If you want a 1000-word article with the title “The New Labubu Official Behind Story”, here is a polished version based on the official Labubu/The Monsters background from POP MART and creator Kasing Lung. (Pop Mart)
The New Labubu Official Behind Story
Introduction
Labubu has become one of the most recognizable collectible characters in modern pop culture. With its pointed ears, wide smile, nine sharp teeth, and playful appearance, Labubu has attracted collectors and fans around the world. But behind the popular plush toys and collectible figures is a much deeper creative story.
Labubu was created by Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung as part of his fantasy world known as THE MONSTERS. The character first appeared in Lung’s picture-book universe in 2015, long before Labubu became a globally recognized collectible. (Pop Mart)
Who Created Labubu?
Kasing Lung is the artist and creator behind Labubu and THE MONSTERS. Born in Hong Kong in 1972, Lung later moved with his family to the Netherlands. His childhood experiences in Europe, especially his exposure to picture books, folklore, fairies, trolls, and fantasy stories, influenced the imaginative world he eventually created. (Pop Mart)
Lung originally focused on children’s picture books and illustration. His interest in fantasy creatures gradually developed into a unique artistic style filled with unusual characters, mysterious forests, and magical stories.
The Beginning of THE MONSTERS
In 2015, Kasing Lung introduced a fantasy world called THE MONSTERS. This world developed through a trilogy of picture books: The Story of Puca, Pato and the Girl, and Miró’s Requiem. These stories introduced characters who lived in a magical world inspired by fairy tales and folklore. (Pop Mart)
Labubu was one of the most memorable characters in this universe. According to POP MART’s official description, Labubu is an elf who lives in a forest with a large group of other elves.
What Is Labubu?
Labubu is described as a small elf-like creature with large pointed ears and nine teeth. Although the character may look mischievous at first, Labubu is portrayed as kind-hearted, curious, energetic, and playful.
One of the interesting parts of Labubu’s personality is that the character often wants to help others but can accidentally create trouble while doing so. This combination of mischief and kindness is an important part of Labubu’s charm. (Pop Mart)
The character’s unusual appearance also helped make Labubu distinctive. Instead of looking like a traditional cute cartoon character, Labubu combines a friendly expression with sharp teeth, large ears, and a slightly mysterious appearance.
Inspiration Behind the Character
Kasing Lung’s artistic inspiration was strongly connected to European folklore and the fantasy stories he encountered while growing up in the Netherlands. He developed an interest in fairies, forest creatures, trolls, and mythical worlds.
His work also reflects the labubu original European children’s illustration and folklore. Rather than creating a simple toy character, Lung built a larger fictional world in which every character could have a personality and story.
This approach helped THE MONSTERS develop beyond a single character. Labubu became the most famous member of a larger group that includes characters such as Zimomo, Tycoco, Spooky, and Pato. (Pop Mart)
From Picture Book to Collectible Figure
Labubu’s journey did not begin with plush toys. The character first existed as an illustration in Kasing Lung’s fantasy world.
In 2015, Lung worked with Hong Kong toy company How2Work to turn his illustrations into three-dimensional art toys. The first Labubu figures were produced around the launch of The Story of Puca, helping transform the character from a drawing into a physical collectible. (WIRED)
This transition was an important moment in Labubu’s history because fans could now collect physical versions of the character.
The POP MART Era
The next major stage in Labubu’s story came through the relationship between Kasing Lung and POP MART. POP MART eventually became the major company responsible for producing and distributing Labubu collectibles to a much wider audience.
The partnership combined Lung’s character design and fantasy world with POP MART’s collectible-toy production and distribution system.
Blind boxes became an important part of the experience. Instead of always knowing which specific figure is inside a package, collectors can discover different characters and designs after opening the box.
Why Labubu Became So Popular
There are several reasons Labubu has attracted such a large international fan base.
First, the character has a distinctive visual identity. The large ears, nine teeth, expressive eyes, and mischievous smile make Labubu easy to recognize.
Second, Labubu is connected to a much larger fictional world. Fans are not simply collecting a single design; they can explore THE MONSTERS universe and its different characters.
Third, collectible releases create an element of discovery. Different series can feature different outfits, colors, themes, accessories, and designs.
Finally, Labubu has moved beyond traditional toy collecting and become part of contemporary fashion and pop culture. Its appearance on bags, keychains, plush toys, and other collectible products has helped introduce the character to audiences who may never have encountered the original picture books.
The Meaning Behind Labubu
Although Labubu is often recognized for its unusual smile and mischievous appearance, the character’s official story emphasizes kindness and curiosity.
Labubu represents a fantasy creature that can make mistakes while still having good intentions. This makes the character different from a traditional villain or scary monster.
The combination of cute and mysterious elements is one of the key features of THE MONSTERS universe. The characters can appear strange or mischievous while still being friendly and imaginative.
Labubu’s Growing World
Labubu is only one part of Kasing Lung’s larger creative universe. Characters such as Zimomo and Tycoco contribute to the world surrounding Labubu, giving collectors more stories and personalities to explore.
The official POP MART description explains that THE MONSTERS grew from Lung’s three picture books and that the characters developed their own appearances and personalities over time. (Pop Mart)
This larger universe has allowed Labubu to continue appearing in new collections and collaborations without losing its original identity.
A New Generation of Labubu Fans
Today, Labubu is recognized by people who may never have read the original stories. The character’s popularity has expanded through collectible figures, plush products, accessories, collaborations, social media, and fan communities.
At the same time, the original creative story remains important. Labubu was not originally created simply as a commercial mascot. The character came from Kasing Lung’s illustration and storytelling work and developed within the fantasy world of THE MONSTERS.
In 2026, POP MART and Kasing Lung are also marking the 10th anniversary era of THE MONSTERS with labubu and projects celebrating the history of the characters. POP MART Japan announced a Tokyo exhibition tracing the development of THE MONSTERS and Labubu from their origins through later art toys and collaborations.
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