This post is a companion piece to “The Labubu File: A Chinese Toy Story” from the ‘Mandarin Unpeeled’ podcast. You can listen to the episode [The Labubu File, Ep. 1: The Blind Box Truth] here or find it on Spotify or Apple Podcast.
Most people know Pop Mart’s Labubu and Molly, but China’s blind box world is much bigger — brands like 52Toys, Rolife, and Top Toy are all part of the mix.
The “toys-for-grown-ups” market here is booming, and one thing is clear: collectibility and originality are king. When proprietary IP drives the craze, everyone is asking the same question — who will hold the next big hit?
Sometimes, though, these toys hit a nerve in the weirdest ways.
Take Pop Mart’s Twinkle Twinkle Sweet Dreams Forecast series. One toy in particular — “Mess in the Wind” — has been causing a stir. Social media users noticed it looks eerily like Donald Trump. One even went so far as to superimpose Mess in the Wind onto Trump’s body. And honestly… once you see it, you just can’t unsee it.
Pop Mart did it again. It’s not Labubu-level iconic yet, but it is SOMETHING — at least according to China’s social media users.
Which raises the big question: is this resemblance a deliberate design… or pure coincidence???
Comments went wild: “This is uncanny!” … “Make Blind Boxes Great Again!” The post went viral, proving how a little internet humor can turn a collectible toy into a full-blown cultural conversation.
At a time when everyone is wondering whether Pop Mart can keep up its streak, that “Make Blind Boxes Great Again” line feels about right.
But my personal favorite?
“Isn’t this… Boris Johnson instead?” 😂😂😂
And honestly… if you ask me, he’s right on the money. 🤣
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