LEGO Shrek, Donkey & Puss in Boots Review: A Surprisingly Charming Swamp Display

LEGO's Shrek, Donkey & Puss in Boots set, numbered 72423, has a difficult job to do. It is not merely recreating recognizable film characters in plastic bricks; it is attempting to make a particularly round, expressive green ogre feel natural in a medium built on studs, corners, and hard edges. That challenge makes the finished set more successful than it may initially appear. At its best, this 1,403-piece, 18+ display captures the humor and warmth of Shrek's world through texture, carefully chosen curves, and a generous selection of environmental callbacks.

Priced at $129.99 / £109.99, the set is broadly in line with the current cost expected from a LEGO build around this piece count. It is a medium-complexity project that takes roughly four to five hours to complete, with the construction easily split across a couple of relaxed evenings. Once finished, the model measures approximately 9.5 inches tall, 8.5 inches wide, and 6 inches deep. It is compact enough for a shelf while still carrying enough visual density to work as a dedicated centerpiece for fans of the films.

Its biggest strength is that it understands what makes a character display feel worthwhile. Rather than depending entirely on broad likenesses, it packs its swamp setting with small pieces of visual storytelling. There is a blue flower with red thorns, a concealed onion, and the memorable "Beware Ogre" signpost. These details help transform the set from a pair of character sculptures into a miniature scene that feels connected to the first Shrek film.

What comes in LEGO set 72423?

Shrek, Donkey & Puss in Boots is composed of 1,403 pieces and includes one conventional minifigure: Puss in Boots. Shrek and Donkey are instead large brick-built figures fixed to a swamp-themed base. The set uses seven printed pieces made specifically for the model, including parts for Shrek and Donkey's faces and the signpost. Notably, the display avoids stickers altogether, an especially welcome decision for a collector-oriented set that may spend years in direct view on a shelf.

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The printed parts contribute substantially to the set's personality. Character faces can be where brick-built models either come together or collapse into an uncanny approximation. Shrek's design benefits from the extra polish supplied by those dedicated elements, helping the ogre read as Shrek rather than simply a generic green fantasy figure. The sign is similarly important: it is a small addition in physical terms, but it immediately establishes the joke and atmosphere of the display.

The set's density is also a point in its favor. Many of its pieces are relatively small, with numerous little elements layered into the scenery and characters. That can make the price feel more defensible than a simpler count might suggest. There is real part variety in the textures, especially around clothing, fur, rockwork, and the marshy base.

A mostly smooth build with one notable complication

The construction follows a clear path rather than constantly jumping between disconnected subassemblies. Bags one through four focus on the swamp setting and Donkey, before bags five through 10 move into Shrek's much larger body. It is an approachable structure for builders who enjoy watching a display gradually take shape, and it produces several satisfying moments where an abstract cluster of bricks finally reveals its purpose.

Much of the engineering is devoted to softening LEGO's naturally angular appearance. Slopes, curved elements, and rounded corners cover joins and square foundations throughout the figures. The result is not completely free of the medium's recognizable geometry, nor should it be, but the shaping makes a considerable difference. Shrek's proportions in particular would have looked far less convincing without the set's willingness to spend pieces on curved detailing.

Instructions are generally straightforward. LEGO also uses color cues inside the model where left and right orientation matters, separating certain internal components into red and green groupings. That is a useful safeguard against mirrored construction mistakes, particularly in sections where the completed pieces will later be hidden.

There are still a few areas where builders may want better lighting. Shrek's outfit incorporates dark brown pieces that can be difficult to distinguish on an instruction page, especially during the sixth bag. A bright lamp or daytime build session will reduce the risk of picking up the wrong element.

The most fiddly part is Shrek's legs. Similar shapes, multiple rotations, and work performed on both the top and underside of the same base make this portion more demanding than the rest of the model. It is possible to construct a leg incorrectly and only notice once the assembly has progressed. Fortunately, it is a localized issue rather than a sign that the whole set is overly complex. Builders should simply take their time, double-check orientations, and avoid rushing this section.

Shrek looks better in bricks than expected

Character models can be hit-or-miss, especially when translating rounded animated designs into a block-based format. Shrek, however, comes across remarkably well. The figure has enough curves and smaller layered elements to avoid looking like a flat wall of green pieces. His head, clothing, and sturdy stance all read clearly from a distance, while closer inspection reveals the construction tricks doing the work.

One particularly clever choice uses black mechanical claws paired with horizontal bar plates to represent the strings and rough details around Shrek's tunic. It is the kind of inventive part usage that makes a LEGO display rewarding to study after it is finished. Elsewhere, the model uses 1x2 Rock Claw pieces to add ruffled texture to Shrek's outfit and Donkey's coat. Those small, jagged shapes create a more organic effect than ordinary studs could deliver on their own.

Shrek is firmly anchored by two ball joints beneath his feet and additional studs connecting him with Donkey's side. On display, he feels secure. The caveat is that the ball-joint arrangement gives the figure a little movement when the entire diorama is picked up. It should not be mistaken for a fragile build, but this is not an ideal set for someone who frequently relocates or rearranges display pieces.

Donkey is more uneven. His mane, white front stripe, and fur texture have plenty of appealing detail, and the use of jagged elements gives his surface a tactile quality. Yet his overall silhouette appears somewhat slim beside Shrek. The figure does not have quite the same rounded volume viewers may expect from the character, making him feel slightly one-dimensional in comparison with the ogre.

Donkey is also built directly onto a boulder, which improves stability but limits what can be done with the model afterward. His mouth and ears provide the main points of movement. Shrek's left arm offers some adjustment as well, but this is fundamentally a display diorama rather than a poseable character set.

Puss in Boots is the weak link

Puss in Boots arrives as a minifigure with a hat, sword, cape, and printed boots. Those accessories ensure the character is instantly identifiable, and collectors may appreciate having him represented at all. Still, Puss feels less carefully integrated than Shrek and Donkey.

The issue is partly color and partly scale. His tones are unusually bright next to the earthy browns of the tunic, swamp, and rocks. Shrek's green is certainly vibrant, but it is balanced by the surrounding palette; Puss can look almost luminous by comparison. As a standard minifigure, his proportions also sit oddly beside the much larger brick-built figures. His head and upper body are tiny when placed near Shrek's face, emphasizing that he belongs to a different design language.

That mismatch does not ruin the display, but it prevents the set from feeling entirely cohesive. A small brick-built Puss might have made for a more unified presentation, though it would likely have raised the part count and price further.

Is LEGO Shrek, Donkey & Puss in Boots worth buying?

Set 72423 is not likely to replace LEGO's most technically ambitious builds, nor does it offer the kind of extensive articulation some collectors seek from character models. Its appeal is more specific: it is a lovingly realized Shrek display with strong use of texture, clever detailing, and references that reward people who know the films.

The lack of stickers, the seven exclusive printed pieces, and the generally convincing Shrek figure all make the $129.99 / £109.99 price easier to accept. Donkey's form is a little less persuasive, Puss is underwhelming as a minifigure, and the completed diorama is best left in one place rather than moved regularly. But the central image succeeds. Shrek looks like Shrek, the swamp looks suitably storybook and grubby, and the small environmental jokes give the finished model more character than a straightforward statue.

Buy it if:

• You are a Shrek fan looking for a shelf-friendly display packed with recognizable details.
• You value printed elements and would rather avoid applying stickers to a collector set.
• You have been skeptical of brick-built character figures but want to see a more convincing use of curves and textured parts.

Consider skipping it if:

• You want highly poseable figures or a model designed for regular handling.
• Donkey is your main reason for buying, as his overall shape is less successful than Shrek's.
• You want every character to share the same display scale and construction style.

For the right audience, LEGO Shrek, Donkey & Puss in Boots is a warm, funny, and unexpectedly polished trip back to the swamp. It is not flawless, but it gets the most important part right: the finished display has enough charm to make its familiar characters feel at home in bricks.