Labubu

"Labubu" (Japanese name: ラブブ, "Rabubu") are a species of storybook creatures and collectables created in 2015 by Kasing Lung, an artist originating from Hong Kong. Labubus began gaining popularity starting 2019, and the creatures have been seen on the bags of pop singers like Dua Lipa, Rihanna, and Lisa from the K-pop group BLACKPINK. They are prominently featured in the Season Twenty-Seven episode "Wok is Dead".

Background

In "Wok is Dead", Nelly and Betsy have a conversation about their Labubu dolls, but it quickly escalates as the two accuse each other of only owning rip-offs instead of actual Labubus. After PC Principal had broken up the fight, they are sent to Jesus, the school counselor, who decides to take away the two girls' dolls till the end of the day, not even knowing what they are.

Meanwhile, Butters is tasked by Red to get her a specific Labubu doll for her birthday. He visits City Wok, now a pop-up store, and is told by Tuong Lu Kim that the dolls are only available as part of mystery boxes and for high prices, due to tariffs. He purchases one box, but it does not contain the rare Labubu Red wants.

Jesus later brings up the matter at a school faculty meeting, and Mr. Garrison explains the dolls are just the most recent fad going around. A TikTok Labubu video is then shown, where a girl performs a bloody and violent satanic ritual, which ends up in the girl screaming in horror.

Butters returns to the pop-up store, only to find out that the price of mystery boxes has risen due to tariffs, and the only way to get Labubus for cheaper is using nearby claw machines. Having no other choice, he begins trying to grab Labubus with the claw machine. Later, Jesus enters the store, accusing Mr. Kim about the cursed nature of the dolls. Butters then wins the Labubu that Red wants and leaves the store to attend Red's party, ignoring Jesus' warning about the toy.

Red immediately unpacks Butters' gift and freaks out upon retrieving her desired Labubu. She grabs Butters and leads him upstairs, saying that she wants to "do it", causing Butters to be taken aback. Inside her bedroom, Red draws a pentagram onto the floor and hands Butters her phone to record the scene. The other girls join in and they perform the same ritual that was shown earlier in the TikTok video. Flames emerge from the pentagram, until Donald Trump and Satan appear in the middle, frightening the kids and making them run away.

Trivia

• According to Lung, there are about 100 different Labubus in the series.
• Labubus were inspired by Nordic folklore.

External Links

• Labubu on Wikipedia