LEGO® DREAMZzz™ review: the "Barrel Joint" sets 71453, 71454 & 71455

Tomorrow is August, meaning the new theme LEGO® DREAMZzz™ becomes available, and I'm starting my series of set reviews with three of its similar sets: 71453 Izzie and Bunchu the Bunny, 71454 Mateo and Z-Blob the Robot and 71455 Grimkeeper the Cage Monster. They all use the new barrel joint piece (Design ID 1994) for movement. 

Bunchu the Bunny and Z-Blob the Robot are the smallest sets of the line - save one polybag - and depict the main characters exploring their skills in the dreamworld. The slightly larger Grimkeeper the Cage monster is a villain set, showing the darker side of this theme.

Products in this article were provided by LEGO®; the author's opinions are their own.

71453 Izzie and Bunchu the Bunny
US$19.99/ £19.99/ 20.99€/ AU$34.99
259 parts
1 August 2023

71454 Mateo and Z-Blob the Robot
US$19.99/ £19.99/ 20.99€/ AU$34.99
237 parts
1 August 2023

71455 Grimkeeper the Cage Monster
US$37.99/ £31.99/ 37.99€/ AU$62.99
274 parts
1 August 2023

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71453 Izzie and Bunchu the Bunny

New moulds in Bunchu the Bunny

• 2 x Barrel Joint 2 x 2 x 4 in Medium Azure (6447228 | 1994)

The Barrel joint is new in this theme and enables naturally-flowing but sturdy hip joints for the bunny. Medium Azure is unique to this set.

• 2 x Flame / Vapor Trail 3 x 14 with Axle Hole and Bright Light Orange Marbled Center Pattern in Trans-Yellow (6447085 | 1995)    

What I'm calling "The Splat" is another new mould that could be interpreted in many ways. It's cool that this new original theme has signature pieces - something for us at New Elementary to get crazy about. This yellowish one is also in 71456 Mr. Castillo's Turtle Van. For more on these new moulds, check our introduction article.

New recolours in Bunchu the Bunny

• 7 x Slope Curved 2 x 1 Inverted in Vibrant Coral/ Coral (6438408 | 24201)
• 8 x Bracket 1 x 1 - 1 x 2 Inverted in Medium Azure (6369798 | 73825)
• 1 x Equipment Hourglass with Pearl Gold Sand in Trans-Clear (6440804)

Both the bracket and the inverted curved slopes are welcome recolours in bright hues.

New prints in Bunchu the Bunny

• 1 x Tile, Round 1 x 1 with Dreamcatchers logo in White (6434196) - with 1 extra
• 1 x Tile, Round 2 x 2 with Dreamcatchers logo in Bright Light Orange (6434197)
• 1 x Animal, Rabbit / Bunny with Bunchu Print in Medium Azure (6434193)
• 1x Tile 1 x 2 with Groove with Bunny Mouth Print in Medium Azure (6434198)
• 1x Slope Curved 3 x 4 x 2/3 Triple Curved with 2 Sunk Studs With Bunchu Face Print in Medium Azure (6434195)

The White hourglass emblem tile is in almost every set of the theme, and the Bright Light Orange one is common too. I wonder if I'll ever find use to the big azure rabbit face prints, though.

Rare Parts in Bunchu the Bunny

• 22 x Brick Curved 1 x 1 x 2/3 Double Curved Top, No Studs in Vibrant Coral/ Coral (6422223 | 49307) - in 2 other sets

• 2 x Brick Round 1 x 1 diameter Tube with 90 Degree Elbow (2 x 2 x 1) and Axle Holes (Crossholes) at each end in Medium Azure (6369800 | 25214) - also in 11029 Creative Party Box
• 2 x Brick Round 2 x 2 D. Tube with 45° Elbow and Axle Holes (Crossholes) at each end in Medium Azure (6322807 | 65473) - in 2 other sets

Minifigures in Bunchu the Bunny

This set includes Izzy with a new sword and recoloured pauldrons but without the skirt available in the larger sets. An evil Dreamling Little Dude is called Grimspawn. Take a closer look at these figures in our introduction article.

The bunny itself

Grimspawn steals Bunchu the Stuffed Hare and Izzy dreams to being an even larger lagomorph to save the poor toy. 

It's a neat build with lot of small parts to build carefully shaped ears and feet; the limbs are otherwise very simple. The joints - Mixel joints for arms and ankles, ratchet joints for hips and double friction pins for upper legs - have a decent amount of friction, for play and posing.

For hyperspeed pursuit, the Bunny is equipped with rocket-powered rollerskates and some sort of bracelets or knuckledusters. It stays in balance surprisingly well, despite the small wheels and backwards-shooting splats. 

The Vibrant Coral tail looks fun! The alternative submodel, a recurring feature in LEGO DREAMZzz sets, features wings and a weird, wasp-like stinger tail; some extra pieces for them are included.

71454 Mateo and Z-Blob the Robot

New moulds in Z-Blob the Robot 

• 4 x Barrel Joint 2 x 2 x 4 in White (6428169 | 1994)

This set has the best price-per-barrel joint ratio!

• 1 x Flame/Vapor Trail 3 x 14 with Axle Hole and Bright Green Marbled Center Pattern in Trans-Bright Green (6430885 | 1995)

The green splat comes also in 71459 Stable Of Dream Creatures.

New recolours in Z-Blob the Robot

• 4 x Brick Round 2 x 2 D. Tube with 45° Elbow and Axle Holes (Crossholes) at each end in Trans-Bright Green (6430877 | 65473)

This is the first time "maxaroni" appears in transparent colour,giving a unique peek to its beautiful inner structure.

• 2 x Brick Round 2 x 2 Dome Top - Vented Stud with Bottom Axle Holder x Shape + Orientation. in Trans-Bright Green (6435761 | 3262)
• 1 x Equipment Hourglass with Pearl Gold Sand in Trans-Clear (6440804)

The hourglass appears in most LEGO DREAMZzz sets. Sandman's sand, I suppose. 

New prints and stickers in Z-Blob Robot

• 1 x Tile, Round 1 x 1 with Dreamcatchers logo in White (6434196) - with 1 extra
• 1 x Brick Round 2 x 2 x 1 2/3 Dome Top [Hollow Stud] with Z-Blob Eyes Print in Trans-Bright Green (6290270)
• 2 x Tile, Round 1 x 1 with Cat Eye in Yellow (6434207) - with 1 extra
  

The dome is one of the three different Z-Blobs in the theme. 

I chose not to apply the stickers, except for the target practice aim, as I think the sets looks cleaner without them. The bonus stickers are nice though. Here is an official idea of the set with stickers applied:

©2023 The LEGO Group

Rare parts in Z-Blob Robot

• 1 x Bar 4L (Lightsaber Blade / Wand) in Flame Yellowish Orange/ Bright Light Orange (6376752 | 21462 | 30374) - in 2 other sets
•  1 x 64567 Weapon Lightsaber Hilt with Bottom Ring in Flame Yellowish Orange/ Bright Light Orange (6134252 | 64567) - also in 10294 Titanic, with 1 extra

These Bright Light Orange parts make up Mateo's pencil spear; It's a clever tool. They're in every set with Mateo - I've given them rare status based on the limited appearances before the theme.

Minifigs in Z-Blob the Robot

Mateo here is a simple "cheap set" version without a cape; the Bright Green belt is new. Jayden is a kid in trouble with pretty unicorn pajamas. For elements ID's and alternative expressions, please check our introduction article.

Slime Robot Rises

The robot is surprisingly large. The limbs, which feature the barrel joints with freely rotating maxaroni pieces, move unlike any previous robot or mech set I can recall. There is enough friction, and the movement is smooth and enjoyable. While there are no knee (or elbow) joints - a thing usually frowned upon by adult fans - I'm not missing them. This is a slime robot, after all; twisting joints feel actually more fitting than knees and elbows.

While the smooth white-and-black aesthetics are quite usual sci-fi and remind of common housing appliances like toasters and fridges, the Trans-Bright Green colour adds a nice twist.

The slime gun reminds me of a paint gun; it is a nice subassembly. There is something amiable on this simple Z-Blob face with only eyes. It steers far from any uncanny valleys.

The back features a tile-launcher seat for Mateo to sit on and ride the slime.

Poor Jayden gets kidnapped by a thing under his bed - or probably it is his bed - and Mateo saves him. Mateo has a cool pencil spear, and some extra target practice targets and slime canisters are included. The target is a sticker.

71455 Grimkeeper the Cage Monster

Grimkeeper is a nightmare monster with a prison cell in its stomach; this is the leitmotif of bad guys in this theme. 

At US$37.99/ £31.99/ 37.99€/ AU$62.99, the set is almost twice as expensive as sets 71453 and 71454, which cost US$19.99/ £19.99/ 20.99€/ AU$34.99. Despite having only two minifigures and 16 / 33 more parts. It stands taller, but only has 16 more parts than 71454 and 33 more than 71453. It only has two minifigures, and there doesn't seem to be many large or expensive pieces to justify the steep price. It doesn't even have any splats!

New moulds in Grimkeeper the Cage Monster

• 4 x Barrel Joint 2 x 2 x 4 in Black (6432442 | 1994)

The Black barrel joint is the only unique non-minifigure part in this set.

• 2 x Diddy Tail in White (6430887 | 1897)

Spoiler alert: I have already a work in progress that uses this piece as a swirl of chimney smoke.

New recolours in Grimkeeper the Cage Monster

• 10 x Animal Body Part, Barb / Claw / Tooth / Talon / Horn, Medium in Spring Yellowish Green/ Yellowish Green (6267417 | 87747)
• 1 x Equipment Hourglass with Pearl Gold Sand in Trans-Clear (6440804)
• 2 x Animal Body Part, Bat Wing with Shaft [Chima Bat Wing] in Trans-Pink (6207783 | 15082)
  

The Yellowish Green barbs are very welcome, as this is a very nice colour and they're useful for creating hair. However, I wish they'd release more clip pieces in Yellowish Green to connect them.

Prints in Grimkeeper the Cage Monster 

• 1 x Tile, Round 1 x 1 with Dreamcatchers logo in White (6434196) - with 1 extra
• 1 x Tile, Round 1 x 1 with Cat Eye in Yellow (6434207) - with 1 extra
• 1 x Large Figure Shoulder Cover, Armor, Round, Smooth with Grimkeeper Print in White (6434219)
• 1 x Brick Round 2 x 2 x 1 2/3 Dome Top [Hollow Stud] with Z-Blob Eyes Print in Trans-Bright Green (6290270)

It's great to see uses and new prints for CCBS pieces. Grimkeeper face is also in 71461 Fantastical Tree House. There are no stickers in this set.

Rare parts in Grimkeeper the Cage Monster

•  2 x Large Figure Shoulder Cover, Armor, Round, Smooth with Bar in Titanium Metallic/ Pearl Dark Gray (6423977 | 1686) - also in 76245 Ghost Rider Mech & Bike
• 1 x Bar 4L (Lightsaber Blade / Wand) in Flame Yellowish Orange/ Bright Light Orange (6376752 | 21462 | 30374) - in 2 other sets
•  1 x Weapon Lightsaber Hilt with Bottom Ring in Flame Yellowish Orange/ Bright Light Orange (6134252 | 64567) - also in 10294 Titanic, with 1 extra
•  4 x Animal Body Part, Barb / Claw / Tooth / Talon / Horn, Large in Bright Reddish Violet/ Magenta (6133932 | 11089) - in 2 other sets
  

I like the smooth shoulder armour, and Pearl Dark Grey is a cool colour for it. It's also nice to see the large Magenta barb making a return from the sadly-discontinued LEGO Elves theme. 

Minifigures in Grimkeeper the Cage Monster

Again, Mateo is a lesser-equipped version without a cape, but casual "wakeworld" Cooper is exclusive to this set - though not particularly exciting.

Beware the Cage Monster

The skulking cage monster captures Cooper and Mateo dreams up a little Z-Blob flyer to save his old pal. 

The movement is very similar to Z-Blob the Robot - actually the joints are mechanically identical. The torso of the monster is a much larger though, as it needs to fit poor Cooper. I like the hunched pose of the monster, and Yellowish Green and Magenta pieces look great against the dark colours. I only wish they omitted the few Light Bluish Gray parts that stand out too much.

Having the monster carry a lantern with an eye on it is a cool, creepy idea. However, the lantern feels very simple - it's mostly a stack of usual parts. The big arms can easily grab a minifigure, and the large feet look good while preventing the monster from toppling down. I wish the cage torso would have been a bit sturdier, as currently the door hinges fall off a bit too easily.

The head is well-designed with curling antennae and jutting lower jaw. The magenta mane is cool as well. But somehow this monster could have more oomph - maybe a larger mane or more finely tuned shaping - to justify the hefty price tag.

Mateo's Z-Blob flier is again amiable with its little black eyes. It's still a side-build, similar to LEGO Star Wars Battle Pack vehicles. The alternative mode is some sort of flying motorcycle with the windscreen wings as wheels.

Conclusion

LEGO® DREAMZzz™ is an interesting action and adventure theme, as the sets can be pretty much anything. There are no similar sets to Bunchu the Bunny or Z-Blob the Robot in this theme; Grimkeeper the Cage Monster is however similar in asthetics to other nightmare sets. It's also cool to see the cheapest sets being characters; minifigure-scale, but large. This has led to inventive and fun set designs. The new barrel joints work well on these figures, making them pleasant to handle.

Even by old standards before recent price hikes, 71453 Izzie and Bunchu the Bunny and 71454 Mateo and Z-Blob the Robot, both costing US$19.99/ £19.99/ 20.99€/ AU$34.99, are of decent value; they have over 200 pieces both and good selection of new and rare parts, including barrel joints and splats. Bunchu has only one minifigure  - and one little dude - compared to two in Z-Blob, but this is counterbalanced by Izzy's beautiful double-sating marbled hairpiece. 

Compared to them, 71455 Grimkeeper the Cage Monster seems very expensive for US$37.99/ £31.99/ 37.99€/ AU$62.99 - especially as most of the rare parts are also available in other sets of the theme. The creature itself is interesting enough, though not without some hindrances. It's hard to recommend it over these two cheaper sets - or for example 71457 Pegasus Flying Horse, for those who prefer to have nightmares. I'll be revieweing that soon, along with the rest of the theme!

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