If you are wondering who made the labubus, the direct answer is Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong-born artist, illustrator, and picture-book creator. He created Labubu in 2015 as part of his imaginative universe called The Monsters, drawing heavily on the Nordic folklore and mythology he encountered while growing up in Europe.
Pop Mart did not originally invent Labubu. Lung created the character, while Pop Mart later helped turn it into the collectible toy phenomenon seen in stores, blind boxes, social media posts, and fashion accessories around the world.
Who Created Labubu?
Kasing Lung created Labubu. He is a Hong Kong-born illustrator and artist who grew up partly in the Netherlands and later built a career around picture books, artwork, and character design.
In 2015, Lung introduced the fantasy world of The Monsters, with Labubu becoming its best-known character. Pop Mart’s official description credits Lung with creating the character and says his fictional world was inspired by Nordic mythology.
| Quick Fact | Answer |
|---|---|
| Who created Labubu? | Kasing Lung |
| When was Labubu created? | 2015 |
| What series is Labubu from? | The Monsters |
| What inspired the characters? | Nordic folklore and mythology |
| Who helped produce early collectibles? | How2work |
| Which company popularized Labubu globally? | Pop Mart |
| When did Pop Mart begin selling Labubu collectibles? | 2019 |
Early collectible versions were associated with Hong Kong creative company How2work, which had already worked with Lung on books and figures. Pop Mart’s later involvement brought Labubu to a much larger international collectible-toy audience.
Who Is Kasing Lung?
Kasing Lung is the artist behind not just Labubu, but the wider world known as The Monsters. His work combines fairy-tale storytelling with creatures that can look strange, playful, mischievous, and endearing at the same time.
Lung was born in Hong Kong and spent part of his childhood in the Netherlands. While growing up there, he encountered European and Nordic fairy tales and folklore. Those childhood influences later helped shape the visual language and fantasy setting of The Monsters.
This background helps explain why Labubu does not look like a conventional cute teddy bear or cartoon animal. The pointed ears, unusual grin, serrated teeth, and elf-like appearance fit into a much broader fantasy world rather than being designed simply as a trendy plush toy.
Where Did Labubu Originally Come From?
Labubu did not start as a viral bag charm. The character came from Kasing Lung’s illustrated fantasy world.
In 2015, Lung developed The Monsters around a group of magical creatures inspired by Nordic mythology and fairy tales. Pop Mart describes Labubu as one of the most prominent inhabitants of this world, recognizable by high pointed ears and serrated teeth.
Lung’s storytelling came before the worldwide toy craze. That distinction matters because Labubu is fundamentally an artist-created character and intellectual property, not a character designed from scratch by a mass-market toy retailer.
What Is The Monsters?
The Monsters is Kasing Lung’s fantasy universe containing Labubu and several related characters.
Among the characters associated with the world are Labubu, Zimomo, Tycoco, Spooky, Pato, and others. Lung developed personalities and stories around these creatures rather than creating Labubu as an isolated design.
That larger universe is why official products are frequently branded “THE MONSTERS” even when Labubu is the character buyers are primarily interested in.
Did Pop Mart Create Labubu?
No. Pop Mart did not create Labubu. Kasing Lung did.
This is one of the most common points of confusion surrounding the toys because the Pop Mart name appears prominently on modern Labubu packaging and products.
The basic timeline is:
- Kasing Lung created Labubu and The Monsters in 2015.
- Early physical figures were produced in collaboration with How2work.
- Pop Mart began selling Labubu collectibles in 2019, bringing the character into its large collectible-toy and blind-box ecosystem.
- Labubu subsequently developed into one of Pop Mart’s most recognizable international characters.
So, if someone asks “Who invented Labubu?”, the answer is Kasing Lung. If they ask “Who makes the Labubu toys people buy today?”, Pop Mart is the main company associated with their commercial production, branding, and sale.
Why Did Kasing Lung Design Labubu That Way?
Labubu’s appearance makes more sense once you understand Lung’s fascination with European fairy tales.
As a child in the Netherlands, Lung read stories involving elves, trolls, forests, and other mythical beings. He later used those influences when building The Monsters. Tatler Asia reports that Lung was particularly interested in stories involving clumsy trolls and European folklore during his childhood.
Labubu therefore combines features that would normally seem contradictory:
- Long, pointed ears
- A wide mischievous smile
- Serrated teeth
- A furry or creature-like body
- Expressive eyes
- A playful but slightly strange appearance
This tension between cute and mischievous is a major part of the character’s recognizable visual identity.
Why Are There So Many Different Labubus?
The Labubu people see online is not a single fixed toy.
Pop Mart has released the character in numerous themes, outfits, sizes, colors, figures, vinyl-plush pendants, and collectible series. The company also frequently sells items through its blind-box format, in which the exact variation inside the package is unknown until it is opened.
That is why people commonly use “Labubus” to refer to multiple versions of the character.
The underlying character still comes from Kasing Lung’s original creation, even when a new collectible looks significantly different from earlier designs.
Is Labubu Chinese or European?
The most accurate answer is that Labubu has influences from several cultures.
Its creator, Kasing Lung, was born in Hong Kong but grew up partly in the Netherlands. His inspiration for The Monsters came largely from Nordic mythology and European folklore.
Pop Mart, meanwhile, is a Chinese collectible-toy company.
This produces a useful distinction:
- Creator: Hong Kong-born artist Kasing Lung
- Creative inspiration: Nordic and European folklore
- Major commercial brand: China-based Pop Mart
Calling Labubu simply a “Chinese doll” therefore misses much of the character’s artistic history.
When Did Labubu Become Popular?
Labubu existed for years before becoming the worldwide trend many people recognize today.
The character originated in 2015, while Pop Mart began selling Labubu collectibles in 2019. The character’s international visibility later accelerated as plush pendants and collectible figures became popular as fashion accessories and gained exposure through social media and celebrity use.
The important distinction is that 2015 marks Labubu’s creative origin, while 2019 marks a major stage in its commercial expansion through Pop Mart.
Is Labubu a Character or a Brand?
Labubu is best understood as a character within Kasing Lung’s The Monsters universe that has also developed into a major collectible product line.
This explains why the names can become confusing:
- Kasing Lung — the creator and artist
- Labubu — the famous character
- The Monsters — the larger fictional universe/IP
- Pop Mart — the company behind the modern commercial collectible range
- How2work — an early creative and production collaborator
Keeping these roles separate makes Labubu’s history much easier to understand.
What Makes a Labubu Different From Other Monsters Characters?
Not every character sold under The Monsters name is Labubu.
The fictional universe contains several creatures with their own appearances and identities. Labubu became the most recognizable member, which sometimes leads buyers to casually call almost every similar-looking Monsters figure a Labubu.
Official Pop Mart material identifies Labubu by features including its high pointed ears and serrated teeth.
For collectors, checking the official product name is therefore more reliable than identifying a figure solely by its general monster-like appearance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who made the Labubu dolls?
Kasing Lung created Labubu. The Hong Kong-born artist introduced the character in 2015 as part of The Monsters. Pop Mart later turned the character into its internationally successful collectible range.who made the labubus
Did Pop Mart invent Labubu?
No. Kasing Lung invented the character. Pop Mart became the major commercial partner behind the modern Labubu collectibles and began selling them in 2019.who made the labubus
What year was Labubu created?
Labubu was created in 2015. Pop Mart’s official The Monsters pages credit Kasing Lung with bringing the character and its fairy world to life that year.who made the labubus
What inspired Labubu?
Kasing Lung drew inspiration from Nordic mythology, folklore, fairy tales, elves, trolls, and other mythical creatures that fascinated him while growing up in Europe.
Is Labubu from Pop Mart?
Modern Labubu collectibles are strongly associated with Pop Mart, but the character existed before that partnership. Kasing Lung created Labubu in 2015, while Pop Mart’s commercial involvement began later.who made the labubus
What is The Monsters?
The Monsters is Kasing Lung’s fictional universe containing Labubu and other fantasy characters. Labubu eventually became its most recognizable character.who made the labubus
Are all The Monsters toys Labubus?
No. Labubu belongs to The Monsters universe, but the series contains other characters as well. Check the official product name rather than assuming every Monsters figure is a Labubu.who made the labubus
So, Who Really Made the Labubus?
The simplest answer to who made the labubus is Kasing Lung. He created Labubu in 2015 as part of his Nordic-folklore-inspired world, The Monsters. Pop Mart did not invent the character; it later helped transform Lung’s creation into the internationally recognized collectible phenomenon it is today.
Understanding that distinction reveals the real story behind Labubu: it began with an illustrator and a fictional universe long before it became a blind-box collectible, bag charm, and global pop-culture phenomenon.who made the labubus
