By Allison Watkinson
TLL Reporter
The LEGO Group and Nintendo are launching a line of LEGO build sets inspired by the Animal Crossing video game franchise.
The five co-branded building sets are intended to let LEGO fans explore licensed Animal Crossing locations and characters through imaginative play.
Many of the objects from the licensed Animal Crossing sets can be adapted, mixed and interchanged which will enable builders to customize their LEGO x Animal Crossing experience.
“To us, Animal Crossing is all about creativity and roleplay, so bringing that to life in physical form using LEGO bricks and creating new minifigures has been fun for the team,” said LEGO Group director, Simon Kent. “One of the challenges was to make sure that customization of the sets was simple so builders could experience the freedom they have in the game.
“Additionally, creating the minifigures to make sure they were accurately representing the characters in the video games was very important for us,” added Kent. “We look forward to giving kids the opportunity to play with their favourite characters from Animal Crossing!”
Developed and published by Nintendo, Animal Crossing is an open-ended simulation game franchise that currently includes ten video games titles.
The franchise focuses on gameplay mechanics such as socializing, character customization, decorating, resource collecting and more.
“The Animal Crossing video game series is about creating a world where you freely build the life you want, and now with LEGO bricks, you can build that world with your own hands in the real world too,” said Nintendo producer, Aya Kyogoku. “Putting the sets together is only the beginning. Kids can use the furniture, plants and more included with each set, to customize them or even combine multiple sets to create their own village.
“There are so many different ways kids will be able to express their creativity based on what they like, which can evolve as they grow,” added Kyogoku. “We hope that the world of Animal Crossing and its characters, now also in the form of LEGO bricks, can bring smiles to people’s faces by being a part of their day-to-day lives.”
The new range will include five combinable LEGO sets that come with figures based on Animal Crossing characters such as Julian, Bunnie, Tom Nook, Rosie, Isabelle, Fauna, Kapp’n and Marshal.
The five licensed LEGO sets included in the Animal Crossing product range are Julian’s Birthday Party, Bunnie’s Outdoor Activities, Kapp’n’s Island Boat Tour, Isabelle’s House Visit and Nook’s Cranny & Rosie’s House.
The LEGO Animal Crossing sets will be available across the glove through LEGO stores, e-commerce platforms and toy retailers beginning on March 1, 2024.