*
I remember the day the official images for the MEGA SPACE MOLLY SANRIO** collaboration dropped. My phone blew up. Texts from collector friends, DMs on the PopNya Instagram, emails from customers who had never even bought a MOLLY before. It was that perfect, chaotic storm of hype that only happens when two absolute titans of pop culture collide. On one side, you have Kenny Wong's MOLLY, the undisputed queen of the designer toy scene. On the other, Sanrio, the global empire of cute.
It was a guaranteed home run. But as a collector and a seller, a guaranteed home run can also mean a massive headache. It means instant sell-outs, a brutal secondary market, and the inevitable question: Is it actually good, or is it just hype?
After getting my hands on the entire 400% series, opening them, inspecting them for the shop, and watching the market go wild, I have some thoughts. This isn't just another unboxing. This is a deep-dive comparison from someone who sees these toys as more than just shelf decor.
The Main Event: Hello Kitty vs. Kuromi (400%)
Let's be real, while the series includes four characters, the battle for everyone's attention (and wallet) was always between Hello Kitty and Kuromi. They represent two completely different sides of the Sanrio fandom, and Pop Mart knew exactly what they were doing by pitting them against each other.
MEGA SPACE MOLLY 400% Hello Kitty
The Hello Kitty is the flagship. The icon. The safe bet. The design is exactly what you'd expect: clean, classic, and instantly recognizable. The MOLLY space suit is rendered in brilliant white, with Hello Kitty's signature red and blue accents. The helmet is crystal clear, revealing a tiny, determined-looking Hello Kitty figure at the controls, complete with her own little red bow.
Holding it, the quality is there. The 400% (which stands about 29.5cm or 11.6 inches tall) has a satisfying heft. The vinyl is smooth, the paint application on the ones I handled was nearly flawless. It's a beautiful, premium-feeling piece.
But… is it a little boring? I can't help but feel that. It's perfect, almost to a fault. It's the design you'd create if you were terrified of offending any long-time Hello Kitty fan. It's lovely, but it doesn't take any risks. It feels like the vanilla ice cream of the collection. Delicious, classic, but you know there are more exciting flavors out there.
MEGA SPACE MOLLY 400% Kuromi
And then there's Kuromi. The rebel. The punk-rock counterpart to Hello Kitty's wholesomeness. And boy, did her design deliver.
The Kuromi MOLLY is a masterpiece of character integration. The suit is a mix of black, grey, and hot pink, perfectly capturing Kuromi's mischievous energy. The jester-hat-like ears of her hood are translated into fins on the side of MOLLY's helmet, and the pink skull emblem is proudly displayed. The pilot inside? A perfectly grumpy-looking Kuromi.
The demand for this one was, and still is, insane. When we listed them on PopNya, the Kuromi sold out in under five minutes. The Hello Kitty took about an hour. That tells you everything you need to know about the initial hype. Collectors who love MOLLY's slightly pouty, defiant expression saw a kindred spirit in Kuromi.
The Verdict: Head-to-Head
So, which is better?
* Design-wise: Kuromi, and it's not even close. It's more dynamic, more interesting, and feels like a more creative fusion of the two worlds. The Hello Kitty is a MOLLY wearing a Hello Kitty costume; the Kuromi feels like a genuine new character born from the collaboration. * Quality Control: About the same. Both are well-made, but I have seen a few minor paint scuffs on the black sections of the Kuromi out of the box. The nature of black matte paint, maybe. Always check the hands and feet; that's where I've seen the most minor imperfections. * Market Value: This is where it gets interesting. Retail for these was around $180-$200 in the US. Within a month, I saw the Kuromi hit a peak of nearly $450 on StockX. The Hello Kitty hovered around $280-$320. As of late 2023, prices have cooled a bit, but Kuromi still consistently commands a 20-30% premium over Hello Kitty. She is the undisputed chase of the 400% series.
The Underrated & The Underwhelming: My Melody & Cinnamoroll
It feels a little unfair to the other two, who are fantastic in their own right. The Sanrio Molly collection is more than just its two superstars.
The My Melody 400% is pure sweetness. The soft pink suit is adorable, and the way they incorporated her floppy ears into the helmet design is clever. Honestly, I think this one is the most underrated of the bunch. It gets lost in the shuffle, but on a shelf, its soft color palette is a beautiful contrast to the bolder figures. It's a sleeper hit.
The Cinnamoroll 400%, on the other hand, was a slight letdown for me personally. I love Cinnamoroll, but something about the execution feels… off. The shade of baby blue is a little flat in person compared to the vibrant promo photos. More importantly, the pilot figure inside is just Cinnamoroll, not a MOLLY dressed as Cinnamoroll like in the 100% series. It's a tiny detail, but it breaks the consistency of the line and feels like a small shortcut. It's still a solid figure, but it's my least favorite of the four.
Real Talk: How Does the MEGA MOLLY SANRIO Collab Stack Up?
Okay, let's zoom out. A MEGA SPACE MOLLY is a big purchase. How does this particular series compare to other legendary MEGA drops? This is the conversation I have with serious collectors who are trying to decide where to put their money.
Vs. The Artist Series (Basquiat, Keith Haring, Van Gogh)
The artist collaborations are a different beast entirely. They appeal to a crossover audience of art lovers and toy collectors.
* Design: The Basquiat and Haring MEGAs are incredibly complex, covered head-to-toe in intricate patterns. The Mega Molly Sanrio series is, by contrast, about character design and color blocking. It's simpler, more iconic. * Execution: Honestly, the paint application on the artist series can be more impressive due to the sheer detail involved. However, I've found the helmets on the Sanrio series to be slightly better in terms of clarity and finish. The first wave of the Basquiat #2 had some issues with helmet scuffing that seem to have been ironed out for later releases like this one. * Vibe: The artist series feels more "mature" or "serious" on a shelf. The Sanrio series is pure, unadulterated fun. It's joy in a vinyl package. Neither is better, but they serve very different aesthetic purposes in a collection.
Vs. Other IP Collabs (Spongebob, Looney Tunes)
This is a more direct comparison. Pop Mart has done other big IP crossovers with the MEGA SPACE MOLLY line, and the Sanrio one is, in my opinion, the most successful.
The Spongebob MEGA is fun, but it feels very much like a MOLLY in a costume. The Looney Tunes Tweety Bird is similar. The Sanrio Molly series, especially Kuromi and My Melody, feel like they truly integrated the character's soul into the MOLLY form. It's a deeper, more thoughtful collaboration. You can tell the designers are genuine fans of both properties.
It's also worth noting that the hype and secondary market value for the Sanrio release have dwarfed almost all previous IP collabs. The combination of MOLLY and Sanrio just hit a cultural nerve that others haven't quite managed to.
A Collector's Warning: The Price of Cute
I can't talk about this series without being honest about the cost. These are not your standard blind box toys. They are large, premium display pieces with a premium price tag. And the secondary market is a minefield.
If you are looking to buy one now, do not pay the peak 2022 prices. The market has settled. Check recently sold listings on eBay and StockX to get a real-time pulse. Don't just look at active listings, as those can be wildly inflated.
A word of advice: if you're new to the world of MOLLY and the MEGA prices are giving you a heart attack, don't feel pressured. The 100% blind box series for the Mega Space Molly Sanrio characters is a fantastic and much more affordable way to get into the collection. You get the same great designs in a smaller package. And for anyone just starting out, it can be confusing trying to figure out all the different sizes and lines, especially when people use terms like "Molly doll" to describe everything from a 3-inch figure to an 11-inch one. It's a whole world to explore. You can always browse the wider MOLLY collection to find a piece that fits your budget and style.
My Verdict: The PopNya Take
So, after all that, is the MEGA SPACE MOLLY SANRIO series worth it?
Yes, but with a major asterisk.
It's worth it if you are a genuine fan of both MOLLY and Sanrio. The crossover is executed with love and a clear respect for both properties. The quality is high, and they are undeniable statement pieces for any collection. The Kuromi, in particular, is an all-time great designer toy collaboration.
However, it is not worth going into debt for or paying 2x retail on the secondary market. The hype is a powerful force, but it's also temporary. These are amazing toys, but they are still toys. My advice is to be patient. Deals will pop up in collector groups or on eBay if you keep your eyes peeled.
My personal favorite? It's a tough call. My brain says Kuromi for its sheer design brilliance and cultural impact. But my heart… my heart says Hello Kitty. There's something so timeless about it. It's the piece that, ten years from now, will still feel classic and pure. It is the pinnacle of two iconic worlds meeting, without any fuss or pretense. It's just perfect. And sometimes, perfect is exactly what you want.
Disclosure: PopNya may earn a commission if you purchase through links on this page.
