The moment POP MART dropped the teaser for the How to Train Your Dragon collaboration, my phone started buzzing and didn't stop. It was a perfect storm: one of the most beloved animated franchises meeting the world's current favorite mischievous monster. As someone who runs PopNya, an online store that lives and breathes this stuff, I knew this was going to be massive. And it was. The search for the "dragon labubu" exploded overnight.
But here's the thing that gets lost in the hype, a conversation I have with my most dedicated customers. When people say "dragon labubu," they're almost always talking about Toothless. And he's great! But he's not the only dragon in the Labubu universe. Not by a long shot. This isn't just about a single, blockbuster release; it's about a recurring theme in Kasing Lung's world, and comparing the two tells you a lot about the soul of collecting.
The Collab That Broke the Internet: How to Train Your Dragon
Let's get the big one out of the way first. The POP MART x How to Train Your Dragon series is, by all accounts, a masterclass in execution. The quality is top-tier, the character selection is smart, and the translation of the DreamWorks animation style to the Labubu form is almost seamless.
You've got Labubu as Hiccup, Tycoco as Astrid, and Pato (the cat) as Gobber. They're cute. But let's be honest, we're all here for the dragons.
The main dragon labubu in this set is, of course, Toothless. He's not a Labubu wearing a Toothless costume; he is Toothless, but reimagined in the vinyl toy style. They captured his inquisitive, cat-like energy perfectly. The texturing on his skin, the slight gloss on his eyes, and the way his wings are sculpted, it's a beautiful figure. No notes.
Then you have the white dragon labubu, the Light Fury. She's equally well-done, with a pearlescent finish that's genuinely hard to capture in photos. It's one of those figures that looks significantly better in hand. The subtle blue and pink highlights on her fins are a fantastic touch that many casual collectors might miss.
But the real chaos-inducer of this series was the secret, or "chase" figure. It's a larger-scale Toothless with a tiny Hiccup riding on his head. And the aftermarket for this thing was, and still is, completely wild. At PopNya, we sold our blind boxes at retail, around $17 a pop. Within 48 hours of the release, I was seeing the secret figure listed for $200-$250 on platforms like StockX. That's more than a 10x markup. It's the kind of hype that brings a lot of new eyes to the hobby, but also creates a ton of pressure and a breeding ground for fakes. The popularity of this one figure probably drove a huge number of people to search for a fake Labubu guide, because when prices get that high, the counterfeiters come out to play.
One thing I noticed from handling cases of these for the store: the paint application on the human characters, specifically the fine lines on Hiccup's and Astrid's outfits, can be a little inconsistent. It's a tiny detail, but it's there. The dragons, however, were almost always flawless. It's clear where the production focus was.
The OG Dragon: A Forgotten Masterpiece?
Okay, so the HTTYD series is a certified banger. But now I want to talk about the other dragon Labubu. The one that, in my opinion, has more heart.
I'm talking about the "Draco" figure from The Monsters Constellation Series.
This series came out a while before the HTTYD collab, and it featured Labubu and friends dressed as different zodiac and celestial signs. The dragon figure in this set is Labubu in a green, slightly goofy dragon costume. And it is perfect.
Here's the difference, and it's a subtle but important one. The HTTYD Toothless is a licensed character in the style of a designer toy. The Constellation Draco is a designer toy in the theme of a dragon. It's a Labubu, first and foremost. You can see his iconic buck teeth and expressive ears, just peeking out of a dragon hoodie. He's holding a little star. He has a segmented, articulated tail that's way more fun to play with than it has any right to be.
The design philosophy feels completely different. The HTTYD collab feels like a brilliant marketing team at POP MART said, "How can we make Labubu appeal to an even wider audience?" The Constellation series feels like Kasing Lung, the artist, sat at his desk and thought, "What would a dragon Labubu look like in my world?" It's a bottom-up creation versus a top-down one. This is a recurring theme in his work; it's not just about a rabbit with teeth, but about a whole universe of whimsical, sometimes slightly unsettling creatures. To really get it, you have to understand the artist's journey, which is a whole story in itself. For anyone curious, I wrote a bit about my journey with Kasing Lung, the Labubu creator on the blog before.
The Constellation Draco has that raw, imaginative energy that first drew me to Labubu. It's a little weird. It's a little clunky. It's not as sleek or universally palatable as Toothless. And that's why I love it more.
Real Talk: My Honest Verdict as a Seller and Collector
So, which dragon Labubu is "better"?
If you're a How to Train Your Dragon fan, the answer is obvious. The collab is a must-have. The figures are high-quality, faithful to the source material, and look incredible on a shelf. They are peak "cool." The Toothless and Light Fury are fantastic display pieces. If you get the secret, you've basically won the designer toy lottery for the month.
But if you're a Labubu fan, a collector of Kasing Lung's universe, I'd urge you to seek out the Constellation Draco.
Honestly, the HTTYD figures feel a little separate from the rest of my collection. They're like special guests. The Constellation Draco, on the other hand, feels like part of the family. He fits right in with the Macarons, the Flowers, and the Monsters Carnival series. He shares the same DNA.
The HTTYD series is a pop-culture phenomenon. The Constellation Draco is a piece of artist-driven design. One is an event, the other is an artifact.
From a seller's perspective, the HTTYD series was a whirlwind. It brought tons of new people to our site, PopNya, and the demand was insane. But it also brought headaches: customers frustrated by sell-outs, questions about restocks we had no answers for, and the constant battle against price gougers. The Constellation series was a quieter affair. It sold steadily to people who were already in the know, people who appreciated the artistry. It was less of a frenzy and more of a quiet, shared appreciation. The recent craze has people asking all sorts of questions, from the simple to the complex, like why everyone is drawing LABUBU all of a sudden. The HTTYD collab is a big part of that answer.
The Collector's Playbook: Which Dragon Should You Hunt?
Thinking of adding a dragon Labubu to your shelf? Here's my practical advice.
For the Pop Culture Fan: Go for the HTTYD series. It's more accessible, though you might be paying aftermarket prices now. Be prepared to hunt. Check eBay, Mercari, and collector groups. But be careful. My tip for this series: pay close attention to the box. The printing on fakes is often slightly less saturated, and the cardboard feels flimsier. The real boxes have a very specific matte finish.
For the Art Toy Purist: Hunt for the Constellation Draco. It's a harder find, a true deep cut. You'll have to scour older listings and specialty forums. You might even have to trade for it. But the reward is a figure that feels more unique and representative of the artist's original vision. It will likely cost you less than the HTTYD secret, but it carries a different kind of collector clout.
For the Budget-Conscious: If you just want a cool dragon-themed monster, don't sleep on other series! The Monsters Constellation series is full of gems. Or, you can always try your luck with a few blind boxes from a newer, in-stock series. The thrill of the hunt is part of the fun, and you might discover a new favorite that isn't a dragon at all.
Ultimately, the "dragon labubu" you choose says something about what you love about this hobby. Do you love when your favorite worlds collide in a spectacular, high-production-value event? Or do you love the quirky, artist-driven weirdness that started it all?
There's no wrong answer. Both dragons are fantastic. But I know which one has a permanent spot on my personal desk.
It's fun to see how different interpretations can exist within the same character framework. It's what makes building a LABUBU collection so endlessly engaging. You have the blockbuster hits, and you have the indie darlings, and they all live together in this weird, wonderful monster family.
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