LEGO Pixar "UP HOUSE" 43217 Leaks!
Are Pixar enthusiasts ready to celebrate? At first, my answer was a resounding yes! However, the leaked images of 43217 Carl's House from the Pixar movie "UP" suggest that this could be one of LEGO's biggest missed opportunities in 2023. Despite the set not being available for another month and a half, LEGO and Pixar fans are divided on how they feel about it.
As soon as I heard that LEGO was going to release an official "UP" set, several weeks ago, I was ecstatic. "UP" is hands down one of my all-time favorite Pixar movies! However, as I delved a little deeper, two aspects made me a little apprehensive. The first was LEGO classifying it under their Disney Theme, and the second was the price point, which was $59.99. I was worried that these two factors might hinder the designers creativity and limit the sets potential.
The upcoming LEGO set, 43217 Carl's House is geared towards builders aged 9 and up and contains 598 pieces. Unfortunately, this piece count is considered on the lower end for such an iconic building, resulting in a limited number of features. Leaked images have confirmed this reality, as the house will have an open back design, reminiscent of a dollhouse. Many fans will undoubtedly be disappointed with this design, as they were hoping for a more complete house. How about the included minifigures? The set does include three of the most iconic characters: Carl Fredricksen, Russel, and Doug the dog, complete with his infamous distraction…Squirrel! Despite this, some fans expressed their disappointment that Kevin, a beloved character from the movie, was not included in the set, a missed opportunity in the eyes of many.
If I could remove my initial bias about piece count and limited features. I would have to admit that the set is still incredibly charming. I'm thrilled that we'll be able to build Carl's iconic house with its signature balloons, playful colors, and adorable characters finally in minifigure form. Despite not being the "UP" set I was hoping for, it still tugs at my heartstrings and brings a smile to my face. I'm grateful that it will be available for fans to enjoy.