Stable genius? How a defective ‘crying horse’ toy went viral in China

The Guardian - World NewsCenter-LeftEN 2 min read 100% complete by Mat Youkee in TaipeiJanuary 28, 2026 at 05:22 AM
Stable genius? How a defective ‘crying horse’ toy went viral in China

AI Summary

medium article 2 min

A defective "crying horse" stuffed toy, produced by Happy Sister in Yiwu, China, has become a viral sensation ahead of the Chinese New Year. The toy, intended to have a smiling face, was mistakenly manufactured with an upside-down mouth, giving it a sad expression. Despite the error, the toy's popularity surged on Chinese social media, resonating with many who feel overworked and burnt out, particularly due to the demanding "996" work culture. Orders for the "crying horse" have increased dramatically, with the factory adding production lines to meet demand. The toy's appeal extends beyond China, with wholesale orders coming from various regions. The "crying horse" phenomenon highlights a broader trend of "ugly-cute" toys and serves as an outlet for expressing work-related stress.

Keywords

crying horse toy 100% viral trend 80% worker burnout 70% corporate fatigue 70% chinese social media 60% 996 system 50% manufacturing error 50% consumer culture 40%

Sentiment Analysis

Neutral
Score: 0.10

Source Transparency

Source
The Guardian - World News
Political Lean
Center-Left (-0.40)
Far LeftCenterFar Right
Classification Confidence
90%
Geographic Perspective
China

This article was automatically classified using rule-based analysis. The political bias score ranges from -1 (far left) to +1 (far right).

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