Review: LEGO Brickheadz Pets Ginger Tabby, Cockatiel, Hamster (40480, 40481, 40482)
July 11, 2021
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LEGO are not slowing down with their new Brickheadz Pets subtheme, and we have 3 new additions to the line-up coming on 1 August 2021, and will be available from LEGO.com or your local LEGO store.
Joining the theme in the 3rd wave of LEGO Brickheadz Pets are 40480 Ginger Tabby, 40481 Cockatiel, and 40482 Hamster – which brings the total number of Brickheadz Pets to eight!
To check out my previous reviews of the other Brickheadz Pets, check out these reviews below
Please enjoy this quick review of the new LEGO Ginger Tabby, Cockatial and Hamster. To jump straight to a specific review, click on the links below!
Special thanks to the LEGO Group for providing these sets for review
40480 Ginger Tabby Set Details
Name: Tabby Cat
Set Number: 40481
Pieces: 269
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 August 2021
Cat people are going to love this wave, with these two ultra-adorable Ginger Tabby Cats joining the LEGO Brickheadz Pets menagerie. They’re the second type of cat, following on from Wave 1’s Shorthair Cats
I learned from Wikipedia that “Tabby” is not a breed of cat but a coat type seen in almost all genetic lines of domestic cats, regardless of status.
The brightly coloured orange and yellow stripes on both the adult and kitten are really eye-catching, and their whiskers which make use of Wolverine claws are particularly prominent on their faces.
Like any Brickheadz pets with tails, their little Cat beds/display platform has small nooks at the back so that they can rest their tails on.
Here’s a look at the adult Tabby Cat, who like his Shorthair Cat cousins, has impeccable fashion sense with a teal scarf. I really like the colour-blocking of the Tabby Cat as the whites, oranges, yellows and teal contrast pleasingly amongst one another.
Like the other dogs and cats in the series, the Tabby Cat’s hind legs can swivel outwards as well.
Here’s a look at the Tabby Cat from the side and behind. The light colour base of yellows does cause some of the gaps between tiles and plates to be noticeable if you go looking, but you’re rarely viewing the adult Tabby from this angle anyway.
Here’s the Tabby kitten, which is a miniature version of the adult Tabby with a teal collar to match as well.
Looking at the Tabby kitten from the sides and back, you’ll notice a pretty odd use of a 2 x 3 orange tile on the side of its head – I think it looks a little clumsy and while I appreciate that it differentiates it from the adult, I would much rather have had stripes on the back and sides as well – the large area looks a little awkward in this case.
I do like the different coloured hind and front legs, and of course how large the kitten’s nose is in proportion to its head – which gives it a really cute “chibi” look.
To customise the cat bed, you have the option of 2 interchangeable plaques at the front – which either have stickered cat paws or fish illustrations on a curved plate.
Rating: 4/5
Thoughts: The Tabby Cat duo is really fun, and is possibly much more relatable to owners of cats as orange-striped Tabbies are a very popular non-exotic variant of furry feline friends. I had an orange tabby cat when I was little, so I could personally relate to the model.
As a display model, the vibrant orange and yellows stand out very pleasingly, and I also like the teal scarf details on the adult tabby.
If you’re a cat-person, these will go great with Wave 1’s Shorthair Cats, and I particularly like the burst of colour next to the grey shorthair versions to make them stand out. As always, these Brickheadz Pets sets are small, accessible and make for great gifts, or a quick distraction if you’re after a fast and easy build.
40481 Cockatiel Set Details
Name: Cockatiel
Set Number: 40481
Pieces: 219
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 August 2021
It’s not just cat-people who are getting another variant, but bird enthusiasts get their second Brickheadz Pet with a pair of Cockatiels! They’re a great follow-up to Wave 2’s Budgies
I’m not the most familiar person with keeping birds as pets, but Google told me that Cockatiels are the 2nd most popular birds kept in the US (#1 being Parakeets/Budgies), so this seems like a an obvious choice as the next bird Brickheads Pet.
Their new bed/enclosure makes use of nougat “log bricks” to give it a natural wooden look which is by far one of the best “beds” for the Brickheadz Pets so far – it’s way more visually engaging than regular bricks!
Here’s a look at the adult Cockatiel, who stands on a light blue perch. The designers have opted for the very traditional grey and yellow colours, which I think looks mighty fine.
The adult Cockatiel features a majestic crest on its head, which gives it a really unique, and very tall appearance, but otherwise follows the Brickheadz Bird design established by the Budgies.
It’s always nice to see new printed elements make an appearance, and the Cockatiel comes with a white curved slope with an orange dot on both cheeks – which comes in handy to give it its signature Cockatiel look.
One thing I liked is the colour blocking and selection – the use of different shades of greys, blacks and white elements looks great, and gives off the visual illusion of layered features.
The crest is also ingenious as you can adjust its angle to give it a slightly different look each time!
Here’s a look at the tiny Cockatiel which who looks extra blocky and stumpy! Like the adult Cockatiel, the chick also has orange cheeks – this time a printed 2 x 1 tile which is always welcome, as well as a tiny crest on his head.
The baby Cockatiel’s tiny tail, and use of the “claw/teeth” element for its wings to look like feathers are great little design touches.
With the display plaque – you get 2 options – bird feet patterns, or feathers which are identical to the ones included in Wave 2’s Budgies.
Rating: 3/5
Thoughts: I’m not a massive fan of birds as pets (something about keeping them in cages bothers me), these brick-built Cockatiels are designed quite well and will no doubt appeal to those that do keep birds as pets, or have kept them in the past.
The small little flourishes added such as the crests, and printed orange cheeks are welcome additions, as is the wooden bed. While not as colourful or striking as Wave 2’s Budgies, the addition of the crest and does make the adult Cockatiel stand out, and I’m a big fan of the colour blocking of both birds.
They’ll be great to display next to the Budgies, and hopefully we get some more interesting birds next like maybe Parrots or something with a more prominent beak!
40482 Hamster Set Details
Name: Hamster
Set Number: 40482
Pieces: 243
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 August 2021
Last but not least is a brand new Pet – a pair of Hamsters and they are utterly adorable!
I grew up with hamsters of my own and thus, have a personal connection to these cute little furry rodents, but these are thus far my favourite Brickheadz Pets yet just because of how well these Hamsters translate to the Brickheadz form factor.
Here’s a look at their hamster bed, and butts/tails from behind. The lime green colours used are quite bright and provide a visual hook to the more muted earthy colour tones of the Hamsters.
I can’t get over how cute the adult and baby hamsters are, with a special callout to their pink feet, and noses. Unlike most other Brickheadz Pets, these hamsters come with accessories that they can grasp – the baby hamster has a small green shoot, and the adult hamster has a small carrot wedge – perfect for munching or storing in their cheeks!
Here’s a look at the adult hamster – I love its large brown ears, and the clever techniques used to bring to life their chubby cheeks – both with the semi-circle tiles, but also the larger curved slopes near the ears.
The colours are used really well in this case, and I especially love the white underbelly of the adult hamster.
The studs at the back sides of the heads are also a nice touch, as Hamsters tend to have fur bunching, pointing outwards in that area.
The baby hamster is equally as cute – and I like the pose its in, which has it standing up on its legs, and its oversized head and eyes.
The fact that its clutching a green shoot is icing on an already very cute cake.
This is a minor gripe, but due to the lack of the right elements in tan, if you look closely at the baby Hamster Brickheadz, you’ll see patches of grey peer out, especially pronounced in its tail which is slightly distracting.
Like the other Brickheadz Pets, here are the changeable plaques where you have the option between some nuts or the Hamster’ footprints.
Rating: 4/5
Thoughts: Hamsters are pretty common housepets, and they’re terrific fun to observe in their little enclosures, munching on food, running on wheels, or snoozing, and I have very fond memories of mine when I was eight.
The designers translated the Hamsters amazingly into the Brickheadz form factor, and these absolutely overindex on the cuteness scale. Anyone into cutesy LEGO builds, or have owned hamsters before will fall in love with these, and I think rodents make for great Brickheadz.
I’d love to see Guinea Pigs or Mice next in this form, and the LEGO Brickheadz Hamsters are far and away the favourite of Wave 3, followed by Tabby Cats.
The Summer Wave 3 LEGO Brickheadz is the most diverse selection so far, and I especially enjoyed the Tabby Cats and Hamsters, which are great additions to the line-up.
It’s been incredible watching the Brickheadz Pets line-up expand in record time, and looking at all of them lined up together, it’s quickly becoming a favourite sub-theme of mine.
These aren’t aimed at hardcore LEGO fans, but make for accessible, fun and inexpensive gifts, or additions to your Brickheadz collection if you love all things cutesy, or have a personal connection to these Pets.
Thanks so much for reading! I hope you enjoyed this group review!
The new 40480 Ginger Tabby, 40481 Cockatiel, and 40482 Hamster will be available from LEGO.com on 1 August 2021
Let me know in the comments which of the new Ginger Tabby, Cockatiel and Hamster Brickheadz appeal to you most!
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Special thanks to the LEGO Group for providing these sets for review.
