LEGO® Monkie Kid™ review: 80054 Megapolis City 5th Anniversary

Today I'm taking a look at LEGO® Monkie Kid 80054 Megapolis City 5th Anniversary, which contains some very interesting new pieces, and even a new LEGO colour! 

Products in this article were gifted by The LEGO Group; the author's opinions are their own.
LEGO® Monkie Kid 80054 Megapolis City 5th Anniversary
US$189.99/ £159.99/ 179.99€/ AU$269.99
2330 parts
1 January 2024
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Set 80054 on LEGO.com

New moulds

We are treated to two new moulds in this set, both of which are also included in 80113 Family Reunion Celebration releasing on 1 January 2024:

• 6x Peach Fruit in Bright Pink (6489399)
• 3x 1x4 Fence Oriental with circular openings in Pearl Gold (6458679 | 5103) 

The peach has a short 3.18mm bar connection for minifigures to hold, or for inserting into leaf limb elements if you prefer your peaches hanging on branches. 

The new fence does not include any bars, unlike its square-patterned sibling, Fence 1x4x2 Ornamental Asian Lattice with 4 Studs (32932). But as Niels Mølgård Frederiksen, Associate Creative Lead for LEGO Monkie Kid mentioned when I spoke to him at Recognised LEGO Fan Media Days in Denmark recently, the new piece was designed to have more of a Chinese feel than the existing part which draws more upon Japanese references. 

It is used as a fence in this set, and as a window in the LEGO® Spring Festival release that I reviewed yesterday, 80113 Family Reunion Celebration, where you can find 19 of them!

New LEGO colour: Reddish Orange

As well as a healthy number of recoloured elements, we are also treated to the introduction of a completely new colour. It looks a bit like tasty tomato soup to me, but we believe 402 Reddish Orange is its official name. There are two elements in this new colour, both unique to this set:

• 8x Brick Curved, Internal Double, 3x3 with 1/3 Inverted Cutout, Corner in Reddish Orange (6472095 | 73682)
• 8x Brick Curved, 3x1 with 1/3 Inverted Cutout in Reddish Orange (6472094 | 70681) 

The "gap" in the colour palette between regular red and orange has been quite noticeable for some time, so it's good to finally see a shade that will bridge these two existing hues. I thought it would be useful to make a comparison image with some past and present LEGO colours in the same area of the colour palette. Can you identify them all? Answers at the end of this article!

We have also spotted this new colour in LEGO® Friends 42639 Mansion and various 2024 Space-themed releases across several themes, so we can expect to see other "tomato soup" elements soon. We will have to keep our eyes peeled.

Recolours

There are 8 elements appearing in more familiar colours for the first time, all unique here unless otherwise stated:

• 1x Helmet Classic, New Mold 2019 in Green (6466286 | 50665) - one to keep the Classic Space fans happy!
• 1x Helmet, Standard, 2 Horn Holes in Dark Azure (6469785 | 82252)
• Plate Special 2x2x2/3 with Two Studs On Side and Two Raised - Updated Version - 4x in Green (6470191 | 4304) and 2x in Dark Azure (6470176 | 4304)
• 1x Panel 1x2x3 [Side Supports/Hollow Studs] in Transparent Bright Green (6468820 | 87544)
• 12x Panel 1x4x3 [Side Supports/Hollow Studs] in Transparent Yellow (6469275 | 60581) - perfect for some Neo-Classic Space MOCs perhaps?
• 1x Technic Beam Round 15x15 in Pearl Gold (6469273 | 3250)
• 2x Tile Round 3x3 in Pearl Gold (6327553 | 67095) - appearing for the first time unprinted in Pearl Gold, also in Family Reunion Celebration and 21344 The Orient Express Train

Rare elements

These elements have been seen in one other set:

• 1x Hair Long Straight with Bangs - Hard Plastic in White (6359884 | 75867) - in 71772 The Crystal King
• 4x Plate Special 2x2 with Double Inverted Curve, 1 Stud in Dark Brown (6456663 | 4190) - seen in 10315 Tranquil Garden
• 1x Crown/Flower/Egg Shell Half in Medium Lavender (6456640 | 39262) - also in Tranquil Garden
• 4x Animal, Snake Head with Open Mouth, Fangs and Curved Neck with Bar in Earth Green/Dark Green (6343665 | 28588) - included in 77013 Escape from the Lost Tomb
• 1x Hat Pirate Bicorne in Medium Lilac/Dark Purple (6420916 | 2528) - first appeared in 10313 Wildflower Bouquet
• 2x Large Figure Weapon Lightsaber Hilt with Axle Hole and Two Bar Holders in Reddish Brown (6459423 | 49133) - comes in Tranquil Garden
• 6x Technic Beam 1x2 Thick with Pin Hole and Axle Hole in Bright Red/Red (6390264 | 40147) - found in 42153 NASCAR Next Gen Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
• 1x Support 1x6x10 Girder Triangular in Bright Bluish Green/Dark Turquoise (6394265 | 64449) - also in in 10778 Mickey, Minnie and Goofy's Fairground Fun

These elements have been seen in just two other sets:

• 1x Animal, Cat, Kitten, Short Tail, with Orange Pony, White Nose print in Medium Azure (6417775 | 101336)
• 2x Panel 3x3x2 Quarter Round in Transparent Light Blue/Trans-Light Blue (6445926 | 3535)
• 2x Plate Special 1x3 Rounded with 3 Open Studs in White (6450820 | 77850) [additionally spotted in 10326 Natural History Museum just before this article was published]
• 1x Brick Special 1x2 with Studs on 2 Sides in Bright Blue/Blue (6431331 | 52107)
• 4x Brick Special 1x2 with Masonry Brick Profile in Dark Green (6400283 | 98283)
• 1x Helmet, Standard, 2 Horn Holes in Bright Orange/Orange (6397816 | 82252)
• 3x Plate Round 1 x 1 with Open Stud in Transparent/Trans-Clear (6449836 | 85861)
• 1x Container Box 2x2x2 - Top Opening in Black (6346247 | 61780)
• 1x Vehicle Track, Roller Coaster Straight 16L in Dark Turquoise (6372727 | 25059)

The following have been seen in three other sets: 

• 4x Window 1x2x2 Flat Front in Bright Yellow/Yellow (6424329 | 79128)
• 3x Technic Worm Gear 6M with Axle Hole in Medium Stone Grey/Light Bluish Gray (6417811 | 73763)
• 1x Equipment Dish/Bowl [Plain] in Dark Orange (6474229 | 75184) 
• 2x Brick Curved 2x1 with Inverted Cutout in Orange (6431333 | 78666)
• 1x Brick Special 2x2x1 2/3 with Worm Gear Hole in Black (6417813 | 73764)
• 1x Tile Special 2x4 Inverted in White (6440438 | 3395)
• 1x Wave/Flame Small with Pin in Black (6426595 | 37775)
• 2x Brick Arch 1x6x2 - Thin Top without Reinforced Underside [New Version] in Orange (6337195 | 15254)
• 2x Technic Panel Fairing 2x1x1 in Red (6378122 | 89679)

Printed elements

The vast majority of the decorative elements are stickers (detailed below) but we have one new printed foil piece, unique to this set:

• 1x Foil with Coil (6465873)

There is quite a nice area of gold foil left after the coil is punched out, so perhaps we will see some shiny MOCs which use these "leftovers" in creative ways in the future.

And we also find a new ramen tile in this set:

• 1x Tile Round 1x1 with Noodle print in Medium Nougat (6466331 | 98138) - also in Family Reunion Celebration and 42604 Heartlake City Shopping Mall

Sticker sheets

There are 3 different sticker sheets, two with a white background and one with a transparent background.

In my recent interview with the set's designer Wēn Xiàodōng, he revealed many of the Easter eggs we see in the set's stickers. It's well worth a read, and there are plenty more to spot yourself. 

Minifigures

The set's designers tried to include minifigures for as many of the theme's past heroes and villains as possible. There is certainly a great selection!

These are the exclusive new elements. unless otherwise stated:

• Monkie Kid - new head (6464498) and torso (6473693)
• Mei - shares a new torso (6473715) and legs (6464481) with Auntie Tai
• Pigsy - new torso (6473710)
• Sandy - new head (6464482) and torso (6473749)

• Lee - no new elements
• Auntie Tai - shares a new torso (6473715) and legs (6464481) with Mei
• Mr Tang - new torso print (6473866)
• Monkey King - new head (6464485) and legs (6464496)

• Lady Yu - new head (6464497), rare torso (6430843) in 3 other sets
• Red Son - new head (6464490) and torso (6474085)
• Evil Macaque - new hoodie/hat (6474088), head (6464492) and torso (6474115)
• Spider Queen - new head (6464488) and torso (6473941)

The last of the "villains":

• Gold Horn Demon - new head (6464494) and torso (6473906) shared with Silver 
• White Bone Demon - new head (6464486) and torso (6473926)
• Silver Horn Demon - new head (6464494)  and torso (6473906) shared with Gold 

The build

There are two thick instruction manuals which initially seems a bit daunting, but many steps only add one or two different elements. Each bag builds a specific module in the larger city, so it is possible to share the build with two people if you want to, or more if you download the instructions to a tablet or phone.

There are some great details throughout the model, including the Jade shop, and another small store selling capsules from vending machines.

Meanwhile, right at the top of the stack, Pigsy presides over his latest venture, a roast duck food stall. Mo the cat is hanging out looking for scraps.

Monkey King is in full swing, giving an operatic performance in the pagoda with the Reddish Orange roof. If an online translation site is to be believed, the banners read "lots of fun" and "golden monkey offers auspiciousness". 

Each of the modules are fully compatible with those in previous LEGO Monkie Kid sets 80036 City of Lanterns and 80044 Monkie Kid’s Team Hideout, so you can mix and match with them if you already own the others. Although I still have both of mine built, I don't have anywhere large enough to photograph them side by side! 

So you will have to make do with an image we phototgraphed on a screen during RLFM Days. It would certainly make an impressive setup if you have the space to accommodate it.

And of course, the modules in this city can be rearranged to your liking as well. 

Image ©2024 The LEGO Group

The rear box art illustrates an alternative layout for the buildings, so I'm sure you can have fun with mix and match. 

Conclusion

This is a substantial model which expands the LEGO Monkie Kid universe architecture even further. The first few seasons saw our heroes on a quest, but this 5th Anniversary build finally sees them have somewhere to return to and call home.

The open backs of the shop modules offer lots of potential for play while the rare and unique new elements will tempt MOC builders with their possibilities. 

The £159.99 / $189.99 / €179.99 cost gives us a price per part of 6.9p / 8.2c / 7.7c, which I think provides reasonably good value for money, and the finished set is an imposing structure with so much engaging attention to detail on show.

Set 80054 on LEGO.com 

READ MORE: Interview with 80054 Megapolis City designer Wen Xiaodong

Colour quiz answers

Here are the answers to the earlier quiz. "Mx"-prefixed colours are Modulex.

Several of these colours are now out of production, but I do like to keep a comparison chart handy. 

READ MORE: Want to know more about discontinued LEGO colours?

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