Labubus are the newest monstrously cute toys that are gaining rapid popularity at LAHS. (Photo courtesy of Daniel Davenport)

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. — Labubus, a new plush toy, has taken the world by storm. Kasing Lung, illustrator and toy designer, created the dolls, which first debuted in a series by the artist called “The Monsters.” Pop Mart, a Chinese-based company that sells collectible designer toys like Labubus and others, created and produced the toys for Kasing Lung. Labubus were inspired by Nordic folklore and mythology, which Kasing Lung enjoyed during his childhood. Pop Mart seals Labubu in blind boxes, adding to the mystery of buying them. The blind boxes are random, but they do come in themes. Many themes have secret, rarer Labubus inside.

“You go on eBay, people are selling (Labubus) for so much and in different colors,” said Mrs. Marechal, an English teacher at Los Alamitos High School.

Labubus first became trendy in 2023, when a new feature for the toy was introduced. Pop Mart added key chains to the Labubu dolls, which allowed people to show off their new rare plushies on bags, purses, and backpacks. Lisa, from the K-pop group Blackpink, is widely considered a trendsetter for putting Labubus on bags after she posted about them on her Instagram. In some Pop Mart stores, fights have even broken out over Labubus due to the limited availability and the rarity of the toy. The trend of Labubus reminds many of other past trends of collectible, cute figures like Sonny Angels or Beanie Babies

“I wanted a Labubu because I’m a trend hopper and I was jealous of my friend,” said Bailey Baker, a junior at LAHS.

In 2025, Labubus has generated 670 million dollars so far. The popularity of Labubus has grown far beyond its original purpose as a niche art project; it has gone worldwide. Due to the popularity of Labubus, counterfeit or fake versions have begun to appear in street markets and online, capitalizing on the craze. These copycat versions of Labubus have been coined Lafufus. Many have warned of the danger of Lafufus, as they can become choking hazards if pieces break off and become dangerous for children. 

“I probably wouldn’t recommend Labubus to anyone right now because the quality is going down a lot. Now, Labubus look like Lafufus,” said Baker.

Although the target audience for the plushies are teenagers, some younger-aged kids, even in elementary school, are adopting the Labubu trend. Audrina Alverado, a fourth grader at Los Alamitos Elementary School, and many others are currently following the craze.

“I was very excited to get one,” said Alverado. 

But is getting kids Labubus a good choice? While Labubus are a quick trend for some, but for others, collecting the dolls are extremely enjoyable, just like any other toy. 

“I think some people should have labubus, but not everyone,” said Alverado.