The Character: What Does Labubu Look Like
Labubu is instantly recognizable by a handful of signature design elements: oversized almond-shaped eyes, long pointed ears that flare outward, a wide mouth revealing nine triangular teeth, and a compact rounded body with stubby limbs. The face expression walks the line between cute and menacing — the technical term in Japanese toy culture is 'gap moe,' the charm that comes from an unexpected contrast between adorable and slightly scary.
The original Labubu character wears a simple one-piece outfit and has a forest-creature quality reminiscent of Scandinavian folklore — which makes sense, since Kasing Lung drew heavy inspiration from Nordic fairy tales and picture books like the work of Elsa Beskow. Across different series, Labubu appears in wildly different costumes, colorways, and collaborations, but the core face — those nine teeth and those ears — remains constant.
Different series dress Labubu in seasonal themes, pop-culture collaborations, and brand partnerships. You might find a Labubu in a puffer jacket, a wedding dress, a dinosaur costume, or wearing the livery of a luxury brand. Despite the variation, collectors can identify Labubu at a glance because the face is never altered, only the outfit and color palette.
Where Labubu Comes From: A Brief Origin
Kasing Lung created Labubu as one of several characters inhabiting 'The Monsters' universe, a series of picture books published starting in 2015 that drew on Scandinavian folklore and Lung's own Hong Kong upbringing. Lung had been a successful commercial illustrator for decades before turning to designer toys, and his character design sensibility — detailed, story-rich, slightly dark — set Labubu apart from the simpler blob-shaped art toys that dominated the market at the time.
Pop Mart, the Beijing-based designer toy company, partnered with Lung and began producing Labubu figures in blind box format around 2019. Blind boxes — sealed packages where buyers don't know which variant they'll get — transformed Labubu from a niche designer toy into a global collecting phenomenon by adding the lottery mechanic that drives repeat purchases and community trading. Pop Mart went public on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2020 with a valuation that reflected Labubu's outsized commercial success.
The figure hit mainstream global consciousness around 2023-2024 when celebrities including BLACKPINK member Lisa were photographed with Labubu plush charms hanging from their bags. That visibility triggered a worldwide sellout cycle that has continued: limited editions sell out in minutes, secondary market prices regularly hit 10-20x retail, and 'Labubu hunting' has become a documented pastime in cities from Bangkok to London.
How the Blind Box System Works
A standard Labubu series consists of roughly 8-12 regular variants and 1-2 'secret' or 'hidden' variants at rare pull rates. Each blind box is sealed so the buyer cannot see which figure is inside. The hidden figures — often the most visually distinctive or thematically special — appear at rates as low as 1 in 72 boxes, creating both genuine excitement and a robust secondary market for collectors who want specific variants.
Pop Mart sells blind boxes at retail (typically $15-25 USD for standard sizes, more for larger formats) through its own stores, the Pop Mart app, and licensed retailers. Entire cases of 12 boxes are popular with committed collectors who want to guarantee they complete a set. The community around trading, gifting, and unboxing Labubu figures is a significant part of the product's appeal — TikTok unboxing videos alone generate millions of views per series launch.
Beyond blind boxes, Pop Mart releases Labubu in open-edition formats (where you know exactly what you're buying), mega-size figures (30-40cm tall), and special collaboration releases with fashion houses, musicians, and other IP. Each format has its own collector audience and price tier, making Labubu accessible at multiple entry points.
Why Labubu Has Become a Cultural Phenomenon
Several forces converged to make Labubu more than a toy. First, the blind box mechanic mirrors the psychology of gacha games and trading cards, tapping into collecting instincts that have driven hobbyist markets for decades. Second, Kasing Lung's art direction is genuinely distinctive — Labubu has a visual identity that reads as both high-design and accessible, which is rare in the collectibles space.
Third, and perhaps most importantly, Labubu arrived at a cultural moment when 'kidult' collecting — adults buying toys and collectibles for aesthetic and emotional reasons — became mainstream rather than niche. The pandemic accelerated this trend as people sought tactile, physical objects to offset digital fatigue. A Labubu figure on a work-from-home desk became a form of self-expression and community membership signal.
Today, Labubu sits at the intersection of street fashion, contemporary art, and social media culture. Owning a rare or unusual edition is a status signal in certain communities, similar to owning a limited-edition sneaker or a piece from a specific streetwear drop. Voxelyo.com stocks four distinct Labubu editions — Duck Bubu, Snow Wing Bubu, Angel Bubu, and Pink Fang Bubu — each priced at $49.90 and representing different aesthetic directions within the Labubu universe.