Lego‘s full-scale assault on wallets, particularly in the pockets of people prone to nostalgia, continues with this adorable new tribute to Nick Park and Aardman Animation’s Wallace and Gromit, hitting the road in motorbike-and-sidecar style as seen in their 1995 short A Close Shave. The original Lego Ideas design by Sébastian Esnault, who goes by the handle Pidelium, won the top prize in a ’90s throwback challenge, and the version going to market stays very close to his creation.
Check out the ‘Wallace and Gromit’ set below—and don’t miss the clever details, including series Easter eggs (crackers, a yarn ball, and a diamond) tucked into the seat hatch.
On the Lego Ideas blog, Esnault described how he approached translating claymation into Lego bricks and how he brought the beloved animated characters to life in this new form.
“To recreate the distinctive clay look, I deliberately chose the most rounded LEGO elements wherever possible,” he explained. “Wallace’s head was by far the biggest challenge. It took many iterations to find the right balance between accurate proportions, a recognizable expression, and a sturdy construction.”
For Gromit, the eyes were the focus. “Gromit’s entire personality comes through his eyes and his posture. My goal was to keep his face as simple as possible while making sure his expression would be instantly recognizable. It only takes a tiny change in their angle to transform Gromit’s expression from curious to amused or worried.”
Lego Model Designers Tom Gerardin and Ellen Bowley shepherded Esnault’s design into the finished product, which fans will soon be able to add to their collections. The ‘Wallace and Gromit’ set has 1,038 pieces and will set you back $100. It’s up for pre-order now; shipping starts October 1.
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