What Could Have Inspired the Labubu Monster Design?

If you've ever stumbled across a Labubu figure — in a friend's collection, online, or at a designer toy convention — you've probably had one of two reactions: “That’s adorable!” or “What on earth is that thing?” With its wiry hair, sharp-toothed grin, and wild, mischievous eyes, the Labubu monster walks that fine line between cute and cunning. But what exactly inspired such an oddball character? We’re here to take a bit of a dig and see what might’ve sparked the imagination behind Labubu’s cheeky design.

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A Bit of Background

Labubu was created by the artist known as Kasing Lung, who hails from Hong Kong. He first gained attention as an illustrator before shifting into the world of art toys. Labubu is part of his universe of quirky, sometimes eerie, but always imaginative creatures. Over time, the character has evolved into dozens of different versions, from pirate-themed Labubus to glow-in-the-dark variants and glitter-covered designer editions.

But even with all the variations, the core of Labubu stays the same: that toothy smile, shaggy fur, long ears, and an unmistakable sense of chaotic charm.

Childhood Monsters & Fairy Tales

One likely inspiration? Old-school European fairy tales. You know the type — Brothers Grimm, eerie forests, witches in gingerbread houses, and creatures lurking in the shadows. Kasing Lung has mentioned in interviews that he was heavily influenced by European storybooks and folklore. That influence shows in Labubu’s wild, woodland creature appearance — almost like it’s stepped out of a story where the trees have eyes and not everything is as it seems.

Labubu doesn’t look polished or traditionally “cute” like a teddy bear or a Hello Kitty-type character. Instead, it feels a bit like a scruffy, misunderstood gremlin — the kind of creature a kid might imagine hiding under the bed or playing tricks in the backyard. Its oversized grin could either be inviting or menacing, depending on how you look at it. That’s very fairy tale, isn’t it? Ambiguity is the name of the game.

A Nod to Classic Monsters?

Another possible inspiration might be classic monster designs — but not the horror movie type. You can imagine it more like Maurice Sendak’s Where the Wild Things Are or even Jim Henson’s The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth. These creatures weren’t terrifying, exactly, but they had a sort of raw, unfiltered energy to them. They looked like they’d been pulled straight from a dream — or nightmare — and dropped into our world.

Labubu, with its expressive eyes and exaggerated features, fits right into that sort of dreamscape. Its long ears and wiry frame feel a bit like something out of a child’s imaginative scribble. In fact, that sketchy, hand-drawn quality is part of the charm. It doesn’t feel factory-made or overly refined. Instead, Labubu gives off that magical “this came straight from an artist’s sketchbook” vibe.

Mischief and Mayhem

One of the defining features of Labubu is its grin — all sharp teeth and devilish delight. It screams mischief. If Labubu were a character in a book, it’d be the one playing pranks, stealing snacks, or leading the rest of the monsters into trouble.

This mischief might draw inspiration from trickster figures in global mythology. Like Loki from Norse tales, or the cheeky monkey king Sun Wukong from a Journey to the West. These characters weren’t evil, necessarily — just chaotic. They kept everyone on their toes and reminded people not to take life too seriously.

Labubu’s design echoes that same playful chaos. Its eyes gleam like it’s up to something, and you just know it wouldn’t follow rules even if it knew what they were.

Eastern Meets Western Aesthetics

Kasing Lung’s art bridges East and West in a really cool way. While Labubu might look like something out of a European fairy tale, its production and popularity are deeply rooted in Asian designer toy culture — particularly in places like Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and increasingly, Australia.

There’s a clear influence from Japanese “kaiju” monster designs — think Godzilla and all his cousins — but also from more modern “kawaii” culture (which means “cute” in Japanese). Labubu is like a blend of the two: scary-cute. It’s got enough edge to interest older collectors, but enough charm to appeal to anyone who grew up loving weird cartoons and fantasy creatures.

The Role of Texture & Expression

One thing that sets Labubu apart from a lot of designer toys is how textured and expressive it is. Many collectible figures go for a smooth, vinyl finish, but Labubu’s fur is often sculpted to look scruffy and untamed. This gives it a lived-in, wild-animal look — more forest-dwelling creature than plastic plaything.

Its face is also super expressive. Even though the mouth rarely changes, slight variations in eye shape, posture, and paint design can completely shift the mood of each figure. Some look sneaky. Others look surprised. A few look downright possessed (in a good way!).

That range of emotion might be inspired by puppetry or stop-motion animation, where every subtle shift brings a character to life.

At the end of the day, Labubu feels like the kind of creature born from a combination of nostalgia, fairy tale darkness, childhood imagination, and a dash of punk rock attitude. It’s a toy, sure, but also a piece of art — and like all good art, it invites interpretation.

Was it inspired by a dream? A myth? A scribble on the back of a napkin? Maybe all of the above. Whatever the source, Labubu’s design captures that magic blend of weird and wonderful — the kind of character that makes you smile, scratch your head, and maybe sleep with one eye open.

And honestly, isn’t that what makes it so loveable?