The latest series of LEGO Minifigures may feel a bit one-note, but look beyond the colourful animal costumes and there's a surprising amount of character on display here.
The LEGO Group is doubling down on one of the Collectible Minifigures' more popular recurring tropes with an entire series devoted to animal costumes. Twelve visually impressive masks, printed torsos and a few tails and feathers adorn these characters, but the unsung star of the show here is the graphic design on these minifigures' faces, which are filled with charm and inventiveness that help shake the feeling that Series 28 is simply going through the motions without too much originality.
71051 Series 28 Animals
Release: Jan 1, 2026
Retiring: Apr 30, 2026
Price: £3.49 / $4.99 / €3.99
Pieces: Varies
Minifigures: 1 per box
The Collectible Minifigures are back again, and this time the entire series is devoted to animal costumes. Minifigures dressed in these colourful outfits are a mainstay of the theme, and typically prove incredibly popular, so it’s hardly a surprise to see a full series devoted to characters dressed as monkeys, lions and peacocks.
That said, a focus on one specific kind of minifigure, even if there are a range of different animals on display here, does give this series a feeling of feast or famine depending on personal tastes. One part of the consumer base for these blind boxes are spoilt for choice this time around, while anyone who’s more eager for, say, knights, astronauts or other nostalgic throwbacks may feel a little cool about Series 28 as a whole.
The LEGO Group has given plenty of previous series over to specific intellectual properties or themes – most notably, Series 26 was devoted entirely to characters with some kind of connection to space. That series, though, had a bit more variety in its execution: this time around, everything is an animal costume, and as such, these costumes all tick very similar boxes.
At first glance, the minifigures this time around will likely be judged primarily on the quality of their unique mask elements – some are relatively small and unassuming, such as the Koala or Frog, while others are more elaborate pieces that stretch all the way down the minifigure’s back.
Look a little closer, though, and one surprising factor which makes some of these minifigures stand out – especially for anyone who’s looking to use elements here beyond their intended animal costumes – are the alternate faces on the minifigures’ heads. The graphic design work on display may be a little less flashy than a large goldfish mask element, but the different facial expressions and the emotions they display are probably the most enjoyable parts of these minifigures, and do so much to make them feel alive.
Peacock
It’s fitting that the peacock, of all the minifigures from this series, is the one which stands out the most when on display. The minifigure comes not only with a mask and wings, but also with a large belt element that includes the signature peacock plumage which should logically be included with a character of this particular genus.
The peacock feathers are exquisite – not only is this a large and visually stunning LEGO element, it’s also brightly decorated with some wonderful printing. As far as the actual minifigures go, this is by far one of the most impressive from this particular series.
Alas, though, there must be some compromises when this much plastic is devoted to such a large display of feathers. The Peacock minifigure suffers perhaps more than any other from a common weakness in this series, in that its accompanying accessory feels both perfunctory and a little lacklustre.
Included alongside the minifigure and his costume are three small LEGO pieces that combine to make a simple sunflower. None of these are in any way unique, and it’s hard to determine why a peacock would be holding a sunflower anyway – it feels like it’s simply here to tick a box, when those gorgeous tail feathers are providing the real showstopper.
Monkey
In hindsight it’s a bit surprising that the Minifigures theme hasn’t had a monkey costume in the past; it’s such a perfect idea. Series 3 had a gorilla suit, but as any primate lover will tell you, apes and monkeys are not the same.
The Monkey costume could possibly have leant further into LEGO nostalgia – given that moulded monkeys have been a mainstay of the LEGO Pirates theme for decades, and even more recently the Monkie Kid theme has explored a completely different kind of monkey minifigure.
Nevertheless, this new monkey costume minifigure feels like a classic in the making – it’s easy to imagine this character getting its own plush down the line, showing up in other merchandise, and even wandering around LEGOLAND in the form of a mascot costume.
The included banana is a simple but completely logical accessory – it’s got even less going on than the sunflower included with the peacock, but frankly, what other accessory could possibly have been included here?
The monkey is one of the best examples of the fantastic face designs that grace all of these minifigures. On one side, the minifigure is shown sticking his tongue out, while on the other, he’s angry, bruised, and sporting a bandage on the side of his temple. It’s hard for a minifigure to tell a complete story with just a few bits of simple printing, but this one nails it, as it’s clear that this cheeky monkey has gotten himself into trouble for sticking his tongue out at the wrong person.
Lion
Lion minifigures are nothing new, but again, the designers have chosen to eschew the chance for a Chima reference here in favour of something a little more generic and timeless. The new mask element here looks vaguely similar to one that has previously appeared with Luna Lovegood when decked out in her Gryffindor supporter outfit in a Harry Potter set, but it is unique and features both a luxurious mane and some fantastic teeth.
The tail element here is another highlight, looking absolutely perfect, and curving around to make for a dynamic scene as it flicks out to the minifigure’s side. Again, the freckled printing on the face helps to sell this as a character in its own right, rather than nothing more than an empty vessel.
Yet again, though, the accessory feels a bit weak – an included chicken leg is fitting for the carnivorous king of the jungle, but it’s clear that this isn’t where the budget went for this particular minifigure.
Parrot
In contrast to the previously mentioned minifigures, the parrot costume feels like the offering that has the most going for it not just in terms of the costume but also an accessory. The relatively straightforward box of parrot food feels appropriate for the costume, and features unique printing, making it the standout accessory for the series.
The costume itself is also a real treat – the parrot’s bright plumage is achieved thanks to two cloth elements that are layered on top of each other, and this works well alongside the unique mask element and multicolour wings.
The parrot mask may not be as large and elaborate as some of the elements in this series, but this minifigure definitely wins as the best all-rounder, with a detailed and interesting accessory that offers something unique, alongside a costume that has something to make it stand out from the crowd.
Cat
Sometimes, you don’t need a lot of plastic or even a unique element as an accessory. Sometimes it’s more than enough to simply do something that’s been done before, at a different scale than has been seen previously.
Moulded cat elements are a mainstay of the Minifigures theme, and it’s not uncommon to get a minifigure who is defined by their love of felines. Series 27 has a Cat Lover character who comes with both a fluffy white cat and a pink ball of yarn.
Enter the cat costume in Series 28, which bears more than a passing resemblance to Cat Lover’s fluffy white companion. It almost looks as if this minifigure is cosplaying as that cat element, right down to the printing on her torso and the way her mask’s fur tufts up at the sides. To cap things off, the cat costume minifigure comes with the same pink ball of yarn that can be found with Cat Lover.
One nice additional touch with the printing on this minifigure’s face is the beauty mark above her top lip – these kinds of little details go a long way to giving these characters a personality beyond simply loving a particular animal.
Dalmatian
Dog costumes are another familiar sight in any LEGO minifigure lineup – Series 21, for example, has a character in a French Bull Dog outfit. The Dalmatian costume would pair well with this, and is distinct enough that this doesn’t feel like the series is just replaying the hits.
The mask element here is far from the most elaborate in the series, but it does the job, while the Dalmatian’s tail is a recoloured element that has appeared before, such as in the T-rex and Triceratops costumes in previous series.
When it comes to accessories, while a bone would definitely have sufficed (it does for the French Bull Dog), the Dalmatian has something slightly special in the form of a frisbee. The printing here is unique, and should be useful for anyone looking to add new sports to their LEGO minifigure line-up even if it’s taken away from this pup and given to someone else.
Frog
What’s the one thing frogs love more than anything else? Bubbles, right? Thus appears to be the logic behind this minifigure. In fairness, there are likely to be bubbles in the bottom of a garden pond, so there is at least a slightly greater connection between this minifigure and their accessory than there is between the peacock and his.
Regardless of why it’s here, it’s worth noting that the frog’s bubble blower – complete with both a pot of bubbles, a bubble wand and a little pearlescent semisphere to represent a half-blown bubble – is probably the single coolest handful of elements to come with any of these minifigures.
The frog costume itself is solid. In contrast to say, Kermit the Frog, this minifigure mask has googly eyes that are raised higher above the head, as well as dark green spots down the back of the torso to add a little extra texture. This is a fairly simple but effective minifigure animal costume, which is elevated by a bubble blower that didn’t need to be here, but is very welcome.
Dolphin
There something very familiar about this dolphin costume. Perhaps it’s the fact that it looks so similar to the Shark Suit Guy minifigure from all the way back in Series 15 – a minifigure which has gone on to be one of the more prominent mascots for the theme and for LEGO in general.
The dolphin costume is very much cut from the same mould, with a similar colour scheme, the same flippers, and a near identical torso printing. The bottle-nosed shape of the mask element feels like a perfect continuation of the shark’s aesthetic, and the dolphin tail similarly curves all the way down the back of the minifigure’s torso. For anyone who missed the Shark Suit Guy back in the day, this feels like the perfect substitute.
The minifigure comes with an always popular seashell element, which features a blue pearlescent jewel inside. This is nice to have, and it adds a bit more variety to the series, but it’s hard not to look at the frog’s bubble element and think that this would have been a far more accurate choice for a pearl to place in the shell.
Rabbit
This LEGO rabbit is not just any rabbit. This rabbit costume is the Easter Bunny. Or at least, that’s how it appears, given that it comes not with a carrot accessory, as one might expect, but instead with a basket and a painted egg.
This is an interesting choice on the part of the designers. Every other costume in this series is based on a generic animal, but this one is, boldly, a mythological modern pseudo-deity. It’s not quite as bold a choice as if the Space series had included Santa, but it’s not far off.
As for this rabbit minifigure itself, it does the job well. Series 7 already had a Bunny Suit Guy, which covered this base fairly well, but this time around we have a rabbit in a different colour (tan instead of white) and with one ear flopping to the side. This is another good example of expressive printing on the minifigure’s face – freckles are always a fun inclusion.
Koala
The koala costume minifigure has the best face design of the whole series. One face is normal enough, but the other is a delightful sleep mask, with a wide-open mouth to show the character snoring away. This is fitting for an animal that sleeps on average 20 hours a day, but it’s also simply a brilliant face design that will have myriad uses beyond this costume.
The Koala comes with two accessories, although neither of them are breaking new ground. In one hand, the Koala holds a familiar green leafy stalk, which is presumably meant to be eucalyptus (it wouldn’t make sense to give a Koala minifigure any other plant). In the other hand, the Koala holds a boomerang; a reference to the animal’s Australian origin.
As for the Koala costume itself, there’s not a huge amount to write home about here. There’s a mask, a printed fluffy tail on the back of the torso, and nothing more. It’s one of the more sparse minifigures in the collection in terms of the detail of the costume, which is probably why this character has been given a second accessory to hold.
Crocodile
Of all the minifigures in this series, the crocodile costume feels like the best value for money. Not only is there a large and visually impressive mask element, complete with a long toothy snout and large spiky tail, but the crocodile also comes with two accessories – one of which is new for 2026 but also appears in LEGO City's coast guard sets – which definitely feels generous compared with some offerings on this list.
There’s a rubber duck – who doesn’t love a rubber duck? – and an inflatable swimming ring, which thanks to its large size and dual-moulded pink and white design, feels a bit decadent compared to the cat’s ball of yarn or the monkey’s banana.
Other minifigures in the series either have a large mask or a large accessory (or neither). How the crocodile managed to get away with a large mask and two noteworthy accessories is unclear, but hey, are you going to argue with her?
Goldfish
Finally, rounding out the series is one of the cuter of the minifigures; a little girl dressed as a goldfish. This time around the head is nothing particularly exciting, but the character does have a pair of cute expressions, and the decision to give her shorter legs than the rest of the series again helps this to feel like a character in her own right, rather than little more than a mannequin that’s being used to prop up an animal costume.
It’s fun to imagine why this little girl has decided to dress up as a goldfish of all animals. The mask, as with the dolphin, features a tail that extends all the way down the minifigure’s back, and is resplendent with silvery printing and dual moulding. There’s something about the glass-eyed mask, with its wide open mouth and gormless expression, which pairs so well with the minifigure’s face, which is showing very clear enthusiasm for her outfit.
Her included accessory, while slight, does feature some unique printing, which is fun to have. As with the parrot costume, she comes with food for her animal – in this case, a small pot of goldfish food. It might have perhaps made more sense for this character, rather than the frog, to be blowing bubbles, but there’s an obvious reason why she doesn’t have that accessory: the flippers used for her and the dolphin don’t actually have hands, so she’s unable to hold anything.
Our honest opinion: 71051 Series 28 Animals is colourful and diverse, but it’s the little design touches that help elevate these minifigures beyond simply a menagerie of eye-catching animals, to instead help them feel like characters in their own rights with distinct personalities.
These minifigures were provided for review by the LEGO Group.
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Which animals are in LEGO Minifigures 71051 Series 28 Animals?
The animal costumes in 71051 Series 28 Animals are a peacock, monkey, lion, rabbit, crocodile, parrot, goldfish, dolphin, koala, frog, cat and Dalmatian.
How many pieces are in LEGO Minifigures 71051 Series 28 Animals?
The number of pieces in each 71051 Series 28 Animals box varies depending on the minifigure, but each character comes with an animal costume and a small accessory.
How many minifigures are in LEGO Minifigures 71051 Series 28 Animals?
There are 12 unique minifigures available in 71051 Animals Series 28, and one random minifigure is included in each box – although through the use of the Brick Search app, it’s possible to discover the minifigure without opening the box.
How much does LEGO Minifigures 71051 Series 28 Animals cost?
Each 71051 Series 28 Animals character costs £3.49 in the UK, $4.99 in the US and €3.99 in the EU.
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