Toys and Play: LEGO, Pokémon, Labubu and Toy Safety — 2026-09-21
This week's toy news is dominated by safety: the CPSC recalled 179,000 light-up toys over button-battery hazards, plus magnetic humanoid toys and battery-ingestion water toy kits. LEGO fans are scrambling over a greatly expanded Retiring Soon list, while Pop Mart's Half-Year results show Labubu's momentum cooling even as it pivots to a new K-pop blind box with SEVENTEEN.
Toys and Play: LEGO, Pokémon, Labubu and Toy Safety — 2026-09-21
CPSC recalls 179,000 light-up toys over button-battery danger
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 179,000 finger light-up toys, with the announcement dated September 16 — the latest in a wave of button-battery toy alerts. Button-cell batteries remain one of the most serious hazards to young children, and battery-accessible light-up toys sold on marketplaces keep triggering swift recalls.
Three popular children's toys pulled nationwide
Three toy products sold through major retailers and online stores were recalled nationwide on Thursday (September 17) over potentially serious hazards to young children. Among them: Kori Gey water toy kits sold on Amazon by Qaniy, recalled because the light-up LED gasket's button-cell battery can be ingested, violating the mandatory toy standard. Shoppers are being urged to check their toy bins.
Magnetic humanoid toys recalled; consumers told to refund
CPSC's recalls page, updated within the past few days, also flags magnetic humanoid toys from Colerinsec: consumers should take them away from children immediately, stop using them and contact the seller for a full refund. Small high-powered magnets remain a leading life-threatening hazard if swallowed.
LEGO expands Retiring Soon list to 140 sets
The Brick Fan reports LEGO's September Retiring Soon list now stands at 140 US items, with "a ton more sets" added in the past few days — enabling shoppers to snap up end-of-year departures like the UCS Millennium Falcon. Jay's Brick Blog frames the September update as "hundreds of sets added to the chopping block," including X-Mansion and Optimus Prime.
Pop Mart pivots to SEVENTEEN as Labubu cools
Pop Mart announced a blind-box collaboration with K-pop boy band SEVENTEEN on September 15 ("MINITEEN"), with published odds (regular 1/14, hidden 3/126) and sell-outs of early-bird stock in Korea. It comes as Chinese-language coverage of the company's H1 results — revenue of RMB 17.173bn, up 23.8% — notes the market's doubts about whether Pop Mart can hatch a next global hit as Labubu hype fades.
Local view
- Japanese media are focused on Pokémon merch drops ahead of the holiday period: Pokémon Center will release new goods themed on "Pokémon Trading Card Game Pocket" on September 26, including an LED pack-hourglass light, as reported by the official Pokémon site and GAME Watch.
- In Japan's collectibles-adjacent space, MyNavi News (September 20) rounds up seven Bandai shokugan (candy-toy) releases hitting shelves September 21, including Kamen Rider and Persona 30th-anniversary items.
- Chinese-language analysis (Double V Consulting, recent) argues Pop Mart's overseas revenue declined for the first time and asks whether Labubu is a durable brand or a moment.
- Korean-American outlet Korea Daily revisits LEGO's turnaround, tracing how adult-targeted sets and F1 collaborations helped the once-bankrupt Danish brand reach $6.5bn of revenue.
Context & numbers
- Pop Mart H1 2026: revenue RMB 17.173bn (+23.8% YoY) and net profit RMB 5.038bn, below market expectations, weighing on the stock.
- For comparison on the LEGO side: H1 2026 revenue of DKK 41.9bn (+21%), net profit DKK 8.6bn (+32%), with global toy value sales up 14% in H1 2026 per Circana — LEGO still outgrowing the category. (Previously reported August 25; figures frame this week's retirement-list and holiday-cycle news.)
- Pokémon momentum: Nintendo's Switch 2 exclusive Pokémon Pokopia has passed 5 million copies sold globally, fueling a wave of Ditto-themed merchandise including a "Wanleism × Pokémon" Ditto happy blind box launching September 24 (¥49 for 3, ¥196 per full box, no hidden editions).
On the radar
- September 26: Pokémon Center's "Poké-poké" TCG Pocket-inspired goods launch in Japan — expect queues and resale chatter.
- September 24: the Ditto happy blind box goes live online, timed to Pokopia's Ditto mania.
- CPSC's counterfeit squishy-toy alert (fake squishies with burn hazards) flagged two weeks ago is likely to resurface as holiday bargain hunting grows.
- Rumor-level: chatter that Japan's new Pokémon Center lineup coincides with refreshes of collectible blind-box lineups — watch whether Pop Mart's next IP reveal answers the "can it replace Labubu?" question.
This content was collected, curated, and summarized entirely by AI — including how and what to gather. It may contain inaccuracies. Crew does not guarantee the accuracy of any information presented here. Always verify facts on your own before acting on them. Crew assumes no legal liability for any consequences arising from reliance on this content.
Powered by
