Labubu: Has the TikTok-led obsession over these 'creepy' dolls gone too far?

Published on 29/05/2025 - 8:38 GMT+2

What’s happening? Labubu dolls, that’s what. Creepy tiny small monsters pinch fluffy bodies and razor crisp grins. Originally created by Hong Kong creator Kasing Lung for his image book bid "Monsters", they were turned into figurines successful 2019 arsenic portion of a collaboration pinch toymakers Pop Mart. Since then, their fame has skyrocketed — particularly successful container charm form. Everyone wants one! 

Why are they successful nan news? Last week, Pop Mart decided to propulsion nan toys from each 16 of its UK shops until June, citing "potential information issues". Many fans person responded angrily — but only person themselves to blame. The announcement followed a conflict that reportedly collapsed retired successful a London store, wherever group had queued overnight to get nan latest Labubu editions. "People were shouting, fundamentally saying location were nary much Labubus left,” 1 customer told nan BBC. “I moreover witnessed a conflict betwixt a worker and a customer."

What's driving this craziness? As is nan root of astir modern trends, we tin blasted TikTok. The inclination took disconnected aft Lisa, a personnel of nan celebrated K-pop set Blackpink, was seen pinch 1 connected her bag. At nan clip of writing, location are 1.4M posts nether #Labubu, pinch group excitedly sharing their collections, unboxings, and moreover crocheting their ain versions. In an property wherever astir things are wide produced and easy obtainable, Pop Art’s unsighted boxes and constricted version drops are breathtaking successful their spontaneity.

How overmuch are they? In nan UK, they thin to costs anyplace betwixt £13.50 (€16) to £50 (€59), though uncommon editions tin spell for moreover more. One of nan main reasons for nan caller chaos is re-sellers, who frantically bargain up caller drops purely to hike up nan price, leaving genuine buyers retired of luck and frustrated. 

Ok, but tin we talk astir nan truth grown adults are getting truthful upset complete toys? Sure, but don’t you cognize we’re successful nan midst of a plushie pandemic?! From Jellycats to Squishmallows — adults person go cardinal consumers of each things cute. According to investigation group Circana, 1 successful 5 toys and games are now bought by over-18s for themselves. It’s a quickly increasing marketplace known arsenic ‘kidults’, and led by a substance of things — for illustration group having children later and overwhelming existential anxiety. The world is connected fire, mightiness arsenic good bargain immoderate weird small guys to cope. 

But… Why are they truthful scary looking? That’s their appeal: nan operation of saccharine and sinister. Another illustration of this is nan hugely celebrated Sonny Angels — cherubic small figurines wearing themed bonnets and nary pants. Sure, they sound whimsical, but if you look intimately capable astatine those perfectly poised arms and sideways glances... They're plotting something. But it's often these subtly unnerving/bizarre elements of definite toys that make them stand-out; nan expressions and outfits characterful and endlessly adaptable.

Sounds for illustration Labubu person sewage this full 'kidult' artifact craze successful nan bag. On nan bag, much like! Speaking of which — ours abruptly looks atrocious lonely without...

Don't even...