The Marvel Cinematic Universe: Building and Rebuilding the Biggest Franchise in Film

If you’ve walked past a designer toy store, scrolled through TikTok, or peeked into hype culture recently, you may have noticed a mischievous little creature with spiky teeth and big ears popping up everywhere. Its name? Labubu.

Created by Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung and produced by designer toy powerhouse Pop Mart, Labubu has quietly become one of the most coveted collectibles in the world blending streetwear aesthetics, emotional storytelling, and the booming art toy economy.

But how did a slightly creepy, slightly cute forest creature go from niche art circles to global obsession? Let’s break it down.

What (Exactly) Is Labubu?

Labubu is the breakout star of The Monsters, Kasing Lung’s surreal universe of whimsical, storybook-inspired creatures.

It blends cute and creepy — wide eyes, jagged grin, tall ears — evoking both innocence and menace. That emotional tension is part of its appeal. Labubu feels like a relic from a childhood dream you forgot you had.

In 2025, there are now 300+ official Labubu variations, from mini blind boxes to 1.3-meter showpieces, often dropped in limited quantities or regional exclusives.

Labubu by the Numbers

The business around Labubu is massive and still growing:

• Pop Mart revenue (2024): $1.81B USD, up 107% YoY

• Net income: $427M USD, up 188% YoY

• Labubu-driven sales: $419M USD, accounting for 23.3% of Pop Mart’s total revenue

• Resale market: Rare figures routinely fetch $500–$2,000+

• Auction record: 1.3m-tall human-size Labubu sold for $150,000

• StockX activity: Over 25,000 trades/month, with demand up 7000% YoY

These are not just toys. They’re art assets with global liquidity.

Cultural Takeover: From Asia to the World

Labubu’s rise is being fueled by a mix of celebrity cosign, scarcity marketing, and aesthetic versatility.

• K-pop endorsements: Lisa from BLACKPINK, RIIZE, and other idols show off rare pulls

• Western fashion crossover: Seen with Hailey Beiber, Simone Biles, and Lizzo

• TikTok traction: 1.2M+ tagged posts with #Labubu

• Retail expansion: Flagship stores and vending machines across Seoul, London, Paris, and NYC

• Fashion collabs: Labubu x Levi’s, Harrods, Coca-Cola, and more in 2025

It’s not just an art toy. It’s a cultural object.

Why Labubu Works in 2025

The Labubu craze isn’t random. It taps into multiple powerful trends:

• Nostalgia with edge – Childhood wonder with a subversive twist

• Collectibility over functionality – Objects prized for their story, scarcity, and vibe

• Physicality in a digital world – Labubu is tangible, personal, and Instagrammable

• Fashion adjacency – It’s styled like a hype item, not a children’s toy

• Emotional design – The character feels alive, layered, and oddly relatable

This is where Be@rbrick meets KAWS meets Studio Ghibli with stronger emotional resonance.

From Toy to Status Symbol

Labubu is now more than a collectible. It’s a cultural index. A mood board mascot. A flex that signals taste, global awareness, and nostalgia fluency.

And in a post-algorithm world where owning something real, rare, and meaningful matters more than ever, Labubu is proof that story-driven IP can still go viral without needing a screen, a storyline, or a soundtrack.

In 2025, the most powerful character in pop culture might not say a word. It just smiles with teeth.

Curated Vibes

Song of the week: “Won’t Stop” by Gunna
Apple Music
Spotify

Movie of the week: The Phoenician Scheme

Hope you enjoyed this week’s issue. If so, please share. Forward this to someone who should read it. Share with your group chat. Text it to a friend or colleague.

Share on Twitter (X), LinkedIn, or Facebook