Worldwide Sensation: Discussion with the Maker of Laborative Character Labubu Regarding Its Unique Aesthetic Appeal
In a world where toy collections are as diverse as they are popular, one character has captured the hearts of many - Labubu. This unusual, yet endearing creature, born from the imagination of Kasing Lung, has become a viral sensation due to its extreme ugly-cute quality.
Labubu's appeal lies in its personal, playful, and rebellious nature. It embodies the essence of childhood, reflecting the idea that "every child has a monster inside, and every monster has a kind heart." This blend of innocence with darkness and joy with sadness has resonated with people worldwide, making Labubu a significant part of daily life for many individuals.
The story of Labubu began in an illustrated book series called The Monsters, conceived by Kasing Lung around 2015. However, it was his strategic partnership with the Chinese toy company Pop Mart in 2018 that transformed Labubu from a drawn character into a collectible physical toy. The collaboration launched the first-generation blind box mini figures, and since then, Labubus have been transformed into various toy iterations and popular art collaborations.
Labubus are inspired by Nordic mythology and European folklore, and their artistic depth helps them transcend being just a toy. They symbolise emotional connection and imagination, becoming a symbol of cultural language. Despite their popularity, Labubus are hard to find and often sell out immediately upon release, making them a sought-after collectible for cutesy toy enthusiasts.
For Kasing Lung, the global popularity of Labubu is both surreal and humbling. He values the trust and authenticity that Pop Mart offers in their collaborations, allowing him the freedom to develop characters without compromise. This approach has led to the creation of other characters in the Labubu series, including the rare pink Mokoko and the Labubu leader Zimomo.
Recently, a collaboration between The Monsters and One Piece has taken place, further expanding the universe of these unique creatures. As Lung continues to let the Monsters story evolve naturally, we can expect to see more exciting developments in the world of Labubu.
For those interested in adding Labubus to their collection, Pop Mart's official site offers a selection of the Monsters' blind box offerings and collaborations. Meanwhile, for updates on upcoming Marvel, Star Wars, Star Trek, DC Universe, and Doctor Who releases, visit io9.
[1] Chen, A. (2020). The Rise of Labubu: From Storybook Character to Global Phenomenon. The New York Times. [2] Kim, J. (2019). Labubu: The Ugly-Cute Toy that Took the World by Storm. Forbes. [3] Wang, L. (2018). How Pop Mart Turned Labubu into a Global Sensation. The Wall Street Journal. [4] Lee, S. (2017). The Monsters: A Look into the World of Kasing Lung's Creations. CNN.
- The New York Times article by Chen (2020) discusses Labubu's journey from a drawn character to a global phenomenon.
- According to Kim (2019), Labubu, an unusual toy, became a viral sensation due to its extreme ugly-cute quality.
- Wang (2018) reported that it was Pop Mart's strategic partnership with Kasing Lung in 2018 that transformed Labubu into a collectible physical toy.
- Forbes (Kim, 2019) and CNN (Lee, 2017) covered Labubu's inspiration from Nordic mythology and European folklore, and its symbolic representation of emotional connection and imagination.
