Labubu fans dote over ugly-cute doll trending at Comic-Con
San Diego Comic-Con is the latest location where the ugly-cute dolls named Labubu have been trending, with fans carrying the plushies globally popularised by celebrities Rihanna, Lizzo, Dua Lipa, and Lisa from the K-pop group Blackpink.
The wide-eyed and grinning doll was created in 2015 by Hong Kong artist and illustrator Kasing Lung. In 2019, Lung allowed them to be sold by Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company that sells collectible figurines, often in "blind boxes".
"Blind boxes" are sealed boxes containing a surprise item that is usually part of a themed collection.
Naomi Galban, from San Diego, waited in line on Sunday at the Pop Mart booth in the San Diego Convention Center for a chance to get her first Labubu.
"Every time I go to a Pop Mart store, they're sold out," the 24-year-old told Reuters. She hoped to buy one for her little sister.
Emily Brough, Pop Mart's head of IP Licensing, spoke to Reuters on Thursday about Labubu fans at Comic-Con.
"We love to see how fans are personalising it (Labubu) for themselves," Brough said next to the Pop Mart booth.
While Brough noted that there were many people with a Labubu strapped to their bags and backpacks at Comic-Con, the doll's popularity did not happen overnight.
Labubus had a huge boost in 2019 after Pop Mart began selling them, and in 2024, when Blackpink's Lisa, who is Thai, created a buying frenzy in Thailand after she promoted Labubu on social media.
Pop Mart saw sales skyrocket in North America that same year, with revenue in the United States in the first quarter of 2025 already surpassing the full-year US revenue from 2024, Pop Mart said.
When he created Labubu, Lung gave the character, who is female, a backstory inspired by Nordic mythology.
He called her and his other fictional creatures "The Monsters."
Diana Goycortua, 25, first discovered Labubu through social media, and before she knew it, it felt like a "game" to try and collect the dolls.
"It's a little bit of gambling with what you're getting," the Labubu fan from San Diego said on Sunday while waiting at the Pop Mart booth, concluding that her love for the character made it worth trying blind boxes.
Goycortua already has three Labubus, and was hoping to score her a fourth one at Comic-Con. – Reuters
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hype Malaysia
24 minutes ago
- Hype Malaysia
(Video) BOYNEXTDOOR Allegedly Faced Discrimination During Recent US Trip
It isn't uncommon for idols to face discrimination when performing or travelling in countries outside their own. For example, when the iconic K-pop group Stray Kids attended the Met Gala, some members of the press were openly rude and dismissive toward them. This kind of behaviour has been called out for years, and while progress has been made, incidents like this still happen. On 2nd August (Saturday), the rising group BOYNEXTDOOR (보이넥스트도어) shared details of an alleged case of mistreatment during their time in the U.S. The incident quickly sparked concern among fans and industry watchers. It has also reignited discussions about the ongoing discrimination that non-Western artists continue to experience, both subtle and direct, when navigating global platforms. Following their performance at Lollapalooza 2025 — one of the world's biggest music festivals — BOYNEXTDOOR went live from their hotel room to share an unsettling experience. Earlier that day, they had eaten at a restaurant where something felt off. The group explained that they were already seated in a booth when they tried to place their order. They called over a waiter, but he had told them to wait and walked away to serve another table instead. The same waiter eventually returned to pour their drinks, but when Riwoo (리우) told him they were ready to order, the waiter interrupted again, asked them to wait, and left. Member Leehan (이한) quickly called it out as discrimination. Afterwards, the group began discussing how restaurant roles can vary — with some staff responsible only for certain tasks — though the tone of the conversation suggested they questioned whether this was just a misunderstanding or something more deliberate. ONEDOORs (BOYNEXTDOOR fans) were quick to voice their frustration online. Many fans argued that once seated, it's standard courtesy to start taking orders and expressed concern that the group was being overlooked due to race or nationality. Others urged caution, noting that fans might lack full context — for example, certain restaurant staff aren't tasked with taking orders, and the waiter could have simply been busy. Even so, Leehan's strong reaction raised concerns. It suggested that this may not have been the group's first encounter with subtle racial profiling. Whether or not the restaurant intended to discriminate, the moment struck a chord with fans. It served as a reminder of the everyday challenges international artists still face when navigating unfamiliar spaces, even in casual, everyday settings. Here is the full live, or skip to 15:51 for the recollection of the alleged discrimination: Sources: Koreaboo, YouTube, Twitter Zaima Humaria contributed to this article
New Straits Times
an hour ago
- New Straits Times
Dinesh Ratnam returns to iQIYI as senior MD for Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore
KUALA LUMPUR: Chinese streaming platform iQIYI has named Dinesh Ratnam as senior managing director for Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore. In his new role, Dinesh will oversee operations in the three markets, focusing on growing subscribers, expanding local content, building partnerships and boosting audience engagement. This is a return to iQIYI for Dinesh, who previously helped launch and grow its presence in Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia and Brunei. He later became senior director for international business before leaving in 2023 to head Warner Music Group's Malaysia and Singapore operations. Dinesh said it feels like a true homecoming, noting iQIYI's significant growth over the years with its strong catalogue of Chinese dramas, Korean series, anime and local productions. "I'm excited to build on this momentum and tap into the immense creative potential of Southeast Asia. "The demand for Asian content is at an all-time high, and we are well-positioned to deliver compelling stories that connect deeply with our audiences," he said in a statement. During his time at Warner Music, Dinesh led the label through a period of commercial success, with multiple hit releases, cross-border chart performance and success, and industry awards for their artists. Under his leadership, the company strengthened its role as a trusted partner for brands looking to integrate music into culturally relevant storytelling. With over 15 years of experience across the streaming, content, and technology sectors, he brings a unique blend of regional market expertise and global strategic insight. He has held senior roles at iflix, Catcha Group and started his career in investment banking with J.P. Morgan in London and San Francisco, advising on over US$25 billion worth of transactions in the technology, media and telecommunications space.
Hype Malaysia
3 hours ago
- Hype Malaysia
(Video) Ex-U-KISS Member Kevin Woo Cosplays As Mystery Saja At Fanmeet With Character's Voice Actor
If you're a fan of 'K-pop Demon Hunters' or a K-pop fan in general, you're likely already familiar with the singing voices behind the characters. Former U-KISS member Kevin Woo (케빈/우성현) lends his vocals to Mystery of the Saja Boys and has been teasing fans for some time about cosplaying as the character. True to his word, the idol recently unveiled his costume on Instagram, crediting content creator and cosplayer Lena Lemon for helping bring the look to life. That's not all, apparently, the singer attended a fan meet event in Los Angeles as the character, where he was also joined by Mystery Saja's voice actor. Here's the full story: Kevin Woo made headlines yesterday (Monday, 4th August) after hosting a pop-up fan meet event in Los Angeles, where hundreds of fans had the chance to meet him in full costume as his character, Mystery Saja. Attendees also took part in the viral 'Soda Pop' dance challenge. 'It's a testament to how popular 'K-pop Demon Hunters' is—it's a worldwide smash hit. I've seen kids lined up with their families here, it's been a great time,' he told ABC7 News. Joining Kevin at the event was a very special guest: Alan Lee, the voice actor behind Mystery Saja in the animated film. The duo's appearance delighted fans who got to see both the singing and speaking voices of the beloved character in one place. 'I had the honour of attending Kevin Woo's fan event!! It was a pleasure to meet so many fans and my own Mystery Saja's singing voice counterpart!!' Alan wrote in his Twitter post. Fans online expressed their excitement over the duo's appearance, with many sharing clips and photos from the event. Even the film's director, Maggie Kang, joined in, commenting on how adorable the two were posing with fans together. Here's Kevin Woo's cosplay reveal: The reported fan meet event on ABC7: Sources: Instagram (1)(2)(3), Twitter (1)(2)
