Review: LEGO 40479 Dalmatian Brickheadz

May 7, 2021 | 2

Here’s a fun surprise that hasn’t been leaked – fans of Brickheadz Pets, the new Brickheadz subtheme introduced this year, will be delighted that a 5th pet will be joining the family – 40479.

I’m really honoured to be one of the first in the world to show off 40479 Dalmatian which features an adult and puppy of the beloved spotted dog breed.

The new Dalmatian Brickheadz will be released globally from 1 June 2021 and will retail for US$14.99 / AU$24.99 from LEGO.com and LEGO Brand Retail stores.

Special thanks to the LEGO Group for providing this set for review

40479 Dalmatian Set Details

Name: Dalmatian
Set Number: 40479
Pieces: 251
Price: AU$24.99 | US$14.99 | £13.49 – Buy from LEGO.com [AUS] [USA] [UK]
Exclusive to: LEGO.com, LEGO Brand Retail Stores
Theme: Brickheadz / Pets
Release Date: 1 June 2021

The box has a pale lilac shade, and not much else to it, showcasing both dogs in their bed, as well as their respective Brickheadz numbers – 132 for the Puppy and 133 for the adult Dalmatian.

In the first 2 waves of Brickheadz pets (read my review), while I enjoyed these adorable Pet builds more than I was expecting to, I was slightly disappointed at the lack of printed elements – but 40479 Dalmatian delivers in spades. Or should I say spots.

One of the best surprises in the set (and really fitting) is the generous of these printed elements (plus three 2 x 1 bricks I forgot to photograph) for the Dalmatian spots!

Like previous Pets, you get two interchangeable (stickered) curved slope plates with either a bone or paw motif to customise the look of the Dalmatian’s bed.

Here are the completed Dalmatian Brickheadz which are nothing short of adorable. They’re now my favourite Brickheadz pets, and I feel that the decision to use printed elements for spots really work here, and the simple black and white colours, and bright red colours work so well in this form factor.

They look great from both angles, with both dogs sitting on their hind legs, a with plenty of random spots peppered around their bodies.

The back of the dog beds have small notches in them for their tails to be outstretched if you prefer to pose them that way.

Here’s a look at the adult Dalmatian which has a pearl gold star collar ornament, making him look very important indeed.

The shape of the Dalmatians are very similar to Wave 1’s German Shepherds, including the ability to have their hind legs swivel outwards.

And yes, like all Brickheadz, they also have pink brains hidden inside their heads!

And here’s the Dalmatian puppy – I love his oversized ears and just how large his black nose is in proportion to his head and eyes.

Here’s a look at the top of their heads, which also have spots galore.

For dog lovers, the Dalmatians will go very well alongside the German Shepherds from Wave 1 of Brickheadz pets.

And finally, here’s a look at all Brickheadz Pets released so far.

They’re honestly very cute, and are quite interesting if you’ve been bored by the typical Brickheadz offering, and make excellent inexpensive gifts, especially for people not traditionally into LEGO.

What I liked:

• Dalmatians are super cute, and a recognizable/popular dog breed
• Printed spots are a great touch
• Quick and fun build

What I didn’t like: 

• The bed design is quite flimsy, and can fall apart depending on how you grip it
• Shape doesn’t accurately portray lanky Dalmatians

FINAL THOUGHTS:

The Brickheadz Dalmatians are a fantastic addition to the Brickheadz Pets line, so dog fans, especially if you love Dalmatians are going to fall in love with the set.

I won’t lie, if I was a multi-millionaire, I would be heavily tempted to buy 51x of these sets and create my own 101 Brickheadz Dalmatian display.

Like the Pets Wave 1 (German Shepherd & Shorthair Cats), and Wave 2 (Goldfish & Budgie), Dalmatians are a welcome entry into the series, and as they’re one of the most visually distinctive dog breed, make for a cute and fun display.

With the new Cruella movie coming out in theatres soon, it certainly feels like LEGO have strategically released this to coincide with Dalmatians being in the spotlight again.

This is a great pickup if you’re after something cute and fun, if you’re a dog person, or are a long-time Brickheadz collector. It’s also a great gift for dog-lovers without breaking the bank.

However, if you’re not into cutesy LEGO builds, or Brickheadz, you can easily skip this one.

Rating and score: 4/5 ★★★✰✰

Build [2] – The build was close to a standard Brickheadz build, and shared many similarities with the German Shepherd
Real Value [3] – It’s fairly accessible and budget-friendly
Innovation [3] – Not much innovation here, but the printed spots are nice
Coolness [3] – Great if you love dogs or Dalmatians
Keepability [3] – If you’ve been collecting Brickheadz or Pets, you’ll want to get this to complete the set

Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this short review of 40479 Brickheadz Dalmatian!

The new Dalmatian Brickheadz will be released on 1 June 2021 and will be available from LEGO.com

What do you think of the Brickheadz Pets line? Let me know what you think of this latest addition in the comments!

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Special thanks to the LEGO Group for providing this for review.