Artist Kasing Lung created Labubu. Pop Mart is the Chinese company that develops and distributes the best-known licensed Labubu collectibles. Labubu belongs to the wider story world called The Monsters, which also includes characters such as Zimomo, Tycoco, Spooky, and Pato.
This means “who created Labubu?” and “which company sells Labubu?” have different answers.
Kasing Lung created Labubu and The Monsters
Pop Mart’s designer profile says Kasing Lung created The Monsters as a fairy world in 2015, drawing on Nordic fairy tales. Labubu became the most widely recognized character in that group, with pointed ears and a serrated smile.
Lung had already worked as an illustrator and toy designer before the Pop Mart releases. The artistic origin of Labubu therefore belongs to his work, not to a Pop Mart product-design department inventing the character from scratch.
The Monsters is the IP family
Labubu is one character within The Monsters. The names are sometimes used interchangeably in casual conversation because Labubu is the most visible member, but they are not identical:
- Kasing Lung is the artist and creator.
- The Monsters is the character and story universe.
- Labubu is a character within The Monsters.
- Pop Mart is the company that develops, manufactures, markets, and sells the widely distributed licensed products.
Pop Mart’s 2025 annual report classifies The Monsters as an artist IP. It reports revenue for The Monsters separately from other artist IPs such as Molly, Skullpanda, Crybaby, Dimoo, and Hirono.
What does Pop Mart own or control?
Public materials establish a commercial relationship between Pop Mart, Kasing Lung, and The Monsters, but the complete private licensing contract is not published for consumers. It is safest to say that Pop Mart holds the commercial rights needed to produce and distribute its licensed Labubu and The Monsters products, rather than claiming that every underlying creative right has been permanently transferred to Pop Mart.
Pop Mart also owns its product designs, packaging, trademarks, retail operations, and other company assets. Those company rights are separate from the question of who originally created the character.
Who owns Pop Mart?
Pop Mart International Group Limited is a public company listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange under stock code 9992. Founder Wang Ning is chairman and chief executive officer and remains a controlling shareholder through disclosed holding structures. Other shares are held by public and institutional investors.
Kasing Lung does not own Pop Mart simply because he created its most famous character, and Pop Mart did not create Kasing Lung’s earlier illustration career or The Monsters concept.
Are all Labubu products made by Pop Mart?
Current mass-market blind boxes and plush releases are strongly associated with Pop Mart, but older or specialist art pieces may involve other authorized partners from before or outside the main Pop Mart retail program. A product’s manufacturer, release date, packaging, and distribution channel should be checked before deciding whether it is authorized.
This distinction also helps with counterfeit checks. A seller cannot prove that an item is authentic merely by calling it “Labubu” or using a photograph of Kasing Lung. Start with the seller, product release, packaging, and verification information. See our fake Labubu checklist.
Sources
- Pop Mart profile of Kasing Lung and The Monsters
- Pop Mart 2025 annual report
- Pop Mart investor relations
- Pop Mart listing prospectus
Sources and relationship wording reviewed July 15, 2026.