Since the LEGO® Botanicals sets were introduced, buildable blooms have increasingly begun appearing in other LEGO themes. Their most obvious use has been a series of character flower pots. These have combined popular characters with potted plants and have come in Moana, Wednesday, and Encanto versions. The latest character Flowerpot set takes inspiration from a cult Disney film. Released in 1993, The Night Before Christmas is beloved by fans, instead of focusing on Jack Skellington, the set features Sally. The kind-hearted ragdoll from Halloween Town, who was created by Doctor Finkelstein and became fascinated by the Pumpkin King. The character is beautifully voiced by the late Catherine O’Hara. Here’s a closer look at the upcoming LEGO Disney set, Sally’s Flowerpot.
Product Details
Set Name: Sally’s Flowerpot | Set Number: 43288 | Pieces: 179 | Theme: Disney
Instructions: Paper booklet + Builder App | Sticker: n/a | Mini-dolls: Sally + Black Cat
RRP: £44.99/49.99€/$49.99/79.99AUD/64.99CAD
Availability: LEGO Stores, LEGO Online & LEGO retailers from March 1st
The format of the character flowerpots is simple; the pot is home to a mini scene inspired by a popular character. But when enclosed, it becomes a unique potted, brick-built flower. Due to the nature of the film, Sally’s Flowerpot has a gothic flair. The bulbous pot is made up of two halves which fit together to form the flowerpot. Their construction is interesting; a simple frame creates both a pair of rooms within the flowerpot and a surface to add the pot’s exterior detail. Large domed plates form the main aspect of the pot’s outer details. One of these includes the ‘Deadly Nightshare’ printed detail. These are each bordered by elements often used as windscreens on vehicles. They do look good, but I found they easily become dislodged when moving the set around. They are easily reconnected; however, it’s a slight annoyance.
Within the pot’s two sections, you’ll find two small rooms. These include stickered panels, which feature nods to the Nightmare Before Christmas film. On the left-hand side is a kitchen area where you’ll find a portrait of Jack Skellington, and over on the right-hand side is a window looking out to Spiral Mountain.
Unlike the LEGO Botanicals sets, the flowers found in this set are a little more stylised. As mentioned, the pot notes it contains a Deadly Nightshade plant. But it’s joined by Hensbane and Witch Hazel. It’s slightly tricky to say which label refers to which plant. But as far as I can tell, the small orange buds are Witch Hazel, the purple buds are Deadly Nightshare and the largest flower is the Henbane. The largest plant uses the new leaf elements, but they are each coloured to present Sally’s patchwork appearance. Three of the leaves even included print detail. Their colouring and designs complement the urn-like pot.
Sally is included in the set as a mini-doll. The character has previously been featured in minifigure form in both the Nightmare Before Christmas Ideas set and the second series of Disney Minifigures. Despite my preference for minifigures, the mini-doll version is better suited to the characters’ animated design. Sally’s stop-motion marquette is quite tall and slender, so the mini-doll’s shape offers a great take on the character. Sally is joined by a black cat, which features in her song from the film. Both figures can be neatly stored within the Flowerpot.
Any set which expands upon a previously used licence should be celebrated. I like the combination of play features with a displayable model. Despite the more fantastical nature of the set, including the unusual colours along with printed and stickered labels, it could easily be nestled amongst the other LEGO Botanicals plants. Sally’s Flowerpot will be available from all good LEGO retailers from March 1st.
