Downsizing a LEGO set doesn’t necessarily have a detrimental effect on a model, as highlighted by the recently-released 43279 WALL-E and EVE.
Tucked away within the dozens of LEGO sets released on September 1, 2025 was 43279 WALL-E and EVE, the third build inspired by characters from the fan-favourite animated Disney Pixar movie.
The LEGO Disney model not only manages to accurately capture the adorable look of WALL-E, EVE and M-O (okay, plus Hal the cockroach), but is also the perfect example of when downsizing a build actually works.
43279 WALL-E and EVE follows in the well-worn tread marks of 21303 WALL-E, a 677-piece LEGO Ideas model that dropped in 2015, which itself was based on a project by fan designer and animator Angus McLane who worked on the original film.
However, while 21303 WALL-E only recreated the film’s main character in brick form, 43279 WALL-E and EVE offers up three robots for a similar price and piece count. In addition, WALL-E greatly benefits from a reduction in size, resulting in a much more faithful (if smaller) interpretation of the last robot on Earth.
As discussed in our review of 43279 WALL-E and EVE, every element that goes into WALL-E earns its place in the set, effectively translating the character into a 12cm tall version that still manages to pack in a surprising amount of emotion, playability and display options, despite its diminutive scale.
That’s a testament to the LEGO Disney design team for sure, but it’s also a lesson that other themes can learn from. In particular, LEGO Star Wars seems to have been going out of its way to downsize multiple models over the last few years, with many sets suffering as a result, often losing some functionality and minifigures, or gaining a price increase at the cost of fewer elements.
A textbook example of that approach is 75413 Republic Juggernaut, an 813-piece model that released in August 2025 and was reviewed here. The puny build manages to compromise on almost every aspect of its design, resulting in a much smaller and squatter set with a limited interior, plus some stability issues, yet all for a hefty £139.99 / $159.99 / €149.99 price tag.
That flies in the face of the LEGO Star Wars theme’s original goal of scaling back models from a brick-built galaxy far, far away to reduce their price points, as discussed by Creative Lead Jens Kronvold Frederiksen in an interview with Brick Fanatics back in 2021.
“We thought that the prices of these classic models had become relatively high, with an X-wing at $90 or €90,” Jens explained. “The brief that I gave to the designers was to make a cool X-wing or TIE fighter with the same level of detail – and preferably also [the same] features and functions – but almost half the price.”
While 75413 Republic Juggernaut was certainly reduced in size and piece count, its price was not. The result was a LEGO Star Wars set that swiftly drew the ire of many fans who felt that significant stability problems, sparse functions, inconsistent details, and a ho-hum minifigure selection in no way justified the cost of the model.
“Seeing this makes me want to stop collecting LEGO after decades,” exclaimed Crimson-Cowl on reddit. “Why is my 2010 version so much better than this one, even with so many new pieces included? If this was the correct vehicle that actually had these characters with it, I’d probably get it full price."
“What’s even sadder is so many nice minifigures in this this wave being locked behind sets I would never pay anything close to retail price for,” added fellow Redditor geraldforgey86. “50% off wouldn’t convince me. Guess I’ll just fully commit to collecting the classic stuff. Thanks for convincing me, LEGO.”
Singling out just one LEGO Star Wars set as an example of poor downsizing and overpricing may seem a little harsh, but it’s not the only model from the long-running theme that’s been guilty of going down that route in recent years.
For example, 75399 Rebel U-Wing Starfighter dropped earlier in 2025, timed to coincide with the release of Andor Season 2. Despite being pitched as a minifigure-sized build, the 594-piece set’s scale means that the model’s troop bay is too small to allow characters to stand up inside it, a feature included in the previous iteration of the ship, 75155 75399 Rebel U-Wing Fighter.
“This downscaling trend needs to end,” stated SupremeChancellor66 on reddit. “Too many sets are just coming out as hideous and overpriced. I'd rather pay more at this rate for a more detailed and accurate feeling play scale set.”
Such feelings of frustration and disappointment have been echoed throughout the LEGO Star Wars fan community of late, yet sets can still deliver across the board, if enough consideration, creativity and pushing the boundaries of what’s possible with a build are applied.
Which brings us back to 43279 WALL-E and EVE. Here’s a licensed LEGO set that actually attempts to give fans more for less, with accuracy, piece count and price point all in perfect harmony.
WALL-E’s more compact form is in some ways a subtle nod to the character’s ability to create compressed cubes out of existing material. The LEGO Disney model takes what worked well in 21303 WALL-E, reducing the build to a scale that not only still achieves its goal, but actually improves upon and enhances the long-since retired LEGO Ideas set.
The result is that the updated approach to WALL-E not only more closely resembles its onscreen counterpart, but all of the functionality of the larger 21303 WALL-E has been retained too. From a poseable head, eyes and neck, plus gripping hands and moveable arms for creating unique expression, to an opening front trunk and rolling tracks providing play potential, the revised take on WALL-E really does have it all.
The model not only proves that downsizing can in fact work very effectively when put into practice, but that the LEGO Disney release should also be considered a perfect case study by other themes for future builds attempting to go down a similar path – not least because it also ticks the box of keeping this character affordable.
21303 WALL-E retailed for £39.99 / $59.99 / €49.99 for 677 pieces in 2015, and 10 years later 43279 WALL-E and EVE comes in at £59.99 / $69.99 / €69.99 for 811 pieces. Consider too that there are no stickers here – every decorated piece is printed – and the value proposition is excellent, befitting the purpose of downsizing sets in the first place.
In this case it's also to pack accompanying characters EVE and M-O into the set too, and between those three smaller but effective models Pixar fans should have no hesitation in picking up 43279 WALL-E and EVE (not least because it's already come as low as a third off in the UK).
43279 WALL-E and EVE is available now and priced at £59.99 in the UK, $69.99 in the US and €69.99 in Europe. To find out more about the LEGO Disney set, be sure to check out our full review right here.
Support the work that Brick Fanatics does by purchasing your LEGO using our affiliate links. Thanks!
Comments
Be the first to comment!