If you think Labubu is the first toy to have people lining up for hours, battling on resale sites, and posting unboxing videos like it’s an Olympic sport, think again. Toy crazes are as old as childhood itself, and every generation has had that one must-have item that parents scrambled to buy before shelves went bare.
The faces and shapes may change, but the pattern is always the same. Let’s take a trip down memory lane to see how Labubu joins a long, colorful history of toy obsessions.
Before NFTs and sneaker drops, there were Beanie Babies. In the mid-90s, these small bean-filled animals became a cultural juggernaut. People hoarded them in glass cases, convinced they’d be worth thousands one day. Some sold for outrageous amounts at the time, but when the bubble burst, most ended up as nostalgic (and practically worthless) reminders of the craze. Still, the hype was real, and it taught companies the power of “retired” editions to stoke demand.
The year was 1996, and Elmo wasn’t just giggling; he was sparking Black Friday-level chaos in toy aisles. Tickle Me Elmo’s infectious laugh turned him into the most wanted Christmas gift of the year. News outlets covered parents tackling each other in stores. It was one of the earliest examples of how TV coverage could fuel a toy’s hype into a full-blown nationwide scramble.
In 1997, kids around the world became instant pet owners — minus the fur. Tamagotchis needed feeding, cleaning, and attention, or else they’d “die,” leaving many children emotionally scarred by pixelated funerals. The novelty of a virtual companion made them addictive, and their small size meant they were perfect playground currency. Even today, re-releases tap into that same nostalgia
Unlike fad toys that fade fast, LEGO has managed to stay in the spotlight for decades. Part creative tools, part collector’s items, and LEGO sets, especially themed ones like Star Wars or Harry Potter, sell out instantly and are appreciated in value. In the collector’s world, a rare LEGO set can be as fiercely hunted as any Labubu chase figure. The latest crazy surrounds the LEGO Botanical Collection.
When Furbies hit shelves in 1998, their blinking eyes, moving beaks, and strange “Furbish” language made them both adorable and slightly unsettling. Kids loved “teaching” them English, and parents endured their uncanny midnight chattering. Like Labubu, their novelty factor and unpredictable personality made them must-have toys — until the next big thing came along.
Pokémon cards blurred the line between game, collection, and investment. The 1999 craze saw school playgrounds turn into mini trading floors. A rare holographic Charizard could be worth hundreds back then and thousands in recent years. The rarity, community, and competition mix mirrors the same collector’s thrill that fuels Labubu’s popularity today.
Fidget Spinners – The Blink-and-You-Missed-It Craze
In 2017, you couldn’t walk into a classroom, office, or coffee shop without spotting someone spinning a small, colorful gadget between their fingers. Marketed as stress relievers and focus tools, fidget spinners became a full-blown global sensation almost overnight. Stores couldn’t keep up with demand, and soon they were everywhere, until the hype spun out as quickly as it began. Still, for a brief, dizzying moment, they were the most important toy in the world.
The Cycle Never Ends
Every few years, a toy comes along that lights up the market with the same recipe: uniqueness, scarcity, and a story people want to be part of. Labubu is just the latest in a long parade and won’t be the last. Whether it’s a digital pet, a talking plush, a spinning gadget, or a brick you can build into a spaceship, the pattern repeats.
The following big toy could be in development and ready to send us into another frenzy.
