Discovering Labubu: My Journey From Curiosity to Global Cultural and Literature Phenomenon
Labubu has been trending, but where did it originate from? Does it have deep-rooted meaning or just a character that is attracting the younger generation? While exploring this question, I came across some fascinating facts, so let’s see the significance

Trends come and go, but some get stuck with you due to some experience, the same, I would say, for the Labubu doll. I was getting back from work, totally unaware of this trend of dolls, and in my haze and mist of tiredness, I saw a life-size labubu handing pamphlets for a local cosmetic store. Truthfully, it scared me for a second. A big doll with a creepy smile caught me off guard. That night, it stayed in my mind, but this doll looked a little familiar to me, like a character I had seen somewhere, and my search for why it was so famous to become a marketing gimmick took me to some fascinating discoveries you would want to know.
What is the Labubu Doll Origin?
For the past few months, this doll has been trending. This is a toy collection launched by the Chinese toy company POP Mart, and what made it popular in the country was the surprise element. This toy was wrapped in a black box with no visibility to what the toy version inside was, hence creating curiosity and excitement to receive the unexpected caught the attention of locals in the country. As they started posting this online on social media platforms, this started spreading across the globe.
Well, this is the story of how the Labubu doll started getting viral, but did you know that originally this was denoted as a Monster doll? Well, not to scare you, it's not an actual monster; it is a monster-looking character designed by Ong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung. The character is cute but a bit off with big eyes, pointed ears, scruffy or fuzzy bodies, and a “toothy grin” that laughs is really off if you say, but yet it is capturing many people's hearts for some reason.
Reimagining The Norse Mythology: Monster Labubu
So, for those who don't know, it has deep roots in storytelling culture; the character Labubu is an elf-like creature from Kasing Lung’s illustrated children's story book. He developed the character with a mischievous look, but in his stories, he is a kind-hearted and eager-to-help creature, often causing chaos with his good intentions.
But what drew me was its similarity to the characters in the storybook, Where the Wild Things Are?. This is the creation of the American writer Maurice Sendak in 1963. It's a story of Max, a kid who dresses himself as a wolf and creates havoc to escape the problems he is facing, growing up into a rebellious kid. Even so, Kasing Lung draws some inspiration from folklore and Norse myth (Nordic myth/fantasy) that he was exposed to growing up in the Netherlands.
The Nordic myths revolve around their theme of the existence of the 9 realms, the gods, divine warriors, humans, and other creatures like elves, dwarves, trolls, karkens, frost giants, and Fenrir, etc., and drawing on this, Kasing Lung developed Labubu, a kind-hearted elf.
He crafted a whimsical series in 2015 of three picture books named ‘The Monsters’, the characters are mischievous yet kind-hearted. Labubu the monster is one of the prominent characters; other notable characters include Pato, a duck-like monster, and Zimomo, the tribe's leader. These characters are depicted as female, except for Zimomo, who is male. They are portrayed as playful beings with endless energy, engaging in harmless pranks rooted in good intentions. Lung's artistic style blends elements of Nordic folklore with contemporary design, creating a visually rich universe that resonates with both children and adults.
From Fear To Fantasy: Monsters of Global Folklore
If you examine each culture, you will find that some mystical beings are portrayed to create thrilling stories for kids and guide them towards right and wrong. Let me tell you about some interesting characters I have encountered in my readings through mythological stories.
The first exposure was to Hindu mythology, specifically the epics Ramayan and Mahabharata, where Rakshasa and divine humans engage in battle to establish justice. In Ramayana, the Prince Ram fights several cursed demons and frees them. Similarly, in the Mahabharat, we see Hidimba, a female from the monster clan who later marries Prince Bhima. The epic Vetala, a ghostly spirit inhabiting corpses, is a form of vampire from the popular storybook Vikram and Betal. A tale of mighty King Vikramaditya and his quest to capture the Betal.
Who can forget Medusa, the Gorgon whose gaze turns humans to stone, and then the heroes like Heracles and Perseus face these monsters, teaching lessons about bravery, strategy, and perseverance. These mighty tales appear in children’s adaptations as thrilling yet educational challenges.
Then, in Western mythology, Grendel, Beowulf, and the Great Duke of Hell symbolize authority over dark forces. Stories revolving around them are created as modern retellings to inspire suspense, adventure, and moral lessons.
One of the most scary for me would be the Kuchisake-Onna, the “slit-mouthed woman,” a vengeful spirit from Japanese urban legends, instilling caution and respect for societal rules. In adaptations for younger audiences, her story is often softened into a mysterious or mischievous figure, but I saw it as an adult, in the most popular series, Supernatural. This vengeful spirit is portrayed from victim to vindictive in different adaptations. In Japanese culture, anime is quite famous, and one such anime, One Piece, is quite famous. Another mystical series with various Japanese mythological references, like the Devil Fruits, it is also a good series to watch for children above 12 and adults alike, as it imparts many life lessons.
Well, who can forget the craze of werewolves and vampires that came about with the series like Vampire Diaries and the movie series, Twilight, portraying that not all scary creatures are bad, but just trying to survive. They also included Banshees and Witches that are prominent in German and Latin mythology. And the Jinn were introduced in Arabic mythology, which became popular with Aladdin, a Middle Eastern folktale.
To say that myths and legends around the world have evolved from terrifying figures into fascinating characters in stories and folklore would not be wrong. Each of these folklores is to propagate some rules, or social norms, a behavior for a social cause, security, and instilling morality and justice in young to adult minds. Hence, across many cultures, the monsters transform fear into fantasy, blending horror with imagination, and the monster Labubu is one of them.
Is Labubu Good Or Bad?
Coming to the question, is Labubu doll good or bad, well, I wouldn’t say it's bad, but scary sometimes can be. But once a person is exposed to the story of Labubu and the idea of Kasing Lung’s imagination and intention behind the same, one would definitely come to a liking of it.
I shared this with my friends and colleagues and asked if they knew about the Labubu doll, and many said yes. Some of my friends said they bought it for kids in their kids, and they quite like playing with it. Truthfully, it reminded me of the Classic Tatyavincu doll from an old Marathi movie Zapatela, for this I would say if you know, you know what I am talking about.
But exploring, I found what is a Labubu doll, and the cultural significance it holds in the Norse mythology, one of my favorites owing to the Marvels Thor series. So it's each person's perspective on the Labubu doll, I would say, to decide whether it's good or bad.
Stories of Unknown: Must-Read Legendary Folklores to Spark Imagination
I am a geek when it comes to reading, and here is a list for you to explore or share with your kids: some storybooks that would shape their childhood and open their minds to a new world of magic.
Vikram and Vetal (India): This was my first exposure to a contemporary classic Sanskrit tale. In this book, King Vikram attempts to capture the ghostly Vetal, who tells riddling stories, each with a moral twist. A good read, and it even has T.V series created after its popularity among the readers.
Albatya Galbatya (India): This is a whimsical Marathi folk story written by Ratnakar Matkari featuring mischievous characters and humorous adventures that teach cleverness and wit. I saw a live theater of this, and it was epic; this also connects to Vikram Betal as the Chetkin in this story is a Baital Pisachini just as the Vetal.
Hansel and Gretel (Germany): Well, I would say one of my favorites, as it is quite witty to see two children outsmart a witch living in a candy house, highlighting courage, intelligence, and the dangers of the unknown.
Jack and the Beanstalk (England): I remember reading this as a 5-year-old and thinking that if I got the same seed, I would also go above the clouds. As this story portrays, Jack climbs a magical beanstalk to confront a giant, learning bravery, cleverness, and reward through adventure.
Momotaro – Peach Boy (Japan): I first watched the series Momotaro Spirit, an anime that reimagines the Momotaro folktale as a modern-day war between human descendants of the demon (Oni) and the Momotaro bloodline, which has historically hunted the Oni. Originally, the story is about a boy born from a peach who battles ogres with animal friends, emphasizing teamwork and valor. I would suggest reading the original and also watching the anime, if possible. It's quite fascinating to see the protagonist discover his origin and embark on a journey.
The Pied Piper of Hamelin (Germany): Many must have read in poems the Pied Piper, which derives from German legends. Where a mysterious piper rids a town of rats, then leads the ungrateful townspeople’s children away, showing consequences and justice.
The Boy Who Cried Wolf (Greece): Even in phrases we use don’t be the boy who cried wolf, this is a story that depicts the dangers of lying. Further, in much of the literature, you would find several adaptations of this tale, but the original was in Greek literature 15th century.
The Legend of Robin Hood (England): This is not based on any mythological character or magic but is a story of an outlaw, Robin Hood, who steals from the rich to give to the poor, emphasizing justice, heroism, and adventure.
The Monkey King / Sun Wukong (China): From the 16th Journey to the West, a Chinese novel, you would find this story about Sun Wukong battling demons and gods with cleverness and magical powers. I got to know of this character from a Korean drama based on a modern adaptation of the character. Then, exploring, I reached the original version.
The Little Mermaid (Denmark): My favorite fairy tales from childhood about a mermaid princess who travels to land following her love. A story by Hans Christian Andersen’s tale of sacrifice and love, blending human emotion with magical fantasy.
So Labubu may be a monster character, but it does not necessarily have to be a devil. And in modern times, where the line between good and evil is a thing one can learn to adapt goodness from any character, from mythology and stories, to adapt in real life.
When we talk of the craze of buying Labubu Dolls at a prolific rate, I would say it's the consumer's free will. I personally would read the books rather than buy the doll because the Original Labubu price in India is costly, and getting cheap imitations is not my thing for cost-cutting. Well, each to their suit, but exploring, I went from What is a Labubu doll to understanding its literature and cultural significance, reviving my liking for mythological stories and sharing some with you. Hope you like my recommendations, and if you know some I have missed, do comment. Until next time, readers.
FAQs
1. What is a Labubu doll?
Ans) A Labubu doll is a cute, whimsical character created by Kasing Lung, inspired by Nordic folklore, featuring playful, mischievous traits and distinctive pointed ears, often used in children’s books and collectibles.
2. Is Labubu Doll good or bad?
Ans) The Labubu doll is neither purely good nor bad; it embodies playful mischief with a kind-hearted nature. While its pranks may cause minor chaos, Labubu is ultimately helpful and friendly, making it a charming, endearing character in children’s stories rather than a frightening or evil figure.
3. Why is Labubu Doll rare?
Ans) The Labubu doll is rare due to its limited production and collector-focused design, combined with the creator Kasing Lung’s unique artistic style. Its exclusivity, distinctive appearance, and popularity among fans make it a sought-after collectible worldwide.
4. Is Labubu a Doll Monster?
Ans) Labubu is a doll inspired by monster-like traits, but it is not truly a monster. With its playful mischief, pointed ears, and whimsical design, Labubu blends cute and fantastical elements, making it a charming, friendly character rather than a frightening or dangerous creature.
5. Where can I get the Labubu Doll Monkey King version?
Ans) Labubu Dolls are famous for being received in Black box, and the version inside being a surprise. Yet some websites have specific versions like the Mango People Shop, Meesho, Flipkart, etc., and you can even visit the POP Mart website to find the availability. Please note that availability may vary, and it's advisable to check the respective websites for the most current stock and pricing information.
6. Who is the owner of Labubu?
Ans) The Labubu character was created by Kasing Lung, a Taiwanese artist and designer. He is the original owner and creator of the Labubu brand, developing the whimsical, monster-inspired dolls and related collectibles. Kasing Lung continues to design new editions, making Labubu a popular figure in children’s books and collectible culture. But it is sold by the POP mart toy-making stores, whose owner is Wang Ning.
P. Manika
(Performist Content Writer)