I still remember when Pop Mart first dropped the promo images for the labubu sparkly plush pendant collection. My first thought? "Oh, they're finally doing it." The original The Monsters Classic Series vinyls are, for many of us, foundational. They're the designs that made us fall in love with Kasing Lung's universe in the first place. Seeing them reimagined as fluffy, glittery keychains felt both inevitable and a little bit risky.
For years, the original vinyl figures from this series have been staples in my collection.The sharp-ish edges of Tycoco's skull, the solid feel of Soy's body, the perfectly smooth dome of Pato's head. They are art objects. Small, mischievous sculptures that sit on a shelf and dare you to look away.
So when my first case of the sparkly plush pendants arrived at PopNya, it was a moment of truth. I sliced open the box, pulled out a blind box, and shook it. No rattle. Just a soft, muffled thud. This was a whole new game.
The Sparkly Reinvention: First Impressions
The first one I opened was Spooky. The immediate impression is the texture. This isn't cheap, glued-on glitter that's going to coat your hands and bag in fairy dust. It's a Lurex-style metallic thread woven directly into the plush fabric. It gives the whole figure a shimmering, almost magical quality without the mess. It catches the light beautifully. That was a huge relief. Pop Mart could have easily cheaped out here, but the material choice is solid.
But holding it, I noticed something else. The chain and clasp. On some previous Labubu plush series, the hardware felt like an afterthought. Flimsy. Prone to breaking if you actually, you know, used it as a keychain. Here, the clasp is a much beefier, higher-quality lobster claw. It feels secure. It's a small detail, but it shows they're listening to feedback.
That said, the woven-in sparkly thread isn't invincible. I've had a few customers mention that on the darker figures, like Soy or the secret sparkly Labubu, a thread can occasionally snag on a zipper or a sharp edge and pull, creating a tiny loop. It's not a dealbreaker, but it's something to be aware of if you plan on letting your Labubu live a hard life on your daily backpack. It's a collectible first, a durable accessory second.
Head-to-Head: The Classic Plush vs. The OG Vinyl
This is the real question for long-time collectors. How do they stack up against the originals they're based on?
Design Translation: Some designs translated better than others. Pato, the simple mushroom-headed monster, is perfect as a plush. His round, simple form is made for it. He's squishy, adorable, and loses none of his character. Zimomo, with his big toothy grin, also works incredibly well. The plush format almost enhances his chaotic energy.
However, a character like Tycoco, the one with the skull head, is a bit of a mixed bag. In vinyl, Tycoco has a sharp, slightly menacing, creepy-cute vibe. The lines are clean, the skull is rigid. In plush form, those edges are softened. The skull becomes a squishy pillow. He's undeniably cuter, but he loses some of that signature Kasing Lung edge. It's a trade-off: you gain cuddliness, but you lose a bit of the "monster" in The Monsters.
Material and Feel: This is purely subjective, but it's the biggest difference. A vinyl figure is a static display piece. You pose it, you admire it. A plush pendant is tactile. You squish it, you hang it on things, it moves with you. The experience is completely different.
I've had my vinyl Labubu classic series figures on the same shelf for years. They look exactly as they did on day one. My sparkly Soy plush, which has been on my work tote for three months, is starting to show a little bit of love. The white parts are a little less pristine, and I'm careful with that aforementioned sparkly thread. Neither is better, they just serve totally different purposes in a collection. One is for admiring, the other is for interacting.
The Secret Chase: Sparkly Labubu The secret in this series is a translucent, glitter-infused version of Labubu. It's the star of the show and the main driver of the insane aftermarket prices. And it is gorgeous. It's filled with iridescent tinsel and has a unique, almost ghostly appearance. It doesn't follow the same design as the others, making it a true chase. It feels special. Is it $150 special? We'll get to that.
Real Talk: My Honest Verdict
Okay, let's be direct. As a seller and a collector, I have complicated feelings about this series.
On one hand, I absolutely love them. They are incredibly well-made, the sparkle effect is top-notch, and they make the classic designs accessible and interactive in a new way. They are, without a doubt, a massive commercial success. They bring people joy. We sell out of them almost instantly every time we get a restock.
But on the other hand, part of me mourns the loss of that edgy, slightly weird vibe of the original vinyls. The plush format, by its very nature, "cutesifies" everything. It sands down the weird corners that made me fall in love with Kasing Lung's work in the first place. It feels a little more mass-market, a little less "art toy." It's the difference between an indie band's first album and their big-budget major label debut. Both can be great, but the feeling is different.
So, my verdict is this: The labubu sparkly plush pendant series is a fantastic product, but it is not a replacement for the vinyls. It's a companion piece. It's the pop-remix version of a classic rock song. If you're a new collector, it's a perfect, fun entry point. If you're an old-school fan, you need to appreciate it for what it is: a fun, high-quality spin-off, not the definitive version of these characters.
The Market Madness: A Seller's Perspective on Price
This is where things get wild. The retail price for a single blind box is usually between $15 and $18 in the US. A full case of six will run you just over $100. That's standard.
The secondary market is anything but.
Within hours of the initial release in Asia, I saw the secret Sparkly Labubu being listed for over $200. It has since settled, but still regularly commands $130-$160 on platforms like StockX and eBay. Even the regular characters have inflated prices. Soy and Tycoco, being fan favorites, can easily sell for $35-$50 opened. That's triple the retail price for a non-secret figure.
Is this hype justified? It's a bubble, for sure. But it's a bubble fueled by genuine demand and scarcity. This series was notoriously hard to get outside of Asia for the first few months. Pop Mart's US distribution is getting better, but it still can't keep up with the demand that platforms like TikTok and Instagram are generating. The hype for these is arguably even more intense than what we saw with the initial Exciting Macaron Labubu drop, which is saying something.
My advice: If you're not desperate for a specific character, wait for a restock at a retailer like us or Pop Mart directly. Do not pay $50 for a regular Pato. It's just not worth it. The thrill of collecting is in the hunt and the surprise, not just in paying exorbitant prices to complete a set overnight.
Collector's Tips You Won't Find on Amazon
As someone who handles these daily, here are a few things I've learned.
The Weighing Game is a Lie: Stop asking. Seriously. People message me all the time asking if I can weigh the boxes to find a specific character. For this series, it is next to impossible. The weight difference between, say, a Pato and a Tycoco is less than a gram. The secret is also not noticeably heavier or lighter. Pop Mart has standardized the inner packaging to the point where weighing is a fool's errand. Anyone on eBay selling a "weighed confirmed" secret is either a) opening boxes and resealing them (bad), or b) just plain guessing (also bad). Don't fall for it.
How to Spot a Fake: The fakes are getting better, but there are still tells. 1. The Sparkle: Fakes often use cheap, topical glitter that sheds. Run your thumb over it. If you get a handful of sparkles, it's probably a fake. The real ones have the thread woven in. 2. The Tag: This is the best tell. The official Pop Mart tag has a very specific font, crisp printing, and a QR code that leads to a verification page. Fakes often have slightly blurry text, a different font, or a QR code that goes nowhere. If you're buying secondhand, always ask for a clear photo of the tag. It's a simple step that can save you from getting ripped off, a lesson many learned the hard way with the Macarons, as I covered in my honest buyer's guide. 3. The Chain: The real chain has a quality weight to it. Fakes often use a cheaper, lighter aluminum chain that feels flimsy and has a less secure clasp.
To Use or To Display? If you want to keep your sparkly friend in mint condition, display it. Get a small acrylic case or hang it on a pinboard. If you want to use it on a bag, just accept that it will get a little dirty and might snag over time. It's like wearing your favorite sneakers. You can keep them in the box forever, or you can wear them and enjoy them, knowing they won't stay perfect. There's no wrong answer.
Ultimately, the Labubu Classic Series in its sparkly plush form is a testament to the character's enduring appeal. It proves that these designs can transcend their original medium and find new life. While my heart may always belong to the original vinyls, there's no denying the fun and pure joy these little plush pendants bring. They're a different kind of magic.
If you've been bitten by the bug and want to see what all the fuss is about, you can always check out our LABUBU collection at PopNya to see what's in stock. We're always hunting for the latest drops for you guys.
For me, I've found my solution. My vinyl classics stay on the shelf, looking moody and cool. And my sparkly Pato hangs from my car's rearview mirror, shimmering in the sun. It really is the best of both worlds.
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