[Photos] LEGO’s Giant Santa: Stiff, Charming, And Full Of Surprises

It’s familiar territory for anyone who’s tackled LEGO’s other oversized figures. But it doesn’t need to reinvent the wheel (or the sleigh).

Fernando Fong

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LEGO’s new Santa Claus figure stands 27 centimetres tall and is made entirely of plastic bricks. It’s big, it’s festive, and it’s oddly charming.

Not quite toy, not quite décor, the new LEGO 40820 Up-Scaled Santa Minifigure occupies that peculiar space where childhood nostalgia meets adult display shelf aesthetics—and it does so with surprising charm.

Retailing in Malaysia for RM259, this 761-piece set continues the brand’s tradition of blowing up its iconic minifigures to sculptural proportions.

Think of it as the spiritual successor to sets like the 40819 Up-Scaled Racer Minifigure, 40504 Minifigure Tribute, and the Harry Potter & Hermione Granger duo from set 76393.

The format is familiar by now: take the beloved blocky humanoid, scale it up dramatically, and let builders wrestle with the engineering challenges of making something both structurally sound and visually appealing.

The box is taller than it is wide and designed to securely hold the large Santa. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

It includes seven numbered bags and a large instruction booklet. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

Building LEGO sets together fosters quality time and strengthens family connections, making it an enjoyable shared experience. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

The Build: Stiff but Charming

Let’s address the elephant—or rather, the jolly man—in the room: this Santa isn’t exactly nimble.

His mobility is limited; his head is fixed, and achieving any pose beyond “standing awkwardly” or “sitting rigidly” requires patience and some creative balancing.

LEGO’s supersized minifigures have always struggled with articulation, and Santa is no exception.

His arms move, sure, but don’t expect dynamic action poses.

Still, with some careful positioning, you can coax this slightly stiff Saint Nick into something resembling movement—a wave, perhaps, or a gesture of festive goodwill.

The real magic, though, lies in the details.

Hidden Villages and Textured Beards

Unlike some of its predecessors (looking at you, 40649 Up-Scaled LEGO Minifigure, with your hidden minifigure hat), Santa doesn’t have much tucked under his cap.

But LEGO did sneak in one delightful Easter egg: nestled inside Santa’s head is a micro winter village composed of several tiny bricks.

It’s the kind of whimsical touch that rewards curious builders and adds a layer of storytelling to what could otherwise be a straightforward construction.

The beard deserves special mention.

Textured and surprisingly convincing, it gives Santa’s face more character than the typical chinless minifigure.

The hat, admittedly, is a bit rough from certain angles—its surface uneven, its shape slightly chaotic—but it works in context.

This is a LEGO Santa, after all, not a Hallmark ornament.

While the model features moving arms and can be posed to sit or stand, it has limited overall mobility compared to traditional LEGO figures. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

The LEGO 40820 Up-Scaled Santa Minifigure features a hidden micro Winter Village nestled inside the heart of Santa’s head, adding a delightful touch to its design. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

While the Santa figure has delightful textures, certain areas, such as the hat’s finish, appear rough from specific angles. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

No Stickers, Just Print

In a move that will please purists, LEGO opted for printed elements rather than stickers for Santa’s face and torso.

The two patterned pieces—his jolly expression and the belt buckle on his red suit—are pad-printed directly onto the bricks.

There’s a slight tonal difference where the off-white pieces meet the printed white details on the torso’s belt, but it’s a minor quibble in an otherwise polished presentation.

Small decorative touches elevate the build: tile pieces placed atop Santa’s feet cleverly hide the studs that mar the aesthetic of other supersized figures.

It’s the kind of thoughtful design choice that shows LEGO sweating the small stuff.

This set is notable for having no stickers; all designs, including those on Santa’s face and torso, are printed directly onto the pieces. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

You can find interactive building instructions for the LEGO 40820 Up-Scaled Santa Minifigure on the LEGO Builder app, which enhances your building experience. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

The head of the Santa Minifigure does not rotate; it is fixed in place because the beard is attached both to the head and the torso, preventing any motion. (Pix: Fernando Fong)

What’s Missing? A Minifigure (and Maybe a Sack)

For RM259, you’d expect LEGO to include a standard minifigure for scale or at least a tiny sack for Santa’s hand, but those extras are missing.

Still, this set delivers where it counts: as a conversation piece that commands attention on any shelf.

At 27 centimetres tall, Santa draws eyes and smiles, whether it’s December or July—he’s charming enough to stay out year-round.

When you do need to pack him away, he fits neatly back in his box, a rarity for larger LEGO builds.

The 40820 Up-Scaled Santa isn’t breaking new ground, but it doesn’t need to—it’s a well-executed set that balances nostalgia with craftsmanship.

Essential? No. Delightful? Absolutely.

@shinichikeesoon #Christmas #SantaClaus #LEGO #Minifigure #Yuletide ♬ Santa Claus Is Coming To Town – Dylan Scott

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