The Giant Derpy Tiger: Inside Netflix and LEGO's 37,000-Piece Monster Build

From four hidden steel rods to nearly 37,000 bricks, here is how designer Björn Ramant turned a goofy animated demon into the star of LEGO World 2026

K-Pop: Demon Hunters | The runaway Netflix hit that inspired a 37,000-piece LEGO tribute (Image credit: Netflix / Sony Pictures Animation)

The Bits & Studs Perspective

Bits & Studs concludes that Björn Ramant's 37,000-piece Derpy Tiger proves mega-scale building needs clever engineering just as much as artistic flair. By placing heavy plastic layers on steel bones, Ramant brought animated chaos to life with pure charm.

A Pop Sensation Enters the Real World

The animated musical hit K-Pop: Demon Hunters took the streaming world by storm on Netflix. Produced with Sony Pictures Animation, the film tells the story of the K-pop girl group HUNTR/X. By day, they sing catchy anthems in packed stadiums. By night, they protect the human world from sneaky supernatural creatures.

Fans instantly fell in love with the music and wild action sequences. Yet, an unlikely blue animal stole every scene. Meet Derpy Tiger, the lovable, clumsy demon courier who accompanies the singers on their secret missions. Drawing inspiration from classic Korean folklore and the mythical Haetae, Derpy balances fierce magical strength with total goofiness. He quickly became a global favourite among kids and parents alike.

Becoming a Human 3D Printer: The 2.5-Month Build

Visitors at LEGO World 2026 in Utrecht, Netherlands, enjoyed a marvellous surprise. Belgian designer Björn Ramant unveiled a massive, life-sized sculpture of the famous tiger at the Jaarbeurs convention centre. The project came as a joint commission from Netflix and The LEGO Group.

Ramant, well known for competing on LEGO Masters and designing the Pixar Up House on LEGO Ideas, shared a mesmerising ninety-second timelapse of the project. Social media fans quickly dubbed him a human 3D printer. The entire build took two and a half months of steady work in his studio. Working from the curved tip of the tail, he stacked thousands of studs upwards layer by layer. He slowly formed the blue and black fur, finally adding Derpy's quirky yellow eyes at the very top.

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The Hidden Engineering Behind Giant Brick Statues

When you build a standard boxed set on your desk, normal clutch power holds every brick in place. However, when a model reaches thirty-seven thousand bricks, gravity becomes a serious challenge. Plastic bricks are light on their own, but thousands of them create massive dead weight.

Without sturdy internal framing, heavy plastic structures can bend studs or collapse under their own mass. To solve this problem, Ramant built the tiger around four solid steel rods. These hidden metal pipes run straight up through the legs and torso, bearing the heavy load. This brilliant technique keeps the long tail steady and holds the oversized head high in the air without any risk of wobbling. Giant convention models show that master builders must think like structural engineers.

From 37,000 Bricks to Eight Hundred: The Retail Tiger

While only one life-sized giant roams the showroom floor in Utrecht, everyday builders can create their own desktop sidekick at home. On August 1, LEGO launched Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird (72537).

With 825 pieces, LEGO Senior Design Master Wes Talbott led the creation of the retail set. During design tests, Talbott revealed that getting Derpy's facial expression right was the hardest task. His team tested dozens of brick combinations to match the goofy angle of the eyes from the film. The set even includes movable joints, interchangeable mouth tiles, and little Sussie Bird perched beside him.

LEGO K-Pop Demon Hunters Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird (72537) | The official retail build capturing Derpy's chaotic charm on a living room shelf

Placing the bright blue Derpy beside realistic builds like the Majestic Tiger (31129) or the lifelike Tuxedo Cat (21349) shows how expressive LEGO animals have become. Still, the project leaves builders asking one big question. When will we finally get official minifigures for the HUNTR/X band members?

Derpy Tiger & Mega-Build Trivia

• Derpy Tiger takes visual cues from traditional Korean minhwa folk art, where tigers were drawn with goofy expressions to bring good cheer and ward off bad luck.
• Björn Ramant built the 37,000-brick sculpture on commission for Netflix and LEGO, with all elements supplied directly for the event.
• Exhibition sculptures at major conventions often use steel internal pipes and specialised solvent cement so models stay intact around enthusiastic crowds.

Where Will the Demon Tiger Prowl Next?

LEGO World 2026 in Utrecht wraps up on October 21. Fans are already wondering where the big blue tiger will travel next. Whether the statue heads to Netflix headquarters or tours future fan conventions, it celebrates the joy of creative building.

Bits & Studs concludes that while retail sets like Derpy Tiger and Sussie Bird (72537) look fantastic on our shelves, giant custom builds remind builders of every age that simple bricks can build anything imaginable.

Did you catch the 37,000-piece Derpy Tiger timelapse, or have you built the retail set on your desk? Which animated character would you love to see turned into a life-sized brick sculpture? Share your thoughts in the comments below!