Why I bought this set

This set was a stackable gift with purchase (GWP) along with the Houses of the World 1 and the Lunar New Year VIP Add-on Pack between January 15-25th, 2023, with a minimum spend threshold of $50 (VIP pack), $85 (rabbit), and $250 (house). I wanted all the GWPs, so I waited for the offer to begin and ordered some parts I needed and some more scooter add-on packs to hit the threshold. Stacking GWPs always makes me feel I’ve got the best deal, but this little rabbit set held the most excitement for me. I’ve had pet rabbits most of my life (I got my first bunny when I was 11), and I wanted this GWP as it resonated with me for that reason, but also, it was cute! I plan to put this on display at work to replace the Wintertime Polar Bears and Christmas Penguin once the weather warms up.

The build

he set comes in the typical Lunar New Year’s packaging, with a space to write to and from on the front. The box opens vertically, and the set comes with a year of the rabbit envelope – keeping with the Chinese tradition of giving envelopes of money to the youth/unmarried. While most users have no use for this addition, it is a nice touch from Lego to respect one of its largest markets. 

As for the pieces, they come as one build stage, though separated into three bags. The instruction manual is 76 pages, with the typical parts guide at the back.

The rabbit starts to form quickly, with the build starting at the feet. It’s not a technical construction – but a classic build focused on layering brick, plate, and tile. The feet are instantly recognizable and have been generated with half-round white tile. Inverted slopes and black arches create the legs, with every surface smooth and polished. A light tan stud not on top (SNOT) brick anchors a 2×2 slope, making the rabbit’s belly. A couple of white cheese wedges give the chest of the rabbit a “fluffy” appearance. 

The top of the rabbit’s body uses a white plate covered with tile to give the rabbit a polished look. There is also a wheel element that the head will sit on, allowing for rotation. The back of the rabbit consists of slopes and arches attached via SNOT bricks. The tail is a cute build of a white cylindrical element with a white stud. Simple, yet highly effective.

The head is the next assembled element after the body is complete. The core of the head is a series of colorful bricks (which Lego often uses for internal parts to help make the instructions clearer). A modified 1×4 brick with SNOT elements faces forward and will be used to mount the facial features. 

SNOT bricks are used throughout the internal structure, making placing slopes, arches, and cheese wedges simple for creating a fully tile-covered build. The bottom half of the head is clad in white pieces, and the top is all black. The nose and mouth are two-quarter tiles and two half-round tiles mounted to a 2×2 circular plate placed on a 1×2 jumper tile. I find the pink nose highly cute and the element your eye is drawn to. Two large printed eyes (2x round tile) attach to a SNOT brick to complete the face. 

With a body and a head, all the bunny needs are some ears. They are identical and made from a series of pink plate, black slopes, and tiles. There is also a black connector in each ear that clips into modified 1×1 plates on the head. This connection allows the ears to move along one axis, so you can make them sit straight up or have them a little uneven, as I (and Lego) have shown. The completed head snaps onto the grey circular rotational plate. Don’t worry too much about proportions; the head might be the same size as the body, but it’s cute, and that’s all this design was going for.

The build could have finished there, but Lego tends to include bases for the small animals, and it’s an opportunity to include the traditional red and gold of the Lunar New Year into the set. On an 8×8 circular green plate, red jumpers, gold tile plate, and a white plate are placed to generate the core of the base. Plant elements are added next, including tree limbs, flowers, and flower studs. Finally, the white and gold plate is covered with bright green tile and jumpers, allowing the rabbit to attach to the base.

With the set complete, we have a cute rabbit sitting on a nature bed. It looks fantastic from all angles and is instantly recognizable. I can’t wait to add it to my display at work. I named him Chester.

Ratings

Build: 3/5
The build is as most GWPs are – straightforward and use basic, common pieces. I have no issue with this, as it is a free set. A junior builder (either in age or experience) will learn how to use SNOT bricks effectively to create polished builds that do not have a single stud showing.

I have one minor gripe about the build, and that is the rabbit’s head can turn a full 360 degrees. This can make the rabbit looks rather demonic and unsettling. A couple of raised pieces on the back would prevent this. Also, now that I study the eyes, I may need to adjust them, as looking at a cross-eyed rabbit for too long makes me wary.

Display: 4/5
The rabbit looks fantastic and will look perfect on a shelf. Except for those eyes – I must adjust Chester’s eyes. The bright and colorful base adds a needed splash of color to the set, as a black and white rabbit could get lost on a shelf. 

There’s no way to integrate this into the city unless you use it as a statue. Or, I suppose you could have a giant bunny as a city villain! 

Price: 4/5
As this is a GWP, it is always going to be good value if you were going to buy Lego anyway. Nothing better than free Lego. This is one of the better GWPs, however. It’s a great set to build and have out around Easter (if you don’t collect the Lunar New Year sets), or it makes a great gift. Indeed, you could part out the set and use it for MOCs, as the pieces are common. Despite the aim of keeping the cost down, Lego didn’t skimp on parts when needed – such as the printed tile eyes or the decorative elements for the base. Lego valued this set at $9.99, giving the set a price per piece of 5.1 cents. This is where you’d want a set like this to be – one with no licensing, minifigures, or expensive parts included in the cost. When considering a GWP value, it’s best to look at the threshold to get it, and the $85 purchase entry seems fair, especially when stacked with the Lunar New Year VIP Add-on pack. 

Final thoughts

Lego has made a Lunar New Year GWP for nine years, and this rabbit fits in with those previous entries. This is my first Lunar New Year as a Lego collector, and I am not disappointed with my foray into the series. The build is straightforward, so it is appropriate for all ages. It reminds me of the build for the Christmas Penguin, as many of the techniques are the same, as well as the finish.

Despite the GWP being aimed at a single culture, Lego has masterfully made this universal at the same time. The design is classic and will not look dated in design or in part usage for many years.

The entry point for this set was appropriately low, making it easier for people to get their hands on this one. It also came out at the same time as the Houses of the World 1 and the Lunar New Year VIP Add-on pack, so it was stackable, making it an even better deal.

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