Labubu vs Sonny Angel
The Complete Collector's Comparison

Origins: Kasing Lung / POP MART vs Sonny Angel / Dreams

To understand what separates these two collecting phenomena, you need to know where each one came from.

Labubu: the Kasing Lung monster that took over the world

Labubu is a character created by Hong Kong artist Kasing Lung, born out of his illustrated children's book series "The Monsters". The creature — a forest being with pointed ears, uneven teeth and wide, startled eyes — is pure chaotic mischief. Kasing Lung partnered with POP MART (泡泡玛特) in 2019 to release the physical version as a collectible vinyl figure, under the THE MONSTERS line.

POP MART is a Chinese company founded in Beijing in 2010. With more than 400 stores worldwide and over a billion dollars in annual revenue, it has become the global leader in designer blind boxes. But it was Lisa from BLACKPINK who catapulted Labubu: her photos with Labubu figures hanging off luxury handbags sparked a global frenzy in 2024, sending searches up by 4,700% and emptying stock within minutes of every restock. Read our full guide to Kasing Lung and our POP MART guide for the deeper story.

Sonny Angel: the Danish angel that has been on shelves for 20 years

Sonny Angel is the flagship product of Dreams Co., Ltd., a Japanese company founded in 1998. The character design, though, has Danish roots: it was created in 2004 by Toru Soeya, a Danish designer based in Japan, who wanted to capture childlike innocence in a small, naked figure with angel wings and a themed headpiece (fruit, animals, flowers, fantasy characters).

Across twenty years, Sonny Angel has released more than 150 themed series, dozens of collaborations with luxury brands and independent designers, and built a collector community that is especially active in Europe (France, Spain, Germany) and Asia. It moves at a calmer pace, with none of Labubu's viral fever, but with a fanbase that is extraordinarily loyal. There is more in our definitive Sonny Angel guide.

Design and aesthetics: styles, materials and sizes

This is probably the most obvious difference between the two brands. Their aesthetics are near opposites.

Labubu: grotesque as a trend

Labubu embraces the imperfect. The uneven teeth, the wild expression and the asymmetric body all run against the traditional "cute" canon of Asian toy design. POP MART calls this look "ugly-cute" or "mischievous" — and it has proven to have enormous pull with the millennial and Gen Z buyers who want something other than conventional kawaii.

Standard figures measure 8 to 10 cm and are made from high-quality vinyl with precise paint work. The Mega formats (400% ≈ 28 cm, 1000% ≈ 70 cm) are high-end display pieces. There are also plush versions that blend the vinyl design with a soft-fabric finish, and the famous bag charm format — designed to hang off a handbag — which is where the whole Lisa phenomenon started.

The materials are sturdy and the paint detail has improved noticeably with each series. Colours are saturated and expressive, often with gradients and special finishes: metallic, glow-in-the-dark, translucent.

Sonny Angel: gentle minimalism and craft precision

Sonny Angel goes all in on sweetness. The figures always depict the same base character — a naked, angelic baby with wings — and only the themed headpiece changes. That consistency is exactly what makes collecting them so addictive: you are chasing the same Sonny Angel wearing different "hats".

Standard figures are roughly 7–8 cm, made from high-quality PVC with a matte finish that mimics the softness of skin. The palette is more pastel and muted than Labubu's. There are also Baby Sonny Angel formats (smaller, sold in multi-figure sets), Hippers (upper body only), and large Mega Sonny Angels for display.

Craft quality is a Dreams Co. signature: the facial paint work is remarkably precise for figures at this price, and consistency between units is very high. That also makes authentication easier — with a little experience, fake Sonny Angels are visible at a glance.

Price and where to buy in Spain

Labubu in Spain: patience or the secondary market

POP MART has no physical store in Spain as of 2026. The main channels are the official POP MART app and its international website, shipping to Spain in 10–15 days. Fnac Spain gets occasional stock of some series, usually gone within hours. Everything else is resellers on Wallapop and Vinted, plus specialist online importers charging 40–80% over official retail.

The tactic that actually works: turn on notifications in the POP MART app, follow specialist restock accounts on Instagram and TikTok, and always buy at official price when stock appears. Our complete Labubu buying guide breaks the process down step by step.

Sonny Angel in Spain: much easier to find

Sonny Angel has far better distribution in Spain. You will regularly find it in Fnac, El Corte Inglés (toy and homeware sections), design gift shops, specialist stationers and plenty of Spanish online stores. The €10–15 per figure is official retail and authorised channels stick to it reasonably well. For retired series and special editions, the secondary market on Wallapop and Vinted is active and priced sensibly.

Resale value: which one holds its price better

This section matters most if you think of collecting as more than a hobby — or you simply want to avoid losing money.

Labubu: the toy world's speculative asset

Labubu is currently the blind box with the strongest short-term upside. Secrets from the most wanted series go for 10–40x official retail. The scarcity is real (a 1-in-144 secret rate), the hype is enormous, and global demand far outstrips production.

The Labubu market is volatile, though. Series that peaked at €600–800 in 2024 have settled to €200–300 by 2026 as POP MART expanded production runs. Standard figures have corrected too. The rule of thumb: if you missed official retail, think hard about whether the resale price in front of you actually makes sense.

For more on fakes in the resale market, see our guide on how to spot a fake Labubu.

Sonny Angel: stable value and a retired-series market

Sonny Angel does not produce Labubu's speculative spikes, but its resale market is far more predictable and sustainable. Classic retired series (Series 1–4, the Flower series, Marine Animals) reach €50–200 per figure in good condition, appreciating a steady 10–20% a year over recent years.

The Dreams Co. business model encourages that stability: series are retired from the official catalogue on a regular schedule (unlike POP MART, which sometimes reissues), which creates genuine scarcity on the secondary market. A patient collector buying at official retail has a good chance of watching their collection appreciate.

Check our guide on how to authenticate a Sonny Angel before buying second hand.

The most iconic collections from each brand

Essential Labubu series

• The Monsters Exciting Macaron Series — the one that started the global fever. Pastel colours, with the "Gold Macaron" secret as the most hunted piece. Current secret: €200–500.
• The Monsters Have a Seat Series — Labubu seated in themed poses. A more restrained design with earthy tones. Secret: €150–400.
• The Monsters Vinyl Plush Series — a vinyl-and-plush crossover that became a cult object. Secret: €300–700.
• The Monsters Let's Checkmate Series — chess-themed, with a very elegant two-tone palette. One of the best designs in the line's history.
• Labubu Bag Charms — the format that went viral. Limited editions with premium materials reach €300–600 on resale.

Essential Sonny Angel series

• Animal Series (Vol. 1, 2, 3) — the original animal series are the most iconic and the first to be retired. The backbone of any serious collection.
• Flower / Floral Series — exquisitely delicate floral headpieces. One of the most photographed series on social media.
• Hippers Series — upper body only, a distinctive format popular with collectors looking for different display options.
• Collaborations (Marimekko, Room Copenhagen) — brand collaborations push both price and exclusivity. Pieces for advanced collectors.
• Christmas / Holiday Series — the seasonal releases are among the most anticipated of the year and sell out fast. The Christmas Sonny Angel is almost a tradition.

Which one to choose: the final comparison table

There is no universal answer. Choosing between Labubu and Sonny Angel depends on what you want out of collecting. Here is the most direct comparison possible:

You are a Labubu collector if...

• You want something with immediate, recognisable visual impact
• You are willing to track restocks and move fast
• You care about the secondary market and the chance of appreciation
• You would rather own fewer pieces with higher aesthetic and financial value

You are a Sonny Angel collector if...

• You want to start collecting without logistical headaches
• You value a classic, coherent look that does not ride on trends
• You want varied themed series you can gift or complete gradually
• You prefer a resale market that is stable and predictable

Why not both?

Plenty of collectors own both. They are aesthetically complementary: Sonny Angels bring order and a soft palette, Labubus add character and visual tension. A shelf with both on it is probably the best answer to the question in the title.

Frequently asked questions