It's the first thing you notice. Before the long ears, before the fluffy collar, your eyes land right on that wide, mischievous, and slightly chaotic grin. The Labubu mouth is the soul of the figure. It's the single design element that perfectly captures the character Kasing Lung created: a creature that's part monster, part mischievous child, and 100% lovable.
I remember the first time I unboxed a figure from The Monsters series. It was TYCOCO. I pulled it from the foil, and that toothy smile just stared back at me. It wasn't a perfect, symmetrical, mass-produced smile. There was a slight wonkiness to it. A personality. And I was hooked.
As someone who runs PopNya and handles hundreds, if not thousands, of these little monsters, I've developed a weirdly specific expertise in their mouths. I've seen the good, the bad, and the downright fake. And honestly, there's more to that grin than you might think. It's a barometer for a series' quality, a key to spotting knockoffs, and a source of endless debate among collectors.
The Anatomy of a Perfect (and Imperfect) Grin
Let's get one thing straight: the classic Labubu mouth is not supposed to be flawless. It's part of the charm. Kasing Lung's original artwork has a raw, storybook quality, and the figures translate that beautifully. The signature look is a wide-open mouth revealing a full set of teeth, typically seven on the top row. The bottom row is usually less defined, more like a single ridged piece.
But that's just the blueprint. The execution is where things get interesting.
If you line up Labubus from different series, you'll see a clear evolution. * The Monsters Series (The OG): These often have the most "character." The paint lines on the teeth can be a little thicker, the expressions more varied. You might find one with a slightly wider smirk or a more downturned mouth, giving it a pensive look. This is the baseline. * The Macaron Series (The Sweetening): This is where Pop Mart started to refine the look. The mouths on the Macaron Labubus feel a bit softer. The colors are pastel, and the expressions are sweeter, less monstrous. The teeth are often more neatly painted, the sculpts more consistent. I've noticed the vinyl itself feels a little different on these, almost smoother. * Fall in Wild Series (The Thematic Mouth): This is a great example of how the mouth becomes part of the storytelling. The "Acorn" Labubu, for instance, has its mouth stuffed full. The "Tomato" one has a cute little :O expression. Pop Mart is getting more creative, using the mouth to convey the theme of the figure, not just as a static feature. * Zimomo (The Big Brother): While not technically a Labubu, Zimomo is its larger, more monstrous cousin, and the mouth design is a direct evolution. It's bigger, more aggressive, and often features sharper, more pronounced fangs. Comparing a Labubu mouth to a Zimomo mouth is like comparing a house cat's yawn to a tiger's snarl.
This variation is why collecting is so addictive. You're not just getting a different costume; you're getting a slightly different personality, and it all starts with that grin. When I'm sorting new inventory for the shop, I love lining them up and seeing the subtle differences. It's a small detail most people might miss, but for a collector, it's everything.
The "Crooked Mouth" Conundrum: Is It a Defect?
Okay, let's talk about the elephant in the room. You've seen it on TikTok, in Facebook groups, maybe you even unboxed one yourself: the dreaded crooked mouth. The paint is slightly off-center, making Labubu look like it's smirking, sneering, or just had some serious dental work done.
So, is it a defect? The short answer is: yes, technically it's a quality control (QC) issue. But the long answer is more complicated.
From a seller's perspective, dealing with QC is just part of the job. For every case of 12 blind boxes I open, I expect to find at least one or two figures with some minor imperfection. A tiny paint smudge, a speck of dust sealed into the vinyl, or yes, a slightly off-center mouth. This is the reality of mass-producing art toys at this price point.
I get emails about it sometimes. A new collector will be heartbroken that their first Labubu has a "flaw." And I get it. But here's my honest take: most of the time, it just adds character.
I have a "Sleepy Elf" Labubu from The Monsters Camping series on my desk. Its mouth is printed about a millimeter to the left. At first, it bugged me. But now? It's my favorite. It looks extra drowsy and grumpy, which is perfect for its theme. It feels unique. It feels mine.
The community is divided. Some collectors are purists and will only accept "perfect" figures. Others, like me, have come to appreciate the "crooked mouth crew." There's no secondary market premium for them, in fact, a particularly bad one might sell for less, but they have a certain charm. It's a reminder that these aren't sterile, soulless products. They have quirks.
Real Talk: My Honest Opinion on Pop Mart's QC
Look, I love Pop Mart. They brought designer toys to the masses. But we have to be realistic about their quality control. It's not always consistent. I've seen batches where every single figure is crisp and clean, and I've seen batches where it feels like the paint machine was having a rough day.
The Labubu mouth, with its fine details, is a prime spot for these issues to show up. It's a small area with multiple colors (white for teeth, pink/red for the interior, the color of the body vinyl). A slight misalignment in the printing process is all it takes to create that crooked look.
My advice to collectors? Learn to embrace the small stuff. If you get a figure with a truly egregious flaw, like a huge paint smear across the face or a broken part, you should absolutely contact the seller or Pop Mart. But for a slightly off-kilter grin? Try to see it as a unique quirk. If you're aiming for a 100% flawless collection, you're going to drive yourself crazy (and broke). The hunt for perfection can sometimes rob you of the joy of collecting. It's a balance. And if you're really particular, your best bet is to buy opened figures where you can see the exact one you're getting, though you'll often pay a premium for that peace of mind.
The Real Danger: Spotting a Fake "Lafufu" Mouth
This is where the conversation about the Labubu mouth gets serious. The CPSC has issued warnings about counterfeit Labubus, often called "Lafufu," because they can pose a choking hazard. These fakes are flooding online marketplaces, and their most obvious tell is, you guessed it, the mouth.
As a seller committed to authenticity, this is something I'm passionate about. Nothing is worse than seeing a new collector get scammed. I've studied these fakes up close, and the differences are stark once you know what to look for. Forget the box, forget the card for a second. Just look at the mouth.
Here is my field guide to spotting a fake Labubu mouth:
1. The Teeth Are All Wrong: * Real Labubu: The teeth are distinct but have a slightly soft, rounded-off quality. They look like little chiclets. They are sculpted as part of the head, not glued in. The top row has seven clearly defined teeth.
Fake Lafufu: The teeth are a dead giveaway. They are often sharp, pointy, and uneven, like tiny, jagged shards of plastic. In some of the worst fakes, they look like a blob of white paint with some lines scratched into it. There might be more or fewer than seven teeth. The overall shape is just wrong*. They lack the cute, blocky feel of the real deal.2. The Paint Job is a Mess: * Real Labubu: The paint application is generally clean.There might be a tiny bit of human error, but it's controlled. * Fake Lafufu: The paint is a disaster. You'll see white paint bleeding onto the "gums," or the red of the mouth bleeding onto the teeth. The lines are sloppy and thick. It looks like it was painted in a massive hurry by someone who didn't care.
3. The Material and Finish Feel Cheap: * Real Labubu: The vinyl has a specific feel. It's soft but firm, with a matte or satin finish. Even the inside of the mouth has this quality finish. * Fake Lafufu: Fakes are often made from hard, brittle, shiny plastic. If you look inside the mouth, it will likely be glossy and reflect light in a cheap way. The texture is a huge red flag. It feels like a toy from a dollar store vending machine.
If you're ever in doubt, compare the figure to photos from a trusted source. The difference between a genuine, slightly quirky Labubu mouth and a cheap, dangerous counterfeit is night and day. It's why I always tell people to buy from reputable sellers. It's not worth the risk. If you want more tips, I've written a more detailed guide on spotting a fake Lafufu that covers more than just the mouth.
The Final Frontier: Custom Grills and Collector Mods
The story of the Labubu mouth doesn't end with what comes out of the box. The community has taken this iconic feature and run with it. On platforms like Etsy and Instagram, you'll find a small but passionate scene of artists creating custom accessories for Labubu's mouth.
I've seen it all: * Custom Teeth: Tiny, 3D-printed vampire fangs that slot perfectly over the existing teeth. * Grills: Miniature, metallic grills, gold, silver, rainbow, that give Labubu some serious bling. * Tongues: Little sculpted tongues with piercings or different colors. * Food and Accessories: Tiny lollipops, popsicles, or even cigarettes designed to fit perfectly in the corner of the mouth.
This, to me, is the ultimate celebration of the design. It shows that the mouth isn't just a feature; it's a platform for creativity. It proves how much this little monster has connected with people. They're not just collecting it; they're co-creating with it. It's a level of engagement that speaks volumes about the power of Kasing Lung's creation, a topic that's fascinating when you consider the whole question of who owns LABUBU and its creative spirit.
So the next time you unbox a Labubu, take a second to really look at its mouth. Is it perfect? Is it a little crooked? Does it have that classic seven-toothed grin or a unique thematic expression? That little space is the heart of the figure, a tiny canvas that holds so much personality, history, and debate. It's what separates a good design from an iconic one.
Com/collections/labubu) at PopNya. I personally check every one, crooked mouths and all.
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