Who is Hello Kitty, and where did she come from? After 50 years, a lot could be said about cultural icon Hello Kitty, but first of all, there’s Hello Kitty the character and Hello Kitty the worldwide multimedia phenomenon. And being the global sensation that she is, Hello Kitty has generated a variety of spinoffs, such as animated series, comics, films, video games, and music. Here, we attempt to give you insight into who she is and what makes her so special, her origin and history, some of the rare collectibles you might come across, a sample of the many Hello Kitty toys and collectibles available to you today, and of course, the exciting 50th anniversary/birthday of her creation.
The History of Hello Kitty
Sanrio Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Hello Kitty with Balloon Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure #76
A good deal of Kitty’s history is told through the animated series, video games, etc. discussions down below. But let us expand on that. Hello Kitty was created by Yuko Shimizu in 1974, and the first item she appeared on was a vinyl coin purse in 1975. The Hello Kitty property is owned by Japanese company Sanrio and is currently designed by Yuko Yamaguchi, who has done so since 1980. Kitty was originally known only as “the white kitten with no name,” but Sanrio’s founder, Shintaro Tsuji, later named her Hello Kitty in deference to the company’s motto: “social communication.” Her full formal name is Kitty White.
According to Sanrio, “Hello Kitty was born in the suburbs of London. She lives with her parents and her twin sister Mimmy who is her best friend. Her hobbies include baking cookies and making new friends. As she always says, ‘you can never have too many friends!'”
Is Hello Kitty a Cat?
Sanrio Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Jumbo Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure #79
Kitty is an anthropomorphized white cat, always with a red bow. One of her notable features is that she appears to have no mouth. She’s described as being five apples tall and weighing three apples. (We leave that to you to figure out!) Kitty is kindhearted and smart, and in addition to her baking skills and love of her mom’s apple pie, she likes to play the piano and collect cute things. No surprise there!
Hello Kitty and Friends Characters
Hello Kitty and Friends Plush Halloween Food Truck Set of 4
Along the way since her inception back in the 1970s, Hello Kitty has acquired a family and friends. There’s her twin sister Mimmy (with a yellow rather than a red bow), their father George, their mother Mary, Grandma Margaret and Grandpa Anthony, and boyfriend Dear Daniel, Sugar (her pet hamster), Charmmy Kitty (her pet cat), and other animal pals such as Tippy and Thomas (bears), Joey and Judy (mice), Rorry the squirrel, and Tracy the raccoon. There are also oodles of other Sario characters you may have seen with Hello Kitty in the likes of the animated series The Adventures of Hello Kitty & Friends. For example: My Melody, Kuromi, Keroppi, Pompompurin, Pochacco, Cinnamoroll, and Bad Badtz-Maru. Like we said, she likes to make friends.
While Hello Kitty was initially marketed to pre-teenage girls, the 1990s saw adult consumers getting into the game, including several celebrities such as Mariah Carey. This caused growth in the brand that continued with the birth of the kawaii (cute) culture in Japan. However, as the brand continued to expand internationally, it also experienced a decline in Japan following the 1990s. Her global popularity continued to rise, and in 2008, there were over 50,000 different Hello Kitty branded products. By 2013 on the eve of her 40th birthday, Hello Kitty worldwide sales had reached $8 billion. She’s been particularly popular in Asian countries, such as China where her success has been compared to that of Barbie in the U.S. and Western world. Not bad for a cute little white puddy tat, eh?
How popular is Kitty? In 2016, 80% of people aged 18 to 23 surveyed in the USA knew the Hello Kitty name. That’s name recognition!
Why Doesn’t Hello Kitty Have a Mouth?
You may have wondered why adorable Hello Kitty has no mouth. You aren’t alone. In response to that question, spokespeople for Sanrio have stated that Kitty has no mouth because they want people to “project their feelings onto the character” and “be happy or sad together with Hello Kitty.” Another explanation Sanrio provided for Kitty’s lack of a mouth is that she “speaks from the heart. She’s Sanrio’s ambassador to the world and isn’t bound to any particular language.” On the other hand, artist and current Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi said that “Kitty has a mouth” that is “hidden in the fur.” Hmmm… So, now you know what we know regarding this amusing and perplexing situation.
Hello Kitty Is Everywhere
Hello Kitty x All Might 3D Foam Magnet
In case you haven’t noticed, about anywhere you go or look, you see the cute-as-can-be, one-and-only Hello Kitty. Ubiquitous is a big word, but it just might apply here. She does seem to be everywhere! And what’s more, people love her and often smile when they see her. That’s saying something. Below, we’ll discuss some of the many ways Kitty has permeated our society and our minds… which doesn’t bother us one bit. Which of these have entered your universe?
Hello Kitty Animated Series
There have been a LOT of Hello Kitty animated series over the years, dating back to 1997. We’re not going to try to cover each of them in detail, but here’s a chronological list so you can appreciate the popularity and number of Kitty animations that have graced the small screen. You might want to take a look.
- Hello Kitty’s Furry Tale Theater is a 13-episode animated series from 1997. It involves Hello Kitty and her friends spoofing their own version of popular fairy tales.
- The Sanrio Animation Series is a series of 80 Japanese OVAs produced from 1989 to 1998. 28 were dubbed in English under the name Hello Kitty and Friends and aired in Canada on YTV.
- The animated series Kitty’s Paradise (1999 – 2011) features Hello Kitty and her sister Mimmy. It was the longest running weekly children’s program in TV Tokyo’s history.
- Featuring Hello Kitty and her sister Mimmy as they learn life lessons, Together with Hello Kitty is a series of OVAs by Sanrio. The first 16 episodes were released on video from 1994 to 1998, while the second 16 came out in 2001 and again from AnimEigo on DVD in 2012 as Growing Up With Hello Kitty.
- Sanrio Anime World Masterpiece Theater is a 13-episode series from 2001. It was again released in 2005 in the 13-episode home video titled Hello Kitty’s Animation Theater.
- Hello Kitty’s Stump Village is a Japanese / South Korean stop-motion animated series from 2005, later released on DVD and TV in Japan and Korea. It includes 21 episodes and is narrated, without any dialog.
- Produced by Asahi Production, the Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori anime series from 2006 to 2008 is divided into three seasons: Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori no Fantasy, Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori no Mystery, and Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori to Parallel Town. It was never released in English.
- The 3D CGI-animated series Adventures of Hello Kitty & Friends ran from 2008 to 2009. It features Kitty and other Sanrio characters.
- 2016 to 2019 brought us The World of Hello Kitty, a 2D flash-animated web series of shorts. It includes 76 episodes and 19 video clips, with the last season themed to honor Kitty’s 45th birthday. Other Sanrio characters, such as Keroppi, Badtz-Maru, and Chococat, also appear in that series.
- 2017’s Hello Kitty & Friends – Let’s Learn Together is interesting because it’s an animated series of 21 seven-minute educational web shorts by Sanrio. An English version came out on DVD in 2018.
- Hello Kitty dons her YouTuber hat and talks to the camera and her audience about her life in the Hello Kitty Channel CGI-animated web series from 2018. Pretty cool, huh?
- To commemorate the 45th anniversary of Hello Kitty and 40th anniversary of the animated series Mobile Suit Gundam, the crossover series Gundam vs Hello Kitty was launched in 2019. It consists of only three episodes on YouTube.
- Hello Kitty Fun (2019 – 2021) is another 2D flash-animated web series of shorts, but this time featuring hand-drawn art and no dialog. Kitty is the only character appearing in this Latin YouTube series. The English version is titled Sweet Moments with Hello Kitty.
- And then there’s Hello Kitty: Super Style! (2022 – 2024), a 52-episode CGI-animated series on Amazon Kids+. Carly Rae Jepsen sings the theme song.
- Last but certainly not least, Hello Kitty and Friends Supercute Adventures launched in 2020 and is still running today. You’ll find it on the official Hello Kitty and Friends YouTube channel. It stars a bunch of Sanrio characters along with Kitty – Keroppi, Badtz-Maru, My Melody, Pompompurin, Kuromi, Chococat, Cinnamoroll, and Pochacco. You should check it out!
Kitty in the Comics
You can find Hello Kitty in two Japanese comic series serialized in shōjo manga magazine Ribon: Hello Kitty Doki (2007 and 2008) and Hello Kitty Peace (released in 2008). In addition, in 2016, Sanrio launched a webcomic featuring Hello Kitty as a strawberry-themed superhero called Ichigoman (ichigo meaning “strawberry”). This webcomic is created by Toshiki Inoue and Shakua Sinkai and updates once a month. Ichigoman first appeared in 2011 in an exhibition of Yuko Yamaguchi’s art.
Hello Kitty in Film
Yes, Kitty has appeared in movies. In fact, there were three Hello Kitty anime films released in Japan. They include 1989’s Hello Kitty: Cinderella, Hello Kitty no Oyayubi Hime in 1990, and Hello Kitty no Mahō no Mori no Ohime-sama released in 1991.
In 2015, Sanrio announced a full-length Hello Kitty theatrical feature initially planned for 2019, with New Line Cinema teaming up with Sanrio and Flynn Picture Company for an “English language film based on the venerable kid brand.” Jennifer Coyle and Leo Matsuda would direct the film, with Known Universe’s Lindsey Beer as the scriptwriter. According to IMDb in 2024, this film is still in the works as an animated/live-action hybrid, but the plot details and release date are under wraps at this time. In a statement, New Line President / Chief Creative Officer Richard Brener said the studio was “extremely lucky to have found in Jennifer and Leo, two directors who not only share a profound connection to the unforgettable characters Shintaro Tsuji and Sanrio have created over the past 40+ years with Hello Kitty and her friends, but also have the imagination, talent and heart to bring this iconic world to life on the big screen.” Are you ready for it? We are!
Hello Kitty Video Games
As is the case with the animated series above, there is a plethora of Hello Kitty video games dating back to 1992, with most never released outside Japan. In addition, Kitty has appeared in a number of games featuring other Sanrio characters. We’re not going to list all Kitty’s video games here, nor are we going to go into detail on any of them. This is only a partial list, again in chronological order. Try not to fall asleep!
- Hello Kitty World by Famicon in 1992
- Platformer game Hello Kitty no Hanabatake by Famicon in 1992
- The piano simulation Hello Kitty’s Big Fun Piano in 1994
- Kitty the Kool from Imagineer for PlayStation in 1998
- Life-simulation minigame collection Hello Kitty’s Cube Frenzy for PlayStation and Game Boy Color in 1998
- The handheld Dance Dance Revolution game DDR Hello Kitty in 1999
- The Hello Kitty Simple 1500 series games for PlayStation
- Sugoroku (board) game Gotouchi Hello Kitty Sugoroku Monogatari for PlayStation in 2003
- 2005’s Hello Kitty: Happy Party Pals for Game Boy Advance is an action-adventure game.
- Another action-adventure game is Hello Kitty: Roller Rescue from 2005 for Xbox, GameCube, and PlayStation 2.
- Puzzle game Mainichi Suteki! Hello Kitty no Life Kit from 2007 for Nintendo DS
- Another series of games for PlayStation 2 is the Hello Kitty Simple 2000 series from 2007.
- Kitty moves to the Big City, meets other Sanrio characters, and makes new friends in the Nintendo DS adventure game Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams from 2008.
- Hello Kitty Daily from 2008 is a Nintendo DS PDA app featuring a diary, a calendar, an alarm clock, a money management system, and a school planner. How about that?
- You can create and customize characters and then have them socialize with one another, mine for ore, battle monsters, perform domestic chores like farming and cooking, and participate in quests if you play the online MMORPG Hello Kitty Online from 2009.
- Hello Kitty Parachute Paradise is a 2009 iPhone / iPod Touch game with tilt-based controls.
- Developed by Examu to commemorate the 50th anniversary of Sanrio, 2010’s Apron of Magic is an arcade / iOS / Nintendo 3DS card game featuring Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters.
- Want to help Sanrio Town? You can as its Deputy Mayor in Hello Kitty Seasons from 2010 for Wii.
- Hello Kitty Picnic for Nintendo 3DS in 2012
- A kart racing game featuring Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters, Hello Kitty Kruisers, came out in 2014 for iOS, Wii U, and Nintendo Switch.
- Hello Kitty and Friends: Happiness Parade from 2022 for iOS and Android and 2023 for Switch is a rhythm game.
- And 2023’s Hello Kitty Island Adventure for Apple Arcade is a social-simulation game that takes place on an island visited by various Sanrio characters.
Kitty in Music
Hello Kitty also has a presence in the world of music, as evidenced by the following: Musician Yoshiki Hayashi unveiled the Hello Kitty theme song “Hello Hello” in November 2014 at the first Hello Kitty Con. Yoshiki is also the first celebrity to have his own Hello Kitty doll, “Yoshikitty.” Hello Kitty has her own branded album, Hello World, under her own Lakeshore Records label. It features Kitty-inspired songs performed by artists that include Cori Yarckin, Keke Palmer, and Ainjel Emme. There are other songs that make reference to Hello Kitty, such as Canadian singer-songwriter Avril Lavigne’s 2013 “Hello Kitty,” and Hello Kitty was chosen by AH Software to be the basis of the Vocaloid Nekomura Iroha to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sanrio.
Hello Kitty Crossovers and Collaborations
It should come as no big surprise that as popular as Hello Kitty is, there have been a lot of crossovers and collaborations with her over the years. It seems like everyone wants to be with Kitty! Below are a few examples from our website, but there are also many others, such as Hello Kitty UNO, Apron of Magic, Doraemon, Sonic the Hedgehog, Tamagotchi, Animal Crossing, Pac-Man, Yuri on Ice, Garfield, Tetris, Jujutsu Kaisen, and Fruits Basket. These get-togethers are fun for fans of both sides of the crossover, and some are quite clever and amazing.
Mobile Suit Gundam Hello Kitty and MS-06S Char’s Zaku II SD Gundam Cross Silhouette Model Kit
Mobile Suit Gundam Hello Kitty and MS-06S Char’s Zaku II SD Gundam Cross Silhouette Model Kit
Gundam x Hello Kitty Guncannon Hello Kitty FiGPiN Classic 3-Inch Enamel Pin
Gundam x Hello Kitty Guncannon Hello Kitty FiGPiN Classic 3-Inch Enamel Pin
Naruto x Hello Kitty and Friends Keroppi as Jiraiya 13-Inch Medium Plush
Naruto x Hello Kitty and Friends Keroppi as Jiraiya 13-Inch Medium Plush
Naruto x Hello Kitty Naruto Uzumaki 13-Inch Plush
Naruto x Hello Kitty Naruto Uzumaki 13-Inch Plush
Attack on Titan x Hello Kitty and Friends Erwin FiGPiN Classic 3-Inch Enamel Pin
Attack on Titan x Hello Kitty and Friends Erwin FiGPiN Classic 3-Inch Enamel Pin
Hello Kitty x All Might 3D Foam Magnet based on My Hero Academia
Hello Kitty x All Might 3D Foam Magnet
More and More Hello Kitty!
In addition to all the above, there are Hello Kitty theme parks and attractions, cafes, restaurants, wine, and even a maternity ward in a hospital. EVA Airways had passenger jets decorated in Hello Kitty style, and UNICEF named Hello Kitty as children’s ambassador to the United States in 1983 and to Japan in 1994, plus they gave her the title of UNICEF Special Friend of Children in 2004, a title unique to her. There truly is no end to Kitty’s presence and popularity!
Hello Kitty Merchandise
Hello Kitty Kaiju PVC Figural Bank
As we said above, Hello Kitty was originally targeted to the pre-teen female market, with products such as dolls, board games, stickers, backpacks, lunch boxes, piggy banks, school supplies like pencils and erasers, clothes and accessories, greeting cards, and stationery. This has since expanded to include purses. televisions, toasters, other home appliances, computer equipment, massagers, and even motor oil(?!). These products range from mass-market items to high-end consumer products (like a Hello Kitty Stratocaster guitar by Fender) and rare collectibles. (See down below for more data on these.) It’s reported that as of 2014, more than 50,000 Hello Kitty product lines were available in over 130 countries. Imagine how many there are today!
And speaking of clothing, Hello Kitty and Doc Martens manufacturer Dr. Martens collaborated in 2010 and again in 2020 to produce platform sandals and boots and a satchel. In 2018, Puma collaborated with Hello Kitty to create sneakers for both children and adults, and Converse and Sanrio got together to create a collection that includes shoes in kid and adult sizes, plus bags and clothing. Skechers partnered with Hello Kitty in 2020, releasing chunky-soled shoes with Hello Kitty’s brand logo, face, and ever-present bow. In addition, Forever 21 teamed up with Hello Kitty on clothing collections on several occasions, beginning in 2011. So, there’s lots of fun Kitty wear to show to your friends and flaunt your fandom!
Rare Hello Kitty Collectibles
As you already know, Hello Kitty items are fun, cute as can be, and make great gifts. But they’re also collectible, and some are quite valuable. Many of the most valuable Hello Kitty collectibles are vintage or limited edition items, and here are a few examples:
- In 2014, a one-of-a-kind Hello Kitty doll covered in diamonds, sapphires, and other precious gems was valued at over $150,000.
- Vintage Hello Kitty Stratocaster guitars were among the most popular musical instruments sold on reverb.com in 2022. Originally priced at $230, some resold for over $1,000.
- The vintage plush Hello Kitty Doll Bijou Boutique Sanrio Japan Only dolls from 1993 and Sanrio Smiles vintage 1999 Hello Kitty Angel Collectible 18-Inch Plush are also highly sought after and cherished.
- Other vintage plush toys from the early years of Kitty’s popularity, in good condition and with the original tags, can be valuable.
- Vintage 1970s and 1980s lunchboxes and backpacks in excellent condition with original packaging are often prized by collectors.
- Limited edition Hello Kitty necklaces and pendants crafted from precious metals and featuring gemstones can be quite valuable, especially if they’re part of a small production run.
- Similarly, limited edition Hello Kitty figurines made by reputable manufacturers such as Swarovski or produced exclusively for specific events or collaborations can command high prices in the collectibles market.
- Original artwork – paintings, sculptures, or other artistic interpretations of Hello Kitty – created by renowned artists can be valuable collectibles.
- Hello Kitty items signed by designers, Sanrio executives, and other key individuals associated with the character can also hold significant value for collectors.
Modern Hello Kitty Toys and Collectibles
While rare collectibles are undeniably cool, you might be more interested in the modern-day Hello Kitty toys and collectibles and what’s available now to feed your thirst for all things Kitty. In that vein, we present some delectable samples to whet your appetite:
Hello Kitty Plush
There are scads of Hello Kitty plush waiting for you to squeeze and hug, and we know you don’t want to disappoint them… or you! Children love them, and they look terrific on your bed or couch. Plus, who doesn’t want to receive a soft and snuggly Kitty plush as a gift? Here are a few examples of what’s in store for you: the Hello Kitty 13-Inch Premium Plush, the Hello Kitty Capricorn Star Sign Medium Plush, and the Hello Kitty and Friends Plush Halloween Food Truck Set of 4.
Hello Kitty Pop! Vinyl Figures
Aren’t those Funko Pop! Vinyl figures adorable? And what collectors like as well is that they’re inexpensive and small, so you can fit a whole bunch of them into a small space. Plus, what could be better than Pops! starring the one-and-only Hello Kitty and her friends? Want to see an example? Get a load of these: the Hello Kitty with Glasses Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure #65, the Hello Kitty Polar Bear Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure #69, and the Sanrio Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Jumbo Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure #79. Look for more on the Entertainment Earth website.
Key Chains Featuring Hello Kitty
If you’d also like to hold your Kitty collectibles close by and take them with you wherever you go, you should check out our selection of Hello Kitty key chains. Attach them to your purse, bag, backpack, car mirror, or anyplace you like for a little “Kitty fun on the road.” We know it’s hard to pick just one from the likes of the Hello Kitty Head Pewter Key Chain, the Hello Kitty Time to Shine Vinyl Key Chain Random 4-Pack, and the Hello Kitty Fruit 3D Foam Bag Clip Display Case of 24, so don’t punish yourself. Grab a few for you and your friends!
Hello Kitty Pins
Hello Kitty pins are another fun way to take Kitty along on your adventures in life. Who knows? Maybe you or someone you meet could use a smile and a bit of cheering up from time to time, and the Hello Kitty Holiday Dress Classic 3-Inch Enamel Pin, the Attack on Titan x Hello Kitty and Friends Hello Kitty FiGPiN Classic 3-Inch Enamel Pin, the Hello Kitty Halloween Enamel Pins Random 6-Pack, or another delightful Kitty pin just might do the trick. These cute pins also make terrific gifts, you know.
Travel Cups, Mugs, and Water Bottles
Talk about satisfying your thirst for all things Kitty, check out these awesome Hello Kitty travel cups, mugs, and water bottles! How about a Hello Kitty 16 oz. Sculpted Ceramic Mug, a Hello Kitty 40 oz Stainless Steel Water Bottle, or a Hello Kitty Rainbow and Dots 20 oz. Ceramic Mug? And there’s more where these came from. See what you think.
But Wait – There’s More!
Look for mini-figures, constructible figures, hats, magnets, bags, banks, and much more right here at Entertainment Earth, your one-stop shop for Hello Kitty toys and collectibles of all kinds.
Celebrate Hello Kitty’s 50th Anniversary!
Sanrio Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Hello Kitty in Cake Funko Pop! Vinyl Figure #75
This is a big deal! For five decades, Hello Kitty has inspired generations, and her message of friendship, kindness, and inclusivity transcends cultures and continues to resonate with fans of all ages. 2024 marks 50 years of Hello Kitty, and no one deserves a celebration more than this sweetheart. Just think of all the joy and laughter she’s brought people worldwide over these past decades. Of course, there will be plenty of happenings and new products to commemorate this momentous event, and hopefully you’ll get to participate in many of them. Some of the new Hello Kitty merchandise is already here for you on our website, with more to come, and the following are a few of the exciting happenings and goings on related to the celebration:
- AH Software chose Hello Kitty to be the basis of the new Vocaloid Nekomura Iroha to celebrate the 50th anniversary.
- Examu developed an arcade card game called Apron of Magic in commemoration. The game features Hello Kitty and other notable Sanrio characters.
- Hello Kitty and Sanrio Friends celebrates Sanrio’s 50th anniversary at Build-A-Bear Workshop.
- Japanese musician, songwriter, composer, and record producer Yoshiki Hayashi is the composer of the theme song for Hello Kitty’s 50th Anniversary.
- There’s a Parker Brothers / Hasbro Hello Kitty Collector’s Edition Monopoly Game and a 2024 Hello Kitty – 50 Year Anniversary Collector’s Edition Calendar.
- Hello Kitty wants to promote friendship to everyone in the world, including in the digital space. So, Sanrio is kicking things into high gear with digital promotions, including a collaboration with Global DJ Steve Aoki!
- To celebrate Kitty’s 50th anniversary, TikTok created a dedicated Hello Kitty animation account, “This is Hello Kitty.”
- Zepeto Avatar, the popular platform renowned for its customizable 3D avatars and social networking, is now home to a dedicated Hello Kitty environment.
- The Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC), known for its commitment to promoting understanding and friendship between the U.S. and Japan, presented Hello Kitty with the Cultural Ambassador Award, recognizing her as an international symbol of peace and friendship. Works for us!
The list goes on and on, with more fun and excitement being added every day. Don’t miss your chance to be part of it!
To stay in the loop on all of the anniversary fun, revisit entertainmentearth.com, follow @hellokitty on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok, and Pinterest, and subscribe to the Hello Kitty and Friends YouTube Channel.
