LEGO 21371 Wallace & Gromit: Story, Details and Display Ideas

Some LEGO sets are interesting because of the build. Others work because they bring back a very specific memory.

LEGO 21371 Wallace & Gromit does both.

Wallace and Gromit have always belonged to a world of clay fingerprints, handmade sets, strange inventions and very British humor. Turning them into LEGO bricks could easily have lost some of that warmth. Instead, LEGO Ideas 21371 embraces the exaggerated shapes of the original characters and places them on the familiar motorbike and sidecar from A Close Shave.

The result feels less like two character models beside a vehicle and more like a small Wallace & Gromit scene translated into bricks.

LEGO 21371 at a Glance

The set began as a fan design and was selected through the LEGO Ideas “90s Throwback – the Next Chapter” challenge.

That origin suits Wallace & Gromit well. The set is nostalgic, but it still has enough personality to work as a display piece even without knowing every reference.

From Aardman Clay to LEGO Bricks

Wallace and Gromit first appeared in Nick Park's A Grand Day Out in 1989.

Wallace is the enthusiastic inventor whose solutions are usually more complicated than the original problem. Gromit is the silent, intelligent companion who normally understands what is going wrong long before Wallace does.

That contrast became central to films such as The Wrong Trousers, A Close Shave and The Curse of the Were-Rabbit.

It also creates one of the biggest design challenges for LEGO 21371.

Wallace has a long face, rounded nose, prominent teeth and a very specific smile. Gromit is even harder to translate because much of his personality comes from his eyes, ears and expression rather than dialogue.

LEGO cannot reproduce the softness of modeling clay, so the designers focus on silhouette instead.

Wallace's green sweater, white shirt and red tie establish the character quickly. Gromit's long snout, black nose and large white eyes make him recognizable even before you start noticing the individual bricks.

That is probably the most important test for a brick-built character: from a few steps away, you still know exactly who you are looking at.

Why the Motorbike Matters

The motorbike and sidecar connect LEGO 21371 directly with the 1995 film A Close Shave.

More importantly, they give the model movement.

Two standalone character sculptures could feel static. Wallace behind the handlebars and Gromit sitting beside him create a clear direction of travel, as though the next scene is about to begin.

There are smaller references too, including crackers, a ball of yarn and a diamond hidden beneath the motorbike seat.

These details suit the original films, where background objects, handwritten labels and small visual jokes often reward a closer look.

Display Idea 1: A Close Shave Road Scene

The most natural display idea is to give the motorbike somewhere to go.

A narrow countryside road, low stone wall, muted green fields and an overcast British sky can suggest A Close Shave without recreating an exact movie frame.

The road should continue in the same direction as the bike. That small detail makes the model feel as though Wallace and Gromit are moving through the scene rather than simply sitting in front of a background.

Keep the scenery quiet. The characters should remain the strongest visual element.

Display Idea 2: Aardman Animation Studio Style

Another approach is to display LEGO 21371 as a tribute to stop-motion animation rather than to one specific film.

A warm neutral background with pencil sketches, storyboard frames, frame numbers or subtle production notes can create the feeling of an animation studio.

This works especially well because both LEGO building and stop-motion animation are visibly handmade processes.

You can see the construction.

Instead of hiding that, the display can celebrate it.

This style is ideal for collectors who are interested in Aardman's creative process as much as the characters themselves.

Display Idea 3: Minimal British Retro Display

The set also works with a much simpler background.

Cream, warm grey, muted green and a small amount of brick red create a restrained British retro palette. Add one subtle road sign or piece of vintage typography and leave the rest open.

This kind of display works particularly well on a shelf shared with other LEGO Ideas sets.

The background provides context without overpowering Wallace, Gromit or the motorbike.

Sometimes the best display is the one where the background almost disappears.

What Is the Best Angle for LEGO 21371?

A full side view shows the motorbike clearly, but it can flatten Wallace and Gromit into the same plane.

A shallow three-quarter angle usually works better.

Turn the bike slightly toward the viewer so Wallace's face remains visible while Gromit and the sidecar still have their own space.

Also leave some empty room in front of the front wheel.

If the bike sits too close to a wall, frame or acrylic panel, the sense of movement disappears. A little extra space in the direction of travel makes the whole composition feel more natural.

With LEGO 21371, empty space is part of the scene.

FAQ

What is LEGO 21371 based on?

LEGO 21371 is a LEGO Ideas Wallace & Gromit set inspired by the characters' motorbike and sidecar from the 1995 short film A Close Shave.

How many pieces are in LEGO 21371?

The set contains 1,038 pieces and is designed as an 18+ collector build.

What is the best way to display LEGO 21371?

A shallow three-quarter angle works well because it keeps Wallace, Gromit and the motorbike visible at the same time. British countryside scenery, Aardman-style animation sketches or a simple retro background all suit the model.

Final Thoughts

What makes LEGO 21371 interesting is not that LEGO has made Wallace and Gromit perfectly smooth.

It is that their personalities survive the change of material.

Wallace still looks ready to test an invention that probably should not be tested. Gromit still looks like he already knows how that experiment will end. And the motorbike gives the whole scene the feeling that another adventure has started.

That is worth remembering when displaying the set.

You do not need to rebuild the entire world of A Close Shave. A road disappearing into the distance, a few animation sketches or even a quiet retro background can be enough.

Give the bike somewhere to go, keep the characters easy to read, and leave a little room for the story to continue.