LEGO® Ideas parts & minifigures review: 21324 123 Sesame Street

Following his look yesterday at the completed LEGO® Ideas set 21324 123 Sesame Street, today Tim Johnson breaks it down to reveal the new minifigures, printed and recoloured pieces as well as many rare ones. This 1367-piece set is now available for £109.99/ €119.99/ US$119.99/ CA$149.99. If you're buying it, consider using our affiliate links to LEGO Shop at Home in the USA or UK. New Elementary earn from qualifying purchases. The products in this article were provided for free by LEGO; the author's opinions are not biased by this.

As we've all now seen, LEGO® Ideas 21324 123 Sesame Street is a vibrant set full of new and rare recolours of parts, and brand new minifigs too. Hang on a second – new moulds in Ideas? The press release confirms “exclusive buildable minifigures which have been moulded specifically for the set”. Seems that’s no longer against the Ideas rules; Brickset user Brick_Clicker noted the guidelines on the LEGO Ideas site now state: “Should we deem it necessary, we may introduce new LEGO element molds, new cloth or other non-brick elements in the final official LEGO Ideas set. This would [be] done on a case-by-case basis at the discretion of the LEGO Ideas Product Development team.” Well, that is good news, although I really hope we get a CMF line too because I want Grover and The Count!

Nevertheless I’m thrilled by who we do have here (except for Elmo who I despise, but I won’t let personal vendettas cloud my judgment). 

Sesame Street LEGO Minifigures

Five characters receive the minifigure treatment; 6 if you include the brilliant, hilarious solution for Oscar the Grouch! 

He is printed (6327454) on a Lime Brick Round 2 x 2 Sphere with Stud (20953) and then attached to a lime minifigure head to help keep him in his trash can, but that restricts the angles you can achieve with his head so I removed it.

Let's take a closer look at the minifigures, beautifully designed by graphic designer Crystal Marie Fontan and element project lead Jaime Sanchez.

All of the heads are superbly sculpted. Cookie (6322942) is my favourite as they’ve really captured his crazy mouth and I like the lumpy bits of fur that he and Elmo (6322941) have. Happily Bert (6322939) and Ernie (6322938) look ‘normal’ to me, by which I mean not their most recent redesign. And Bert’s turtle neck is included!

Note the variation in leg height, especially the welcome inclusion of medium legs (37364): Bert has them in Dark Green (6270888), only their second appearance after 75810 The Upside Down; while Cookie Monster has Blue (6233038|37364) which have been in 2 other sets and 1 book. Big Bird’s legs (6323985) are the only regular minifig legs and they include side printing.

There’s double-sided printing on the torsos of Bert (6323019) and Ernie (6323021), the only printed torsos in the set. Cookie and Elmo have unprinted ‘monofig’ torsos, by which I mean that the constituent elements are all the same colour. While it would be simple enough to assemble those yourself, they’re rarely provided as such in sets. In fact a fully blue torso (6323023) has never appeared in sets and red (6323025) only in the 40178 Iconic VIP Set polybag from 2017, and early versions of Classic Space sets as torsos came unprinted initially – you had to apply the Space logo as a torso sticker. The ‘seventies were grim times.

Big Bird’s headpiece (6322937) is rubber and includes his tail and the plumage for his torso (6323851), which is a recolour of the White torso of Chicken Suit Guy from 2013 and 2016. It's an absolutely gorgeous representation, the only downside being the headpiece covering restricts movement of his wings; they can’t go higher than shown here.

New printed pieces in LEGO Sesame Street

Two new printed pieces make up the famous Sesame Street signage: a Tile 1 x 4 in Yellow with “SESAME STREET” printing (6323486), and in that same colouring, a Tile 1 x 1 with 2 Rounded Corners with “123” printing (6323483) plus a spare. There’s also “123” printed in a beautiful serif typeface on a Brick 1x2 in Trans-Clear (6331045) which appears over the front door. This could find many other uses in your builds such as a window on an old train. 

The other transparent element with printing is a Minifig Head with Goldfish and Bubbles print (6323497) which acts as Elmo’s BFF Dorothy in her fishbowl. Another printed pal is Slimey (6323501), Oscar’s pet worm, and to my surprise I think this may top even my beloved Ernie to be my favourite piece in the whole set. Cleverly, Slimey has been printed on a Tile 1 x 1 Special Heart, making use of its curves. Now that’s what I call Nice Printing Usage. You get a spare, which perhaps could be included in your model as Slimey’s mother Eartha Worm. 

Finally, there’s a Tile 1 x 2 with Peanut Packaging printing (6313414) which again will be useful in your own creations. I wondered what it references from the show until Chris Pearce pointed out in his Brickset review that it was created for the LEGO Minions theme; one of the delayed sets.

Recoloured parts in LEGO Sesame Street

I found 18 parts in new colours, or appearing unprinted for the first time, in this set and when it comes to ‘rare’ elements that have only appeared in a few sets so far, there are dozens and dozens! There are just so many included, I wonder if designer Ollie went to the trouble of checking which colours were rarest? There is an obvious determination to cheer up the building process by varying the colour of the filler bricks as much as possible, and in general the multicoloured nature of the set perhaps allowed him more freedom in his selection of element colours. Quantities of these parts, however, are low – usually only one of each.

Let’s go through them in order of decreasing rarity. 

 

Exclusive recoloured parts in 123 Sesame Street  

These parts are yet to appear in another LEGO set (apart from one error! EDIT: ok 2 errors...):

• 4x Brick Curved 1 x 1 x 2/3 Double Curved Top in Dark Green (6312450|49307)
• 6x Plate Special 1 x 2 Rounded with 2 Open Studs in Blue (6315482 | 35480)
• 1x Box / Crate with Handholds in Dark Red (6310874|30150)
• 1x (plus 1 spare) Bar 1L with 3 Sprouts/Prongs in Tan (6324176 | 68211) – plus, this mould has only ever appeared in Black in just one set; read about it in our review of LEGO Minions
• 2x (plus 1 spare) Tile 1 x 1 Special Heart in Tan (6300100 | 39739) – appearing unprinted for the first time
• 1x Tile 2 x 3 in Green (6288100|26603)
• 1x Tile Round 3 x 3 in White (6300017 | 67095)
• 1x (plus 1 spare) Tile 1 x 1 Special Heart in Bright Pink (6275466 | 39739) – unprinted for the first time, and also comes in 40413 Mini Robots, the current Gift with Purchase for orders over $/£100 promoting the new Mindstorms set.
• 1x Minifig Head Special, Small Cube (Baby) in White (6138163 | 35530)
• 6x Tile Special 2 x 3 with 2 Clips [Thick Open O Clips] (6344310|65886). There have been several variants to this design over the years and none of them have come in Green
• 12x Bracket 1 x 1 - 1 x 1 Inverted in Medium Nougat (6324205|36840)
• 1x Lamp Post 2 x 2 x 7 with 4 Base Flutes (6324208|11062) which has only appeared in Black, White and Dark Green in 21319 Central Perk. The older version of this mould (2039) never came in Green
• 1x Tile Round 3 x 3 in Dark Red (6316561|67095). This piece appeared printed in 76165 Iron Man Helmet
• Oops, this should not have been in the exclusive picture, but is pretty cool nevertheless: 1x Cupboard 2 x 3 x 2 with Hollow Studs in Blue (6313992 | 92410) has only ever appeared once way back in 2010 in 3222 Helicopter and Limousine
• 1x Brick Curved 2 x 2 x 1 1/3 with Curved Top - Corner in White (6299937 | 67810, the thrilling new piece that has only appeared in Reddish Brown in 43179 Mickey Mouse & Minnie Mouse Buildable Characters so far
  
• Another oops-but-still-cool: 10x Window 1 x 2 x 3 Flat Front in Green (6324206|60593) has only appeared in 2 sets from 2010-2011
  
• 1x unprinted Animal, Dinosaur, Raptor, Baby in Olive Green (6280506|37829). Previously this has only appeared unprinted in 76122 Batcave Clayface Invasion where it was Sand Green, and has only appeared in Olive Green in printed form in Jurassic World 75938 T. rex vs Dino-Mech Battle

There’s one more exclusive recolour, and it is so gorgeous I just had to show it in situ:

• 1x Minifig Helmet Round Sphere with Small Hole in Transparent with Opalescence/ Satin Trans-Clear (6316974|51283)

Hello, lamppost! Yes, the new ‘Effect’ introduced for 2020, Opalescence, enjoys what I feel is its finest moment yet; the mottled pearl surface is just perfect for an old fashioned street lamp globe. 

To date this element has only appeared in Trans-Clear (6266626) in 6 Super Heroes sets. It is minifig headgear, and so the Sesame Street lamppost uses a trans-clear minifig head inside to support the globe. You could swap that out for other colours, for example yellow to suggest a soft glow, and I can't wait to see how it looks with lighting!

 

Parts appearing in LEGO Sesame Street and one other set

• 1x Plate Special 1 x 2 with Handle on End in Dark Turquoise (6295286|60478) only in 80105 Chinese New Year Temple Fair
• 1x Brick Round 1 x 1 with Fins, Open Stud (6331234|4588) Space Fan from 71027 Series 20 Minifigures
• 2x (plus 1 spare) Plate Special 8-Sided Crystal/Gem 1 x 1 x 2/3 in Satin White (6287309|65092) only in 41903 Cosmic Wonder
• 1x Brick Round 2 x 2 Dome Bottom in Pearl Gold (6317208|15395) only in 80015 Monkie Kid's Cloud Roadster
• 3x Plate Special 1 x 3 with 2 Studs with Groove and Inside Stud Holder (Jumper) in Bright Light Yellow (6296535|34103) only in 10271 Fiat 500
• 10x (plus 1 spare) Tile 1 x 1 Half Circle in Blue (6268862|24246) in DOTS 41919 Power Bracelet
• 2x (plus 1 spare) Slope 45° 1 x 1 x 2/3 Quadruple Convex in Black (6312449|22388) in Fuzzy from Super Mario 71361 Character Pack
• 1x Animal, Rabbit / Bunny with Face and White Fur Print in Tan (6300205|67905) from Pajama Girl 71027 CMF
• 1x Brick Special 1 x 1 x 3 with 2 Clips Vertical in Bright Light Orange (6329894|60583) only in 71367 Mario's House & Yoshi Expansion Set
• 1x (plus 1 spare) Slope Double 45° 1 x 1 in Red (6224794|35464) in 42115 Sián FKP 37
• 1x (plus 1 spare) Tile Round 1 x 1 with Chinese Candy print in White (6298993|67532) from 80105 Chinese New Year Temple Fair
• 1x Technic Ball Joint in Orange (6307452|32474) in 70435 Newbury Abandoned Prison
• 1x Brick Special 1 x 4 with Masonry Brick Profile in Lavender (6311131|15533) only in Diagon Alley
• 2x Dish 4 x 4 Inverted with Open Stud in Light Bluish Gray (6317090|35394) only in 75288 AT-AT
• 1x Brick Round 1.5 x 1.5 Dome Top in Light Bluish Gray (6221784|20952) only in 75252 Imperial Star Destroyer
• 1x Turntable 2 x 2 Female in Black (6310981|27448) in 71734 NES
• 3x Technic Brick 1 x 1 in Bright Light Orange (6318085|6541) only in 71369 Bowser's Castle Boss Battle Expansion Set
• 1x Fence 1 x 4 x 2 in Dark Red (6295360|3185) only in 80105 Chinese New Year Temple Fair
• 1x Slope 45° 2 x 1 with 2/3 Cutout in Bright Light Yellow (6296495|15672) only in 10271 Fiat 500
• 1x Door 1 x 5 x 3 with 3 Studs and Handle in Dark Blue (6252785|93096) only in the 2019 Friends set 41367 Stephanie's Horse Jumping
• Bag / Sack with Handle in Green (6291431|10169) in 4002019 Yuletide Squadron Xmas-Wing Starfighter
• 1x Tile 2 x 6 in Black (6318582|69729) in NES
• 2x Plate 4 x 12 in Bright Light Yellow (6290533|3029) only in 60244 Police Helicopter Transport
• 1x Brick Special 2 x 2 with Grooves and Axle Hole in Dark Orange (6315198|90258) in 71360 Adventures with Mario Starter Course

Parts in LEGO Sesame Street and 2 other sets

• 2x Brick Round, Half 1 x 2 in Black (6308032|68013) which comes in 2 other 2020 sets we are reviewing soon
• 2x Brick Special 1 x 1 with Stud on 1 Side in Medium Nougat (6314190|87087) appears in 2 Super Mario sets
• 1x Technic Pin Connector Hub with 1 Pin with Friction Ridges Lengthwise in Lime (6326619|15100) from 42115 Lamborghini Sián FKP 37 and 71374 Nintendo Entertainment System. The poor colour matching noted between different lime parts in the Sián is still present with this piece, which is unsurprising as the problem was caused by a materials supply chain issue. You can read TLG’s explanation over on The Brick Architect
• 2x Bracket 1 x 2 - 1 x 2 Inverted in Bright Light Yellow (6296496|99780) introduced this year
• 2x Tile 1 x 2 with Video Tape print in Black (6267179|53285), presumably both with biscuit factory documentaries recorded on them as they are used in Cookie’s apartment 
• 1x Panel 1 x 3 x 1 in Reddish Brown (6316282|23950) only in 71365 Piranha Plant Power Slide Expansion Set and 75978 Diagon Alley
• 2x Brick Special 1 x 1 x 1 2/3 with Studs on 1 Side in Dark Green (6252591|32952) in 21315 Pop-Up Book from 2018 and was recently included in LEGO House exclusive 40501 The Wooden Duck. It was also meant to be in the exclusive set intended for the cancelled 2020 San Diego Comic Con, Star Wars 77904 Nebulon-B Frigate
• 1x Tile 2 x 3 in Reddish Brown (6311441|26603) only in 71722 Skull Sorcerer's Dungeons and 71705 Destiny's Bounty
• 2x Plant, Plate 1 x 1 Round with 3 Leaves in Yellow (6286830|32607) only in 10270 Bookshop and 21322 Pirates of Barracuda Bay
• 1x Tile 45° Cut 2 x 2 in Reddish Brown (6291040|35787) introduced last year
• 2x Bracket 1 x 1 - 1 x 1  in White (6296132|36841) in 75276 Stormtrooper and 80013 Monkie Kid's Team Secret HQ
• 2x Tile 2 x 3 in Orange (6293710|26603) introduced this year
• 1x Plate 8 x 8 in Dark Red (6249819|41539) which appeared in 2015's 8877 Vladek's Dark Fortress and then in 2020, 76165 Iron Man Helmet
• 1x Panel 1 x 6 x 5 in Dark Red (6267408|59349) only in 2 Hidden Side sets from 2019
• 3x Brick Special 1 x 2 x 1 2/3 with four studs on one side in Bright Light Yellow (6316264|22885) only in 2 Super Mario sets
• 2x Plate Special 1 x 2 with Door Rail in Bright Light Yellow (6296519|32028) only in 10271 Fiat 500 and 75978 Diagon Alley
• 1x (plus 1 spare) Tile 1 x 1 with Rainbow, Sand Red, Yellow, Dark Azure, Medium Blue, Dark Purple, Cloud print (6254609 | 49610) – although designed for DOTS 41900 Rainbow Bracelet it previously appeared in 21045 Trafalgar Square 
• 1x (plus 1 spare) Tile 1 x 1 with Unicorn Painting print in Dark Turquoise (6253790) – oops, this has actually appeared in 3 other sets; 21045 Trafalgar Square, 41902 Sparkly Unicorn and 80105 Chinese New Year Temple Fair
• 4x Plate Special 2 x 2 x 0.667 with Two Studs On Side and Two Raised in Lime (6264064|99206) which was in the 2019 sets 31095 Fairground Carousel and 75255 Yoda
• 1x Tile 2 x 2 with Groove in Bright Light Yellow {6286832|3068) only in 10271 Fiat 500 and 10270 Bookshop

Parts in LEGO Sesame Street and 3 other sets

• 4x Plate Special 1 x 3 with 2 Studs with Groove and Inside Stud Holder (Jumper) in Medium Nougat (6292145|34103) introduced this year
• 2x Tile 1 x 1 with Groove in Bright Light Yellow (6275877|3070) introduced this year
• 2x (plus 1 spare) Sports Roller Skate in Blue (6267163|11253) introduced last year
• 2x Tile Special 1 x 3 Inverted with Center Hole in Dark Brown (6272145|35459) introduced last year
• 1x Brick Arch 1 x 6 x 2 in Bright Light Orange (6186647|15254) introduced in 2017
• 1x Window Frame 1 x 3 x 3 in Tan (6287878|51239) introduced this year following the mould’s introduction last year
• 4x Brick Curved 1 x 1 x 2/3 Double Curved Top in Medium Nougat (6296061|49307) introduced this year
• 3x Plate Special 1 x 2 Rounded with 2 Open Studs in Green (6210271|35480) introduced this year
• 4x Plate Special 1 x 2 with Handle on End in Sand Green (6258387|60478) introduced last year
• 1x Plate Special 1 x 2 Rounded with 2 Open Studs in Yellow (6248971|35480) introduced last year
• 2x Plate 2 x 12 in Magenta (6093863|24450) introduced in 2018
• 1x Tile Special 2 x 3 Pentagonal in Dark Green (6285134|22385) introduced this year
• 1x Plate Special 1 x 2 with Pin Hole on Top in Bright Pink (6213791|11458) introduced in 2018
• 1x Tile Special 4 x 4 with Studs on Edge in Dark Green (6276044|6179) introduced last year
• 3x Plate 1 x 6 in Medium Nougat (6295464|3666) introduced this year
• 1x Plate Special 2 x 2 with Groove and Center Stud (Jumper) in Dark Turquoise (6290269|87580) introduced this year 

Conclusion

21324 123 Sesame Street is a no-brainer purchase for fans. Even if you are disappointed the model does not reflect the pre-2016 version of the Sesame Street set, you could rebuild it that way! Naturally the gorgeous minifigures are the star of the show but the buildings are great to construct, particularly Hooper's Store.

I suspect it is a no-brainer purchase for many others too as LEGO and Sesame Street is simply a fantastic pop-culture fusion, brilliantly executed. For those less excited about the subject matter, the diverse colours of the inventory might be a draw, especially as so many of the pieces have only appeared in a few sets. As mentioned, quantities are not great though. Many of the printed and stickered parts could find uses elsewhere. The small objects dotted throughout the build are really cleverly designed and could be used in your own creations.

The 18+ age mark is surprising, and has very little to do with the build complexity – and obviously nothing to do with the subject matter!  My personal guess is that it is primarily down to the Marketing department; the new 2020 packaging is focused on converting adults into AFOLs and the age mark helps them overcome the potential embarrassment of buying a kids' toy. That becomes doubly important if the toy's subject matter is primarily aimed at preschoolers!

Did you miss my discussion of the model in part 1, along with all the references on the sticker sheet? Read it here.

READ MORE: LEGO® Star Wars 75290 Mos Eisley Cantina reviewed by Thomas Jenkins

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