I still remember the buzz when the DIMOO Dating Series was first announced. It felt like a moment. The concept wasn't just about romantic dates; it was about the "dating" of ideas, a gardener meeting a flower, a magician meeting a crystal ball. It was whimsical, dreamy, and pure Ayan Tang, the artist behind DIMOO. I, like many of you, rushed to get my first case.
Since then, the series has exploded. It's not just a blind box set anymore. It's become a whole universe of its own, spawning plushies of all shapes and sizes. This is where a lot of new collectors get stuck. Do you go for the OG vinyls? Or the cuddly plush?
As someone who has bought, sold, and hoarded both, let's talk about it. This is the breakdown I wish I had when I started.
The OG Vinyls: The Art and The Hunt
Let's start with the original blind box series. This is the heart of it all. The twelve standard designs plus the "Lover" chase figure are, in my opinion, some of the most charming work in the entire DIMOO lineup.You can't replicate that feeling.
The vinyl figures are small, about 3 inches tall, but packed with detail. The paint application is generally solid for a mass-produced toy, with a lovely matte finish that makes them feel premium. My personal favorites have always been The Magician, with his translucent crystal ball, and The Painter, with his tiny paint-splattered overalls. They just have character.
Collecting the vinyls is a classic blind box experience. The thrill of the shake, the weight test (which, let's be real, is mostly a myth), and the slow peel of the foil. It's an addiction. When this series was new, the hunt was intense. I remember trading duplicates in collector groups, desperately trying to find a Bat Boy to complete my set.
Market & Collecting Tips: Today, the aftermarket for the dimoo dating vinyls has stabilized. You can find most common figures for around $12-$18 on collector sites or eBay, which is often cheaper than buying blind boxes and hoping for the best. My advice? If you're just starting and want specific characters, buy them open-box. Chasing them blindly will cost you a fortune and leave you with an army of duplicates you don't want.
The chase figure, Lover, is a different story. It's a beautiful design featuring two DIMOOs in a tender embrace. At its peak, I saw this figure selling for over $150. Now, it's settled into a more reasonable $60-$90 range, depending on condition and whether it includes the box and card.
A Detail Only a Collector Would Notice: Pay attention to the accessories. On The Magician figure, the crystal ball is a separate, glued-in piece. I've seen more than a few from the first production run where the glue has yellowed slightly or the ball is set at a weird angle. It's a tiny thing, but it's a telltale sign of an early batch. The later runs have a cleaner, more secure fit. It doesn't really affect the value, but it's a fun bit of production history.
The Plush Invasion: From Blind Box to Big Hugs
This is where the dimoo dating world got a lot bigger, and softer. POP MART saw the love for the series and went all-in on plush. But not all plush are created equal.
1. The 7-8 Inch Plush Blind Box
This was a fascinating move. A blind box, but for plushies. The unboxing experience is totally different. Instead of a small, dense box, you get a larger, lighter one. The fun here is squeezing the box and trying to guess the shape.
The plushies themselves are… interesting. They aren't super soft and squishy like a Squishmallow. They have more structure, with embroidered faces and felt details. They're well-made, but they feel more like small, stylized dolls than cuddly companions. They translate the vinyl designs faithfully, but some of the magic is lost. The sharp, clean lines of the vinyl get softened and simplified.
Real Talk on "Weighting": I get this question constantly in my shop: can you weigh the plush blind boxes to find a specific character? The short answer is no. The initial batches, maybe you could feel a slight difference. But POP MART is smart. Newer cases have varied cardboard inserts and packaging that make the weights nearly identical. I've seen people drive themselves crazy with kitchen scales, and it's a waste of time. Don't fall for it.
2. The 15.7-Inch (40cm) "Cotton Doll" Plush
Now we're talking. These are the big boys. Not blind-boxed, these are sold as individual, large-scale plushies of the most popular characters from the series, Flower, The Magician, Bat Boy, etc.
And they are incredible.
I own the 40cm Flower plush, and it's one of my favorite pieces in my entire collection. It sits in my office, and it's just a big, comforting ball of joy.The fabric is softer, the stitching is more robust, and the sheer presence of it is something else. This isn't just a toy; it's a piece of furniture. A very cute piece of furniture.
The Collector's Dilemma: The problem? Availability and price. These were often released as pre-orders and sold out almost instantly. Retail was usually around $100-$120, which is steep but fair for the size and quality. On the secondary market, it's the wild west. I've seen the 40cm Magician dimoo dating series plush listed for over $300.
A Serious Warning: Be EXTREMELY careful of fakes, especially on sites like AliExpress, Temu, or sketchy eBay listings. The knockoffs for the large plush are rampant. They use cheaper, shinier fabric, the facial embroidery is often wonky, and the proportions are just off. If you see a 40cm DIMOO plush for $40, it's a fake. 100% of the time. Always buy from reputable sellers or ask for detailed, real-life photos with a timestamp.
3. The Plush Pendants & Keychains
These are the smallest and most accessible of the plush line. They're cute, affordable ways to carry a bit of DIMOO with you. The quality is what you'd expect for a keychain, decent, but not on par with the larger plush. The fabric is a bit rougher, and the details are more simplified. Still, they make great gifts and are a fun, low-stakes way to get into the dimoo dating series plush world.
Our Take: Vinyl vs. Plush - The Final Verdict
So, after handling hundreds of these figures and plushies, which one wins?
It's not a simple answer. They serve completely different purposes for a collector.
The original vinyl series is for the purist. It's the art in its intended form. The details, the narrative between the characters, the satisfaction of completing a set, that is the core designer toy experience. If you love display, photography, and the history of the art, the vinyls are non-negotiable. They are the definitive DIMOO Dating Series.
The plush line, particularly the large 40cm dolls, is about emotion. It's about taking that character you love off the shelf and bringing it into your life in a tangible, comforting way. You can't hug a vinyl figure. You can't fall asleep watching a movie with a vinyl figure propped on your lap (I mean, you could, but it'd be weird). The plushies are for the fan who has moved beyond just collecting and wants to live with the art.
My honest opinion? I think POP MART might have diluted the brand slightly by releasing so many versions. It can feel like a cash grab at times. But I can't be too mad when I'm looking at my giant Flower plush.
If you're a new collector, I'd suggest starting with the vinyls. Pick one or two characters you love from the open-box market to see how you feel about the designs. See if they speak to you. You can find some great options by browsing our full DIMOO collection to get a feel for the different series.
If you find yourself falling in love with a specific character from the Dating series, then and only then should you consider hunting down its plush counterpart. The plush is a luxury, an upgrade for the truly dedicated. It's the difference between having a poster of a painting and owning the original canvas. Both are great, but they offer very different experiences.
The dimoo dating theme has endured because it's about connection. It's a beautiful, gentle world to escape into. Whether you prefer to connect with it through a perfectly curated shelf of vinyl figures or a giant, huggable plush, you can't go wrong. Just be smart about where you buy and what you pay. The hunt is part of the fun, but it shouldn't be painful. Happy collecting.
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