Cracking cheese has never looked so blocky. The unmistakable claymation charm of Aardman’s most famous duo has found its way into the LEGO universe through an incredibly detailed Ideas submission that transforms Wallace, Gromit, and their friends into brick-built sculptures. There’s something wonderfully meta about recreating characters who were originally handcrafted in plasticine using another tactile medium like LEGO bricks. Nick Park’s fingerprints might be visible on the original characters, but builder “Gummybrickss” has managed to translate that handmade quality into a completely different medium while preserving the essential personality that makes these characters British cultural icons. The characters who normally move through stop-motion animation, one painstaking frame at a time, now stand frozen in plastic, yet somehow retain all their expressiveness.
The transition from malleable clay to rigid ABS plastic seems impossible on paper, yet this collection pulls it off with aplomb. Wallace’s toothy grin, Gromit’s expressive brow, Shaun’s woolly texture, and Feathers McGraw’s cold, calculating stare have all been captured with remarkable fidelity using nothing but existing LEGO elements. The build techniques employed create organic curves where LEGO typically offers straight lines and right angles. The color palette perfectly matches the somewhat muted, homey tones of the original animations, avoiding the sometimes garish primary colors often associated with LEGO sets. Each character comes with its own display stand and features clever articulation points that allow for customizable posing, making this not simply a static display piece but something that can be adjusted to capture different moments from the beloved series.
Designer: Gummybrickss
The star of the show is undoubtedly Wallace himself, standing tall at 33 centimeters (13 inches) and comprising approximately 750 pieces. The builder has nailed Wallace’s distinctive wide grin and oversized head, complete with his characteristic bow tie and sweater vest. The attention to detail extends to his functionality, with articulating arms, hands, and even individual fingers that can move. His legs and shoes can rotate as well, allowing for various poses that capture Wallace’s eccentric personality. The proportions feel spot-on, with the slightly gangly limbs and oversized features that give Wallace his immediately recognizable silhouette. One can almost hear Peter Sallis’s cheerful voice exclaiming “Cheese, Gromit!” when looking at this brick-built version.
His faithful companion, Gromit, stands at a more modest 18 centimeters (7 inches) and uses around 330 pieces. Despite being the silent member of the duo, Gromit has always been extraordinarily expressive through his body language, particularly his eyebrows and ears. The LEGO version cleverly incorporates adjustable ears and a rotating head that allow builders to recreate his signature skeptical looks and reactions to Wallace’s latest invention gone awry. The builder has managed to capture Gromit’s soulful eyes and distinctive snout with remarkable accuracy, using a minimal number of pieces to maximum effect. The simple color palette of tan bricks perfectly evokes Gromit’s plasticine original, while subtle shaping techniques give him the rounded, organic feel that defines the character.
Shaun the Sheep, the breakout star who earned his own successful spin-off series, measures 14 centimeters (5.5 inches) and consists of approximately 280 pieces. The woolly troublemaker is instantly recognizable with his distinctive black head and legs contrasting against his fluffy white body. The builder has cleverly used textured elements to suggest Shaun’s woolly coat, creating the illusion of fluffiness with rigid plastic bricks. Like his counterparts, Shaun features a rotating head that allows for some personality in posing. His proportions perfectly capture the stocky, compact nature of the character, with the slightly too-large head that gives him his adorable appearance. The simplicity of Shaun’s design belies the technical skill required to translate his organic, woolly form into the geometric world of LEGO.
Rounding out the collection is the villainous penguin Feathers McGraw, the silent antagonist from “The Wrong Trousers” who remains one of animation’s most memorable villains despite never uttering a word. Standing at 20 centimeters (8 inches) and built from 370 pieces, Feathers comes complete with his iconic disguise gimmick. The model features a rotating head, movable arms, and even includes functional levers on his remote control, referencing his nefarious plot involving the mechanical trousers. The builder has perfectly captured Feathers’ cold, calculating stare and sleek black and white design. The slightly sinister silhouette immediately brings to mind one of cinema’s most unlikely yet effective criminals, whose methodical heist planning and deadpan demeanor made him an instant classic character despite appearing in just one short film.
The claymation quartet currently exists as a fan-made build on the LEGO Ideas website – a forum where LEGO lovers share their MOCs (My Own Creations) and vote for their favorites. The top-voted builds get reviewed by LEGO’s internal team and are considered for being turned into retail kits (a fan-made LEGO Godzilla build just got approved for an official retail box set). If you want to see Wallace, Gromit, Shaun, and Feathers come to life in real LEGO form, head down to the LEGO Ideas website and give the MOC your vote! (It’s free, of course)
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