Series 28’s animal costumes make a cheerful collecting project
A guide to the 12-character assortment, its accessories and a manageable way to collect the figures you actually want.
Twelve costumes, one figure in each box
LEGO Minifigures Animals Series 28, numbered 71051, gathers a dozen characters in animal costumes. The lineup includes parrot, lion, frog, crocodile, Dalmatian, goldfish, bunny, peacock, cat, koala, dolphin and monkey designs. LEGO describes each sealed mystery box as containing one surprise figure with at least one accessory.
The distinction between the assortment and the individual box is worth making clear: buying a box is not buying all twelve characters. This guide looks at the collection’s structure and offers planning suggestions, rather than predicting which figure will be inside a particular package.
The accessory is part of the joke
Some pairings make the character immediately readable: LEGO lists a banana with the monkey, a flying disc with the Dalmatian, fish food with the goldfish and a rubber duck with the crocodile. The accessories give each costume an activity as well as a shape.
Our favorite aspect of that approach is the potential for small, playful scenes. An animal costume can be treated as a performer at a party, a mascot greeting visitors or a character in a completely invented world. The figure does not need a large display to establish what is happening.
Use the official sheet to define a complete figure
LEGO’s support page identifies 71051 as a 2026 release and provides its downloadable instruction sheet. Keep that official reference with your collection so you can compare an assembled character and its accompanying pieces when organizing purchases or swaps.
Our suggestion is to make a short checklist with separate columns for the figure and its accessories. Photograph your own complete examples once assembled. That gives you a personal reference for what belongs together and makes it easier to describe a duplicate accurately, without relying on a seller’s broad claim that a loose figure is complete.
Choose a collecting goal before adding more boxes
Start with the characters you most want, then decide whether completing all twelve would add enjoyment. A short wish list is a perfectly good collection. If swapping duplicates with friends, agree exactly which pieces are included and inspect them together before trading.
For purchases, compare the total cost of the specific figure you want with the uncertainty of another sealed box. A mystery purchase can be fun, but it does not guarantee progress toward a checklist. Keeping the goal small and visible helps the animal costumes remain a cheerful building project rather than an obligation to finish a row.
Reporting checked September 27, 2026. Plans and programs can change; follow the linked organizations for current information.