Elsa’s Sparkling Ice Castle (41062)
Lego
By David Dwight Graham
Do you want to build a snow maaaaaaansion?
Hop aboard the sleigh
and join Anna and Olaf as they pay a visit to Queen Elsa’s beautiful ice palace
for some frosty fun! What will they do first? Play hide and seek behind the
secret staircase, or go skating around the castle? They could ski down the ice
hill or prepare frozen treats in the castle’s ice cream bar and then get ready
for a picnic in the snow under the magnificent icicle tree. It’s all up to you!
First have fun building Elsa’s Sparkling Ice Castle. Then it’s time to play!
Includes Queen Elsa and Princess Anna mini-doll figures, plus Olaf the snowman.
In late 2013, Disney surprised the world with their latest
theatrical fairytale, Frozen. It also seemed to surprise Disney
themselves along with their licensors, as merchandise of the Arendelle crew was
in short supply that first Christmas.
Knowing there were still kids (and parents, and single men and women)
still craving ice themed product Disney (and said licensors) made sure shelves
were well-stocked this last year (though I can personally attest it can still
be difficult finding a regular Elsa doll). In addition to restocks of sold-out favorites, new products
appeared – including the no brainer of Frozen
ice castle.
The set comes with two instruction booklets and is laid out
into three vignettes – Olaf and a picnic, Anna and a sleigh, and the
muti-leveled castle. Starting with
Olaf the snowman, the figure is mostly composed of regular elements. Lego did wisely choose to make his head
a new piece, as opposed to a build - though you do get to put in the carrot
[but not the usual carrot element?).
Though the instructions leave his base mound flat, there are enough
extra parts that you can give Olaf two round white studs for feet (though you
do gain a bit of height, he’ll still be shorter that the girls). Olaf’s picnic blanket is composed of a
4x4 red base with flat elements added for white pattern on top. Studs are left at the corners to hold
the figure or his food – a sandwich and a cookie. Yum!
The next mini build is Anna along with a sleigh, though no
“talking” reindeer are to be found here.
Maybe you’ll get a set of your own, Sven and Kristoff. The build is mostly brown with pink
accents. The highlight of the sled
is the curved rails on the back which are repurposed Indiana Jones whips in a
cute touch. What could be cuter is
Anna’s face. Oh alright, it’s cute
enough, but her expression is missing a bit of the manic-ness that The
softgoods cape definitely helps sell the look though. The Lego Disney Princess
line does feature the “mini dolls” body first introduced in the company’s Friends line. In spite of being taller than the famous Lego minifigure
there are some limitations, such as solid arms with no wrist swivel. To complete the vignette is a nice
little, hinged ice slide that Anna can sled or skate down. Why is it hinged? Why, to hide an additional cookie, of
course!was her trademark in the film.
Finally, we come to the Queen and her castle. Elsa looks great as a “mini-doll” and even her own cape manages to get the look of the diaphanous drape she created on film.
The castle is composed of
three levels, and as you may remember from the official copy up top, contains a
few features to actually scene in the movie. Does Elsa really need a lever-activated ice cream
machine? Who cares!? She’s got one now. Chalk it up to the Friends influence, I suppose.
Of more practical use is the set of skis Elsa has…acquired? Made? Well, she was shown creating everything from a snow pile to
a sparkly dress from ice – skis are certainly not out of the question. The moving spiral staircase does seem
to hew a bit closer to the movie’s castle, in any case.
Moving up a level, we find sleeping quarters inside, and a
balcony that Elsa can sing to everyone to leave her alone from. There is also a stand for a crown and a
bottle of…something. Maybe it’s a
lamp? Use your imagination. On the third and final level is located
a dais of somesort, which includes a fairytale book and a letter, presumably
from Anna. The castle is topped by
a large purple(?) snowflake. The
main elements the form the castle are large transparent sparkly elements which
give the set it’s name. Though
there may not quite be enough transparent pieces to sate some fans longing for
a more screen accurate ice castle such as this one seen on Lego Ideas.
Obviously, Lego erred on the side of affordability, which is probably smart.
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