LEGO Ideas: All Aboard the S.S. Willie!

LEGO Ideas has been the launch pad for some very cool fan-inspired, pop culture building sets in the past. In just a few short years, the platform has sparked the release of sets based on Back to the Future, Ghostbusters, The Beatles’ Yellow Submarine, Doctor Who, Adventure Time, The Flintstones, and more — and now Mickey Mouse is in the mix. LEGO Ideas Steamboat Willie celebrates 90 years of Mickey Mouse by paying tribute to the animated short film that started it all, 1928’s Steamboat Willie.

https://youtu.be/8_Joj3nbwYc

Originally submitted as a LEGO Ideas fan project by Máté Szabó in June 2016, the set was adapted into the official LEGO version by designer John Ho, with decorated elements and mini-figures created by graphic designer Crystal Marie Fontan.

The LEGO brick version of the S.S. Willie features paddle wheels that rotate while the boat is pushed along and steam pipes that move up and down. A mini-figure can take the wheel in the boat’s bridge, while additional nautical details include a life buoy and bell. A working crane can lift figures or cargo onto the boat.

LEGO Ideas Steamboat Willie. Pensive man in chair not included (sold separately).

The included black-and-white Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse mini-figures are new for 2019, each with special silver accents. The set also features a buildable mouse ears placard that can be used as a mini-figure base and additional accessories, including Minnie’s guitar and sheet music.

Steamboat Willie sails into LEGO stores on April 1.

Photos: Disney

About the author

James Zahn

James Zahn, AKA The Rock Father, is Editor-in-Chief of The Toy Book, a Senior Editor at The Toy Insider and The Pop Insider, and Editor of The Toy Report, The Toy Book‘s weekly industry newsletter. As a pop culture and toy industry expert, Zahn has appeared as a panelist and guest at events including Comic-Con International: San Diego (SDCC) Wizard World Chicago, and the ASTRA Marketplace & Academy. Zahn has more than 30 years of experience in the entertainment, retail, and publishing industries, and is frequently called upon to offer expert commentary for publications such as Forbes, Marketwatch, the Wall Street Journal, the New York Times, USA Today, Reuters, the Washington Post, and more. James has appeared on History Channel’s Modern Marvels, was interviewed by Larry King and Anderson Cooper, and has been seen on Yahoo! Finance, CNN, CNBC, FOX Business, NBC, ABC, CBS, WGN, The CW, and more. Zahn joined the Adventure Media & Events family in 2016, initially serving as a member of the Parent Advisory Board after penning articles for the Netflix Stream Team, Fandango Family, PBS KIDS, Sprout Parents (now Universal Kids), PopSugar, and Chicago Parent. He eventually joined the company full time as a Senior Editor and moved up the ranks to Deputy Editor and Editor-in-Chief.