Who would’ve thought some of these toy collectibles would sell for thousands of dollars today?
Trends come and go from one generation to another but at the end of the day, they all made us happy at one point in our lives, didn’t they?
Toy collectibles, in particular, have helped us embrace our inner child and find more joy in the little things. Remember how you gushed at the sight of a Tamagotchi back then, and now, at a Labubu plush keychain?
Our love for toys never really fades away. According to research by the American Journal of Occupational Therapy, toys allow us to express emotions we can’t communicate vocally, even as adults. It happens whenever you find yourself squeezing stress balls or plushies to release your pent-up anger.
Besides that, toys provide sensory stimulation with materials like soft fabrics that lessen our stress and anxiety. They also provide a secure setting to escape daily stresses, which leads to the production of endorphins or “feel-good” hormones.
We’ve listed down the greatest toy collectibles we once or continue to be obsessed with in the last three decades.
Labubu dolls
Look everywhere and you’ll see that no viral toy has captured people’s heart quite like Labubu. This mischievous yet adorable creature has taken the world by storm in recent months. But in case you still didn’t know, Labubu has been around since 2015.
The quirky character debuted that year as part of Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung’s story series, The Monsters. In the tale, Labubu is depicted as an elf with pointed ears, nine serrated teeth, and a naughty grin. Despite her monster-like but adorable appearance, Labubu has a kind heart and a playful personality that embodies childhood adventure.
While Labubu gathered a following since its debut, it wasn’t until 2019 that the now-most-coveted character got one of its biggest breaks. In that year, Lung signed an exclusive deal with Chinese toymaker Pop Mart to produce physical products of Labubu, which would be sold in a mystery-packed packaging, aka blind boxes. This fueled public interest, resulting in over 300 variations to date.
Four years later, in January 2023, the cute li’l monster forayed into high fashion through the Chinese designer brand Pronounce. It was then that the luxury retailer launched its first Monster Labubu x Pronounce collection which included tops decorated with the cheeky character’s face.
However, Labubu truly became the global viral sensation it is today when BLACKPINK’s Lisa posted an Instagram Story with her Labubu bag charm and large plush figure earlier this year. This led to the doll’s massive popularity and buying frenzy not only among K-pop fans but also pop culture enthusiasts and celebrities all over the globe.
Related story: How Labubu dolls became the ‘It accessory’ we never saw coming
Funko Pop vinyl figures
Another toy collectible that has been taking over the shelves, rooms, and even houses of pop culture aficionados is Funko Pop vinyl figures. These toys are easily recognizable for their giant bobbleheads, black round eyes, and exaggerated features, all squeezed into a figure that stands only at 3.75 inches.
Funko Pop only rose to fame in 2010, but the company was founded way back in 1998 by Mike Becker. The toy collector initially launched Funko as a small project to create a nostalgic line of affordable toys. It reached a turning point when the company obtained licenses from DC Comics to produce big-headed dolls for its characters. This resulted in the now globally famous Pop! line, which has expanded to represent a plethora of pop culture icons—from Marvel to Star Wars, Disney to anime, and Hollywood celebrities to K-pop idols.
People collect Funko Pops not only because they are a lot of fun but they also spark nostalgia with the characters they represent and evoke a sense of belongingness and friendship with other collectors.
Barbie dolls
With her vast, colorful wardrobe and glamorous pink-filled world, it’s hard not to fall in love with Barbie. Since its debut in March 1959, Barbie—short for Barbara Millicent Roberts—has been an unrivaled global icon.
Thousands of unique Barbies have been created since then, with each one representing different countries, cultures, careers, and more. And with the release of Greta Gerwig’s movie last year, Barbie is surely having a pop culture moment like never before.
Through it all, what collectors love the most about Barbie is that it brings out the little girl in us. Many women, not to mention men, continue to collect various versions of the doll as they give a sense of nostalgia for their childhood. It is also considered a creative hobby, with some collectors making creative content with their dolls.
The Barbie phenomenon has no signs of slowing down after all these years, and Mattel is aware of that. That’s why the toy company continues to produce variants of the doll not only for kids but also for adults keen on growing their own Barbie world.
Gundam model kits
Talk about toys with your brother, boyfriend, or any boy pal, and Gundam model kits will definitely be top of mind. Gundam kits, also known as Gunpla, are plastic toys that depict the characters or mecha from the Japanese robot anime series Gundam.
Gundam has become one of the most influential Japanese anime series in the world since it premiered in 1979. Just a year after the show’s debut, top toy company Bandai acquired the rights to produce Gundam model kits which is now one of the most collected toys of model enthusiasts and fans of the anime series.
Apart from its detailed representation of the mechas, Gundam kits have been piquing the interest of collectors, mostly men, as they are quick to build and serve as a good starting point for robot enthusiasts.
Pokémon trading cards
For Pokémon fans, there’s only one thing to do whenever the multi-billion franchise launches a new set of merchandise: go and catch ’em all! From plastic figures to plushies and even Pokémon Go critters, the hit anime series got us catching ‘em all for years.
Among all these, it was Pokémon trading cards that made us give up all of our money. It was one of the biggest phenomena for kids who grew up in the late 90s and in the 2000s. They became so popular, that some of them would sell for thousands of dollars today. Business Insider reported that an extremely rare “Pikachu Illustrator” card sold for $54,970 in 2017, while a “Charizard” card from 1999 could now be worth more than $11,000.
Beanie Babies
Stuffed animals are nothing new to kids, but what ’90s babies found special in Beanie Babies was how they were made. Ty Inc.’s Beanie Babies are soft toys stuffed with plastic pellets, or beans, instead of cotton stuffing. They come in three sizes—regular (8 inches), medium (13 inches), and large (16 inches)—with each of them having a heart-shaped tag with a tiny poem. And because they are flexible sans the usual stuffing, they are easy to carry around or keep in a bag.
While the Beanie Babies trend ended in the year 2000, you might be surprised to know that some are being sold with prices tenfold their original value years back. According to Business Insider, a “Valentino” Beanie Baby was being sold for $43,000 on eBay in 2020. Meanwhile, a commemorative Princess Dianna Beanie Baby was sold for $10,000 in 1997.
Troll dolls
What Labubu dolls are to bag charm aficionados today is what Troll dolls were to the ’90s kids back then. You just couldn’t get enough of them!
Similar to Poppy and Branch in DreamWorks’ Trolls trilogy, the dolls back in the day were made to look like humanoids with bright eyes and big fluffy hair. Woodworker and fisherman Thomas Dam crafted the first model—one that was made out of wood and rubber—to make his daughter happy. In the 1960s, Dam opened up a factory that produced plastic versions of the dolls and sold them to the public. They became popular at that time and then later again in the 1980s and 1990s, selling millions worldwide.
One of the most sought-after collections was the Rainbow Trolls with multicolored hair. Today, Dreamworks is working closely with Dam Things to continue spreading the magic of Trolls.
Tamagotchi
In the nineties, you weren’t cool until you had your own Tamagotchi. This small egg-shaped gadget was considered an “It” toy with its black-and-white LCD screen and navigation buttons enabling you to take care of a pet right at the palm of your hand.
It was introduced in 1996 and quickly became a global phenomenon. The more you had, the cooler you were. And it was the perfect pet — if you failed to look after it, there’s always an option to reset.
Polly Pocket
For little girls in the nineties, huge doll houses were fun, but Polly Pockets were next-level amazing. These playsets had it all—a house, furniture, accessories, and tiny bendable dolls—that you can tag along with you wherever you go.
These pocketable toys debuted in 1989 and became a global phenomenon until the 2000s. A true collector’s item, Polly Pockets are now selling for hundreds of dollars on eBay. According to Business Insider’s report, this includes the “Fairy Wonderland” edition that sold for $455. Mattel continues to produce several new iterations of the doll and her friends to date.
Furby
Furby was like Kasing Lung’s The Monsters—creepy but adorable. These virtual pets were considered one of the scariest collectibles in the nineties, but they were a must-have for kids of the decade.
The furry and high-tech toy sleeps in the dark, and suddenly speaks out of nowhere. Another reason that kids back then dreamt of owning one is that Furbies can converse with each other.
They may be creepy but these collectibles are still sought after. A “Special Furby Angel” sold for $800 four years ago, while a rare “Kids Cuisine” Furby in its original box sold for $520.
