What Is Labubu? Origin, Meaning, and Why It's Everywhere
- Labubu has gone from a niche art-toy character to a global pop-culture phenomenon in under two years. As a manufacturer who has spent over a decade prototyping collectible figures, we at Demeng Toy have watched this IP reshape the entire designer-toy industry — from blind-box mechanics to the craftsmanship standards that separate an authentic Labubu from a counterfeit "Lafufu." This guide breaks down what Labubu actually means, where it came from, and why the world can't stop talking about it.
1. What Is Labubu?
Labubu (pronounced lah-BOO-boo; Chinese: 拉布布) is a collectible plush-figure character designed by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung. It belongs to a broader cast of fantastical, animal-like creatures known collectively as "The Monsters." Labubu itself is instantly recognizable by its sharp nine-toothed grin, oversized pointed ears, round fuzzy body, and scruffy texture.
The character is manufactured and sold exclusively by Pop Mart, a China-based toy company, primarily through blind-box packaging — sealed containers that hide the specific figure inside until opened. As of 2025, Pop Mart has released over 300 distinct Labubu variants, ranging from small $15 vinyl figures (8 cm/3 in) to a $960 "mega" edition (79 cm/31 in). A landmark moment came in June 2025, when a rare 1.2-meter-tall (4 ft) mint-green Labubu sold for $170,000 at the inaugural official Labubu auction in Beijing.
2. The Origin Story: From Nordic Folklore to Pop Mart Shelves
Kasing Lung, born in 1972, was raised in Utrecht, Netherlands, and now resides in Antwerp, Belgium. His creative foundation was shaped by Nordic folklore and mythology encountered during childhood — influences that directly seeded "The Monsters" story universe from which Labubu was born.
The character first appeared as figurines produced by How2Work in 2015. These early runs were small-batch art objects aimed at serious collectors. The pivotal moment came in 2019, when Lung partnered with Pop Mart. That collaboration transformed Labubu from an underground art figure into a mass-produced collectible with global distribution — a transition that mirrors the journey many indie designer-toy IPs take when scaling from hand-cast resin prototypes to injection-molded vinyl production.
By 2025, Pop Mart's success — significantly driven by Labubu — boosted CEO Wang Ning's 48.73% stake to a $21.1 billion fortune (up from $1.8 billion in 2024), making him the youngest member of China's top ten billionaires at age 37–38. An anime adaptation, comprising 156 episodes of 4–5 minutes each, is scheduled for mid-2025 broadcast.
3. Why Is Labubu So Popular? The Design Anatomy
Labubu's appeal rests on a deliberate design paradox: it is simultaneously cute and unsettling. The round, fuzzy body invites hugging; the nine sharp teeth and mischievous grin introduce an edge of danger. In 2025, New York Magazine's Liza Corsillo described the toy's charm as "an inexplicable cuteness — somewhat ugly yet huggable, with a devilish grin — combined with surprise and scarcity".
From a manufacturing standpoint, this dual personality is extraordinarily difficult to execute. The scruffy fur texture requires specialized flocking or printed-fabric techniques that most standard plush lines skip entirely. The tooth-mold detail on vinyl variants demands high-precision injection tooling — any flash or sink mark on the grin immediately reads as a defect, which is one of the fastest ways to distinguish an authentic figure from a knock-off "Lafufu."
Alongside Labubu, the Monsters tribe includes Mokoko, Pato, Spooky, Tycoco (often described as Labubu's skeleton-like boyfriend), and Zimomo (the tribe leader, identifiable by a spiked tail). Each character shares the same design language but introduces unique tooling challenges during prototyping.
4. How the Blind Box Model Works
Labubu figures are sold primarily through blind boxes grouped into themed series. Each sealed box contains a random figure from the series, and most sets include an unadvertised "secret" rare figure with significantly lower drop rates. This mechanic — artificial scarcity combined with surprise — is the engine behind Labubu's collectibility.
Key blind-box collections include:
- Exciting Macaron (Chinese: 心動馬卡龍, October 2023) — the debut keychain line
- Fall in Wild — outdoor-themed series
- Have a Seat (Chinese: 坐坐派對) — a seven-figure set
- Massive into Energy (Chinese: 大動力系列) — action-pose line
Notable collaborations have further expanded the universe: an eleven-figure Coca-Cola-themed winter series in late 2024, a thirteen-figure One Piece crossover in early 2025, and the "Labubu's Artistic Quest" series sold exclusively at the Louvre Pop Mart store in Paris.
The blind-box model has drawn criticism for fostering overconsumption through artificial scarcity. Counterfeiting — dubbed "Lafufu" — remains rampant globally. Pop Mart has pursued legal action against counterfeiters, including a lawsuit targeting 7-Eleven in California for selling fake toys. Pop Mart's August 2024 interim report revealed Labubu line sales of 6.3 billion Chinese yuan (approx. $870 million) for the first half of the year.
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5. Cultural Impact & Controversies
5.1 Celebrity Endorsements
Global recognition surged in April 2024 when Blackpink member Lisa was seen with a Labubu keychain, igniting a trend across Southeast and East Asia. Endorsements by Rihanna and Cher, plus appearances in unrelated film marketing campaigns (e.g., with actor Javier Bardem), cemented Labubu's status as a fashion-adjacent accessory rather than just a toy. In July 2025, The New York Times called Labubu "adorable furry monsters with sharp teeth," comparing their chaotic-cute charm to characters like Stitch and Toothless [7].
5.2 Cultural Crossovers
- Thai Amulets: Viral popularity in Thailand during 2024 led many to associate Labubu's image with wealth and good luck, resulting in its incorporation into Buddhist amulets and sacred tattoos.
- Political Promotion: In September 2024, Singapore's People's Action Party (PAP) Sengkang team distributed Labubu plush keychains dressed in white shirts bearing the PAP logo during a grocery event for seniors.
- Nine Emperor Gods Festival: A Singapore temple innovatively incorporated four Labubu figurines dressed as devotees into the October 2024 festival, sparking social media debate about cultural innovation versus disrespect.
5.3 Bans & Criticism
- Russia: The Federation Council proposed banning Labubu, citing its "frightening appearance" and alleged harm to children's mental health. Officials flagged missing Russian-language labeling and manufacturing-origin details [8].
- Iraqi Kurdistan: Authorities banned the dolls in July 2025, seizing approximately 4,000 units near Erbil, claiming behavioral issues and "demonic spirits" — though without providing scientific evidence.
- Demonic Conspiracy Theories: Online communities linked Labubu's grin to the ancient Mesopotamian demon Pazuzu. Popularized on TikTok and Reddit, these theories include claims of supernatural encounters. Designers and analysts dismiss them, emphasizing the character's roots in European folklore and absence of occult intent [9].
- UK Sales Suspension: In May 2025, Pop Mart temporarily suspended Labubu sales across all 16 UK stores until June, aiming to "prevent potential safety issues" following customer altercations over the toys.
6. Frequently Asked Questions About Labubu
Q1: What does "Labubu" actually mean?
Labubu is the name of a character within Kasing Lung's "The Monsters" universe. The name itself is a creative invention rather than a word with a dictionary definition; it functions as the character's identity within the story world.
Q2: Is Labubu a demon or connected to Pazuzu?
No. Labubu's design draws from Nordic and European folklore, not Mesopotamian mythology. The Pazuzu connection is an internet conspiracy theory popularized on TikTok and Reddit, dismissed by the designer and cultural analysts.
Q3: How much does a real Labubu cost?
Prices range from $15 for small vinyl figures (8 cm) to $960 for the mega edition (79 cm). In June 2025, a rare 1.2-meter mint-green Labubu sold for $170,000 at the inaugural official Labubu auction in Beijing.
Q4: Who created Labubu?
Labubu was created by Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong illustrator born in 1972, raised in the Netherlands, and now based in Belgium. The character first appeared as figurines produced by How2Work in 2015.
Q5: Is Labubu safe for kids?
Labubu figures are collectible items, not primarily children's toys. Pop Mart temporarily suspended UK sales in May 2025 over safety concerns related to customer altercations, not product defects.
Q6: What's the difference between Labubu and Lafufu?
"Lafufu" is the colloquial term for counterfeit Labubu figures. Authentic Labubu figures are manufactured by Pop Mart with precise tooling, flocking, and paint applications; counterfeits typically show flash marks, misaligned teeth, and inferior fur texture.
Q7: Where can I buy authentic Labubu?
Authentic Labubu figures are sold through Pop Mart's official stores, website, and authorized retailers. Buying from unverified third-party sellers significantly increases the risk of receiving a counterfeit.
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Labubu's trajectory — from a Nordic-folklore-inspired sketch to a $170,000 auction lot — is a case study in how design originality, scarcity mechanics, and celebrity endorsement can compound into a global phenomenon. For us at Demeng Toy, the Labubu story underscores a principle we live by in every prototype: the difference between a figure that endures and one that fades is decided at the tooling stage. Whether you are an IP holder scaling from resin prototype to mass-produced vinyl, or a brand evaluating blind-box manufacturing partners, the craftsmanship behind the grin is what separates the authentic from the imitation.