6 Must-Know Pop Mart IPs: The Characters Behind the Hype

If you've ever walked past a Pop Mart store and wondered what all the fuss is about — or if you're already deep in the blind box rabbit hole — this one's for you. Pop Mart has taken the designer toy world by storm, and a big part of its magic comes down to its incredible roster of original IPs (Intellectual Properties). Each character has a unique backstory, a talented designer behind it, and a passionate fanbase.

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Here are the 6 Pop Mart IPs every collector should know.

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1️⃣ THE MONSTERS / LABUBU

Designer: Kasing Lung

Before Pop Mart ever entered the picture, Hong Kong-based artist Kasing Lung had already created a whimsical world of forest creatures through his illustrated book series, The Elf Trilogy. When he teamed up with Pop Mart, one character stood out above the rest — LABUBU, the mischievous Nordic forest elf with the toothy grin that's impossible to resist.⠀

Pop Mart launched its first THE MONSTERS series, Forest Concert, in April 2019, and it was an instant hit. Since then, LABUBU has exploded in popularity — from designer toy shelves to merchandise collabs and IP licensing deals. If you've seen someone with a fuzzy Labubu keychain dangling from their bag, now you know why.

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2️⃣ MOLLY

Designer: Kenny Wong

No Pop Mart list is complete without MOLLY — the pouty-lipped girl with the big attitude. Created by acclaimed Hong Kong artist Kenny Wong, MOLLY is widely considered Pop Mart's very first signature IP and the character that helped launch the entire blind box phenomenon in China.

Kenny Wong originally created MOLLY as a painter figure in 2006, and her partnership with Pop Mart beginning in 2016 transformed the brand from a small retailer into a global art toy empire. MOLLY's ever-changing themed series — from career costumes to fairy tales — keep collectors coming back for more, series after series.

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3️⃣ SKULLPANDA

Designer: Xiong Miao

SKULLPANDA is where art toy meets high fashion. Created by Chinese designer Xiong Miao under Pop Mart, this IP fuses skull-and-panda imagery with bold, cross-boundary aesthetics. Each series feels like a new artistic statement — gothic, surreal, theatrical — pushing the boundaries of what a blind box figure can be.

SKULLPANDA has become a phenomenon in the designer toy industry, attracting collectors who crave something edgier and more conceptual. If you like your art toys with a side of dark elegance, this is your IP.

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4️⃣ HIRONO

Designer: Lang

HIRONO is the quiet soul of the Pop Mart universe. Created by designer Lang — who happens to be a college classmate of Pop Mart founder Wang Ning and one of the brand's founding members — HIRONO was born from a simple wish: for children to grow up freely and wild at heart.

Depicted as a cute yet unruly little boy who's a bit melancholic and a bit "quirky," HIRONO captures that bittersweet feeling of childhood — the freedom, the confusion, and the raw emotion of growing up. It's an IP that resonates deeply with collectors who see a piece of their own inner child in this little guy.

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5️⃣ CRYBABY⠀

Designer: Molly (Thailand)

Every great character has an origin story, and CRYBABY's is a tearjerker — literally. In 2017, Thai designer Molly lost her beloved dog, SOMCHUN, and channeled that grief into art. She created CRYBABY to challenge one powerful idea: that crying is a sign of weakness.

CRYBABY's message — that it's okay to feel, it's okay to cry — struck a chord with fans on Instagram, where the character first gained a following. That online momentum caught Pop Mart's attention, leading to an official partnership that brought CRYBABY into the blind box world. It's a character with real heart behind it.

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6️⃣ DIMOO

Designer: Pop Mart (in-house)

Meet DIMOO — Pop Mart's "beloved son" and the brand's first explicitly male doll character. Little Dimoo is an adventurer at heart, always traveling through mysterious and fantastical worlds, meeting new friends who grow alongside him on his journeys.

There's something universally charming about DIMOO's wide-eyed wonder and sense of curiosity. Each series takes him (and collectors) on a brand-new adventure — from underwater kingdoms to outer space. He's the character that reminds us all to stay curious and keep exploring.

🎯 Final Thoughts⠀

What makes Pop Mart special isn't just the blind box format — it's the stories, the artists, and the emotions behind every character. Whether you're drawn to LABUBU's cheeky grin, MOLLY's iconic pout, SKULLPANDA's dark glamour, HIRONO's quiet melancholy, CRYBABY's emotional depth, or DIMOO's sense of wonder — there's an IP for everyone.

Happy collecting! 💛

👉 Shop Pop Mart figures at ArtToyFamilia.com