a cartoon character, something that would show in a dream from watching cartoons. While with Ninjago, those are actual living breathing animals in their universe.
So I suppose it all chalks down to art direction and what not!
@EtudeTheBadger said:
"Giant bunny on roller skates.
Where has this set been all my life?"
In our dreams, apparently.
@Zordboy :No...in their "DreamZzz"...apparently...D
Also: I feel remiss in not saying I just saw the DreamZzz episode, where Izzie had Bunchu go all Kaiju...and it must of among the first: no rockets, nor roller-skates...still, series has been fun so far:)
This was the only set I have bought thus far out of the theme. Seeing how much the kids will be into it. But I am always a fan of mechlike creations and this hits the spot. Great color scheme not usually seen in builds of this nature.
That sword is incredible.
@CapnRex101 said:
" @Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. Everything looks good to me, cute rabbit face, rabbit paws, even a tail. I don't get it, this appears to have everything??? This feels like a non-issue."
Comparing this model of Bunchu to animals in NINJAGO and Monkie Kid, I think the texture and detail could be better. As it is, the figure looks a little robotic to me, rather than organic. Perhaps I am in the minority in thinking that though."
I agree completely except that the robotic aspect is why it appeals to me. There's just something about a good robot animal.
I am so glad Lego does themes like this, instead of it all just being Police Station Reiteration No. 63,799
Eh Dreamzzz up Doc!
Wow we get an adorable bunny that looks amazing. Too bad the designers for the Wookiee couldn’t get chewie right!
@yellowcastle said:
" @kdu2814 said:
" @bananaworld said:
" @Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. (...)"
Perhaps this one lacks the animalistic feature of pooing all over the carpet...?
"
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke... Rabbits will use litter boxes ;) "
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke…Rabbits will dine on some of those poos too. :o)
"
Are you sure? When I was a kid I tried feeding the rabbits in the Richway pet department some of their poop, thinking it was food that had fallen out of the cage. They were not interested.
@kdu2814 said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @kdu2814 said:
" @bananaworld said:
" @Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. (...)"
Perhaps this one lacks the animalistic feature of pooing all over the carpet...?
"
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke... Rabbits will use litter boxes ;) "
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke…Rabbits will dine on some of those poos too. :o)
"
Are you sure? When I was a kid I tried feeding the rabbits in the Richway pet department some of their poop, thinking it was food that had fallen out of the cage. They were not interested.
"
I can't believe I'm actually writing this comment, but here it goes: rabbits have two kinds of poop, one is meant for consumption and additional digestion, the other (which is produced after eating the first kind) is not. Their digestion system is set up in a way that food needs to go through twice to extract all nutrients.
Read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LagomorphaDigestion
I've become aware of this after reading Watership Down, and googling an expression I did not know before. I'm not sharing knowledge of this fsct with friends and internet strangers.
@petamas said:
" @kdu2814 said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @kdu2814 said:
" @bananaworld said:
" @Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. (...)"
Perhaps this one lacks the animalistic feature of pooing all over the carpet...?
"
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke... Rabbits will use litter boxes ;) "
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke…Rabbits will dine on some of those poos too. :o)
"
Are you sure? When I was a kid I tried feeding the rabbits in the Richway pet department some of their poop, thinking it was food that had fallen out of the cage. They were not interested.
"
I can't believe I'm actually writing this comment, but here it goes: rabbits have two kinds of poop, one is meant for consumption and additional digestion, the other (which is produced after eating the first kind) is not. Their digestion system is set up in a way that food needs to go through twice to extract all nutrients.
Read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LagomorphaDigestion
I've become aware of this after reading Watership Down, and googling an expression I did not know before. I'm not sharing knowledge of this fsct with friends and internet strangers."
Friends are just strangers you haven't estranged yet!
@petamas said:
" @kdu2814 said:
" @yellowcastle said:
" @kdu2814 said:
" @bananaworld said:
" @Brickerika said:
"I don't think I understand what you mean by lacking animalistic features. (...)"
Perhaps this one lacks the animalistic feature of pooing all over the carpet...?
"
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke... Rabbits will use litter boxes ;) "
At the risk of one being one of those people that responds to a funny comment by missing the joke…Rabbits will dine on some of those poos too. :o)
"
Are you sure? When I was a kid I tried feeding the rabbits in the Richway pet department some of their poop, thinking it was food that had fallen out of the cage. They were not interested.
"
I can't believe I'm actually writing this comment, but here it goes: rabbits have two kinds of poop, one is meant for consumption and additional digestion, the other (which is produced after eating the first kind) is not. Their digestion system is set up in a way that food needs to go through twice to extract all nutrients.
Read more here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LagomorphaDigestion
I've become aware of this after reading Watership Down, and googling an expression I did not know before. I'm not sharing knowledge of this fsct with friends and internet strangers."
Thanks for bringing this up! I learnt about this when we had guinea pigs (who are very cute, but rather silly creatures). They too have two types of droppings as they have a similar digestive system to rabbits.
My favourite fact about it all (but not my favourite to witness) was that the poo that is due to have another go-around is eaten straight from... well, you know. The poos you actually see lying around are the final version.
And lie around they did! Guinea pigs were my main reference when mentioning it lying around all over the place. Again, very cute, but not tidy creatures.
@LuvsLEGO_Cool_J said:
"What the freak?? So unsettling weird. I want to turn this evil and make it a robot controlled by a Batman villain. Yes! I think I shall do that. "
What villain, exactly?
I feel like the one Grimspawn included was like “Oh, it’s a little girl with a stuffed bunny. Easy!” He soon found out his mistake.
This set is one I'm seriously considering, it looks amazing!
@SearchlightRG said:
" @LuvsLEGO_Cool_J said:
"What the freak?? So unsettling weird. I want to turn this evil and make it a robot controlled by a Batman villain. Yes! I think I shall do that. "
What villain, exactly?
I feel like the one Grimspawn included was like “Oh, it’s a little girl with a stuffed bunny. Easy!” He soon found out his mistake."
Mad Hatter and the White Rabbit come to mind. Zodiac Master if he expands to include the Chinese zodiac? Calendar Man going with a Year of the Rabbit theme? 50s-60s 'I'm not in a killing phase' Joker?
@kdu2814 (and @SearchlightRG, and @LuvsLEGO_Cool_J): Well...has Hatter been done yet? (Checks)...Hmm, no; and I know Batman's version of White Rabbit isn't minifiged (nor is Spider-Man's...weird)...However: March Harriet DOES exist, MMV on how good/bad that is; depends on you view I suppose...:)