Who Invented The Labubu

Okay, let’s get one thing straight right off the bat: Labubu is not a real creature that escaped from a Japanese forest after a particularly wild night of sake. I checked. But if you’ve seen the chubby-cheeked, pointy-eared, mischievous little monster popping up on everyone’s bags and keychains, you know the real mystery is: who dreamed this tiny gremlin into existence?

Meet Kasing Lung, a Hong Kong-born artist now based in Belgium. He’s the mastermind—and, I suspect, the fairy godparent—behind Labubu. In 2015, Lung created a storybook called The Monsters, featuring a whole cast of quirky characters. Labubu was the star: part rabbit, part imp, and 100% "I’m going to steal your snacks." The little monster was almost too cute to be believed, until POP MART came knocking. In 2018, the toy powerhouse signed Lung, and suddenly Labubu was no longer a book character—it was a global obsession.

Why do we love Labubu? Maybe it’s that slightly unhinged smile. Or the fact that its ears look like you could use them as tiny handles for a teacup. But the real inventor credit goes to Lung’s blend of whimsy and darkness—he says he wanted to create monsters that “look scary but are actually kind.” Which, honestly, is a mood. (I, too, want to look like I could hiss at strangers but secretly just want a hug.)

So next time you see a Labubu dangling from a friend’s bag, remember: it was born from an artist’s imagination, a publisher’s gamble, and a toy company’s marketing sorcery. Labubu isn’t just a monster—it’s a reminder that the best things in life often start as a doodle on a napkin. Now go forth, hug your inner gremlin, and smile like no one’s watching. You’re welcome.