LEGO® Monkie Kid review & MOCs: 80039 The Heavenly Realms

2022 saw the debut of LEGO® Monkie Kid Season 3, accompanied by the release of seven sets on 1 January. Six months later, 80039 The Heavenly Realms appeared; the largest of three more sets released in the summer wave. 

Products in this article were provided by LEGO®; the author's opinions are their own.
LEGO® Monkie Kid The Heavenly Realms
US$189.99/ £159.99/ 179.99€/ AU$$279.99
2433 parts
1 June 2022
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New Elements in 80039 The Heavenly Realms

Despite its substantial part count, the set contains just three new moulded plastic elements (and two of these are colour variants. All are minifigure hair pieces.

• 1 x Hair and Crown, Swept Back, Long in Black (6396696 | 1895)
• 1 x Hair and Crown, Swept Back, Long in White (6396724 | 1896) - both variations of this new mould are unqiue to this set
• 1 x Hair Two Top Buns in Black (6370564 | 80792) - also appears in 80034 Nezha’s Fire Ring

There are two cloth elements which will perhaps be of interest to those folks who like to put together their own characters:

• 1 x Hipwear Skirt, 4 Holes, Two Triangular Cut-outs, Gold Arches Print in Bright Red/Red (6395812 | 1885) - unique in this set
• 1 x Neckwear Cape, with One Top Hole in Black (6395811 | 1884) - additionally in 75336 Inquisitor Transport Scythe

The four distinctive foil clouds adorning the build all come as part of one punch-out sheet with a single Element ID, 6404247.

• 1 x Cloud, 5 Holes, Gap at Top, Yellow and Gold Trim Print in White (upn0508c)
• 1 x Cloud, 3 Holes, Yellow and Gold Trim Print in White (upn0508a)
• 1 x Cloud, 5 Holes, Gap at Bottom, Yellow and Gold Trim Print in White (upn0508d)
• 1 x Cloud, 4 Holes, Yellow and Gold Trim Print in White (upn0508b)

Recoloured elements

The following recoloured elements are all unique to this set:

• 4 x Brick Special 16 x 16 x 1 1/3 with Pinholes in White (6384451 | 65803)
• 6 x Tile 3 x 3 Curved, Macaroni in Brick Yellow/Tan (6392915 | 79393)
• 4 x Cloud/Dust with Bar in Warm Gold/Pearl Gold (6392457 | 68547)
• 1 x Dish 3 x 3 Inverted [Radar] in Dark Red (6393571 | 43898)
• 3 x Plate Special 2 x 2 with Bar Frame Octagonal, Reinforced, Completely Round Studs in Pearl Gold (6388645 | 75937)
• 8 x Dish 4 x 4 with 4 Studs in Sand Yellow/Dark Tan (6390505 | 65138)
• 1 x Vehicle Track, Roller Coaster Ramp Large Upper Part, 6 Bricks Elevation in Pearl Gold (6390499 | 26560)

These elements are also found a small number of other sets:

• 4 x Tile 4 x 4 Curved, Macaroni in Tan (6348203 | 27507) - also in 75326 Boba Fett's Throne Room
• 4 x Bracket 1 x 1 - 1 x 1 in Light Royal Blue/Bright Light Blue (6383096 | 36841) - additionally in 10298 Vespa 125
• 1 x Minifig Neckwear Armor Shoulder Pads in Lavender (6377670 | 41637) - also in Nezha’s Fire Ring
• 2 x Tile Special 2 x 2 Corner with Cut Corner - Facet in Bright Blue/Blue (6333512 | 27263) - in 30343 McLaren Elva and 76902 McLaren Elva

Rare Colours

The following pieces are only in one other set:

• 1 x Brick Arch 1 x 6 x 2 - Thin Top without Reinforced Underside [New Version] in Bright Light Blue (6271655 | 15254 - in Vespa 125
• 1 x Tile 1 x 8 with Groove in Bright Light Blue (6372121 | 4162) - just in 77942 Fiat 500 (Bright Light Blue version)
• 1 x Neckwear Cape, Two Long Tails, Pointed in Bright Red/Red (6375190 | 84433) - only in Nezha’s Fire Ring
• 1 x Plate Special 1 x 2 with Arm Up [Horizontal Arm 5mm] in Transparent/Trans-Clear (6358931 | 43876) - also in 80109 Lunar New Year Ice Festival
• 2 x Technic Beam 3 x 5 L-Shape Thick in Bright Light Blue (6383132 | 32526) - in Vespa 125
• 4 x Technic Beam 1 x 5 Thick in Bright Light Blue (6383133 | 32316) - in Vespa 125

These elements are found in two other sets:

• 4 x Brick Round, Half 1 x 2 in White (6382983 | 68013) - in 41703 Friendship Tree House and 40574 Lego Brand Store
• 2 x Turntable 2 x 2 Female in Dark Orange (6375188 | 27448) - in 76399 Hogwarts Magical Trunk and 71406 Yoshi’s Gift House Expansion Set
• 6 x Plate Special 1 x 2 with Handle on End [Closed Ends] in Bright Light Blue (6372259 | 60478) - in Vespa 125 and Fiat 500 
• 10 x Plate 1 x 3 in Bright Light Blue (6372138 | 3623) - as above
• 1 x Hinge Plate 1 x 2 Locking with 1 Finger on Side, without Groove in Tan (6340222 | 44567) - in one other readily available set, 76941 Carnotaurus Dinosaur Chase and the 2020 Christmas Employee Gift set 4002020 Celebrating 40 Years of Hands-on Learning
• 1 x Brick Arch 1 x 5 x 4 Inverted in Medium Stone Grey/Light Bluish Gray (6310881 | 30099) - also in 80024 The Legendary Flower Fruit Mountain and 75291 Death Star Final Duel

The following appear in three other sets:

• 2 x Dish 3 x 3 Inverted [Radar] in Sand Green (6223166 | 43898) in 11020 Build Together, 75255 Yoda and 21042 Statue of Liberty
• 1 x Wedge Plate 4 x 2 Left in Sand Green (6258329 | 41770) in 71746 Jungle Dragon, 75277 Boba Fett and 70840 Welcome to Apocalypseburg!
• 1 x Wedge Plate 4 x 2 Right in Sand Green (6258333 | 41769) in all 3 of the above plus 41714 Andrea's Theater School
• 2 x Bracket 1 x 2 - 1 x 2 Inverted in Bright Light Blue (6372232 | 99780) in Emma's Art School, Vespa 125 and Fiat 500
• 4 x Bracket 1 x 2 - 2 x 2 Inverted in Bright Light Blue (6372222 | 99207) - in 40553 Woody and Bo Peep, Vespa 125 and Fiat 500 
• 8 x  Brick Special Arch 2 x 2 Corner in White (6300101 | 38585) - in 41711 Emma's Art School and 21054 The White House, and also in the Bricklink Designer Programme release 910023 Venetian Houses
• 2 x Tile 2 x 2 Curved, Macaroni in Sand Green (6299637 | 27925) - in Boutique Hotel, Boba Fett and 75318 The Child
• 33 x Brick Curved 3 x 1 with 2/3 Inverted Cutout in Sand Green (6369375 | 70681) - also in 10297 Boutique Hotel, Emma's Art School and 21333 The Starry Night but the greatest number in any set here (33)
• 6 x Tile 1 x 1 Heart with Peach print in Light PurpleBright Pink (6305864 | 39739) - in The Legendary Flower Fruit Mountain, 80012 Monkey King Warrior Mech and 80009 Pigsy's Food Truck
• 9 x Handlebars with Angular Handles in Reddish Brown (6327818 | 98397) - in 10281 Bonsai, 71741 NINJAGO City Gardens and The Legendary Flower Fruit Mountain

Exclusive Printed Piece

Aside from some minifigure elements listed further down this article, there is just one element which is a new exclusive print, the Celestial Dog:

• 1 x Animal, Dog, Alsatian German Shepherd (Police Dog) with Gold/Light Bluish Grey Decorations print in Black (6299610 | 67725) - uniquely available in this set

Minifigs in 80039 The Heavenly Realms

The figures all have double-sided faces, which are illustrated in the front and  back images. The notable elements making up the characters in this set are as follows: 

Monkey King

• 1 x Minifig Head Monkey King, Gold Eyes, Open Mouth Smith with Fang Teeth / Angry Print in Brick Yellow/ Tan (6296319 | 66067) - in 6 other Monkie Kid releases
• 1 x MINI UPPER PART, NO. 6081 with Pearl Gold arms and Tan Hands in Red (6397002 | 76382) - unique to this set
• 1 x Minifig Hipwear Cat Tail Costume with Gold Belt Print in Dark Orange (6275287 | 62076) - also in Monkey King Warrior Mech and Series 19 CMF 71025-4 Monkey King (removed for clarity in this image)
• 1 x MINI LOWER PART, NO. 2330 in White (6398946 | 100011) - unique here

Monkie Kid

These elements only appear in 80036 The City of Lanterns besides this set:

• 1 x Minifig Head Monkie Kid, Sunglasses with Gold Frames and Smile with Star Big Eyebrows and Smirk Print in Bright Yellow/Yellow (6366655 | 81252) 
• 1 x Torso Hoodie, Red Half, Pocket, Bright Light Orange Shoulder Bag Print, White Arms, Yellow Hands in White (6378366 | 76382)
• 1 x Legs and Hips with Pockets, White Belt, Headphones with Dark Turquoise Cable Print in Red (6379353 | 90206)

Heaven Fairy

• 1 x Minifig Head Mei Heaven Fairy, Eyebrows, Eyelashes, Bright Pink Lips, Slight Smile Sneer Print in Yellow/Yellow (6296328) - in 5 other Monkie Kid sets
• 1 x MINI UPPER PART, NO. 6107 in White (6397942 | 76382) - unique to this set
• 1 x Hips and Legs Under Dress/Robe Medium Lavender Scarf, White Under-Dress print in Lavender (6299682 | 67763) - unique to this set

Warden Monkey King

The skirt piece has already been covered under Cloth elements above.

• 1 x Minifig Head Monkey King, Nougat Around Eyes, Left Eye Winking, Black Right Eye and Chewing Gold Right Eye Angry Print in Tan (6299647 | 67742) - unique to this set (appears twice)
• 1 x MINI UPPER PART, NO. 6082 in Red (6397094 | 76382) - unique here

Taishang Laojun

I did not photograph the beard element as it has been seen in many other sets, and would have obscured the front torso printing. The following are all unique to this set:

• 1 x Minifig Head Taishang Laojun, White and Light Bluish Gray Bushy Eyebrows and Beard, Closed Eyes and Mouth Open Eyes and Mouth Print in Yellow (6299667 | 67753)
• 1 x MINI UPPER PART, NO. 6095 in White (6397641 | 76382)
• 1 x Hips and Legs Under Dress/Robe Orange Scarf, Gold Trim. Sand Blue Under-Dress print in White (6299671 | 67755)

Warrior Monkey King

• 1 x Minifig Head Monkey King, Nougat Around Eyes, Left Eye Winking, Black Right Eye and Chewing Gold Right Eye Angry Print in Tan (6299647 | 67742) - unique to this set but the same head as the Warden Monkie King
• 1 x Torso Robe with Black Trim, Dark Turquoise Neckerchief Print, Black Arms, Tan Hands in Flame Yellowish Orange/Bright Light Orange (6342495 | 76382) - in 4 other Monkie Kid releases
• 1 x Minifig Hipwear Tail, Monkey with Bright Light Orange Front Print in Dark Orange (6342494 | 76862) - in 4 other Monkie Kid sets 
• 1 x Legs and Hips with Black Boots Pattern with Bright Light Orange Robe End, White Knee Straps and Sash Belt Print in Red (6342496 | 76863) - in 4 other Monkie Kid releases

Nezha

The lavender neckwear and red cloak are detailed in the recoloured and rare elements sections above.

• 1 x Minifig Head Nezha, Eyebrows, Red Forehead Marking, Stern Open Mouth Smile Print in Yellow (6299672 | 67756) - unique here
• 1 x Torso Armor, Gold, Lavender, and Dark Turquoise Panels Print, Yellow Arms and Hands in Red (6376476 | 76382) - also in Nezha’s Fire Ring

Erlang

All of the below elements are unique to this set:

• 1 x Minifig Head Erlang, Big Arched Eyebrows, Gold Eye on Forehead and Clenched Teeth Open Mouth Print in Yellow (6299650 | 67744) 
• 1 x MINI UPPER PART, NO. 6083 in White (6397279 | 76382)
• 1 x MINI LOWER PART, NO. 2302 in White (6299657 | 67746)
  

The build & play features

The parts come in 17 numbered bags, along with the four large Technic Brick bases. The instructions run to two thick manuals, with just a few elements added at each stage. Overall I found the build experience to be an enjoyable one. There aren't many dificult techniques on display but the Technic assemblies which secure the clouds onto the Celestial Palace section were puzzling until they were attached to the base. 

I was particularly taken with the built-upside-down section of wall at the rear of the Peach Garden. The whole wall is topped off with a 1x16 Technic brick attached (upside down) with four Technic pins, to the 16x16 Technic brick which serves as a base for the rest of the Peach Garden. The red half pins on the outside are used to fix the curvy cloud edge to the final model, as seen below.

It is a good looking set once completed and if you push the entrance gateway and bridge towards the Celestial Palace, the clouds part and the Peach Garden and Furnace both move aside to give better access to play in all three sections, as seen in the image at the top of this review.

When closed, the main sections of the set cover an area a little bit larger than a 32x32 baseplate, not including the large protrusion at the front for the entrance gate and golden bridge to the heavens. in the open position, the gateway is a little bit closer to the Celestial Palace, so the depth is slightly less, but the overall width increases to about double that of the closed dimension. You will need quite a bit of room to play with or display this model, so bear that in mind when you are making a decision about where to put it!

Original build, and mod inspired by 80039 The Heavenly Realms

Up, Up And Away!

When I first saw images of the set, I immediately wondered how the foil cloud elements might be used, perhaps as part of a mosaic. So I decided to have a play around.

The 16x16 Technic Brick provided a nice "canvas" but the resulting scene turned out to be less of a mosaic and rather more reminiscent of the recent Postcard vignettes which LEGO has released. While the cloud shape is a perfect fit when applied to the sides of a studs-up build, the geometry is a little off when mounting it to an array of studs seen from the top. Three out of the four attachment points line up well enough over a hollow stud, a 1x2 jumper and a 2x2 jumper, but the hole at the bottom left of the cloud didn't really fit any locations. So I decided to hold that corner down with the row of houses. I haven't tried the other cloud pieces for a stud or half-stud offset of the mounting holes, but I'm guessing there may be similar issues with them too.

Underneath the houses I had originally applied the billowing brick-built strip of white clouds from the bottom of the Peach Garden's rear wall, but it looked a bit odd, so I rebuilt the shape in Dark Bluish Gray to add a bit more visual solidity and actual stability, given that the Technic Brick is resting on its side. 

The rest of the blue sky was crying out for a big yellow sun and a few more fluffy clouds made with Unikitty minifigure bases. Then I had the idea of adding the red plane from the Collectible Minifigure Series 21 Airplane Girl, which appears to be soaring up, up and away above the tiny housese below. It  finishes the scene off nicely.

Heavenly Temple

I love the design of the set, but if you are like me and don't have much room for displaying such a large piece, I thought it would be interesting to see if I could make a version (which is more of a mod than a MOC) that would reduce the footprint but still retain as much of the original flavour as possible. 

It was tough deciding what I should keep and what had to go, but in the end I have now reduced the footrpint to around 34 modules wide by 20 modules deep. It is still flat at the back so it will stand against a wall on a shelf without wasting any space. 

Conclusion

This is a well designed set which looks great as a display piece while still having plenty of potential for play with various moving elements. It also contains numerous recoloured and rare elements for those collectors who wish to enhance their parts inventory for use in their own builds. The eight minifigures include lots of unique elements which will also appeal to those wishing to acquire exclusive new characters. The price feels a little on the high side, despite a reasonable price per part value of 7.8c, 6.6p and 7.4c, but the inclusion of so many minifigures and plenty of interesting parts may be sufficient to entice buyers to part with their cash.

LEGO® Monkie Kid The Heavenly Realms is priced US$189.99/ £159.99/ 179.99€. If you're buying from LEGO.com, please consider using our affiliate links, we may get a commission: USA LEGO Shop | Australia LEGO Shop | UK LEGO Shop.

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