LEGO SET 43243 - Alternate build | Simba the Lion King Cub

May 6, 2025

LEGO sets with iconic characters like Simba the Lion King Cub offer more than one way to spark your creativity. While the official build brings the beloved cub to life, the parts themselves can be reimagined into entirely new creations. Here are just a few inspiring directions you might explore:

Regal Jungle Totem
Transform Simba’s mane and body elements into a stylized jungle totem. Stack the curved slopes and plates into a vertical motif, adding foliage pieces (from your wider collection) to suggest creeping vines. This display piece makes a striking desk ornament or shelf accent.
Lion Cub Diorama
Use the cub’s head elements as the centerpiece of a small diorama scene. Incorporate parts from other animal packs—rocks, grasses, even a tiny watering hole—to craft a snapshot of the Pride Lands. You could even build a miniature lioness or meerkat companion out of similarly hued bricks.
Character Mash-Up Bust
Swap out Simba’s distinctive ear and nose parts to create a bust of a different creature—a mythical griffin or a friendly dragon cub. By tweaking just a few features ( horns, wings, different eyes), you can repurpose the same core components into a wholly new fantasy figure.
Wall-Mounted Silhouette Art
Flatten Simba’s profile into a low-depth wall tile mosaic. Use the lion cub’s eye and muzzle pieces as focal points, then surround them with monochrome tiles to form a silhouette. Hang it on a picture ledge or mount on a 16×16 plate for instant LEGO wall art.
Mini-Puzzle Box
Reconfigure plates and hinges from the cub set into a small keepsake box with a sliding lid or hidden compartment. The curved slopes from Simba’s cheeks make surprisingly effective sliding mechanisms when paired with flat tiles—perfect for concealing a tiny note or minifigure accessory.
LEGO Bookmark or Keychain Charm
Scale down the idea of Simba’s head into a flat keychain charm or bookmark. Use jumper plates and small round tiles to suggest the eyes and nose, then attach to a stud-compatible clip or string.
Abstract Sculpture
Embrace pure form and color by creating an abstract sculpture. Combine the cub’s ochre and reddish-brown elements into flowing waves or geometric towers. This kind of build showcases how limited palettes can still yield sophisticated results.