Move over Mickey Mouse: Disney’s hottest hit in China is a pink fox called LinaBell
- LinaBell, a pink fox developed by Shanghai Disney Resort that is largely unknown in the Western world, has become a new fan favourite in China
- Social media plays a key role in the rising popularity of LinaBell, which has yet to appear in any major Disney film or television shows
Around the world, the name Disney is usually associated with classic characters such as Mickey Mouse and Winnie the Pooh, but in China, soft toys of LinaBell – a pink fox that did not exist until four months ago – have become the latest offerings from the “happiest place on Earth” to set off a mania among young consumers.
Three days before New Year’s Eve, thousands of people lined up outside the Shanghai Disney Resort overnight, braving the cold weather in hope of grabbing a prized limited Christmas version of the LinaBell doll. In one video that went viral online, a man who failed to get his hands on the blue-eyed, tartan-skirt-wearing stuffed animal broke down on his knees and yelled that he had blood in his urine for standing too long.
Shanghai Disney Resort, the only location where the item was sold, went on to publish an apology letter on Chinese microblogging platform Weibo, saying that it “regrets that demand could not be all met”.
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Thousands queue at midnight to buy Disney toys in Shanghai
The frenzy around LinaBell, which was introduced as the latest member of Disney’s Duffy and Friends toy line, provides a glimpse of the amount of money that China’s younger generation is willing to spend on a product created by a foreign brand that is tailored to meet their unique tastes and preferences.
May Peng, a woman in her 20s from Guangdong, said that she understands why people would find comfort in being greeted by LinaBell at Shanghai Disney Resort.
“She is a vivid character who is sometimes childish, and sometimes warm. The actor who played the role is very energetic and hard-working,” Peng said. “Think about it, if you can buy happiness with 500 yuan (US$78.4), why not? Life has been really hard, and LinaBell is the sweetest.”
Unlike most Disney characters, LinaBell became a hit in China without first appearing in a film or television show. Rather, just like so many personalities and characters who have found fame in the internet era, LinaBell first landed on many people’s radar through social media.
