It feels like it happened overnight. One minute, LABUBU was our beloved, slightly niche monster friend. The next, my phone was blowing up with DMs: "Do you have the bubulubu plush?" "Where can I buy a lapopo doll?" I had to take a second. Bubulubu? Lapopo? It took me a minute to connect the dots between these new search terms and the product that was flying off our digital shelves at PopNya: The Monsters Exciting Macaron series. The plush keychain.
The little guy went viral. Properly viral. Like, TikTok-famous, Lisa from BLACKPINK holding one, sold-out-everywhere viral. And with that fame came a whole lot of confusion. If you're deep in a search spiral trying to figure out what a bubulubu plush actually is, you're not alone. As a collector and seller who has handled hundreds of these, let's clear the air. There are basically three different things people are looking for, and the quality, price, and "collectibility" are worlds apart.
The Viral Sensation: The "Bubulubu Plush" Keychain
This is the one. 99% of the time, when someone is frantically searching for a "bubulubu plush," they mean the Pop Mart "The Monsters Exciting Macaron" blind box series. These are the small, fluffy keychains with the signature vinyl LABUBU face, big ears, and a colorful, fuzzy little body.
I remember getting our first shipment at the shop. They were cute, no doubt. We figured they'd be a steady seller. We were wrong. They weren't steady; they were an explosion. The first batch sold out in two days. The second, in hours. The demand was fueled entirely by social media, and it created a perfect storm.
The Nitty-Gritty Details Only a Seller Would Notice
When you're packing dozens of orders, you start to see things. The quality on the Macaron series is generally good for a mass-produced plush, but it's not perfect. The vinyl faces are the star, capturing Kasing Lung's art perfectly. But I've seen tiny specks of dust sealed into the vinyl paint or a slightly misaligned tooth print. Nothing major, but something a picky collector might notice.
The fur is soft, but it's a standard synthetic plush material. It's not the super-premium, dense fur you'll find on higher-end plush dolls. The most common point of failure? The carabiner clip. The first wave of these had clips that felt a bit flimsy. I had a couple of customers mention they swapped them out for something sturdier to hang on their bags. Pop Mart seems to have improved this in later batches, but it's something to be aware of if you're buying an early release from a reseller.
Then there's the price. Retail for a single blind box is around $15-$17. But the secondary market went absolutely bonkers. At the peak, around April-May 2024, the standard pink "Lychee Berry" was selling for $50-$60. The "Soymilk" and "Sea Salt Coconut" colors, which were just regular figures in the set, were hitting $75 or more simply because they were popular on TikTok. The actual secret, "Toffee," was trading for $150-$200. It was pure hype economics. If you're thinking of paying those prices now, I'd honestly advise you to wait. The market is already cooling. This is a classic hype cycle, and if you're patient, you'll be able to get them for much closer to retail. Many collectors are trying to figure out where to find stock, and the truth is, you either have to be lucky during an online drop or be prepared to navigate the reseller market carefully.
The Fan-Made Contender: The "Lapopo Toy" and "Lapopo Doll"
This is where things get even more interesting. When the official Macaron plushes sold out everywhere, a cottage industry for a lapopo toy popped up on sites like Etsy and TikTok. These are almost always handmade crochet versions of LABUBU.
Why "Lapopo"? Honestly, I'm not 100% sure. It seems to be a name that emerged from the fan community, possibly a cute mispronunciation or an alternative that stuck. But if you search for lapopo doll, you'll find hundreds of crochet artists selling their own adorable, and completely unofficial, versions.
I have mixed feelings about these. On one hand, the artistry can be incredible. Some sellers create custom outfits, different expressions, and unique colorways you'll never get from Pop Mart. It's a testament to how much people love the character. They've become a whole sub-genre of the LABUBU phenomenon.
On the other hand, the quality is a total gamble. For every beautiful, tightly-stitched lapopo doll, there are ten that are… let's just say, "lovingly misshapen." You're buying from an individual artist, not a company with quality control. I've seen some with lopsided ears, loose threads, and faces that look more like a distant cousin of LABUBU. This isn't a knock on the artists, it's just the reality of handmade goods.
My advice if you go this route: Scrutinize the photos. Read every single review. A good seller will have clear, well-lit pictures of their actual work, not just a photo of the official product they're trying to imitate. Be aware that you're buying a piece of fan art, not an official collectible. It won't have any resale value in the traditional designer toy market, but it will have a ton of personal charm. It's also a good idea to understand the difference between official and fan-made items to avoid getting scammed, a topic that's crucial for any collector.
The Real Collector's Choice: The Forgotten LABUBU Plush Dolls
Here's my hot take. While everyone was losing their minds over the keychains, they were sleeping on the real gems: the larger, standalone LABUBU plush dolls. These are the releases that, in my opinion as a seller, often represent better value and craftsmanship.
I'm talking about releases like the ZIMOMO "I Found You" plush. It's huge, incredibly soft, and the details are fantastic. Or the various LABUBU plush dolls that come in special themed boxes, often as limited releases. For instance, The Pop Mart LABUBU Mokoko Close to Sweet Vinyl Plush Doll is a perfect example, it combines the plush element with a vinyl face in a way that feels more substantial and artful than the tiny keychains.
Let's compare directly: * Size & Presence: The Macaron keychain is about 6 inches tall. A larger plush like the ZIMOMO can be 15-20 inches. It's the difference between a cute accessory and a statement piece on your shelf. * Material Quality: The fur on the larger plushes is almost always a step up. It's denser, softer, and feels more luxurious. The stitching is more robust because it's not a tiny item being mass-produced at the same velocity. * Collector Value: The keychain craze is based on fleeting social media hype. The prices are volatile. The larger, limited-edition plushes tend to hold their value more steadily over time among serious collectors. They're less prone to sudden crashes once the TikTok algorithm moves on. For anyone serious about the financial side of collecting, this is a key distinction, and it's worth understanding the market before you try to flip LABUBU for a profit.
People get so caught up in the blind box chase that they miss the beautiful, high-quality standalone pieces sitting right there. The keychains are fun, but if you truly love Kasing Lung's design, the larger plushes are where the magic really is. They feel more like a huggable piece of art.
Our Take: So, Which One Should You Buy?
Alright, real talk. As someone who sells all of these, here's my honest verdict.
If you just want the cute thing you saw on Instagram to hang on your purse, by all means, get the Macaron keychain. It's adorable. But please, do not pay $80 for it. The hype is not worth that price. Wait for a restock, enter a draw, or buy from a reseller who isn't price gouging. The fun of the item evaporates when you feel ripped off.
If you love the handmade, crafty vibe and want something unique, a crochet lapopo toy from a reputable Etsy seller can be a fantastic purchase. You're supporting an artist directly and getting a one-of-a-kind piece. Just go in with your eyes open about what it is: a piece of fan art. Don't get confused and think you're buying an official, rare collectible. It's easy to get lost in the sea of misspellings and similar-looking products, so knowing whether you're after a La Fu Fu doll or a real LABUBU is step one.
But if you're a collector? If you love the world of The Monsters and want a piece that you'll cherish for years? I strongly suggest you look at the larger plush dolls. They are often overlooked in the frenzy for the latest blind box, but they offer superior quality and a more satisfying presence. They feel less like a trend and more like a permanent part of your collection.
The "bubulubu" storm has been wild to watch. It brought a lot of new people into the world of designer toys, which is amazing. But it also created a whirlwind of confusion, hype, and inflated prices. The best thing you can do as a buyer is to be informed. Know what you're looking at, what it's worth, and what you really want.
Whether you're just starting or adding to a growing monster family, the most important thing is to collect what you love. If you're on the hunt for authentic figures, you can always browse our LABUBU collection at PopNya, we're collectors first, so we're just as passionate about this stuff as you are.
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