Today we start digging in to the sets from the brand-new LEGO original Dreamzzz theme! We brought you an overview of the theme and some background info at the beginning of May; now we start with the largest set in the first wave, 71469 Nightmare Shark Ship. If you’ve watched the first 10 episodes of the TV show, you’ll be be familiar with this fearsome conveyance; if you haven’t, then we’ve got you covered with pointers on how the set and the source material differ – and why it doesn’t really matter (* one minor grudge aside). Here’s our review of the set, which contains 1,389 pieces, 6+ characters (LEGO says 4 minifigures; we’ll get to that), and will be available August 1st for US $139.99 | CAN $179.99 | UK £119.99.

The LEGO Group provided The Brothers Brick with an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

Unboxing the parts, instructions, and stickers

The front of the box showcases one of the two main builds – it really doesn’t feel like an “A” vs. “B” build, but LEGO doesn’t usually put multiple options on the front of the box – and plugs the TV show. The back showcases both build options, one of the core features of the Dreamzzz line: about 80% of the pieces (usually all but one or two bags) builds a base model, something that has play value on its own. Then you have a choice between two alternatives. And the number of pieces, and importantly the amount of deconstruction, required to switch between them is limited.

Inside are 14 numbered bags, an unnumbered bag containing various larger parts, and a cardboard envelope with the instruction manual and a quite modest sticker sheet for a set this size. Among the parts in the unnumbered bag, the bright green flexible hose piece is new in bright green with the Dreamzzz theme and promises great use for vines.

About that instruction manual: the Dreamzzz instruction booklets are really lovely. The front cover is pretty similar to the plain white that recent manuals have featured, but includes a bit more texture and also an attractive drawn version of the build. It’s not the same art style as the TV show, but could be what the concept art before full animation looks like. The inside continues to use that same art style, introducing characters as you build minifigures and showing action scenes. It’s also worth noting that the instructions are consistently color coded as well: Dream Chaser (the heroes) minifigures or builds have a yellow background, the Nightmare King’s forces use magenta, the first decision-point build uses blue, the second uses green. It’s a great touch through the whole line.

The build

We start by building the body of the shark-ship. An anchor can be raised or lowered from within the bottom jaw, and black ribs extend down each side. This is done with sideways building except in the middle, where ribs attached with clips enclose a bed that can hold a hapless dreamer captive. Snivel doesn’t actually go there, he’s just pointing out where you’ll be soon.

The coral and magenta with black ribs and tail really works here. White jaw with spring green (really kinda glowing green) teeth: it’s a great look. Wednesday Addams would appreciate the stripe effect we’ve got going here. And the tail articulation is plenty of fun. There are a few other functions here that we’ll let you discover as you build them.

The next several assemblies are built and added on to the shark body. The sterncastle has the great helm (steering wheel), a fitting Nightmare Eye throne, a cabin, and is greebled with minifigure handcuffs and many lanterns.

When not attached to the main build, this assembly opens up to reveal … Bunchu? The artwork in the instructions makes it pretty clear that Izzy is trying to get her bun-bun back, but if you read on to our grudge, you’ll see why this detail is a tad off.

The other two assemblies comprise the upper shark jaw, complete with an angler fish-like lantern that may or may not have been slightly dislodged in these photos.

The result is a pretty terrifying shark-ship, even before we get to the decision point on boat vs. 4-wheel shark cruiser.

That decision point signals us to go to the blue or green pages to finish up the build:

Neither option is a very long build; the main difference is wings vs. wheels, and the location of the eye-engines and the big eye itself.

The minifigures

We have to start with the Nightmare King, because this is one of the best minifigures we’ve seen in quite a while. He has alternate facial prints, one more wrapped mummy. The dual-molded hair piece, with white shoulder length hair combined with a black high-pronged crown, inset with a nightmare eye, is a very cool piece. The dual-molded sword, black core with transparent pink blade, looks wonderfully horrifying. Detailed torso and leg printing keeps up the standard.

But seriously. It’s all about the cape. Look at those jaws, as Night Terrors flow from the Nightmare King’s power, ready to torment dreamers. At least two fully-formed and more suggestions of teeth in this black molded rubber cape element make an utterly terrifying garment for our main baddy.

Let’s look at the minions, aka Grimspawn, next. The dark gray plate pictured here is not included; these fellas attach to studs just fine, but Susan is verrrry unbalanced with her wings and will not stand up on her own. The oversized heads that we saw in the Lunar New Year parade are used to great effect here for Snivel. The body shape gets used for several purposes through the theme, so let’s just call out two things. First, the transparent pink matches the page background for Grimspawn/Nightmare forces. And second, these weird little body molds have a clip connection in their armpits. So yes, your nightmares are coming for you, and yes, they are holding forks and swords in their armpits while doing so. Clever, and terrifying!

With apologies to the heroes for not starting with them, they’re great figures, but still don’t quite match that cape. Mateo and Izzy are brother and sister and both have Dream Crafting powers. These are their Dream Realm forms once they’ve gained a bit of experience and learned to control some of their powers. Mateo is the first yellow-tone minifigure with vitiligo, and has some hair highlights also. Izzy’s dream self has another dual-molded sword and some really fabulous dual-molded, transparent sparkly swirly hair.

We also get a tiny cute transparent green version of Z-Blob, Mateo’s comic creation come to life in both the dream and waking worlds. Having never been drawn with a mouth, Z-Blob unfortunately can’t talk, but it’s still darn adorable. Both heroes have fabric elements for capes or skirting, and Mateo introduces the utility belt piece in bright green.

Nova is a side character, sometimes in trouble in the dream world and occasionally encountered in school, but even she has a very nice minifigure featuring sloth pajamas! The back printing is minimal and the legs are unprinted blue, but the dark red hair is very nice, the sleeping expression is adorable, and c’mon, it’s a sloth.

The finished model

LEGO talked about the point at which you choose build A vs. build B already being a playable model, and this one is already pretty great at that stage. That said, the shark-ship with full wing sails and the shark-land-cruiser both take things up an imagination notch. Either build features wild details, a great color scheme, and plenty of swoosh- or vroom-ability.

The grudge

If you read the intro closely, you know you’ve been promised a minor grudge, so here it is: in the Trials of the Dream Chasers TV arc, the Nightmare Shark Ship is originally created not by the Nightmare King, but by the Night Hunter. That’s not actually the grudge; the Night Hunter appears in some other sets and the Nightmare King does ride on it later. No, the grudge is that Izzy’s bunny, Bunchu, isn’t kidnapped on the ship. Izzy’s other stuffed animal is corrupted by the Night Hunter… Mr. Sharkyjaw! That’s right, we could have gotten a LEGO stuffed shark with this set. Ahem. Izzy still hopes to save Mr. Sharkyjaw, and we know there are more episodes and more LEGO sets coming, so perhaps all is not lost.

Conclusion and recommendation

A tiny plastic shark plushie would have been amazing, but we did also say that our grudge didn’t really matter, and we stand by that. This isn’t a perfect set – we’d really like the shark jaw to have a way to stay open, there are a bunch of details that are really easy to knock off, and for a set of this size, a few more minifigures – even counting the Grimspawn – might be expected. On the other hand: it’s fun. The eye motif, which is really carried through the whole theme, works for the nightmares concept and looks great. The included figures are really, really good. And it’s juuust off of the 10 cents per piece benchmark for price, but c’mon, that cape! This set is a great encapsulation of what an original LEGO story can be – colorful, playful, and a bit wacky. We’ll be getting to more of the theme soon, and there’s definitely some other great sets in it. But if this one is in your budget, we think you’ll love it!

71469 Nightmare Shark Ship contains 1,389 pieces and, by our count, 6 minifigures. It will be available starting August 1st from the LEGO Shop and worldwide for US $139.99 | CAN $179.99 | UK £119.99 or from Amazon. It may also be available from third-party sellers on eBay.

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The LEGO Group sent The Brothers Brick an early copy of this set for review. Providing TBB with products for review guarantees neither coverage nor positive reviews.

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