Cooperative Partner

As the "Chinese Trendy Toy Capital", Dongguan has performed well in the 100 billion trendy toy track. Its toy industry has a deep foundation. 1/4 of the world's animation derivatives and nearly 85% of China's trendy toys are produced here. The relevant output value from January to August 2024 will exceed 11.1 billion yuan. From OEM to "smart manufacturing", AI technology is accelerating its implementation. The production capacity of companies such as Weiss Trendy Toys has been greatly improved. Wo Factory has taken orders for peripheral products of "Nezha", and the revenue of a single project has exceeded last year's total output value. Original IP is exerted, Weishi Culture's "Pincool" and other in-depth exploration of intangible cultural heritage, covering hundreds of countries, and the proportion of local original output value in 2023 will exceed OEM for the first time. Policy support and the integrated development of "trendy toy +" will help Dongguan become an important force in the global trendy toy field.

The global blind box market—propelled by addictive mystery mechanics and collectible culture—has exploded into a $13.5 billion phenomenon, captivating Gen Z and millennials with IP-driven figurines like POP MART’s Molly and Sonny Angels. Yet behind the unboxing thrill lies a crisis: rampant quality defects (crooked heads, frayed seams, leaking batteries), safety hazards (exploding data cables), and environmental costs from non-recyclable plastics. With over 60,000 consumer complaints highlighting poor craftsmanship and dismissive policies, this report dissects how the industry’s “gamble-first” mindset risks eroding trust—and why ethical production and transparent design are urgent for sustainable growth.

Demeng Toy champions a new standard: premium custom blind boxes where artistry meets accountability. https://www.demengtoy.com.

Labubu, a mischievous forest sprite created by Hong Kong-born Belgian artist Kasing Lung, has evolved from a niche character in Nordic mythology-inspired picture books into a worldwide cultural and commercial sensation. Designed with distinctive pointy ears, jagged teeth, and playful expressions, this "ugly-cute" IP gained explosive popularity through a strategic partnership with Chinese toy giant Pop Mart, which leveraged blind-box sales, celebrity endorsements, and agile global supply chains to fuel its rise. Key drivers include BLACKPINK member Lisa’s viral social media posts, which triggered a 700% price surge in Thailand, and collaborations with brands like Vans that saw resale values soar 24-fold. By 2025, Labubu’s revenue under Pop Mart’s "The Monsters" series had surpassed ¥30 billion, dominating markets from Southeast Asia to Europe and North America, while also sparking debates about collectible addiction and counterfeit issues. Its success exemplifies China’s shift from manufacturing to cultural rule-setting in the global toy industry.

A viral internet subculture characterized by absurdist, nonsensical content often combining AI-generated visuals with deliberately meaningless or fragmented text. Key features include:Meme Mechanics: Random word mashups (e.g., "Tung tung tung sahur" + "Bombardiro crocodilo") and surreal creature designs.Interactive Formats: Games and quizzes where users identify "brainrot characters," guess hybrid names (e.g., "monkey + banana"), or rank absurd entities.Global Spread: Originated in Italian social media but expanded globally through remixes, like China’s "LuGuanLuGuan" variants.
AI Classic of Mountains and Seas, An offshoot of the brainrot trend that evolved into a self-sustaining fictional universe, named as a parody of China’s ancient Classic of Mountains and Seas. Its core elements: AI-Generated Bestiary: Absurd creature hybrids (e.g., camel-fridge "Frigo Camelo," three-legged shark "Tralalero Tralala") created via tools like MidJourney, Crowdsourced Lore: Users collaboratively assign skills, backstories, and relationships to creatures, transforming static images into "living" characters.