Today I would like to introduce you to a Japanese LEGO builder who goes by the name talapz. He specializes in very unusual LEGO creations that are not just pretty to look at but also move, fold and behave in very unusual ways that you wouldn’t expect from LEGO. They are like magic! 🙂
Talapz’s creations were first noted back in 2009 after making a LEGO pop-up version of Kinkaku-ji, a Buddhist temple built back in the 14th century (see video below). It was so unique and mind-blowing that every LEGO forum and blog talked about it, and even non-LEGO news channels featured it. There is so much going on here; a brick-built LEGO box with everything from set image to parts list – that in itself is an amazing feat. Then there is a beautiful LEGO temple, which would be just fine in itself as a beautiful LEGO creation. But then the whole thing folds out like a pop-up book! It just can’t get better then this!
Since then talapz built another great Japanese temple called Todai-ji, which houses the world’s largest bronze statue of Buddha. This LEGO creation is also pop-up style, and if you are inclined to build one, it also includes parts-lists and building-instructions at the second half of the video.
Talapz continues uploading videos of amazing LEGO creations, so I highly recommend you check out and subscribe to his YouTube channel.
I have noted many times how Asian LEGO fans have been taking the LEGO hobby to a whole new level with some very unusual and complex LEGO creations. It seems they have a knack for combining LEGO with amazing mechanical features that nobody has ever attempted before or even thought about. I’m really curious to see what kind of sets and themes LEGO is planning to release now that they have set their eyes on Asia and are opening a factory just to cater to Asian LEGO fans.
What do you think? How do you like the LEGO pop-up? Have you ever considered building something so complex? What kind of LEGO sets do you think LEGO should release in Asia? Feel free to share your thoughts in the comment section below! 😉
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First comment! I can’t get videos here, so I wish there were pics. I will watch them at home though.
You really have to watch the videos to appreaciate what is going on here. Pictures would not do it justice. 🙂
Wow. He could possibly be one of the best LEGO builders ever. I have never thought about building something so complex. It’s hard to believe that it stays together so well; many LEGO folding pieces don’t hold up heavy objects very well.
Yeah, you really need a different kind of brain to build something like this. 😀
Just watched them, and they are so amazing !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ! How expensive was it to make (how many parts?)
I think on one of the videos he shared that it was like 8,000 pieces or something like that. 🙂
Woah! How did he do that?! Lego is not the material you’d expect to fold well, it almost never works for me (although that might be b/c of a lack of parts). I like the “box” for the first one, and at first it didn’t look like it was possible for the building to come out. Ah, the hinges required. 😮 🙂
I also note that the music in both videos is the kind that makes you sleepy if you listen for too long. 😀
BTW, Mixels S2 are up on Lego Shop, June 1st. 😉
Wow, these are amazing. Creations from Japan rarely ever fails to astound if it comes to the innovative or engineering aspect…
Anyways, have anyone seen the contest on Brickset? I…don’t suppose anyone know who designed the Grand Carousel? I have a feeling that it’s Steen Sig Andersen…
I just entered the contest this morning. I’m not going to tell you who is the designer because I want to win, but I give you a hint; Google it. BTW, technically speaking nowhere does it say in the contest rules that you have to have the right answer to win. It just says that you need to answer the question.
Oh, at second look it does say in the Terms & Conditions that you need to have the right answer to win. My bad. Maybe I should have read the rules before entering. 🙄
Is the contest the one where you can win a signed Fairground Mixer? I thought that was only in Europe. Oh, hm, I found it, too bad I don’t know anything from before 2012. 🙁
I also thought that it was interesting that the creator of these amazing sets never showed his face. Asians are so modest… another thing to learn from them…
I can’t seem to google it…What keywords do you people use?
Search for the set number with each of the names. See what you find. 😉
Wow, should have thought of that. I got my answer-just as I suspected! I do still have some kind of precognitive “LEGO sense”…
Yeah, I just didn’t want to make it too easy for you. 😉
All I can say is: WOW.
That’s amazing!!!!!! Off-topic, is there a listing of sets on bricklink that were only released as free sets for a certain purchase amount on Lego.com, kind of like that balloon kart (which I”m a little disgruntled is released early for Europe along with the Fairground Mixer. VIP in the U.S. gets Fairground Mixer early but not the balloon cart early. I’m actually hoping to buy the Fairground Mixer June 1st instead of the ghostbusters.) I just want to see what from the past I might want to get that I missed out on.
Kim, the promotional sets, freebies, polybags, etc. are all listed both on Brickset and Bricklink, however they are listed in their main theme. In otherwords you have to know what theme the set belongs to to find it. It would be impossible to put these sets under just a freebie category because they may be a freebie in one country, but it could be available for purchase in another. Also, there are store-specific freebies as well as event specific ones. There are people who collect these little sets and hunting them down is a real chore (or exciting detective work – depending on your view). Fikko wrote about collecting them here: http://thebrickblogger.com/2013/03/collecting-lego-polybags/
Cool! Thanks!
Okay, Off-topic, but if you follow the link below you can see the 4th episode of Lego Star Wars the Yoda Chronicles, and then the top suggestion should be the next episode, up to 8. I think there are still going to be longer episodes later this year, though. 😕
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbiJO57Ti9c
Also, there are two new Mixels videos. The weirdest things in Lego, they are. 🙂
Thanks for sharing that. I may post the SW series here so we can discuss. 🙂