Blind-box series, secrets and full-case buys.
Summaries are AI-generated
The LABUBU 'Retro Barbershop' series launched on June 25 at 10 PM. While the chase figure initially saw a resale premium of over 6x, several regular items dropped below the 159 yuan retail price within 30 minutes, a drop of more than 30%.
The LABUBU 'Retro Barbershop' series launched on June 25, with common items dropping below the retail price within 30 minutes, some by over 30%, while the secret item 'Mist White Noise' still commands a 4x premium.
The 'Retro Barbershop' series launched on June 25 with randoms at 159 yuan and a 1:72 secret ratio. Regulars like 'Rainy Afterglow' dropped to 100 yuan within 30 minutes, a 30% drop, while the secret 'Misty White Noise' rose to 855 yuan.
POP MART Japan announced that a pop‑up POP MART store will open at Matsuzakaya Nagoya on July 11, 2026. The shop will feature DIMOO as the main visual and showcase the 10th‑anniversary THE MONSTERS “Hair Salon” series together with FIFA World Cup 2026 collaboration items, while offering CRYBABY Cry Me An Ocean gifts for purchases over ¥12,000, ¥15,000 and ¥24,000.
Takara Tomy Arts’ Gacha brand will make its North American debut at Anime Expo in Los Angeles from July 2‑5, 2026, with a dedicated booth. The “Gacha Galaxy” booth will feature capsule‑toy machines, a giant Gacha figure photo spot, exclusive giveaways and over 170 items—including more than 80 anime‑themed products and the latest Japanese trends.
LABUBU, the first Chinese art toy IP invited to the World Cup opening ceremony, appeared in Mexico City. POP MART and FIFA launched a collaboration series, transforming LABUBU into a blue football hero.
Miniso faced criticism for forcing membership to buy daily goods, with its TOP TOY purchase limits reflecting the market's popularity. The article notes that fast-moving brands like KFC, McDonald's, and Luckin are collectively 'toy-ifying' to sell emotions, but face thin profits from licensed IPs, high costs for self-owned IPs, and compliance pressure from new national standards.
POP MART Japan says the THE MONSTERS 10th Anniversary exhibition will run from June 11 to July 5, 2026 at the Azabudai Hills Gallery, with electronic tickets on sale from May 25 on the official website at ¥2,500 each, including bonuses. During the run visitors can see original artwork, enjoy a themed café menu, shop at a POP UP store and join a lottery for a limited‑edition soccer towel, plus an immersive projection theater showing ‘The Story of Puca’.
Funko reported 5% sales growth and a record 44% gross margin in Q1, with a new 4-inch blind box series announced for San Diego Comic-Con and Bitty POP! expanding into Walmart.
MOMOTOY showcases Dun Dun Shou, Li Xiang Shen Cai, and other series at the Canton Fair, featuring AI emotional companionship and gold luxury craftsmanship. The brand secured tens of millions in investment and reached a 250 million yuan valuation within four months, planning to open 50 global stores by 2026.
High-end AI toy brand MOMOTOY launched three original IPs and a collaboration with author Rao Xueman at the 38th Shenzhen Toy Show, unveiled the world's first embodied AI automatic blind box vending machine, and announced strategic partnerships with JD Toys, KKday, TOP TOY, MINISO, and Apple.
MOMOTOY, a toy brand, secured a 10-million RMB first round in 4 months with a post-money valuation of 250 million RMB. It plans to launch 700+ products and open 50 global stores, leveraging 999-gold blind boxes and AI interaction.
At the 2026 Partner Conference, 52TOYS announced a roadmap featuring over 1,000 new products and 100+ IPs across seven major categories. The company plans collaborations tied to milestones like Pixar's 40th anniversary and Zootopia's 10th anniversary, while strengthening original IP development.
At a partner conference in Beijing, founder Chen Wei revealed 2026 plans to launch over 1,000 new items across 100+ IPs and seven categories. In 2024, the company reported 630 million yuan in revenue and a 39.9% gross margin, with IP licensing costs of about 45.755 million yuan.
The 2026 designer toy market shifts from LABUBU's mischief to CRYBABY's emotional storytelling. CRYBABY saw 21% sales growth from Q2 to Q3 2025 on resale platforms, with rare figures exceeding $200. Analysts project the market at $15 billion by 2026, emphasizing narrative-driven collections.
POP MART launched the LABUBU x Sanrio 'Dream Adventure' blind box on March 12, selling out online immediately. The secret figure traded at 919 yuan, with common figures seeing over 20% resale premiums and some full cases priced above 1,000 yuan.
POP MART announced the THE MONSTERS x Sanrio family vinyl-face plush pendant blind box, launching online at 22:00 and selling over 30,000 units in one minute. The series includes 6 regular and 1 chase figure, priced at 159 yuan per box or 954 yuan for a full set. The LABUBU x HELLO KITTY vinyl plush figure, priced at 599 yuan, also sold over 9,000 units.
MegaHouse will release the 10th‑anniversary ‘Kaitai Puzzle FANTASY – Ushi’ figure in late February 2026. The set comes in five color variants—pink, blue, brown, green and a secret version—randomly packed, priced at ¥1,430 (tax included) and measuring about 90 mm, offering both build‑and‑break play and display use.
Shanghai shop owners face high rents, fierce competition, and inventory pressure, using consignment models to share risks and leverage inbound tourism.
Krockie observes that Douyin e-commerce, via content ecosystems and platform events, drives sales surges for new brands like SiiNONO, AYOR TOYS, and SHININGSOUL in the 'emotional Abebe' trend, with multiple brands exceeding 100 million yuan in sales in 2025.
The 2026 toy industry sees a funding boom driven by LABUBU's global success, Blokees' IPO, and the rise of movie cards. Capital now values supply chain barriers and profitability, yet IP dependency, aesthetic fatigue, and international risks remain.
The 2026 toy industry sees a new wave of funding, driven by POP MART's global success with LABUBU, Blokees' IPO, and the rise of film trading cards. Capital now prioritizes supply chain barriers and profitability, though IP dependence, aesthetic fatigue, and international risks remain concerns.
The toy and card industry saw a concentrated wave of financing in 2026, with major players like POP MART, Blokees, and companies like Kayou and Flash Soul securing large rounds. Capital now prioritizes supply chain barriers and profitability, though IP dependency, aesthetic fatigue, and international risks remain concerns.
Takara Tomy Arts will release the Miniature Panda Food Mascot series for Matsuzakaya Ueno in nationwide capsule machines starting mid‑February 2026, priced at ¥400 each. The five items—panda short cake, panda mille‑feuille, panda rice‑ball, panda bread and panda chestnut bun—replicate the store’s popular panda‑themed foods, are aimed at ages 15+, measure about 25‑55 mm, and will have a pre‑sale on January 24 at a special event.
Takara Tomy Arts will host the ‘Gacha Swamp Exhibition’ from February 7‑8, 2026 at WITH HARAJUKU in Tokyo’s Harajuku, with free admission. The show will feature historic capsule toys from 1965 onward, popular lines such as the ‘KataZun Fig.’ series, and over 50 new gacha items slated for spring 2026, with 22 of them available for early purchase on site. Visitors can reserve entry starting January 22 and enjoy photo spots and a pop‑up shop for the PERIHAPI! figure series.
LABUBU sales underperformed during US Black Friday, with resale prices dropping significantly. POP MART's stock has fallen nearly 44% from its August peak, raising concerns about overseas growth sustainability and the loss of IP scarcity.
POP MART's stock has fallen over 40% from its peak, with a market cap loss of HK$200 billion and a 31% drop in institutional holdings. Labubu's hidden figures have seen a premium cut of over 50%, and regular styles are now trading below retail prices on second-hand platforms, with analysts predicting a shift from explosive to sustainable growth.
POP MART Japan announced a holiday pop-up called “UNBOX JOY” that will run from December 17 to 25, 2025 at Shibuya CAST. The outdoor Holiday Garden lets visitors meet characters such as Twinkle Twinkle, LABUBU and DIMOO, and serves limited-edition hot drinks in themed cups for ¥880 each. Entry to the shop area is by lottery via the official LINE account for December 17‑19, after which general admission applies, with exclusive blind boxes and plush accessories on sale.
POP MART's stock price has fallen by over 1/3 from its yearly high, with short sellers citing slowing growth and high IP concentration. The company boosted production and implemented purchase limits to curb scalpers, aiming to return to product value, yet prices for hot items like Labubu have collapsed on the secondary market, raising concerns about IP value and quality control.
Takara Tomy Arts will begin releasing the SR+ 20th Century Studio ‘Alien’ figures in capsule machines across Japan from mid‑December 2025, priced at ¥500 each (tax included). The line includes five figures—Alien, Alien (inner‑mouse), Ellen Ripley, Egg & Chest Buster, and Kane & Facehugger. Built on human skeletal and muscular models, the figures feature poseable joints and interchangeable parts for realistic displays and scene recreation.
