Design Comparison: Joy vs Melancholy
Hirono figures are genuinely moving. The character's expressions convey sadness, longing, and quiet resilience in a way that's rare in the designer toy space. Series like 'The Other One' and 'Reshape' push into territory that feels more like contemporary art than typical collectible figures.
Labubu's design is emotionally simpler but more immediately engaging. You see those teeth and you either grin or you don't. There's no interpretive layer — the joy is right on the surface. That's not a weakness; it's a different kind of design achievement.
Labubu Studio editions bring this straightforward joy to a larger scale. At 18×16×10 cm with hand-finished details, designs like Snow Wing Bubu and Angel Bubu are display pieces that radiate positive energy.
Price and Market Position
Both characters retail in the $12-17 blind box range. Hirono figures from acclaimed series can command significant resale premiums, sometimes matching or exceeding Labubu's secondary market prices — particularly for designs with strong emotional resonance.
Labubu Studio editions at $49.90 are priced for collectors who want a specific design at a display-ready size. Hirono doesn't currently have an equivalent independent studio format, so the choice for Hirono is blind boxes, mega sizes, or resale.
Availability
Hirono releases tend to sell out, but the frenzy is more contained than Labubu's biggest drops. The audience is more niche — people who buy Hirono generally know exactly what they want and why.
Labubu's broader appeal means more competition at launch but also more production volume. For guaranteed access to a specific Labubu design, studio editions keep Duck Bubu, Snow Wing Bubu, Angel Bubu, and Pink Fang Bubu available continuously.
Pop Mart's distribution serves both characters through the same channels — online store, retail locations, and partner retailers.
Collector Community
Hirono collectors are often the most articulate in the Pop Mart community. They discuss the emotional themes, the artistic references, and the narrative behind each series. It's a community where depth of appreciation matters more than volume of ownership.
Labubu's community is warmer and more social but less analytical. The vibe is excitement and sharing rather than contemplation. Both communities are valuable — they just fulfill different social needs for collectors.
Verdict: Follow Your Emotional Response
Hirono is for collectors who want their figures to feel something. If you appreciate art that sits with sadness and finds beauty in melancholy, Hirono is extraordinary. Very few designer toys achieve this emotional register.
Labubu is for collectors who want their figures to spark joy, full stop. Studio editions at $49.90 deliver that joy in a format you can choose and display without the blind box gamble.
The strongest recommendation: own at least one of each. A Hirono and a Labubu on the same shelf tell a more complete emotional story than either alone.