In recent years, IP with “ugly and cuteness” has been particularly popular among young people. Not long ago, the IP image Cinema 1950 witch cloth drawLABUBU became popular. After this “girl’s teeth and cute” frequently appeared, a four-grid comparison picture made by netizens spread. In the picture Cinema 1950 witch cloth draw, LABUBU is placed together with the “toothless boy”, Nezha, and Stille in “The Master of Training the Dragon”. Although the expressions are different, the similar “ugly cute” is amazing.
The current design is exaggerated, with a bit of “ugly” and rough but also exudes a wonderful and cute image, which quickly captures the young people’s gaze. What is curious is why this young man shouted “Pretty is justice” but was willing to pay for these “ugly monsters”?
In order to explore the psychological mechanism and deep reasons behind the popularity of “ugly and cute monsters”, we interviewed young people in the art field and tried to find answers from the perspective of designers and art enthusiasts.
Emotional Compensation
It is like an imperfect “life match”
In June 2025, a mint-colored LABUBU doll with an original price of only a few hundred yuan was sold for RMB 1.08 million at the auction, and was nicknamed “The Moutai for young people”.
From the popular LABUBU and the “Ugly Things Competition” that continues to be out of the circle, to the Douban “Ugly Things Protection Association” group, nearly 250,000 people shouting “Ugly things are also worthy of love”, “Ugly monsters” are entering the lives of young people with a subversive attitude.
Why did the “ugly and cute monster” become a favorite among young people? During this year’s graduation season, Beijing Youth Daily reporters visited several art college graduation exhibitions. Through interviews with Babaylan 1990 clothes draw, they found that this new preference was not accidental, but accurately responded to the psychological needs of contemporary youth: they were like imperfect “life draws”, providing unique emotional compensation.
Goziqiu (pseudonym), a graduate of the Chinese Academy of Fine Arts, created the IP character “Easy Cat” in this year’s graduation design – this is a cat with fluorescent green hair and cheeks with blush. He explained that blush symbolizes ease and freedom, while green means nature and hope, hoping to remind everyone “Take”Iteasy, let go of anxiety.
At Gome Graduation Exhibition, the huge “Easy Cat” interprets different emotions in an exaggerated manner: through the movements of holding the chin and covering the quilt, it shows speechlessness, anger, anxiety, etc., and interacts with the audience.
At the exhibition, Goose Ball also deliberately wears clothing in the same color as “Easy Cat”, and uses performance art to echo the theme: selling the surroundings seriously on the weekdays, representing focus on investment; and on the weekends, “Easy Cat” lies on the bed in the exhibition area to play games or rest, conveying a life attitude that understands the timely relaxation and self-regulation, and intuitively interprets the year. href=”https://funnybookish.com/”>Komiks 1960 witch cloth drawThe “combination of work and rest” needed by young people.
As an art designer, Goose Ziqiu has long been paying attention to the rise of ugly monsters. “The popular IPs in the past two years, such as LABUBU, Tooth Monster, and Sad Frog, have a bit of complex expressions: the grinning LABUBU has two innocent star eyes, the sad frog’s expression is mixed with helplessness and ridicule, while the tooth Monster is naughty and has a little attack. This kind of “impurity” emotional expression is different from the traditional round and harmless cute IP (such as HelloKitty), and is closer to the complex inner state of contemporary young people. ”
At this year’s graduation exhibition of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, the work of Xu Shenhong, a post-00s student, was full of “ugly and cute” style. Three-eyed villain, four-legged girl, boots alpaca, mechanical cricket… These absurd images constitute her unique visual language.
The works of young creator Xiaohe show reflection on “perfect aesthetics”. Despite mastering exquisite 3D animation technology, she deliberately retains the “rough, weird and sloppy” in her work and calls it “Internet aesthetics”. This alternative style unexpectedly became popular – the MV of Tao Zhe, who created the second time, “Find Yourself” on social platforms Received nearly 30,000 likes, the protagonist’s “Little Green Man” emoticon package has downloaded more than 210,000 yuan and sent 5.3 million yuan, far exceeding her previous “soft and cute” works.
The complex inner state of young people has also attracted the attention of the academic community. For example, Wu Lichen of Jiangnan University pointed out in her paper “Research on the Application of Ghostly Graphics in Illustration Design” that in the face of aesthetic changes and mental pressure, grotesque style has become a psychological outlet for young people to release emotions and express themselves. Abstracting daily elements not only enhances the fun, but also builds a unique spiritual world through the form of “strange”.
Aesthetic rebellion
“Say no to exquisite perfection” has become a new way of expression
On social media, the same “net celebrity face” and highly filtered exquisite Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw image is causing growing aesthetic fatigue among young people.
A netizen left a message in the Douban group “Ugly Bookish.com/”>Babaylan 1990 cloth drawWestern Conservation Association” saying that Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw: “When you brush it, you are all carved from the same mold, it’s too boring.” The introduction of the group wrote: “Everyone likes beautiful things, but don’t forget that ugly things also want someone to love them.”
Correspondingly, those “not so perfect” “ugly” and “weird” have gradually won the love and resonance of young people because of their authenticity and diversity.
As a graduate of the China Academy of Fine Arts, Gooseqiu is deeply touched by this. He also prefers the “not so perfect” IP image: “You look at those ‘ugly’ IPs, jagged teeth, big and small eyes, breaking symmetry and balance, and it looks uncomfortable, but it’s very real.” In his opinion, “ugly” challenges the standardized aesthetic of Babaylan 1990 cloth draw, and also carries an attitude: “Don’t use perfection to suppress people, we don’t need it.” Compared to the exquisite images that have been packaged, these “monsters” with edges and contrasts are more intimate and more real.
On Weibo, some netizens also define these “anti-perfect” IPs as: non-compliance with rules and not cater to the review. Beauty has become a new way of expression.
“What do you mean?” Blue Yuhua was puzzled. In this aesthetic trend of saying “no” to “perfection”, the “ugly and cute monster” is breaking the traditional image of “round and sweet” in Disney and Sanrio style, proving that those characters with flaws, edges, and even slightly darkness can also arouse emotional resonance and become a new cultural symbol.
Faced with the phenomenon that “ugly things” became popular among young people, Xu Shenhong said that “it can fully resonate.” In her opinion, growing up in an environment where rules and competition coexist will inspire a urge to “want to break out of the framework” over time. She thinks, “ugly and cute” and “abstract” are the outlets of this emotion, and are also a kind of facing up to and expression of the “imperfect self”.
In the view of Xiaohe, a self-media blogger who is about to go to the London University of the Arts to further his studies, this contrast reflects the young people’s fatigue with the “perfect character”. “The workplace needs to be ‘cooked’, social needs to be ‘endless’, and even posting on WeChat Moments is maintaining your personality.” Characters like LABUBU and Nezha instead release a possibility of being themselves in a “unruly” attitude.
Xu Shenhong believes that behind the popularity of “ugly and cute monsters” is the recognition of young people for “living for themselves”. At the graduation exhibition, she deliberately wore a golden wig and a Lolita skirt to break the image of a “good girl” and expressed her pursuit of her true self through actions.
Wu Jianghong, a graduate of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, pointed out that “ugly” is a way of expression, and what is really moving is the sincerity and uniqueness behind it. In her opinion, young people’s love for “ugly and cute” is a relaxation of mainstream aesthetics, and a cultural appeal to strive to show themselves and tolerate imperfections. As she said: “Ugly is not the purpose. The key is to find the self that can show one’s sincerity and live freely.”
Personal Declaration
The opportunity to travel together. Sure enough, there was no such small shop after this village, so it was difficult to get there. “Ugly” is attitude, the kernel is the key
In the informationCinema 1950 witch clothes DrawAt the moment when the explosion and aesthetic homogeneity of aesthetics, Generation Z’s love for “ugly monsters” comes more from the symbolic meaning behind it. This thinking is also reflected in the graduation work of Wang Jinyu, a graduate of the Mural Department of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. This work constructs a mysterious “playground” in a fantasy style, reminiscent of the “Paradise on Earth” by the Dutch painter Boss. Wang Jinyu draws on Boss’ description of human desires and spiritual constraints, and uses the wishing pool at the center of the picture to imply people’s expectations and desires for the future. The weird images surrounding the channels, such as frogman, long-tongued deer, have also been given modern metaphors, symbolizing social issues such as loss, hypocrisy and alienation. Wang Jinyu hopes to use these visual elements of “weird” and “ugly” to trigger the viewer’s deep thinking about reality. In her interpretation of the work href=”https://funnybookish.com/”>Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw wrote: “When the real world “Human Cultivation is good at serving peopleBabaylan 1990 clothes draw work, while Caiyi is good at growing things in the kitchen. The two complement each other and cooperate just right. “The Paradise” is still in a cycle. I hope you and I can always keep the original intention and embrace the sudden enlightenment after embracing the “seeing the blue sky”. “
It can be seen that in the creation of young artists, the weird and ugly visual language is not a sensationalism, but a response to human nature and the times.
Xiaowa’s abstract MV is not arbitrary and funny, but reinterprets the lyrics in the reconstructed picture, and even injects humor and power into the bitter song. For example, in her second creation of “Back to Back Hug”, two green modeling villains initially hugged others, then turned to find each other, clumsyly approaching and kissing, while the neglected blue villain “fire” on the head.
This seemingly “outrageous” plot instead turns the original sad lyrics into relief and relaxation. Some netizens commented: “Even AI can’t make such an ‘episcary’ animation”, and many viewers shouted “I don’t want to cry anymore” after watching it. Xiaohe Hope, this work of “Internet aestheticsCinema 1950 witch cloth draw” ultimately conveys light and positive emotional value. In her opinion, what really touches people is the “core” of the work. This is also reflected in the recently popular “Love Like Fire” and its singer Na Yina. “She does not meet traditional aesthetic standards, but has won recognition with her unique makeup and real state.” What Na Yina releases is the imperfect attitude of calm acceptance and optimistic face life, and it is also the emotional force that resonates with contemporary young people.
This “anti-perfection” concept has gradually become Xiaohe’s attitude towards life. She admitted that at first she was a self-media because she was not confident enough, but now she can calmly share her personal experiences such as failure to apply for graduate school, and regard this process as an acceptance of the “real but imperfect self”.
In the job, Xiaohe also did not follow the rules. With a financial background, she devoted herself to self-media after graduation and is about to study art overseas. This “alternative” trajectory is exactly the same as her love for “ugly monsters”, and is an active deviation from the established model.
However, she emphasized that whether it is Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw career exploration or aesthetic choice, it is not a new standard for the sake of innovation and innovation.different. “‘Ugly’ and ‘monster’ are just shells. What is really important is whether the core is sincere and valuable.” In her opinion, the meaning of affirming “ugly” is not to cater to low-level interests, but whether it can carry true feelings and convey powerful views. This Babaylan 1990 cloth draw is also the reason why “anti-perfect” aesthetic touches people’s hearts and makes her persist. (Reporter Cinema 1950 witch cloth drawWang Jingyi)
New Color Trends
Dopamine Aesthetics has become a flavoring agent in life
From the works of this class of graduates and their recent popular IPs, it can be seen that in addition to jointly paying attention to spiritual expression and emotional value, the bright and bold “dopamine color” has also become a highlight in visual language. Designers boldly use the high-saturation “dopamine color” to make these images a seasoning in life, and use strong visual impact to brighten the dull daily life.
In the design of “Easy Cat”, Goose Ball specially chose green close to fluorescence to transmit “anti-anxiety” visual signals. He said that green is like looking at the scenery outside the window when you are motion sickness, which can bring sense soothing and pleasure and play an emotional adjustment role.
Xiaohe also prefers “dopamine aesthetics”. Not only does she use highly saturated green, pink, blue and red in videos, she also likes to hang colorful art tapestries on white cabinets in her life, and often choose bright colors on nail art. She said Babaylan 1990 cloth draw, although the “dopamine” element in life cannot solve the practical problems, it can bring emotional relief. “Every time I see my mood, it will brighten up.”
Xu Shenhong is also the one who prefers high saturation colors. Her graduation work “The Cocoon of Preparation” is inspired by the 17th-century Spanish princess Margaret Theresa – a historical figure with a tragic fate and a deep loneliness in the palace. In the painting, the pink icing castle and purple curtain camp Komiks 1960 witch cloth draw creates a sacred and romantic atmosphere, becoming the one with butterfly wingsBabaylan 1990 cloth draw‘s dollCinema 1950 witch cloth draw‘s fantasy shelter for face girls (the incarnation of Margaret). Xu Shenhong said that bright colors not only bring visual impact, but also give the works recognition, which can reach the audience’s emotions more directly and resonate. She boldly combines innocent and weird styles, attracting a lot of attention at the Central American Graduation Exhibition. Some people say “as if they were sucked into the painting”, while others sigh: “I hope that she will be happy and happy forever.” ”
Wang Jinyu also incorporated bright colors such as lake blue, pink, bright yellow into her oil painting “Canfly See the Blue Sky”, to convey the attitude of life still full of hope even in trouble. She recalled that she once preferred black, white and gray, and felt more mature and restrainedKomiks 1960 witch cloth draw; but now she prefers bright colors because the optimism and vitality contained in its Babaylan 1990 cloth draw is exactly the optimism and vitality contained in Cinema 1950 witch cloth drawThe emotional support required when facing the pressure of reality. In her opinion, the “dopamine” color system is popular because it provides an intuitive and effective “emotional self-help”. “In a dull life, there is always a little brightening. “She said that this is not only the original intention of creation, but also a kind of wisdom of life.