What is Crybaby? The Charm, Background, and Popular Series of POP MART's Crying Face Art Toys Read in Japanese

What is Crybaby?

CRYBABY" from POP MART is a series of art toys with a trademark "crying face" as the name suggests. The unique design of the baby, who wears pop and colorful fashions while tears stream down her large eyes, has made her popular among collectors around the world.

The character's cuteness and sadness at the same time have made it one of POP MART's most popular series, along with Labubu and Skullpanda.

Reasons for Clay Baby's popularity

• Emotionally evocative design: The crying face is somehow adorable and mysterious.
• Wide range of collaborations: A wide variety of collaborations with fashion, music, and art.
• Rarity of limited items: There are limited items that can only be purchased at POP MART official online and directly-managed stores, creating a high collector's fever.
• Worldview of each series: Each series is released with a different theme each season, doubling the fun of collecting.

Clay Baby's Story and Background

1. Designer "Molly's" thoughts

• Clay Baby is the creation of Mod-Nisa Srikamdee, a.k.a. Molly, a Thai artist who was the first Thai artist to collaborate with POP MART and whose presence has spread beyond Asia .
• Molly has always had a tendency to cry, and her mother used to tell her not to cry. This became an emotion that sank deep into her heart, and she began to feel fearful and inhibited about crying.
• As she grew as a creator, Molly came to the realization that "emotions are not weakness, but proof of life. Crybaby (meaning "cry baby") was born as a form of expression of this.

2. A Story about Dialogue with Emotions

• Crybaby is "the embodiment of 'feelings' itself, without being bound by gender or race. Crybaby is "a being that feels deep emotion" and "a being that makes us feel that we are still alive through tears, even though we are in pain and sadness.
• Each series is developed around the themes of "emotional release," "healing," and "self-expression" through Crybaby. For example:
  • Crying Again Series: The message is to convey the importance of crying honestly and without suppressing emotions.
  • Sad Club Series: symbolizes purification and rebirth of the heart by washing away negative emotions through tears.
  • Crying Parade Series: Colorful and flamboyant productions that "celebrate" expressing emotions and convey a liberating mood.

3. Symbolism as Art

• The theme of Crybaby is a hymn to emotions that are often forgotten in today's society, such as "the courage to reveal our weaknesses" and "a return to our humanity.
• Crybaby is an art toy that visually conveys this message.

What is the "story" behind Crybaby?

Main Series Lineup

New series of Crybaby are released regularly, with different outfits and expressions for each theme. Here are some representative examples.

• CRYBABY Classic Series
  The first design, the origin of the crying face and colorful outfits.
• CRYBABY Wonderland Series
  Fairy tale-themed costumes with a fantastic world view.
• CRYBABY Fashion Show Series
  CRYBABY Fashion Show Series features fashionable outfits incorporating the latest trends and attracting attention from fashion lovers.
• Limited and Collaboration Series
  Many collaborations with famous brands and artists are easily talked about on SNS.

1. CRYBABY Popular Series Release Dates and Prices

Crybaby Crying Again series (vinyl face, plush, blind box)

• Release date: November 15, 2024
• Price: US$27.99 per box (individual), US$167.94 for all sets (assorted)
• Contents: 6 types in total, combining face made of Winil material + plush body + probability of "Baby Brown" (1/72) and ultra-rare "Baby Blonde" (1/144) as a secret

Crybaby x Powerpuff Girls Series (blind box)

• Release date: March 8, 2024
• Specifications: ABS/PVC material, approx. 2.36-3.54" in size

Crybaby Wild but Cutie Series (vinyl plush pendant-shaped, blind box)

• Release date: No specific release date in the information (possibly mid-2025)
• Details:
  • 6 regular types + 1 secret type
  • Chance of secret: 1/72 per box
  • Popular for its easy-to-use design as a bag charm and Y2K fashion sense

Crybaby Sad Club series (plush flower-shaped blind box)

• Release date: January 5, 2024

Crybaby Crying for Love series (card holder/smartphone charm type)

• Release date: January 24, 2025

Availability and notes

Where to buy: POP MART official online store, directly managed stores in Harajuku and Shibuya PARCO, authorized dealers

POP MART JAPAN conducts frequent lottery drawings for purchase at directly-operated stores on LivePocket.

Product pages and prices are also posted on the official online (Japan) site (availability varies); the official POP MART site is the most reliable. You can check the release date by checking the release date calendar regularly.

3. Author / Designer Information

• Designer / Artist: Molly (Hong Kong)
  According to the official POP MART website, the Crybaby character is the work of "Molly," a designer living in Hong Kong.

The artistic yet "crying face + pop costume" taste is the result of Molly's unique worldview.

The Appeal of Collecting Clay Babies

• Collectible character and outfits
• The thrill of guessing the secret character
• Visual appeal that can be shared on social networking sites.

Compared to Labubu and Skullpanda, the worldview is softer and more pop-like, making it a good choice for female fans and beginner collectors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Where can I buy Clay Baby?

You can buy them at POP MART official online, Harajuku main store, Shibuya PARCO store, etc. Amazon and other mail order stores also carry them, but the prices may be higher than the regular price.

Is it easy to get Secret in one box?

Basically, the percentage of secret items in a single carton (12 pieces x case) is one or less. It is difficult to win a prize by purchasing a single box.

Which series are the most popular?

The ones with strong themes, such as Wonderland and Fashion Show, are popular and easily talked about on social networking sites.

How are they different from Labubu and Skullpanda?

Labubu is more about monsters, while Skullpanda is more about street and art. Claybaby is a unique genre of "crying face x pop," and the fusion of cuteness and sadness is appealing.

See also: POPMART

Summary

POP MART's "Clay Babies" continue to attract collectors with their adorable characterization of crying faces and fashionable worldview of each series. You can pick up the latest series at POP MART stores in Harajuku and Shibuya, so be sure to check them out along with Labubu and Skullpanda.