This October, LEGO is releasing two very different Ideas sets. We previously took a look at the Mineral Collection (it rocks), and today we’re dimming the lights and putting together LEGO Ideas 21361 Gizmo. If you’ve ever wanted to adopt a Mogwai without risking a midnight snack disaster, this buildable Gizmo set is your safest bet! I’m V (@Minifiguring.It.Out on Instagram) and I’m a child of the 80s who remembers when Gizmo was as beloved and ubiquitous as Labubus are right now! Put on the Gremlins Rag and come along as we unlock the secrets of this Mogwai.
LEGO Ideas 21361 Gizmo | 1,125 Pieces | Available October 1 |US $109.99 | CAN $129.99 | UK £89.99
Unboxing & Build Process
I had forgotten that this was a winning fan design, so I was really excited to see the designer in the instructions with such a fun introduction. You and your design rock, Fuma Terai!
While marked 18+, the build experience sits in a comfortable middle ground: engaging enough for experienced fans, approachable for younger newcomers. The frame uses a great mix of technic and hinges to build an organic shape.
Curved slopes and layered plates continue to round the face and belly, and SNOT elements covered in slopes help create convincing “fur” without clutter. The oversized ears are especially well executed—thin, tiled surfaces meet angled brackets to achieve that tapered silhouette. I was really excited to see one of the latest and most useful molds in a new color—the stud clip in light nougat!
All the sub-assemblies for the head, torso, and limbs come together cleanly and smoothly (without worry of dreaded “set explosion”). Once finished, the model feels sturdy and easy to move around.
You can construct Gizmo in either a standing or sitting configuration, and both look natural. That said, switching between them after completion may feel a little daunting for the average builder; it requires partial disassembly around the hips/legs for many (but not all) of the parts. When the instructions split, I had to stop building for a few days while I debated on how to proceed!
In the end I started with Gizmo standing and then swapped him to sitting. Replacing his hips and taking apart legs felt a little scary at first, but honestly it was pretty simple instructions to follow. However, if you think you’ll want to change poses regularly, you may want to buy some extra pieces to have fully built alt legs at the ready!
The Finished Model
For its reasonably easy building level, it’s incredibly well done and truly captures the subject. With the clever use of vehicle mudguard elements, the eyes are striking—both realistic and deeply expressive. It would almost be creepy if he wasn’t so cute! His little fur tufts in his ears are also a genius touch to add dimension. You can nudge the ears, pose the hands and arms, and turn his head to give slightly different moods as well. Getting Gizmo to hold his 3D glasses is a little awkward, but they also seem to fit on top of his head easily. However, I do wish he could actually wear them on his nose. The final touch is a little water element that fits perfectly right on his back—right where he got wet in the original film!
Final Thoughts
On the shelf, it’s pure 80s joy. While not a “play set” in the traditional sense, this is an excellent display piece! Value-wise, it feels fair for what you expect to receive: a detailed, expressive model that taps into pure nostalgia. Gizmo is more poseable than another 18+ character model from earlier this year, Toothless, albeit with some re-assembly required. I do wish there was an accompanying minifigure, as the Gizmo and Stripe from the 2016 Dimensions team pack are excellent figs, and hard to acquire.
Nitpicks aside, Gizmo is an adorable build for Gremlins fans. Display next to your VHS stack, and maybe—just to be safe—avoid building after midnight.
