LEGO Icons Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas: A Detailed Review

As a huge fan of both LEGO and Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, I was beyond excited to get my hands on the new LEGO Icons set. This set brings the magical, spooky world of Jack Skellington, Sally, and the eerie residents of Halloween Town to life in a way that only LEGO can. I’m excited to share my thoughts on the set and help you decide if it’s the right one for your collection.

First Impressions

When I opened the box, I was immediately struck by how detailed and vibrant the pieces were. The box art itself is stunning and sets the tone for the build. As soon as I started sorting through the bricks, I could see that this set was designed with fans of the movie in mind, capturing its quirky charm.

The set includes several iconic scenes from the movie, like Jack’s house, the town square, and even the famous Spiral Hill. Each mini-build and character has been thoughtfully designed, and it’s clear that LEGO took their time making sure everything was as faithful to the movie as possible.

Key Features

1. Iconic Locations
   Build three iconic scenes from The Nightmare Before Christmas: Spiral Hill, Jack Skellington’s house, and the Halloween Town Hall, all designed to connect and create a cohesive diorama.
2. Authentic Details
   The set includes intricate details like Jack’s chalkboard with his Christmas formula, the walking bathtub, the moon behind Spiral Hill, and the lectern in Town Hall where Jack gives his famous Christmas speech.
3. Eight Characters with 6 Minifigures
   The set comes with eight characters from the film, including Jack Skellington, Sally, Santa Claus, Lock, Shock, and Barrel. Plus, there’s Zero the dog and a brick-built The Mayor figure with two rotating faces.
4. Interactive Elements
   The set features playable elements like a removable roof from Jack’s house and the ability to place Jack at the lectern in the Town Hall.
5. High Piece Count
   With 2,193 pieces, this set offers a lengthy and engaging building experience for adult LEGO fans and collectors.
6. Part of the LEGO Ideas theme
   As a LEGO Ideas set, this diorama was designed by a fan and voted on by the LEGO community, making it a special, crowd-approved product.

Key Facts

• Set Number: 21351
• Piece Count: 2,193 pieces
• Character Count: 6 minifigures, including Jack Skellington, Sally, Santa Claus, Lock, Shock, Barrel, and Zero the dog, along with a brick-built The Mayor figure for a total of 8 characters from the movie.
• Dimensions: Jack’s house measures over 10.5 in. (32 cm) high, 20 in. (51 cm) wide, and 10.5 in. (27 cm) deep when fully assembled.
• Intended Age: 18+. This set is designed for adult builders and collectors, though experienced younger builders may also enjoy it.
• Holiday Decor: The spooky yet festive design makes this set a perfect piece for holiday display.

This collectible set is ideal for both LEGO enthusiasts and fans of Tim Burton’s beloved holiday classic, combining the charm of The Nightmare Before Christmas with the fun of LEGO building.

Pricing by Country

• United States: The LEGO Ideas Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas diorama set (21351) is priced around $129.99 USD.
• United Kingdom: In the UK, this set retails for approximately £119.99 GBP.
• Canada: The price in Canada is about $169.99 CAD.
• Australia: In Australia, expect to pay around $199.99 AUD.
• European Union: In most European countries, the price is around €139.99 EUR.

Prices may vary slightly depending on the retailer and location. Keep an eye out for seasonal discounts or special offers around the holidays.

Where to Buy

This set is available for purchase at various online and physical retailers. Some popular places to buy include:

• LEGO Shop
• Amazon
• Target
• Walmart

Halloween Town in LEGO Form

The set faithfully recreates the spookily enchanting town square of Halloween Town, complete with eerie architecture and details reminiscent of the film. The design stays true to the distinctive, gothic style that Tim Burton is known for, making this model a true collector’s piece for fans of his work.

Key elements include:

• Jack Skellington’s House: One of the set’s centerpieces, this towering, crooked house is instantly recognizable as the home of Jack, the Pumpkin King. The house features several detailed rooms inside, including his bedroom and study, bringing even more depth to the display.
• Town Square: The model includes the iconic spiral hill with a fold-out feature that reveals hidden secrets. There’s also a town square complete with the famous fountain and various spooky accessories that LEGO has designed specifically to evoke the film's creepy atmosphere.
• Graveyard: A small section of the graveyard is also included, adding more playability and detail to the scene. Tombstones, skeletons, and eerie trees bring the graveyard to life.

Building the Set

One of the things I really appreciated about this set is that it strikes a nice balance between being challenging enough for experienced builders but still enjoyable for more casual LEGO fans. The instructions are clear, as usual, and the pieces are divided into logical steps that keep the build flowing smoothly.

Each section of the set, from the buildings to the characters, brings back memories of the movie. I found myself reminiscing about my favorite scenes while piecing together Jack’s house and placing the characters in the town square. The intricate details—like the crooked architecture and spooky pumpkin patches—make this set stand out.

There are over 2,000 pieces in this set, and it took me a few enjoyable hours to complete. The finished product is a true showstopper and looks fantastic on display.

Mini-Figures and Details

Let’s talk about the mini-figures because they’re a huge part of why I love this set. Jack Skellington and Sally are, of course, included and are incredibly well done. Jack’s long, lanky limbs and signature pinstripe suit are perfect, and Sally’s patchwork dress is beautifully detailed. Zero, Jack’s loyal ghost dog, is also included, which was a cute touch.

What really impressed me, though, were the additional mini-figures. There’s Oogie Boogie, with his menacing burlap sack look, and even the Mayor of Halloween Town with his two-faced head that spins just like in the movie! These mini-figures add so much personality to the set and are essential to capturing the feel of The Nightmare Before Christmas.

Here is the lineup of the beautifully detailed minifigures:

• Jack Skellington: The Pumpkin King himself comes complete with his signature pinstripe suit, white skull face, and a variety of accessories, including his bat-shaped bow tie and interchangeable heads to show different emotions.
• Sally: Jack’s love interest, Sally, is detailed with her patchwork dress, mismatched hair, and expressive face. Her figure perfectly complements Jack’s, and her accessories include a potion bottle and other iconic elements from the film.
• Oogie Boogie: The villainous Oogie Boogie is represented in a larger, brick-built form to capture his imposing and intimidating size. He comes with his signature dice and sack-like body, making him a standout character in the set.
• Zero: Jack’s loyal ghost dog, Zero, is a small but vital addition to the set, complete with his glowing pumpkin nose and transparent ghostly form.
• The Mayor: Known for his two-faced head, The Mayor is brought to life with a reversible headpiece, allowing you to display both his happy and distressed faces. He also carries his signature megaphone.

Interactive and Movable Elements

Despite being a display model, this set includes several interactive features to keep builders and fans engaged. The spiral hill can be posed in multiple positions, allowing builders to recreate scenes from the movie. The set also includes a secret door that opens to reveal a hidden room in Jack’s house. Many of the buildings and props have hinged sections for easy access and playability.

Display Value

Once assembled, the set is absolutely stunning as a display piece. It’s big enough to be a centerpiece on a shelf, but not so large that it’s overwhelming. I love how the different sections—like Jack’s house and Spiral Hill—can be arranged in various ways to create your own little Halloween Town scene.

The set also has several moving parts, like the doors and the rotating elements on Spiral Hill, which make it fun to interact with even after you’ve finished the build. If you’re someone who likes to showcase your LEGO creations, this one will definitely stand out.

Pros

1. Nostalgic and Thematic Design
   This set is a perfect homage to Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, bringing back memories with its detailed recreation of iconic locations like Spiral Hill, Jack Skellington’s house, and Halloween Town Hall. For fans of the movie, it’s an instant dose of nostalgia.
2. Unique Display Piece
   The diorama-style design makes it a fantastic display piece, especially around the holidays. It fits right in as part of your Christmas decorations, adding a touch of spooky whimsy to any space.
3. Includes 8 Iconic Characters
   The set comes with eight The Nightmare Before Christmas characters, including Jack Skellington, Sally, Santa Claus, Zero, and a two-faced buildable figure of The Mayor. The addition of Lock, Shock, and Barrel also makes this set feel complete, adding depth to the overall scene.
4. Attention to Authentic Details
   The set features tons of movie-accurate details like Jack’s chalkboard with his Christmas formula, the walking bathtub, and a lectern in the Town Hall where Jack gives his speech. These small touches make the set feel rich in storytelling.
5. Connectible Models
   The three main locations—Spiral Hill, Jack’s house, and Town Hall—are all connectible, allowing for customization and variety in display. This gives you flexibility in how you want to arrange the set.
6. Interactive Elements
   There are some fun, interactive features like the removable roof on Jack’s house and the moon behind Spiral Hill. These small but significant features add to the playability even for a diorama-style set.
7. Perfect for Fans and Collectors
   Whether you’re a LEGO enthusiast, a Tim Burton fan, or a collector of movie memorabilia, this set hits all the right marks. It’s a fantastic gift for adult fans, men or women, and offers a unique blend of nostalgia and creativity.
8. Great Gift Idea
   Will make a great gift for men, women, and fantasy-film-lover or movie memorabilia collector on your list.
9. High-Quality Instructions and Digital Support
   The set includes a booklet with insights from the fan designer and LEGO designer, plus clear, easy-to-follow building instructions. You can also access the LEGO Builder app for 3D viewing tools, adding an extra layer of convenience.
10. Festive Activity for Adults
    This set is marketed as a fun, festive activity for adults, making it an enjoyable project for those who love both LEGO and holiday-themed builds. It’s engaging without being overly complex.

Cons

1. High Price Point
   With over 2,100 pieces, this set comes with a premium price tag. While the quality and details are fantastic, it might be out of reach for casual builders or those on a tighter budget.
2. Limited Playability for Younger Fans
   This is clearly aimed at adult builders and collectors, so younger fans of The Nightmare Before Christmas might find it less engaging in terms of play. Its primary function is as a display piece, rather than a playset with a lot of interactive elements for kids.
3. Requires Significant Space
   Once completed, the set is fairly large, measuring over 10.5 inches high, 20 inches wide, and 10.5 inches deep. If you’re tight on display space, this might be a bit challenging to showcase without rearranging other decorations.
4. More of a Seasonal Display
   While it’s great as a holiday decoration, its spooky, Halloween-Christmas theme may not fit year-round décor unless you’re a die-hard fan of the movie. Some may only want to display it during specific times of the year.
5. Challenging for Beginners
   Though the instructions are clear, the set is definitely designed with adult fans and experienced builders in mind. With over 2,000 pieces and intricate details, beginners might find it a bit overwhelming.
6. Focused on Display, Not Play
   While it has some interactive elements, this set is clearly designed more for display than play. If you’re looking for a LEGO set with more playability or storytelling options, this might not fully meet those expectations.

Final Thoughts

Overall, LEGO Icons Disney Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas set is a dream come true for fans of the movie. It’s a fun build with incredible attention to detail, and the mini-figures are some of the best I’ve seen in any LEGO set. The set’s display value is off the charts, and it’s something I’ll be proud to show off to fellow LEGO fans and movie lovers alike.

That being said, the price might be a sticking point for some, and it’s definitely more suited to experienced builders or collectors rather than beginners or young kids. But if you’re a fan of the movie and looking for a unique, nostalgic LEGO experience, this set is well worth the investment.

In the end, this set is a love letter to Tim Burton’s spooky, whimsical world, and I couldn’t be happier to have it in my collection.