Ethan Crossfield 
A LEGO fan has transformed the Creator 3-in-1 Sea Animals: Beautiful Dolphins set into a custom Pokémon display featuring Articuno and Omanyte, using no additional pieces. The build shows how alternate models can give a relatively small LEGO set a much longer life, especially for fans waiting for their favorite Pokémon to receive official kits.
What happened
Reddit user and LEGO builder Minute_Food_2881 shared a marine-themed creation built entirely from the pieces included with the Beautiful Dolphins set. The original kit can be assembled as a dolphin, seahorse, or crab, but the builder repurposed its interchangeable parts and scenery to recreate two Gen 1 Pokémon from the Kanto region.
Articuno sits on a wave-like section above a seabed decorated with seaweed. Its body appears to use the main creature-building elements, while parts from the sandy base form its beak and feet. The seaweed component becomes Articuno’s tail, giving an existing LEGO element a very different purpose.
Omanyte is displayed on a transparent support that makes it appear to be swimming. Its body uses pieces from the set’s waves, while sand-colored elements are arranged into the Pokémon’s distinctive spiral shell. The finished scene allows both characters to be displayed together, and the creatures can also be detached from the base.
Why it matters
The project highlights the flexibility of LEGO’s 3-in-1 format. Instead of treating the official instructions as the only destination, builders can break down the model and reinterpret its parts as characters, creatures, or environments from other franchises. Here, pieces intended for dolphins and seahorses become recognizable Pokémon details without requiring a separate collection of bricks.
The choice of Articuno and Omanyte also gives the build a clear nostalgic appeal. Both Pokémon debuted in the original generation, while the wider franchise now contains more than 1,000 creatures. Even with more Pokémon LEGO sets reportedly leaked for 2027 following two waves of releases this year, official coverage cannot reach every fan favorite quickly. Custom builds offer fans a way to fill those gaps themselves.
This is also not Minute_Food_2881’s first Pokémon conversion. The builder has previously reworked LEGO models into Pinsir, Bidoof, Dratini, and Charmander, including a Halloween Pumpkin conversion that used the original lantern element as Charmander’s fiery tail.
What to watch next
The Articuno and Omanyte model is available to purchase on Rebrickable with custom instructions, giving other builders a structured way to recreate the design. The instructions also show how the Pokémon can be removed from the marine base, making the creation more flexible as a display piece.
For fans, the most interesting question is not whether every Pokémon will receive an official LEGO set, but how many alternate builds can emerge from existing kits. The Beautiful Dolphins set has already been used for multiple Pokémon concepts, suggesting that its parts offer particularly useful shapes for aquatic creatures and themed scenery. Future community designs may continue to expand what the same collection of pieces can represent.
Key takeaways for LEGO and Pokémon fans
- The Articuno and Omanyte model uses only pieces from the Beautiful Dolphins set.
- The build includes a removable marine base with seaweed, waves, and a seabed.
- Omanyte’s shell and Articuno’s details come from elements intended for other creatures.
- Custom instructions are available for purchase through Rebrickable.
- The same builder has previously created Pokémon conversions including Dratini and Charmander.
Expert View
This is exactly the kind of fan work that makes LEGO’s building system valuable beyond the official box art. The creation does not simply imitate a Pokémon with generic bricks; it finds specific uses for the original set’s scenery and creature parts, allowing Articuno and Omanyte to feel integrated into one coherent environment. As the Pokémon roster continues to outpace official set availability, community-designed models like this can keep fans engaged while demonstrating the creative potential of existing LEGO releases.
