From screen to bricks: Our LEGO® Designers brought a fan-favorite supernatural creature to life in the new LEGO KPop Demon Hunters set in record time
What happens when a standout character from Netflix’s most popular movie captures fans’ imagination, and designers bring that personality to life in a LEGO® building set?
Here’s the design story behind the LEGO® KPop Demon Hunters - Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird set (72537) for ages 9+, where one small (and slightly clumsy!) supernatural creature became the centre of a creative challenge, which was designed in record time from brief to final model.
Derpy Tiger and his trusted companion, Sussie Bird, are impossible to miss when watching Netflix’s hit animated film, KPop Demon Hunters . Appearing as mischievous couriers, Derpy and Sussie deliver messages throughout the story, sometimes with more enthusiasm than coordination. Whether carrying letters or accidentally knocking objects over along the way, Derpy’s chaotic charm and expressive reactions quickly made it a distinctive fan favourite.
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From the moment the brief was received, Wes Talbott, Senior Design Master in the LEGO Group, was ecstatic: “I had already watched the movie a few times and as soon as I heard about it, I knew I wanted to work on it. It's just one of those stories you want to share!”
Wes wanted to capture the spirit of a character that will leave a lasting impression and be instantly recognizable. For Wes and the LEGO design team, inspiration came quickly:
“In the team, we knew exactly what look and feel we wanted for the model. One of my team members did a very good sketch model exploration, so I was able to jump straight into building.”
The design process began directly with LEGO bricks and elements after that point. Iterating quickly and with different prototypes to find the right balance, between shape, expression and recognizability.
Built, printed or both?
One of the earliest key decisions was deciding how to bring Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird’s characteristic facial expressions to life. Wes and the design team including Conrad Hallenburg Sode Rasmussen, Graphic Designer in the LEGO Group, considered whether the features should be entirely brick-built or supported by graphic decoration, with the final solution blending both:
- Carefully shaped brick-built forms
- Printed graphic elements to capture details and accuracy
This combined approach allowed the team to stay true to the characters while maintaining a cohesive LEGO build experience for fans.
The smallest details make the biggest difference
For this LEGO model, expression was everything. And nowhere was that more important than in the eyes. Slightly angled and almond-shaped form, they became one of the most complex elements to recreate.
“The eyes are such a big part of the character. It’s not just about the shape, but also how they sit on Derpy’s face. Even small design changes in the eyes made a big difference to how the whole character comes across. It took a lot of testing to get both the shape and the angle right.”
Once the eyes clicked, the whole model came together, says Wes. The final build layers multiple elements with printed decoration, all carefully designed to create a recognizable and expressive look, just like in the movie
Recreating the moments fans will remember
Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird deliver memorable moments from the movie, and those became central to the design.
Rather than a purely static model, the build was designed as a playful display piece that captures some key behaviours from the movie for fans to discover. This includes amongst others: different expressions, striking poses, accessories, and adjustable features. Following this approach ensures the model feels dynamic and playable, even when it’s displayed on the shelf.
“Those moments guided a lot of design decisions. Especially where movement and interaction would add to the storytelling and building experience.”
If you ask any designer, they will tell you it’s the smallest details that bring the most satisfaction. In this case, it was the tail. Using curved elements to achieve the right shape and proportions made sure the final design captured a soft, rounded look that complements the creature perfectly. The final model measures 8.5 in. (21 cm) high, 6 in. (15 cm long) and 6 in. (15 cm) wide when Sussie is standing on Derpy’s head and is made of 825 LEGO pieces.
Fans can pre-order the LEGO KPop Demon Hunters set from today, June 15th, 2026, via www.LEGO.com/Derpy-Tiger-and-Sussie-Bird-72537, with the LEGO set hitting shelves August 1st 2026. Read more about the collaboration here: LEGO® KPop Demon Hunters sets - About Us - LEGO.com.