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All About the Hype Behind Labubu: Origins, Creator, and More

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1m ago

Oct 14, 2024 / 9326 Views

Evan Walker

Wondering what the hype around Labubu is all about? From BLACKPINK Lalisa’s obsession to Kasing Lung’s conception, we’ve got you covered.

It seems that a certain fuzzy and mischievous character has once again taken Thailand by storm. After the hype of seeing K-pop idol Lisa clutch one in her arms, Labubu is trending once more after a brief tour here in Bangkok to promote Chinese tourism. But for those of us not in the know, it may be surprising and confusing as to who or what Labubu is and why it’s become so popular. If you’ve got questions, these are hopefully the answers you’ve been looking for.

Understanding the Hype Around Labubu: Origins, Creator, and Celebrity Endorsement

What is Labubu?

Labubu is an elf character recognisable for several notable features: the pointy ears, the sharp teeth that protrude from its mouth, small stature, and mischievous smile. Labubu is part of a group of creatures called The Monsters, a group of characters inspired by Nordic fairy tales. The character is featured in a number of items sold by Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company.

What is it based on?

Labubu is based on Nordic mythology. Its creator was inspired by the fairy tales of Europe and created Labubu along with the other Monsters first as characters in a children’s book.

Is Labubu a boy or a girl?

According to the original books, Labubu is actually a girl.

what is labubu — Image credit: Pop Mart FB

Who created Labubu?

Kasing Lung is the Belgium-based artist who created Labubu. Originally born in Hong Kong, Lung moved to the Netherlands at a young age. It was in 2015 that he published “The Monsters” story series. Lung has since become a prominent artist and has had exhibitions all over the world.

Why is it so famous?

It’s not easy to pinpoint the reason as to what drew fans to the furry monster but Labubu became the most popular of all the Monster characters. It became even more popular when Lisa posted that she has one of her own on social media. Labubu became so popular here in Thailand that the government had to warn against scams.

What is the Labubu “Exciting Macaron”?

“Exciting Macaron” is one of the 10 collections of Labubu dolls as per The Nation.

How much does a Labubu doll cost?

One doll can cost upwards of HKD 500 while a collection of six can cost you above HKD 1,000, but these are conservative estimates. Collections can go well above these prices sometimes.