Labubu is everywhere. Seriously. Walk into any art toy shop or scroll through TikTok for more than five minutes, and you'll see those chaotic serrated teeth and that mischievous grin staring back at you. Created by Kasing Lung and popularized by Pop Mart, this "The Monsters" character has become a global obsession. But here is the thing: when you actually sit down and try to figure out how to draw a Labubu, it’s surprisingly easy to mess up. You think it’s just a bunny with sharp teeth. It isn't.
If you get the proportions wrong, it ends up looking like a generic monster or, worse, a creepy knock-off. The magic of Labubu is in the tension between being cute and being a little bit threatening. It’s that "ugly-cute" aesthetic that's notoriously hard to capture on paper if you don't know where the visual weight lies.
Most people start with the ears. Don't do that.
The Secret Geometry of a Monster
To really master how to draw a Labubu, you have to look at the skeletal structure—or the lack thereof. Labubu is basically a tall, fuzzy pear. If you start with a rigid rectangle, you’ve already lost. You need a soft, organic base. Kasing Lung’s style is heavily influenced by Nordic folklore, which means the lines shouldn't feel corporate or "perfect" like a Disney character. They need a bit of grit.
Start with a light sketch of an oval that is wider at the bottom. Think of a heavy bag of flour. This is the torso and head combined. Labubu doesn't really have a neck. His head flows directly into his body, which gives him that stout, powerful look despite his skinny limbs.
Now, let's talk about the ears. They are huge. Often, they’re almost as long as the entire body. They should sprout from the top of the head like two long, slightly curved leaves. If you make them too stiff, he looks like a rabbit. They need to have a bit of "flop" or "sway" to them to suggest movement.
Those Iconic Serrated Teeth
This is where everyone trips up. You see a row of teeth and you want to draw a straight line of triangles. Stop.
Labubu’s teeth are uneven. They are his defining feature. When you’re learning how to draw a Labubu, you have to realize that the mouth is more of a wide, mischievous smirk than a smile. The teeth should vary slightly in size. Some are longer, some are wider. They should look like they could actually bite something, but in a playful way.
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The mouth usually stretches almost the entire width of the face area. This is a classic "The Monsters" trait. Zimomo, another character in the series, has a similar vibe, but Labubu is the most expressive of the bunch.
Getting the "Pop Mart" Texture Right
Since most of us know Labubu from the vinyl figures or the plushies, we tend to think of him in 3D. Translating that to 2D requires a lot of "fur" linework. But here is a pro tip: don't draw every single hair. If you do, the drawing becomes cluttered and messy.
Instead, focus on the silhouette.
Use jagged, short strokes along the outer edges of your pear shape. This suggests fluffiness without making the interior of the drawing too busy. You want to leave some "negative space" in the middle of the body so the viewer's eyes can rest. Honestly, it’s all about the suggestion of texture.
Eyes That Stare Into Your Soul
Labubu’s eyes are usually simple black circles or ovals, but the placement is everything. They sit relatively high up on the face, right above that massive row of teeth. There isn't much of a forehead. By placing the eyes high, you emphasize the giant mouth, which reinforces that "mischievous monster" persona.
If you’re going for a more "blind box" look, you might want to add a tiny white reflection dot in the eyes. It gives him a bit of life. Without it, he looks a bit more like the original storybook illustrations—a bit more mysterious and wild.
Mastering the Limbs and Posture
Labubu’s arms and legs are surprisingly spindly compared to his chunky body. It’s a classic character design trope—top-heavy bodies with thin supports. When figuring out how to draw a Labubu in an action pose, remember that his center of gravity is low.
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- The Arms: Long and thin, usually ending in three or four simple fingers. They should look like they can reach for things or hang onto a backpack (like the viral Bag Charms).
- The Legs: Short and stubby. He doesn't have knees in the traditional sense. His legs are like little pegs that support the "pear" body.
- The Tail: Don't forget the tail! It’s thick and fuzzy, usually peeking out from behind his side. It adds balance to the composition.
People often forget the tail because they’re so focused on the face. But the tail is what makes him feel like a complete creature rather than just a mask.
Why Everyone Is Obsessed With This Style
It’s worth mentioning why we’re even talking about how to draw a Labubu in the first place. The art toy world exploded recently, and Labubu is the poster child for the "Art-Toy-to-Mainstream" pipeline. Celebrities like Lisa from Blackpink posting photos with these figures sent the demand into the stratosphere.
From a design perspective, Labubu works because he breaks the rules of "kawaii." He isn't just a round, soft Hello Kitty clone. He’s got edge. He’s got teeth. He looks like he might cause a bit of trouble if you turn your back on him. That complexity is what makes him fun to draw. You aren't just drawing a character; you're drawing a personality.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Symmetry: Nature isn't perfectly symmetrical, and neither is Labubu. If his ears are exactly the same or his teeth are perfectly uniform, he will look robotic and fake.
- Too Much Detail: It’s tempting to draw every tooth and every tuft of fur. Less is more. Focus on the iconic shapes—the ears, the mouth, the pear-shaped body.
- Weak Linework: Labubu is a bold character. He needs bold lines. Don't be afraid to use a thicker pen for the main outline and a thinner one for the internal details like the eyes or the fur texture.
Beyond the Pencil: Adding Color
If you’re moving into coloring your sketch, remember that Labubu comes in a million different colorways thanks to the Pop Mart blind boxes. However, the "classic" Labubu is often an earthy brown or a creamy off-white.
The key to a good colored Labubu is shading. Because he’s so fuzzy, the shadows should be soft. If you’re using markers, use a "flicking" motion to create gradients that look like fur. If you’re digital, a textured brush is your best friend.
One thing I've noticed is that people often forget the blush. A little bit of pink or red right under the eyes can make the character look much more "official." It softens the impact of the sharp teeth and brings back that cute factor that makes the toy so popular.
Moving From Sketching to Customizing
Once you know how to draw a Labubu consistently, you can start playing with his outfits. This is where the real fun is. In the toy world, Labubu is constantly dressed up as other things—a diver, a pilot, a flower.
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Try drawing him in a hoodie. The contrast between the soft fabric of the clothes and his jagged teeth is a great visual. Or maybe give him a little accessory, like a skull or a mushroom, which fits the forest-dwelling lore Kasing Lung originally created.
Honestly, the best way to get better is to look at the source material. Not just the toys, but Lung’s original sketches. You can see the DNA of the character in the messy, energetic lines of the early concept art. That energy is what you want to capture in your own work.
Practical Steps to Perfect Your Labubu Drawing
You aren't going to get it perfect on the first try. That’s just the reality of character art. But you can speed up the process by following a specific workflow.
First, grab a light pencil—something like an H or HB. Avoid the dark 2B stuff for now because you’re going to be erasing a lot as you try to get that pear shape just right. Draw the "flour sack" body. Then, mark a horizontal line where the top of the mouth will go. This is your "anchor line."
Second, sketch the ears. Make them bigger than you think they should be. Most beginners make them too small. They should feel like they have weight.
Third, ink the teeth. Start from the middle and work your way out. This ensures that the mouth stays centered on the face. If you start from one side, you’ll likely run out of room or end up with a lopsided grin (though, let's be real, a lopsided Labubu is still pretty on-brand).
Finally, erase your construction lines and go over the outer edge with a slightly heavier line to give it that "sticker" pop. If you're feeling fancy, add some cross-hatching in the ears to show the depth of the inner ear.
Once you’ve finished your drawing, take a photo and compare it to an actual Pop Mart figure. You’ll probably notice small things—maybe the eyes are too close together, or the teeth are too small. That’s fine. Take those notes and start the next one. The more you draw him, the more you'll understand the "feel" of the character. It’s less about technical perfection and more about capturing that specific brand of monster-mischief.
Go grab your sketchbook and give it a shot. Focus on the silhouette first, worry about the teeth second, and always, always make those ears huge. 🎨