Labubu: What It Is, the Character’s Origins, Prices, and Where to Buy (2025 Guide)

Labubu is a “cute-but-weird” character from The Monsters collection by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung. It entered the mainstream in 2019, when Pop Mart began producing and selling it worldwide in so-called blind boxes (a box where you don’t know in advance which version you’ll get). The figures have tall ears, nine teeth, and an intentionally mischievous expression. The trend took off thanks to unboxing videos and celebrity photos—from BLACKPINK’s Lisa to Rihanna. (m.popmart.com, People.com)

Origins and history: from books to blind boxes

Kasing Lung created The Monsters (including Labubu) back in 2015 as a series of illustrations and stories with references to Nordic fairy tales. At first, the brand How2Work produced them; Pop Mart brought them fully to the global market starting in 2019. Since then, hundreds of variants and themed series have been released, including collaborations (e.g., Coca-Cola or One Piece). (prestigeonline.com)

Why Labubu is everywhere: the mechanics of virality

At the core is the “fun gamble” of blind boxes (trying to pull a rare version), an easy-to-recognize aesthetic, and waves of TikTok unboxing videos. Celebrities and Pop Mart’s rapid overseas expansion (brick-and-mortar stores, vending machines, live selling) helped significantly. The result: record revenue and profit in 2024 and further growth in 2025. (The Toy Book, Stock Titan, S&P Global)

How much Labubu costs: retail vs. the secondary market (in euros)

Standard figures and keychains bought directly from Pop Mart in Europe typically cost around €15–€36 (depending on the type; magnets/mini accessories from ~€15, standalone figures ~€36). Limited pieces and larger editions cost more. On the secondary market, prices can climb into the thousands—and records keep being set: in June 2025, a 4-foot (about 131 cm) Labubu sold at Beijing’s Yongle auction for approximately €130k–€146k (depending on whether the buyer’s premium is included). (Pop Mart, Reuters, news.cgtn.com)

Zimomo, Mokoko, and friends: how the characters differ

Labubu has “spiky” fur and a mischievous grin; Zimomo (often described as the older brother/leader of The Monsters) has a larger face and a spiked tail and comes across as calmer; Mokoko is a softer, pinker version with a friendlier expression. All of them belong to the same The Monsters universe. (The Times of India)

Where and how to buy (and what to watch out for)

The safest choice is the official Pop Mart online store or its local versions (FR/DE/GB). With blind boxes, expect per-person purchase limits and fast sell-outs for popular drops. Watch out for counterfeits: Ireland’s consumer authority, the CCPC, officially reported in August 2025 a recall of “fake” Labubu products (listed as “The Monsters Big Into Energy Vinyl Collectible Dolls”) and recommended returning them immediately. Check the QR code/labeling, packaging quality, and the teeth (9). (m.popmart.com, ccpc.ie)

Is “McDonald’s × Labubu” really an official collaboration?

Videos linking Labubu to Happy Meals have been circulating online. So far, however, there has been no official worldwide announcement of such a collaboration; viral posts often just use mini accessories creatively as “props.” For that reason, rely primarily on Pop Mart’s and McDonald’s official channels; as of August 15, 2025, media outlets that checked the rumor found no confirmation. (Revista Merca2.0)

How the trend showed up in Pop Mart’s numbers

Pop Mart stated that in 2024 it doubled revenue to CNY 13.04 billion and adjusted profit rose almost twofold year over year. Analysts expect a strong share of overseas revenue in 2025 as the brand accelerates expansion beyond mainland China. (prod-out-res.popmart.com, Yahoo Finance, S&P Global)

Myths and moral panics: “demons,” gambling bans, and exaggerated stories

From time to time, viral alarmist posts appear (e.g., an alleged link to the “demon Pazuzu”)—and the media have repeatedly debunked them. There has also been discussion that some “unboxing” streams and social-media lotteries skirt the edges of gambling regulations; authorities are monitoring it. When buying, stick to official sources and check the legal terms of promotions in your country. (The Times of India, CNA)

Tips for beginner collectors

• Start with standard series (budget ~€15–€36 per piece) and don’t try to chase “secret” editions right away. (Pop Mart)
• Follow Pop Mart release calendars, sign up for notifications, and verify authenticity via QR codes/packaging. (m.popmart.com)
• On the secondary market, do your research before buying—the gap between RRP and resale is often hundreds to thousands of euros. Record-breaking auctions are the exception rather than the rule. (Reuters)

Watch videos (official and unboxing)

Story and context: “Story behind Labubu”

Unboxing: The Monsters × One Piece

Community explainers and roundups

Sources

1. POP MART – “Annual Report 2024” (PDF) – https://prod-out-res.popmart.com/cms/ANNUAL_REPORT_2024_976e7e443e.pdf
2. PR Newswire / Yahoo Finance – “POP MART Releases 2024 Financials: Revenue Surpasses 13 Billion RMB…” – https://finance.yahoo.com/news/pop-mart-releases-2024-financials-080700598.html
3. S&P Global Market Intelligence – “Pop Mart’s viral collectibles to fuel overseas revenue surge” – https://www.spglobal.com/market-intelligence/en/news-insights/research/pop-mart-s-viral-collectibles-to-fuel-overseas-revenue-surge
4. Channel NewsAsia (CNA Lifestyle) – “4 things to know about Labubu…” – https://cnalifestyle.channelnewsasia.com/trending/things-know-about-labubu-pop-mart-409246
5. Reuters – “Labubu human-sized figure sells for over $150,000 at Beijing auction” – https://www.reuters.com/world/china/labubu-human-sized-figure-sells-over-150000-beijing-auction-2025-06-10/
6. CGTN – “Mint green Labubu fetches 1 million yuan at Beijing auction” – https://news.cgtn.com/news/2025-06-11/Mint-green-Labubu-fetches-1-million-yuan-at-Beijing-auction–1E7eesiPbY4/p.html
7. POP MART – “THE MONSTERS | Blind Box (collection and description)” – https://www.popmart.com/us/collection/11/the-monsters
8. POP MART (FR/DE) – examples of prices in EUR – https://www.popmart.com/fr-FR/search/labubu and https://www.popmart.com/de/search/labubu
9. Merca2.0 – “Stitch & Labubu in Happy Meals? The truth behind the rumor” – https://www.merca20.com/will-stitch-and-labubu-be-coming-to-mcdonalds-happy-meals-the-truth-behind-the-rumor/
10. CCPC Ireland – “Product recalls” (official overview; entry on counterfeit Labubu) – https://www.ccpc.ie/consumers/product-safety/product-recalls/
11. PEOPLE – “What Are Labubu Dolls? All About the Bag Charms…” – https://people.com/what-are-labubu-dolls-11764785