What could be just a plastic-sealed box may be something much more for the average teen in America today. For millions of collectors around the world, opening a blind box is more than just tearing through cardboard and plastic. It’s a lifestyle. Among the most popular figurines in the market, one dominates this space: Labubus. But that begs the question, what is the hype? Why are so many people, from teens to adults, obsessively and impulsively buying tiny figures that they can’t even see until they open them?
Labubu is a character from The Monsters series, created by Kenny Wong, a designer born in Hong Kong. He produced Pop Mart, a Chinese toy company that has become a global giant in designer collectibles. With its mischievous smile, bunny ears, and huge eyes, Labubus give a mix of a cute yet creepy aesthetic. It makes the creature weirdly irresistible, hence the popularity. Labubus aren’t just a toy, though; they are also a statement piece. People wear them as keychains on their belts, on their car keys, at their desk, or basically anywhere. Pop culture has fully embraced this wave of toys, especially on social media apps such as TikTok and Instagram, where unboxing videos get millions of likes and views. Influencers open up a box and immediately gasp at the rare or secret figure and give the audience a sort of false hope that they, too, may receive it. A lot of influencers also show their growing collection of blind boxes, letting the viewer imagine what their life would be like after spending hundreds of dollars on these boxes.
Is it really worth spending the money, though? The average cost one of these toys seems like a high price for a silly little figurine. These prices are for just a regular figurine; buying a rare Labubu or collector’s item would range anywhere from $100 to $500. Part of this impulsiveness is the psychology of randomness. Not knowing what you’re getting triggers some type of dopamine, the same way gambling does. Just as someone may blow their savings thinking they’ll win their money back after a bad scratch off of a ticket, one keeps paying until they think they’ll get the blind box toy they like. There’s a gamble every time someone buys one of these, leading to a higher demand. This leads to the main question, So who’s buying them? Surprisingly, it’s not just kids. Collectors are often in their late teens to early 30s. Many buyers are college students who spend as a hobby and a fun collecting activity. There are even videos circulating on TikTok of students spending their last dollars on fluffy pets. In some sort of way, collecting may be a form of stress relief in the chaotic world. The process of opening these blind boxes also gives an emotional feel. It can be nostalgic, like opening up a cereal box and hoping for a prize, or wanting the McDonald’s worker to give a certain toy to the happy child. It can also be a social phenomenon, as people trade, post, and talk about their pulls online.
So maybe instead of asking, “What’s the hype?” People should ask, “Why not?” Labubus and blind boxes may not be everybody’s cup of tea and may still be looked at as a waste of money or a scam. But there’s a reason these furry little creatures are being sold out everywhere. With songs made about them, millions of views everywhere, and collectables that are not too hard to spot on the streets, Labubus and blind boxes are here for a reason and will probably not be heading out for a hot minute. In a time when people are searching for connection and surprise, maybe a little box with a big-eared monster inside of it is exactly what we need.
