Okay, let's get this out of the way. You're probably here because you typed something like "blah boo boo dolls," "lu bu bu dolls," or maybe even the wonderfully chaotic "blah blah blah boo boo" into your search bar.
And you know what? You're in the right place.
As the owner of PopNya, an online store that lives and breathes these little monsters, my inbox and search logs are a wild testament to their confusing, viral fame. I see these search terms every single day. So no, you're not crazy. You've just stumbled into one of the biggest phenomenons in the designer toy world right now, and its name is a little tricky.
The creature you're looking for is LABUBU.
It's pronounced "La-Boo-Boo." So, you were close! It's that mischievous little monster with the long ears, a single toothy grin, and a ton of personality packed into a tiny vinyl body. They're the creation of Hong Kong-born, Belgium-based artist Kasing Lung, and they've been part of the indie art toy scene for years. But recently, thanks to a partnership with toy giant Pop Mart and a massive social media explosion, they've gone completely mainstream.
And that's where the confusion starts. Suddenly, everyone wants a la boom boom doll, but they have no idea what they're actually called or where to begin. That's what I'm here for. This is your playbook.
First, Who is This Little Monster, Really?
Before you dive into collecting, it helps to know what you're looking at. Kasing Lung created a whole universe called "The Monsters," and LABUBU is one of its main residents. He's a curious, sometimes naughty, but ultimately good-hearted little elf monster.
A common point of confusion I see with new collectors is the difference between LABUBU and ZIMOMO. They're both part of the same family. LABUBU is the small, bunny-eared elf. ZIMOMO is the big, fluffy monster with a huge zipper mouth that LABUBU often wears as a suit. Think of it like a Kigurumi onesie for a monster. So when you see a big plush figure, it's probably ZIMOMO. The small blind box figures are usually LABUBU. If you've seen the massive, ultra-popular plushies, you might be thinking of ZIMOMO, which is a whole other rabbit hole of collecting.
The main way most people collect LABUBU is through blind boxes produced by Pop Mart. You buy a box, you don't know which of the 12 designs in a series you're going to get. It's a tiny, thrilling gamble. And this format is a huge part of why they blew up.
The Viral Moment: How We Got Here
So why are you searching for this now? You can probably thank BLACKPINK's Lisa. In late 2023, she posted a video of herself with a massive haul of LABUBU Macaron series boxes, and the internet collectively lost its mind.
I watched it happen in real-time from my end as a seller. It was insane.
The LABUBU Macaron series was already a hit with collectors. But after Lisa's post, it became a global phenomenon. I'm talking about a specific, measurable market explosion. The yellow "Soymilk" Macaron figure, which retailed for around $17, was suddenly being listed for $80, $100, even $150 on secondary market sites. The demand was so intense that Pop Mart's factories couldn't keep up. This created the perfect storm of scarcity, hype, and a flood of new, confused fans, fans who started searching for "blah boo boo dolls."
This is also why you see so many `labubu doll video` results when you search. The unboxing experience is a huge part of the appeal. The shake of the box, the rustle of the foil, the final reveal, it's addictive to watch, and even more addictive to do yourself.
A Collector's Playbook: Your First Steps
Ready to get one? Hold on. The water is full of sharks right now.Step 1: Know Your Hunting Grounds
Where you buy is the single most important decision you'll make.
* The Safe Bet: Official Pop Mart stores (if you have one near you), the official Pop Mart online store, and authorized retailers. An authorized retailer is a store (like PopNya!) that has a direct account with Pop Mart and gets its stock from the official source. This is your guarantee of authenticity. If you're just starting, I can't stress this enough: buy from an authorized source. You can start by checking out the LABUBU collection we carry to get a feel for the different series. * The Wild West: Amazon, eBay, Etsy, and random social media sellers. Can you find a real LABUBU here? Yes. Can you also get a terrible fake, pay 5x the retail price, or just get outright scammed? Absolutely. These platforms are flooded with scalpers and counterfeiters. If you're a seasoned collector who knows what to look for, you can find deals. If you're reading this article, you're not there yet. Be careful. If you're determined to hunt in person, you might want some tips on how to actually find stock without getting scammed.
Step 2: The "La Fu Fu" Warning (This is Important)
As LABUBU's popularity soared, the fakes followed. Fast. The most common knockoff you'll see is branded "La Fu Fu" or sometimes just has no branding at all. They look superficially similar in photos. To a newcomer, it's an easy mistake to make.
Trust me, you do not want one.
I've had customers send me photos, heartbroken after realizing their amazing "deal" was a fake. I even ordered one once, purely for research. The difference in person is staggering.
Real Talk - A Concrete Detail Only a Seller Would Know: A genuine LABUBU from Pop Mart has a specific weight and feel. The vinyl is dense, smooth, and has a matte finish. When you hold it, it feels substantial. The fake I handled felt light, greasy, and almost sticky. The paint on a real one is crisp, especially the lines around the eyes and the single tooth. The fakes have blurry paint, smudges, and the colors are just... Off. The box is another huge tell, but the fakes are getting better at mimicking those. If you're ever unsure, reading up on how to spot a fake LABUBU box is a good use of your time.
The price is the biggest red flag. If you see a full set of 12 for $50, they are 100% fake. Run away. It's better to have one real LABUBU than a box full of sad, greasy impostors.Step 3: Embrace the Blind Box
Unless you're buying a confirmed figure from a reseller (which I advise against for your first purchase), you'll be buying a blind box. This means you won't know which design you're getting. This is the heart of the hobby! Don't be disappointed if you don't get your favorite one on the first try. Part of the fun is the surprise, and it encourages trading with other collectors in the community.
And then there's the "secret," or "chase" figure.The odds of pulling one are usually 1 in 144 boxes. Finding one is the ultimate collector's high.
A Pro Tip: In the early days of blind boxes, some collectors tried to weigh boxes to guess the figure inside. I can tell you from handling thousands of these: it does not work anymore. Pop Mart has gotten smart. They use uniform weights and sometimes even add small cardboard inserts to make every box feel identical. Don't bother with the scale; just enjoy the surprise.
My Honest Take as a Seller
Okay, let's have some real talk. Is LABUBU overhyped right now? Yes. The market is absolutely bananas. People are paying absurd prices driven by FOMO.
My honest warning is this: do not pay scalper prices for a new, in-production series. If a series just came out and a regular figure is selling for $100, just wait. The hype will die down. Pop Mart will restock. The price will normalize. The people who bought in at the peak of the frenzy for the Wacky Mart LABUBU series, for example, probably regret it now that stock is more available. It's a fantastic series, but patience is a virtue in this hobby.
But is the hype worth it? I think so. Underneath all the social media madness, Kasing Lung's designs are genuinely special. They're expressive, creative, and have a weirdly charming quality that just makes you smile. The quality from Pop Mart is consistently good, and they keep innovating with new textures, accessories, and series concepts.
It's more than just a toy; it's a tiny, accessible piece of art.
So, welcome to the world of LABUBU. It's a little chaotic, a little confusing, but a whole lot of fun. Forget about the "blah boo boo dolls" and the "lu bu bu dolls", you know his name now.
If you're feeling brave and ready to take the plunge, you can always browse LABUBU figures on our site. We guarantee everything is 100% authentic, shipped with care from a fellow collector.
Happy collecting!
Disclosure: PopNya may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page.
