POP MART THE MONSTERS Chasing Mermaids Series Blocks Review: When Collectible Toys Learn the Brick Language

Quick take

POP MART THE MONSTERS Chasing Mermaids Series Blocks explains why POP MART's move into building blocks makes sense. It is not trying to win only on piece count or construction difficulty. Its real strength is that it turns a character universe into a small stage: ship, sails, cabin, map, tiny character moments, and a finished display that looks like it belongs beside vinyl figures and blind-box collectibles.

For adult collectors, that is the interesting part. A conventional building set asks you to enjoy the build and then place the model on a shelf. This one feels more like a collectible toy that happens to be assembled from bricks. The result is warmer, more decorative, and more personality-led than many generic pirate ships.

Why this matters

POP MART already knows how to make characters feel collectible. Building blocks add a second kind of ownership: you do not just buy the character, you spend time constructing the little world around it. That changes the emotional value of the object.

The ship build uses that advantage well. The ship body, illustrated sails, gold bow detail, curved beige hull, and companion figures all work together as one display scene. Even before talking about techniques, the model has a clear answer to the most important collector question: will this look good after I finish it?

Packaging and first impression

The packaging sets expectations immediately. The boxes lean into a soft blue ocean palette and THE MONSTERS / Labubu visual language rather than a plain technical model-kit look. That matters for gift buyers and casual collectors: the set feels like a designed collectible from the beginning, not just a pile of parts.

It also hints at POP MART's larger strategy. The company is not simply borrowing the building-block format. It is using bricks as a new container for character storytelling.

Name and terminology note

For English readers, the safest product wording is POP MART THE MONSTERS Chasing Mermaids Series Blocks, with The Mermaid used as the model name shown in the product visuals. In this review, phrases such as “ship build,” “fantasy ship,” and “display model” describe the finished object; they are not meant to replace the product name.

Build experience

The source build photos suggest a model that is more about scenic assembly than pure technical challenge. The fun is in watching small character spaces appear: little decks, hidden corners, curved railings, printed or decorated surfaces, and places where the figures can sit or be staged.

That is a smart fit for POP MART fans. A highly complex construction could push the product too far away from the brand's casual collectible audience. A scenic build keeps the process approachable while still giving brick fans enough detail to inspect.

The best design idea: a stage, not just a ship

The strongest design choice is that the ship behaves like a miniature stage. The cabin, deck, rails, sail graphics, and figure placement all invite display photography. It is not only a vehicle. It is a small theatrical scene for Labubu and THE MONSTERS characters.

This is where the set separates itself from a normal ship model. The seafaring theme gives the structure, but the character world gives it the reason to exist.

Details that make it feel collectible

The gold bow is one of the clearest display hooks. It gives the ship a focal point and makes the front view feel more premium. The beige hull and soft blue sail also avoid the usual dark ship palette, which helps the model feel more like a POP MART object than a traditional historical vessel.

That color direction matters. Many licensed or character-based building sets lose personality when they become bricks. This one keeps enough softness and whimsy to still read as Labubu.

Sails, graphics, and the POP MART mood

The illustrated sail is doing a lot of work. It gives the model height, brand identity, and a clear silhouette from across the room. For a display model, that is more important than a hidden internal technique that only the builder sees once.

The sail also makes the ship easy to recognize in photos. That is exactly the kind of detail that performs well for collectible culture: it turns the finished build into something people can share, not just store.

Construction notes

The curved hull sections and layered side details are worth noticing. They soften the shape and help the ship avoid looking boxy. The model appears to use a mix of standard brick language and decorative shaped parts, which is the right direction for a character display build.

Collectors who mainly want a relaxing build should enjoy that balance. MOC-focused builders may also find small visual ideas here: curved shell shapes, soft color blocking, tiny deck scenes, and character staging around a central object.

Character value

The ship works because it gives the characters somewhere to live. Without the Labubu / THE MONSTERS context, this would be a cute fantasy pirate ship. With the figures, it becomes a collectible scene.

That is the lesson other toy brands should pay attention to. Building blocks are not only a category. They can be a world-building tool. When the character IP is strong enough, a building set can extend the story rather than simply decorate it.

Best for

• Labubu and THE MONSTERS collectors who want a larger display scene rather than another small figure alone.
• Gift buyers looking for a character-driven building set with strong shelf appeal.
• Adult builders who enjoy cute fantasy themes, soft colors, and display photography.
• Collectors curious about how designer-toy brands are entering the building-block space.

Not ideal for

• Builders who only care about advanced mechanisms or very dense technical construction.
• Collectors who prefer realistic ship models over character fantasy designs.
• Buyers who want confirmed stock, price, dimensions, or shipping details from Cool Toys Trend right now.

Buying advice

This article is an editorial review feature based on the supplied KuWanChao source article screenshots and source URL. Cool Toys Trend is not claiming current stock, price, shipping speed, or official authorization for the exact POP MART set shown here unless a product page says so separately.

If you are buying this kind of set overseas, check the exact edition, box condition, included figures, sticker or printed-part situation, final dimensions, and whether the seller is offering a sealed product. Character-led building sets can vary a lot by release channel and region.

Related reads and shop paths

If you like this direction, start with current Cool Toys Trend products and reviews rather than assuming every model in this article is available in our shop.

• Browse current Cool Toys Trend building-block products
• See the MrKuriosity Xiezhi Divine Beast display model
• Read more building-block reviews
• Ask us about product availability or sourcing questions

Source note

Adapted as an English Cool Toys Trend review from the supplied KuWanChao WeChat source article and image materials. The WeChat importer returned a captcha page, so the article was first drafted from exported screenshots and then updated with selected high-resolution product images. QR codes, WeChat UI areas, and end-card promotional blocks were not used.