Review: 43208 Jasmine and Mulan's Adventure

Heading out for Adventure: Mulan rides Khan into the mountains, and Jasmine takes a Magic Carpet ride over her Palace wall!

We build Mulan's mountain shrine first, so she can visit along her journey to the training grounds.


Mulan's faithful horse Khan is a new version for 2022. He has integrated dual-mold rubbery tail and mane, and his head position can be adjusted. The shorter trimmed mane does appear more like him -- along with his classical "serious" look of his blue eyes. (Arriving loose in the box, he has a bit more 'cardboard dust' than would have if in a separate soft bag; it's noticeable against black -- although I tried blowing it off -- it sticks to his rubbery tail :-(


Mulan is wearing her traditional robe dress as a shorter version like in 2020. The pale green flower print on cool yellow is more faint than it seems in product images.
Her hair piece is still the rubbery version; first appearing as Friends designer Martina's hair in a Snow Resort Hot Chocolate Van set.
Of course her print extends to her back, as with most all mini-dolls these days.


The characters in this set with Mulan are Khan with a newly recolored red saddle and Cri-Kee. Her good luck cricket seems to be printed on transparent opal, rather than a white 1x1 round in the past.
Mushu is not in this set, nor does there seem to be any reference. This is probably a balance between the cartoon version and real-life movie.


Building the lovely, yet small, Mountain Shrine is very quick! It is quite succinct and satisfies -- while providing future building inspiration. The Technic pins to attach the red Lanterns poke up through the corner black parts, thereby adding to the details.
The tree branch is newly recolored in light pink and unique to this set so far. The chopsticks we place in the red bucket represent incense sticks to burn.

The 1x1 round warm gold tile with a Crown print seems to be a coin offering. This printed tile appears only otherwise in CMF Troubadour. Fortunately we get an extra Crown tile, with other nice spares!


Jasmine's tiger Rajah is no longer a cub from 2015 and is fully grown with a new mold for 2022. Two printed orange parts fill in his striped back.


Jasmine for 2022 is wearing an outfit more similar to 2015's Exotic Palace than her other 3 sets, which have gold filigree motifs. Her facial expression seems new -- with a closed-mouth smile. The printing of her bare midriff top extends to her back also.


Jasmine's Magic Carpet part in dark purple is not new and has been used in the Disney Princess line before. It's a 1x4x6 wall piece that first appeared in red with a fun house mirror sticker in Joker's Manor. The two identical stickers for each side of the carpet rug are very lovely in detail and printed on iridescent background.
Her warm gold handle bars are connected using an angular plate, which is new in dark purple. This is a change from a foothold when Aladdin rides it in a previous set; although the carpet print is the same.


A few of the several recolored and rare parts for 2022 in this set: 10x10 plate with half circle in flame yellowish orange; Teal 1x6x2 arch; reddish brown Neck-Tail piece with 2x2 end; and 3x3x1 1/3 sphere with knob is newly recolored in warm gold.


A tan half cylinder piece is used to create an integrated column visual -- once the tan 2x4x1 bowed roof ridge parts are added.
On top of the curved tan wall panels are newly recolored in new dark red 3x3 plate 1/4 circle.

We've added metallic silver goblets and a Croissant into the bottom floor of the palace.


Now you can see how the side curved wall columns appear "built-into" the palace walls -- with the dark red and gold inset. I love this technique.
We build a bench for Jasmine separately to install over the gold hearts on the upper floor.


Jasmine's Palace is complete with the side Palm tree with thick trunk and front flower pots flanking the entrance with gold oval tile.
Upper floor roof uses a 4x8 angled 45-degree plate, which is newly recolored in new dark red.
Oil lanterns burn, and a gold Wishing Lamp is perched on the balcony railing ...


The bejeweled Palace inside get a Cobra Staff inserted into a brown crate. We also get an extra staff -- along with other nice spares.


Box front: Disney Princess set boxes no longer have beveled sides like they did starting in 2014; it seems to have ended in 2019.  I really like the flowing graphic of bricks and elements along the bottom.
Although I don't recall Jasmine and Mulan ever being in a movie or story together, this concept of two characters into one set seems to be a trend. Their animated cartoon versions appear on the lower right; while on the back their mini-doll versions are inset.

There are two instructions books and two numbered parts bags -- so 2 builders could build simultaneously together. With Mulan's book and build being smaller (by about 1/5), it would be a good set to get for a younger kid to build together with an older sibling.
Both animals are loose in the box, along with a 10x10 plate (with half circle) and sticker sheet.


Box back: More flowing bricks in blue, the interior of the Palace, and an inset of the two meeting ... with a horse and a tiger.

I've included images or mentioned many newly re-colored parts in 43208; however, a complete list can be found on the last page of the larger instructions book.


In Agrabah, Jasmine is making a Wish for Mulan to have a safe journey on her adventure.


In the mountains of Asia, Mulan is resting at a Shrine, feeding Khan, and has lit an incense stick to say a prayer for Jasmine :-)


Summary:

Having two Disney characters from separate stories in one set is an interesting concept. It feels more like 2 sets in one, yet not quite a "bundle" format. Given that both build come with their own parts bags and instructions, it's easy to share this set. Jasmine's palace seems equivalent to a standard set, while Mulan's feels a bit like a small, almost polybag sized set.

Disney marketing must have directed this 2-character concept into LEGO sets for a reason. Although I think that the 2 characters otherwise would not interact, like Patty also thought in her review of 43195 Belle and Rapunzel's Royal Stables -- it is nice to get 2 mini-dolls.

Jasmine's Palace has been done before, yet this version provides inspiring techniques. For me, using the half round cylinder to integrate the rounded walls gets me thinking of how I can use that technique in my own creations. After all, that's really what set designs do for us. A bucket of random bricks is great. Yet, as an AFOL, learning from designers in Denmark is key.

Also for AFOLs, this set has a nice array of parts, especially warm gold. I enjoyed building with the vibrant colors of Jasmine's palace. It could easily blend in with a Prince of Persia display.
As I looked at the box art's hillside path with pink cherry blossoms, it seemed Mulan's shrine could benefit from a bit more scenery. Otherwise it's a very lovely design; I might even keep it on my desk :-)


Disclaimer:
This set was provided by The LEGO Group for the purpose of sharing set details with fans.
Opinions provided here solely reflect those of our reviewer.
Photographs are property of FriendsBricks and are not directed by TLG in any fashion.

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