Meet CHAKA: The Artist, Story and POP MART Figure Series

Some designer-toy characters are built around a single recognizable expression. CHAKA is different. The character is shaped by light itself: candlelight, moonlight, fireflies, reflections, sparks and the soft glow that remains when everything else becomes quiet. That visual language has made CHAKA POP MART figures especially distinctive among collectors who prefer poetic storytelling, delicate color palettes and art toys with an emotional atmosphere.

This guide introduces the CHAKA IP, the artist behind it and five collectible releases that show how the character’s luminous world continues to evolve. It also explains the difference between CHAKA blind boxes and opened-box figures, helping new collectors decide where to begin.

What Is CHAKA?

CHAKA is a candle-fairy character created around the idea that life cannot exist without light. The name is inspired by the sound of a match being struck. As CHAKA encounters different sources of light, the character changes in form and color—sometimes warm and comforting, sometimes bright and celebratory, and sometimes quiet enough to feel almost dreamlike.

This ability to “catch” light gives the IP an unusually flexible visual identity. One series may turn CHAKA into a tiny traveler moving through a candlelit night, while another explores sewing, flowers, movement or emotional contrasts. The forms change, but the central themes remain recognizable: light, warmth, curiosity, imagination and transformation.

Collectors can follow the official CHAKA account and browse POP MART’s wider CHAKA collection to explore more of the character universe.

Who Created CHAKA? Meet Artist Hanna Li

CHAKA was designed by contemporary artist, illustrator and toy designer Hanna Li, the founder and creative lead of Cand CHAKA Studio. A graduate of the Sichuan Fine Arts Institute, Hanna works across illustration, sculpture and collectible-toy design, using new materials and production techniques to bring art into everyday living spaces.

Her approach is visible in CHAKA’s balance of simplicity and detail. The character remains immediately recognizable, yet each release becomes a new study of texture, atmosphere and illumination. Translucent parts, tiny props, metallic accents and carefully controlled colors are not merely decorative; they help describe what kind of light CHAKA has encountered and what emotion that light carries.

The Hanna Li and CHAKA feature from The Toy Chronicle traces the character’s move from illustration and earlier art collectibles into POP MART’s blind-box format. POP MART has also described the original concept through its statement that CHAKA catches different forms of light and transforms in shape and color; the wording can be viewed in the brand’s official CHAKA introduction.

Why Light Is the Heart of the CHAKA IP

Light is more than a recurring motif in CHAKA—it is the character’s storytelling system. A flame can represent warmth and companionship. A reflected glow can suggest memory or uncertainty. A flash of lightning brings energy, while a candle in the dark becomes a small act of reassurance.

This is why CHAKA figures work so well as a collection. Each design can stand alone, but several figures displayed together begin to feel like fragments of the same visual poem. The earlier Light Sprite Series established this idea through interpretations of candlelight, fireflies, the moon, aurora, fireworks, sunset, lightning, rainbows and waves. Later releases expand the same concept into handcraft, performance, travel, nature and inner emotion.

Five CHAKA Figures and Series to Explore

1. CHAKA Anemones in the Wind Figure

CHAKA Anemones in the Wind Figure is a standalone art figure rather than a mystery blind box. The composition captures a gentle sense of movement, allowing flowers, air and light to feel suspended in one quiet scene. At approximately 10 cm tall and made primarily from PVC, it has enough presence to serve as a focal piece without requiring a large display space.

This is an approachable choice for collectors who want one complete CHAKA design instead of beginning with a multi-character series. It also expresses Hanna Li’s visual language clearly: softness is paired with motion, and a small figure carries a much larger emotional atmosphere.

2. CHAKA Stitch by Stitch Series Figures

The CHAKA Stitch by Stitch Series Figures turns sewing and handcraft into a miniature fantasy world. Thread, needles, buttons, thimbles, patterns and vintage workshop details become part of CHAKA’s environment, giving the series a tactile personality even though the figures are made from PVC and ABS.

The collection contains 12 regular designs plus a secret edition. Regular figures measure approximately 9–10 cm in height, excluding their bases, with widths of roughly 6–8 cm. Designs such as Yarn Chaser, Needle & Thread, Wandering Line and The Perfect Button translate familiar craft objects into playful narratives. The official measurements and material information are available on POP MART’s Stitch by Stitch product page.

At Ri-son, collectors can choose a sealed blind box for the surprise or select an available opened-box design when they prefer a particular character.

3. CHAKA Luminous Reverie Series Figures

The CHAKA Luminous Reverie Series Figures presents the IP at its most airy and dreamlike. Movement runs through the lineup: ripples, feathers, vines, spinning forms and brief encounters all feel as if they could disappear when the light changes.

The series includes 12 regular figures and one secret design, with regular figures measuring approximately 8–10 cm. Names such as Ripple, Guidance, Glide With Grace, Messenger, In a Ginkgo Breeze and Brief Embrace suggest that this collection is less about a single story and more about fleeting impressions. It is particularly suited to collectors who enjoy soft colors, elegant silhouettes and display arrangements that feel calm rather than crowded.

4. CHAKA Candlelit Wander Series Figures

The CHAKA Candlelit Wander Series Figures follows CHAKA through a small nocturnal journey filled with music, wishes, books and imagination. The regular lineup includes Candlelit Dinner, Blessings from Auditorium, Runaway Princess, Starry Conductor, Moonlight Serenade, Milky Way Weaver, Fortune’s Elixir and Voyage Through Pages, with Rise and Shine appearing as the secret edition.

At around 5 cm, these figures are smaller than many standard CHAKA releases, but their sculpted scenes and selected electronic or metallic components give them a surprisingly detailed presence. The compact scale makes the series especially easy to arrange on a desk, narrow shelf or bedside display. POP MART lists the materials as ABS, PVC, electronic components and metal on its official Candlelit Wander page.

5. CHAKA Candle Whisper Series Figures

The CHAKA Candle Whisper Series Figures explores contrast. Float and Sink, Bloom and Wither, Stiff Resistance and Soft Embrace: the designs are paired like opposite emotional states, showing how light can reveal tension as easily as comfort.

There are 12 regular designs plus the Unity secret edition. The figures are approximately 8–10 cm tall and combine PVC, ABS, polyester and electronic components. For collectors interested in the more introspective side of CHAKA, Candle Whisper is one of the clearest expressions of the IP’s emotional range.

Which CHAKA Series Should You Start With?

Choose according to the atmosphere you want your collection to hold. Anemones in the Wind works well as a single sculptural centerpiece. Stitch by Stitch is the strongest match for collectors who love craft-room details and object-based storytelling. Luminous Reverie feels graceful and ethereal, while Candlelit Wander offers smaller narrative scenes. Candle Whisper is ideal for anyone drawn to emotional symbolism and contrasting character pairs.

Collectors who enjoy surprise can select a sealed CHAKA blind box. Those building a specific display can look for an opened-box option, where the identity of the figure has already been confirmed while the original packaging is retained. Explore the full CHAKA collection at Ri-son to compare available series and individual designs.

CHAKA FAQ

1. Who created CHAKA?

CHAKA was created by Hanna Li, a contemporary artist, illustrator and designer-toy creator associated with Cand CHAKA Studio. Her work spans illustration, sculpture, art toys and art-led lifestyle objects.

2. What does the name CHAKA mean?

The name is inspired by the sound of a match being struck. The character catches different kinds of light and transforms into new forms and colors, making light, warmth and change central to the CHAKA story.

3. Are CHAKA figures sold as blind boxes?

Many CHAKA series are released as blind boxes, meaning the design inside remains unknown until the package is opened. Standalone releases such as Anemones in the Wind are sold as identified art figures rather than mystery boxes.

4. What is the difference between a CHAKA blind box and an opened box?

A sealed blind box preserves the surprise. An opened box has been carefully opened to identify the character, allowing collectors to select a specific regular design. Availability and packaging condition should always be checked on the individual product page.

5. Which CHAKA figure is best for a first-time collector?

Anemones in the Wind is an easy starting point for someone who wants one complete display figure. For the traditional blind-box experience, Stitch by Stitch or Luminous Reverie offers a broad lineup with a clear visual theme.