Everyone knows that an Archelon is a species of marine turtle that went extinct during the Late Cretaceous period. What this LEGO build supposes is, maybe they didn’t and then a hermit community built a castle on one’s back. Archelon Castle by Fraser Ratzlaff is a fanciful, Mindstorms-powered, articulated creature with 4 independently swaying appendages, an anatomically correct mouth masticating a lobster, and oh yes—the entire beast (and affixed castle) slowly rotates 360 degrees. Hitch a ride as we explore the intense environmental storytelling of this build that took almost two years to create.

You can’t just appreciate this build aesthetically, you must consider the deep thought this designer embedded into every stud. For instance, look closely and you can see how the people sustain themselves while at sea with abundant citrus orchards, vegetable gardens, livestock, bird eggs, and fresh seafood.

Witness the circle of life as Archelon hatchlings emerge and instinctively head for the sea. It was a great idea to use the white crowns and white ¼ circle tiles to represent the broken shells.

Thanks to a system of motors, not only does the entire turtle rotate on its base, it also flaps its fins and moves its head, along with a number of other small moving details.

Beneath the Archelon is an entire undersea kingdom full of shipwrecks, sea life, secret grottos, and of course sunken treasure.

The crowning element, of course, is a spectacular (and fully lit) lighthouse. This jewel of a build showcases the hard work and inventive mind of a dedicated builder. It’s easy to see why Archelon Castle won the People’s Choice award at BrickCon 2021.