LPS4

How Littlest Pet Shop Inspired a Generation

Seventeen years ago, a bobblehead toy sparked a creative movement that transformed bedrooms into film sets and young girls into directors. From its humble beginnings on YouTube with grainy home videos to the legendary high school drama LPS: Popular, the Littlest Pet Shop craze redefined what it meant to tell stories. Now, with a retro-inspired relaunch in 2024 and a fresh wave of creativity on TikTok, the beloved figurines are making a comeback.

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From early YouTube videos to modern TikTok trends, the iconic toys are back in the spotlight.

Written by Miya Moore

Many of us remember the rise of Littlest Pet Shop – the small, bobblehead toys acquired by Hasbro in 2005. Since then, the bug-eyed and brightly coloured pet figurines have exploded onto shelves, with over 3,000 unique designs released. Growing up in the early 2000s meant watching every young girl flaunt her collection, swapping, customising, and filming their Littlest Pet Shop toys with friends and family.

As Littlest Pet Shop (LPS) skyrocketed in popularity, much of its success can be traced to the digital wave of online LPS content. Those familiar with the Internet in the early 2000s and 2010s may recall “LPSTube,” the nickname for a community of YouTubers who turned their Littlest Pet Shop figures into stars. Using the toys as actors, creators crafted dramas, comedies, music videos, and even feature-length films. Girls would animate their figurines with their hands and provide the voices, essentially transforming themselves into miniature directors and voice actors.

Seventeen years ago, the very first LPSTube video was uploaded. On November 22, 2007, a user named LPSlover posted Littlest Pet Shop: The Haunted House. Set in the fictional town of Willow Grove, the story follows characters lured into a haunted house, complete with supernatural encounters and ghostly drama.

At first glance, the grainy home video might seem like a child playing with her toys. But to the LPS community, it was groundbreaking. It’s considered the first recorded example of someone animating their Littlest Pet Shop figures while narrating, laying the foundation for the LPSTube movement and inspiring countless creators to follow suit.

LPSTube became a creative playground for young girls. It was a space to experiment with storytelling, scriptwriting, and video editing. Filmmaking was no longer confined to professionals—it just required a few Littlest Pet Shops and a handheld camera.

As the trend grew, creators became more resourceful with their productions. LPSTube thrived on a DIY spirit, with girls using whatever they could find to build sets and props. Eyedroppers added tears to emotional scenes, glue dots and tape helped figurines hold tiny objects, and household items like Jenga blocks and jewellery boxes became desks and tables. Painted cardboard boxes were transformed into beds, while scraps of fabric became scarves, hats, and blankets.

On July 15, 2010, LPSTube history was made. SophieGTV uploaded the first episode of LPS: Popular, a series that remains iconic within the community. The high school drama follows Savannah Reed, a dachshund navigating her new life at Orange County Day High School, where she clashes with the queen bee, Brooklyn Hayes—a fiery, blonde shorthaired cat. Packed with breakups, scandals, and all the classic teen drama tropes, the series captivated audiences.

LPS: Popular became a cultural touchstone for LPSTube, racking up millions of views per episode and spawning fan art, spin-offs, and imitators. Episode 14, often considered a standout, has amassed 6.9 million views since its release in 2012. Its beloved characters and intricate storylines turned SophieGTV into a legend within the community.

Littlest Pet Shop toys didn’t just spark creativity – they encouraged young girls to dive into content creation at an early age. Many LPSTubers have since grown up and moved on, but their influence remains.

In 2024, Hasbro licensed the Littlest Pet Shop brand to Basic Fun!, a company specialising in collectibles and vintage toys. This January, they launched a new wave of retro-inspired Littlest Pet Shop designs that closely resemble the beloved 2005–2009 originals.

The relaunch has reignited the LPS community, drawing in nostalgic collectors and introducing a new generation to the toy line. Basic Fun! has even integrated a Littlest Pet Shop Roblox game into the relaunch, complete with trading cards and game codes in each package – a nod to today’s gamer culture.

LPS content has also found new life on TikTok, where younger fans are creating short skits, music videos, and fresh takes on the classic LPSTube format. The next wave of Littlest Pet Shop creators is here, blending old-school charm with modern platforms.

While 2007 may feel like a distant memory, one thing is certain: Littlest Pet Shop will continue to inspire young girls to create, imagine, and express themselves in the digital age.

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