Molly by Pop Mart: The Icon That Started It All

Before There Was Labubu, There Was Molly

Everyone knows Labubu now. Your coworker has one dangling from her bag, your cousin posted an unboxing on TikTok, celebrities are photographed with them at airports. But the real ones know: Molly was here first. Designed by Hong Kong artist Kenny Wong, Molly is the character that put Pop Mart on the map and essentially created the modern blind box phenomenon.

If you're collecting art toys in 2026 and you don't know the Molly story, you're missing the foundation everything else is built on. So let's fix that.

Who Is Molly? The Kenny Wong Origin Story

Kenny Wong created Molly in 2006 as a vinyl art toy with one defining feature: that iconic pout. Big head, pursed lips, a look that's simultaneously adorable and slightly annoyed — like a child who was told she can't have dessert. That contrast is exactly what made Molly stand out in a sea of cute characters.

Wong had been a working artist and toy designer in Hong Kong's indie scene for years, but Molly was the character that broke through. When Pop Mart partnered with him to produce Molly blind box series at scale, it was a watershed moment. Suddenly, designer toys weren't just for niche collectors haunting gallery shows — they were accessible, affordable, and wildly addictive.

Molly became Pop Mart's first mega-IP, and the formula they developed around her — themed series, surprise elements, limited editions, artist collabs — became the template for every IP that followed.

The MEGA Space Molly Revolution

Things really went nuclear when Pop Mart launched the MEGA Space Molly line. These larger-format figures transformed Molly from a blind box character into a legitimate art collectible, with collaborations that read like a pop culture hall of fame: Disney, Marvel, Snoopy, you name it.

The 100% MEGA Space Molly Charlie Brown & Snoopy Set ($120) is a perfect example of why this line works so well. It takes two beloved cultural icons — Peanuts and Molly — and fuses them into something that appeals to both fandoms. The sculpt captures Snoopy and Charlie Brown's essence while remaining unmistakably Molly.

100% MEGA Space Molly × Charlie Brown & Snoopy — $120

Then there's the MEGA Space Molly Chip 'N' Dale ($99) — Disney collabs are always fire, and this one captures the mischievous energy of the chipmunk duo perfectly. These are the kind of pieces that look incredible on display and tend to appreciate in value once they sell out.

100% MEGA Space Molly × Chip 'N' Dale — $99

Royal Molly: The 20th Anniversary Collection

2026 marks Molly's 20th anniversary, and Pop Mart is going hard with the MEGA Royal Molly line. If MEGA Space Molly was the cosmic evolution, Royal Molly is the regal one — ornate designs, fairy tale themes, and the kind of craftsmanship that makes your jaw drop.

The 100% MEGA Royal Molly 20th Anniversary Edition ($95) is the centerpiece of the celebration. It's not just a figure — it's a milestone marker for the entire art toy industry. Twenty years of one character maintaining cultural relevance is almost unheard of in the toy world.

100% MEGA Royal Molly — 20th Anniversary Edition — $95

For fairy tale lovers, the Royal Molly Snow White ($48) is an absolute steal. At under fifty bucks, you're getting a beautifully detailed MEGA figure with Disney heritage. It's one of the most giftable pieces in the entire Royal Molly line.

100% MEGA Royal Molly — Snow White — $48

The Original Princess

And then there's the Royal Molly Original Princess ($95) — this design strips away all the licensed collaborations and presents Molly as the princess she's always been. It's Kenny Wong's original vision, elevated. The blue version in particular has this ethereal quality that photographs beautifully. If you're starting a Molly collection, this is the one that tells the story.

100% MEGA Royal Molly — Original Princess — $95

Why Molly Still Matters in 2026

Here's the thing about Molly that newer collectors might not appreciate: she didn't just launch a product line. She launched a culture. The reason you can walk into a Pop Mart store in Bangkok, Tokyo, or Los Angeles and find hundreds of blind box series is because Molly proved the concept worked.

Kenny Wong's design philosophy — emotional expression through minimal features, endless reinterpretation through themed series, the marriage of art and accessibility — became the DNA of every Pop Mart IP that followed. Labubu's expressiveness, Skullpanda's moodiness, Hirono's melancholy — they all trace back to what Molly established.

And unlike many "legacy" characters that coast on nostalgia, Molly keeps evolving. The MEGA format pushed her into the art collectible space. The Royal line elevated her to premium territory. The 20th anniversary drops are bringing in a new generation of collectors who discover her alongside Labubu and Dimoo.

Start Your Molly Collection

Whether you're a day-one collector or you just learned who Molly is five minutes ago, there's never been a better time to start (or expand) a collection. The 20th anniversary line gives you everything from accessible entry points like the $48 Snow White to grail-tier pieces like the MEGA Space Molly Dragon 2024 ($129).

Check out our full Molly collection at Art Toy Familia — we carry both current releases and hard-to-find pieces that have already sold out elsewhere. Twenty years of Molly, and she's still the one to beat.