LEGO Disney 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub review

43243 Simba the Lion King Cub may be literally overshadowed by larger brick-built felines from 2024, but there’s a lot of charm and personality packed into this miniature package.

A set that, along with its 18+ big brother, pays homage to 30 years of Disney’s The Lion King, 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub succeeds in being fully posable, making it feel far more alive and expressive than the larger set. While experienced LEGO fans may prefer a more substantial build, for anyone of any age who fancies picking up a small, cute LEGO lion, this truly is the king.

— LEGO Disney 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub set details —

Theme: LEGO Disney Set name: 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub Release: June 1, 2024

Price: £17.99 / $19.99 / €19.99 Pieces: 222 Minifigures: 0

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— Where to buy LEGO Disney 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub —

43243 Simba the Lion King Cub can be purchased from LEGO.com, LEGO Stores and from many third-party retailers.

— LEGO Disney 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub build —

43243 Simba the Lion King Cub is a straightforward build with an inordinate amount of charm. While brick-built versions of licensed characters come and go, and while there’s another, larger, more substantial 18+ Simba debuting on the same day as 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub, it is arguably the smaller of these two sets that best captures the cheeky, impetuous would-be Lion King in all his Jonathan Taylor Thomas glory.

The building process itself is not overly challenging, as the set is designed to be easily accessible for younger or less experienced LEGO fans. There are no stickers, a minimal use of Technic elements, and the entire build should comfortably take even its target 6+ audience no more than an hour.

In addition to Simba, there’s a small, leafy plate of ‘grub’ for the lion cub to chow down on, which is a nice inclusion that provides some initial playtime suggestions, as well as adding a little extra colour to a set that draws from one of Disney’s most vibrant outings.

— LEGO Disney 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub characters —

As a Disney villain once famously stated, one should never underestimate the importance of body language. While the 18+ 43247 Young Simba the Lion King is practically life-size and is far more detailed, 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub is by far the more expressive of the two sets.

Where the 18+ Simba is locked in a fixed position, mouth open wide, eyes staring glassily straight forward, 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub is fully posable. The shoulders are perfectly placed, and mean that no matter how he is positioned, he always feels positively feline, either ready to pounce, or slinking lazily across a tabletop.

The ball joint that serves as his neck is a particularly nice touch, as he’s able to tilt his head inquisitively, just as a cat would do in real life. While this is intended as a children’s toy, this set also has tremendous potential as a desk ornament for anyone who might miss their cats while in an office space. Having it on a desk next to a computer while working, it’s easy to forget that 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub isn’t an actual (if somewhat small) kitten, sneaking up silently to beg for head scratches.

— LEGO Disney 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub price —

43243 Simba the Lion King Cub costs £17.99 in the UK, $19.99 in the US and €19.99 in the EU. That’s about right for a character build with around 300 pieces, and feels fair value for everything in the box.

— LEGO Disney 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub pictures —

— LEGO Disney 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub pros and cons —

43242 Simba the Lion King Cub is an adorable little build which, while by far the smallest of the brick-built felines for 2024, also has the most charm and personality. While aimed primarily at younger fans, this is a build that LEGO enthusiasts of all ages can enjoy, at a price point that won’t break the bank and a size that will fit snugly into any LEGO collection.

43242 Simba the Lion King Cub pros	43242 Simba the Lion King Cub cons
Extremely cute	A small build
An accessible build experience for all ages	Build time is fairly short
Extremely posable	Head doesn’t look great when viewed from behind

This set was provided for review by the LEGO Group.

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— Alternatives to LEGO Disney 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub —

An obvious alternative to 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub is the 18+ set which releases at the same time, 43247 Simba the Lion King. This set is far larger and has a higher piece count, but is not posable.

Alternatively, LEGO fans may wish to consider LEGO Creator 3-in-1 Wild Safari Animals, which among its several designs can be built as a full-grown adult lion with accompanying foliage.

— LEGO Disney 43243 Simba the Lion King Cub FAQs —