Labubu and the Logic of Hype: What a Monster Toy Says About Us

What on earth is a Labubu and why are these furry monster dolls all over our feeds? What about them has caught our attention to such a fever pitch that it prompted robbers to raid warehouses earlier this month to get $30,000 worth of these quirky toys?

Thank Hong Kong born artist Kasing Lung, the father of the Labubu, who is responsible for the design of these lovable yet feral fuzzy collectible creatures. Half cute, cuddly toy and half looks-like-they-would-bite-you-in-your-sleep, the Labubu’s signature gigantic eyes, sneaky gaze, and jagged teeth are recognizable anywhere. Love them or hate them, they are inconspicuously now a part of the culture and have sent waves through the fashion industry for being paired with Hermès Birkins.

Conceptualized initially as part of his The Monsters series of picture books, the Labubu now lives in a highly covetable physical form in a variety of different looks and colorways. The Monsters series with stories like The Story of Puca, Pato and the Girl, and Miro’s Requiem was inspired by Nordic folklore and fairy tales, with an emphasis on building a whimsical world with unsettling elements. Lung grew up in the Netherlands, where he used picture books to help him learn Dutch, particularly The Smurfs and Where the Wild Things Are. He lived above his family’s restaurant and would often spend time drawing scenes based on the folklore of his new country.

Initially, Lung was interested in a career in film, but due to immense financial obstacles, he decided to study design, publishing, photography, and sculpture. In the mid 1990s, he went back to his native Hong Kong, where he worked as an illustrator for Culturecom, tech companies, and advertising firms. In the early 2000s, the designer moved to Belgium after the outbreak of the SARS epidemic. There, he entered the children’s book illustration industry. He found success with the project Mama is Weg, even winning a Belgian Illustration Award and becoming the first Chinese artist to do so. Eventually, Lung worked with Hong Kong toy and art brand How2Work to create illustrated storybooks and collectible figurine series. During this period, he produced toys like A Toys Forest and illustrated the breakout children’s books My Little Planet and Lizzy Wil Dansen in partnership with Belgian author Brigitte Minne.

Blending Eastern and Western influences, Lung then introduced his seismic series The Monsters. In it, there were a range of elf-like characters including Zimomo, Tycoco, and Mokoko. Among her companions, the eerie smiling character of Labubu grabbed people’s attention the most. The only male, Zimomo is the “leader” and features a spiked tail and serious look. Taller than the others, he was inspired by Papa Smurf. Gentle vegetarian Tycoco is a skeletal-esque toy who is Labubu’s shy boyfriend. With her name meaning “special” in Elvish, Mokoko is a pastel pink creature with a heart shaped nose who is dreamy and elusive. Kind but sneaky, Labubu is the mischievous prankster with heaps of energy for pulling tricks.

Adored by celebrities and collectors alike, global K pop sensation Lisa is one of the primary reasons these dolls have resonated with fans all over the world, quickly taking the internet and resale market by storm. Lung personally sent the performer a large sized Labubu doll after her post with one went viral.

The hype has inspired a rare retro soda inspired Coca Cola Labubu and a museum exclusive Paris Louvre themed Labubu. Other fun Labubu limited releases include a Halloween edition where Labubu transforms into a vampire, bat, skeleton, or jack o’ lantern, and a Birthday Glow-In-The-Dark Series, where the festive creatures wear party hats and eat cake. Standouts are the Cowboy Labubu, with accompanying hat, scarf, and boots, and the holy grail Astronaut Labubu, dressed in a silver spacesuit and a true exclusive piece. Regionally targeted editions including Singapore, Thailand, and China blend local culture with the Labubu original look. Newer series include the Big Into Energy Series and Exciting Macaron / Tasty Macaron Series. The theme of the former is bright, Gen Z designs in bold expressions and colorful hues. The latter includes pastel colored, sweet dessert themed figures with rare “flavors” like Chestnut Cocoa.

Labubu dolls can be bought through a mix of official retailers, limited edition drops, and resale platforms. Pop Mart stores sell the official product on their site or in physical stores in Asia and the US. Some other licensed retailers include Harrods and Selfridges. Art toy stores carry specific stock. Secondary markets include eBay, which is common for resellers, though prices vary wildly depending on rarity, and StockX, which treats designer toys like sneakers with transparent and verified sales. Rare trades often happen in Discord and Facebook collector groups. Standard blind box figure prices typically range from around $9 to $28. Mega editions, often for display, can retail for thousands of dollars.

Collectors can utilize detective level weight, sound, and touch tactics, such as using a small digital scale to help verify the identity of a real Labubu. In the case of a blind box, rattling the box with gentle shaking can reveal if the toy inside might come with additional accessories, and feeling around the box can help one detect large detachable parts like butterfly wings or hats. In terms of preparing for a drop, collectors will try to beat the restock rush by adding items to the cart early and refreshing on TikTok Live, calculating the specific hours for the drop based on pre-existing data patterns, such as predicting common Wednesdays or Thursdays. Community threads and subreddits keep the forum for discussion alive for anticipated drops and know-hows on how to find them.

Despite many people’s respect for the search, others don’t have the money or patience and have resorted to “Lafufus” a nickname for fake Labubus. An authentic Labubu should have nine teeth, properly shaped ears, and a special UV detectable seal. The Pop Mart logo should be visible, and a QR code on the box will authenticate it via their site. Others have taken things too hard to believe in criminal extremes. Recently two large robberies happened in La Puente, California, where a heist attacked a new shipment of dolls, as well as Upland, California, where $30,000 worth of Labubu dolls had been taken from a warehouse in Chino, where the robbers were employees and minors. While shopping for a Lafufu is forgivable, stealing is not.

Despite their far reach and demand, Labubus are still polarizing. Some find that Labubu’s big teeth, weird proportions, and smile are unsettling. To fans it’s whimsical, but to detractors it’s creepy. The craze has led to social media fatigue and resentment for scalpers because they can be so hard to get. In an era of overconsumption, the Labubu seems like an extreme expression of it. People ask themselves if these “dolls for adults” are worth it. Cheap or expensive? Cute or ugly? Tacky or trendy?