On vacation my daughter bought herself a plush Labubu. A shaggy little creature with huge ears, saucer eyes, and a grin straight out of a dentist’s nightmare. And that’s when I remembered: for more than a hundred years, every once in a while, the toy world has produced a devilish hit – a plushie, a doll, or a figurine – that brings children joy while giving some adults visions of the end of civilization.

Every decade has its own toy that supposedly corrupts the youth, destroys innocence, and leads straight into the arms of Lucifer. Today, I’ll take you on a journey through more than a century of these toys from hell – from the innocent teddy bear all the way to, well – Labubu!

Teddy Bear!

In 1907, the teddy bear – a cute little plush toy that won children’s hearts – suddenly became the subject of heated moral debate. Why? Because critics of the time claimed that this soft bear threatened traditional girls’ upbringing.

Before teddy bears, girls mostly played with baby dolls, meant to prepare them for motherhood and homemaking. But once Teddy Bears hit the shelves, they became a hit with little girls, who preferred hugging bears to cradling dolls.

This caused a storm among some clergymen, who argued that teddy bears:

• destroyed the natural maternal instinct (a bear is not a baby, so girls weren’t learning to care),
• ruined preparation for motherhood (a teddy doesn’t need feeding or diaper-changing, just cuddling),
• were unsuitable for future wives, because plush toys didn’t teach real domestic duties.

In conservative circles, sermons were preached against teddy bears’ harmful influence. Clergymen insisted toys should be practical and educational, not just soft and huggable. In other words: no cuddling, just practice for kitchen life.

Barbie!

When Barbie debuted at the New York Toy Fair in March 1959, no one expected that this 29 cm doll would cause such an uproar. Unlike the baby dolls of the time, Barbie had adult proportions, makeup, and fashion styling – and that was enough to ignite a cultural firestorm.

Barbie was inspired by a German doll called Lilli – a character from an adult comic, originally sold in tobacco shops as a men’s novelty. When this concept was repurposed for children, reactions were explosive:

• Conservative parents shouted that Barbie was corrupting kids, sexualizing them with makeup and a womanly figure.
• Clergy members claimed she was Satan’s tool, threatening traditional gender roles – Barbie didn’t teach childcare, but fashion, careers, and independence.
• Educators warned she promoted vanity, pointing to her dangerously slim waist and unrealistic beauty standards.

Ironically, in the 1960s, amid the sexual revolution and the women’s rights movement, Barbie sparked more outrage than some social changes. Many predicted her downfall – yet she became one of the most popular toys of all time. Today, more than 60 years later, she still stirs debate – though no longer as Satan’s invention, but as a cultural icon.

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe!

In 1983, the Masters of the Universe action figures hit toy stores, and the He-Man cartoon debuted on TV. For kids, it was thrilling fantasy full of monsters and magic. For some adults, it was dangerous occult indoctrination.

He-Man drew on classic fantasy tropes: magic objects, a weak prince transforming into a mighty warrior, the eternal battle between good and evil. For conservative critics, this was paganism in disguise.

Prince Adam’s transformation into He-Man by chanting “By the power of Grayskull!” resembled an initiation ritual. Skeletor, with his demonic skull face and lust for power, was seen by some as a clear allegory of Satan.

During the satanic panic of the 1980s in the U.S., these fears had weight. In 1984, a documentary called “Deception of a Generation” accused He-Man of leading kids away from Christ. The author even cited a child who supposedly shouted: “He-Man is the master of the universe, not Jesus!”.

Dungeons & Dragons!

In the 1980s, Dungeons & Dragons wasn’t just a game – it became a cultural battlefield. While many saw it as a tool for imagination, others considered it a gateway to hell. And when D&D figurines of demons and wizards hit the shelves, the panic peaked.

Between 1984–1990, parents’ groups and preachers argued:

• These weren’t toys but demonic idols, akin to pagan statues.
• Some churches held cleansing rituals where D&D sets were destroyed.
• Parents’ associations lobbied to remove D&D from stores, warning it lured kids into cults.

The figurines, especially, drew fire: painting demons, naming them, and swapping them at school breaks looked to adults like trading spirits.

Monster in My Pocket!

In 1989, Monster in My Pocket figurines appeared – small, rubbery monsters and mythological creatures. For kids, they were fun collectibles. For some adults, they were occult traps.

Over 100 figures were made – Cyclops, Medusa, Minotaur, Banshee, Dracula, Frankenstein, and more. Kids traded them in playgrounds; priests and teachers saw demonic influence.

In Catholic schools in the U.S. and Poland, the toys were banned. Figures based on Greek or Norse gods were labelled idolatry. But of course, the forbidden fruit is sweetest – and bans only fuelled underground playground trading.

Pokémon!

When Nintendo released Pokémon Red & Green in 1996, no one expected this game about catching cute creatures to spark one of the biggest moral panics in pop culture.

• Critics pointed to Pokémon evolution as teaching reincarnation, against Christian doctrine.
• In 2001, Saudi Arabia issued a fatwa banning Pokémon, accusing it of containing Masonic symbols and promoting gambling.
• In Poland, some priests urged burning cards and plushies, claiming Pikachu could lead kids away from God.

Meanwhile, kids ignored the demon-talk and just traded cards in secret school clubs. Nintendo even swapped the term “evolution” with “growth” to calm the outrage. The Vatican officially stated Pokémon was harmless fantasy – but not everyone was convinced.

Hello Kitty!

Created in 1974, Hello Kitty became a global icon. But soon urban legends linked the mouthless cat to Satan.

According to one story, the creator – supposedly a desperate mother – made a pact with the devil to cure her daughter’s cancer, creating a character without a mouth as a symbol of the deal. Completely false, of course, but juicy enough to spread worldwide.

In Poland, even an exorcist priest called Hello Kitty a demonic toy, and media ran with the creepy story. The truth? She’s just a cute marketing success story – not a satanic mascot. But the dark version is so much more fun to tell.

Huggy Wuggy!

In 2021, Huggy Wuggy emerged from the horror game Poppy Playtime. In the game, he’s a murderous toy factory experiment. In real life, his plush toys became a craze among kids.

His blue fur and big smile hide sharp teeth – an unsettling parody of cuddly mascots. But kids adored him, even though the game was 16+.

Teachers in the UK and Poland reported children playing Huggy Wuggy – squeezing classmates and whispering threats. Psychologists warned younger kids couldn’t separate the cute toy from the killer monster. Freddy Krueger in plush form.

Labubu!

And now, 2025 – the world has gone mad for Labubu – a small, furry creature with bat ears and sharp teeth, created by a Hong Kong artist. To kids, he’s a quirky cuddle buddy. To some adults, he’s the latest moral panic.

Labubu looks like a cross between a bunny and a nightmare monster – sweet and creepy at the same time. Some see occult undertones, others see nothing more than a creative alternative to the teddy bear.

The truth? Labubu is just the next chapter in the long history of toys that make adults panic and predict the end of civilization.

And so we return to my daughter’s Labubu. He’s standing on the shelf now, looking at me with that devilishly sweet grin. One of the most demonic plushies of all time!