Trends have a life of their own and sometimes bounce back after fading for a while. In this case, the newest craze is all about the Labubu dolls.
The unlikely popularity frenzy has taken over San José along with the world, and this latest trend has caught on to kids and adults alike.
Labubu dolls are furry elf characters dressed in fluffy costumes with rabbit-like ears and a nightmarish grin with saw-like teeth. They were released by a Chinese toy company, Pop Mart, in 2024 and now they have made a comeback in the United States, according to a Nov. 4, 2024, Los Angeles Times article.
The dolls come in different vibrant colors and designs in a collection called The Monsters, according to an article from The Post. They can be purchased as a theme set or individually in a “blind box” which means you will not know what theme you will be getting. When I learned about this trend I did not see myself owning one.
People have been going crazy over them to the point where they fight over those dolls, and line up overnight just to get their hands on them, according to according to a Nov. 4, 2024, Los Angeles Times article. The mania is real, though I admit I have possibly done this a few times for some other items.
The furry little monsters were created in 2015 by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung who moved to the Netherlands with his family when he was young, according to Sep. 26, 2024 Prestige article. Before creating the figurines, Lung was a children’s book illustrator which informed his current work.
Lung’s inspiration came from Nordic folklore and mythology, according to the same article. From that, he invented The Monsters including Zimomo, Tycoco, Spooky, and of course, beloved Labubu.
Lung did a great job of constructing something unique and different yet a bit out of the ordinary. Despite their scary-looking design, they are works of art. They aren’t something you throw in the back of your closet.
It made its way to the U.S. in 2024 but the trend faded for a short time. Recently, when the post was made, a member of the K-pop group BLACKPINK, Lalisa Manobal, posted a video of herself clutching the Labubu doll on Instagram. Since then, fans have followed the latest trend by collecting those dolls.
The dolls bring the same feeling that Sonny Angel or a Smiski did undoubtedly and like many other toys, they hold a high value. I believe the Labubu is more than just a craze, they will become a collector’s item as time goes on.
If you’re not familiar with the Sonny Angel doll, as described on its official website, it is a little angel boy with a smile who likes to wear all sorts of headwear. As for the Smiskis, they are small miniature neutral, glow-in-the-dark figurines with a nonchalant expression that comes in different poses. Per the website, they are cute creatures that love hiding in small spaces and corners of your room.
Not everyone is a fan or is aware of the furry monsters. Eunice Rios Ramos, a fourth-year psychology student shared her take on the looks of the Labubu doll.
“They are scary looking and they freak me out,” Rios Ramos said. “They look like they wait for you to fall asleep at night to wake up and do mischievous things, I have always had a fear of scary-looking dolls.”
I cannot agree more, despite being a curious-looking doll, it has a creepy demeanor to it. The smile is not something I want to be looking at in the middle of the night or accidentally running into on my way to the bathroom in the dark.
Just maybe, if they did not have those saw-like teeth and just a cute smile, I would get my hands on a few and collect them.
I mean who is not nostalgic for memorabilia pieces like Furby and Beanie Babies? Labubu and The Monsters are next.
I will not own one but admire them from afar. I do not like the idea of being surprised by a “blind box” because what if I do not like what I pull at all?
The Labubu dolls in my opinion are collectible toys that will be worth it in the long run, but they are still not cute enough. I would rather get a Sonny Angel over a Labubu, or if there were a release of the doll with a different look I would get it. For now, it is just not for me.
