This build was created as my contribution to the Bones to Bricks collab, which centered around builds of extinct creatures, toward the goal of using LEGO as a means for science communication. I was excited to be invited to participate in this collab, but at first I had no idea what extinct organism I would build. It happened serendipitously, when I was stocking up on new colors of DOTS bracelets, after finding one to be very useful in making Protodrakus Farangai. The store I was buying from also had some other intriguing elements in medium lavender, in particular this airplane fuselage bottom and two large rounded corner bricks. These large, curved pieces seemed well-suited to the bracelets, which are excellent at achieving smooth organic curves. When I started experimenting with what shapes I could make, the two curved bricks connected to the base of the fuselage jumped out to me as having the shape of the appendages and body of the Anomalocaris!
From recognizing that, the remainder of the build came together quickly. The DOTS bracelet forms the tail, held in shape by flex tubing connected to it via 1x1 plates with clips. The eyestalks use macaroni in medium lavender, a recent but helpful recolor, given the limited number of constraction pieces in this color. And small threeves as well as larger leaf clusters both round out the appendages, as well as supplying the segments and texture of these parts of the creature. Lastly, the new palm fronds in light aqua provide the feathery swimming flaps, and add a splash of brighter color -- giving one cute, beady-eyed and vibrant recreation of Anomalocaris.