Hello Kitty is certainly one of the biggest icons of kawaii culture in Japan. Her success and popularity have significantly marked not only Japanese culture but also that of much of the world.
It is very difficult for you to have at least not seen Hello Kitty or other Sanrio characters printed on school supplies like pencil cases, bags, pencil sharpeners, as well as in drawings, movies, and various other products.
In this article, we will learn a little more about Hello Kitty and other iconic characters from the series. We will see how Hello Kitty was conceived? How did she become an icon of Kawaii culture?
Table of Contents
Who is Hello Kitty?
Her full name is Kitty White (キティホワイト, Gata Branca), she is a character depicted as a white kitten of the Japanese Bobtail breed. She usually wears a blue overalls, a yellow shirt, and a red bow on her head.
The kitten has a simple design with few features but is incredibly cute. One of the most interesting details about her design is the fact that she does not have a mouth, which later caused a series of rumors about the character.
According to Sanrio, Hello Kitty does not have a mouth because they want people to project their “feelings” onto the character and have a connection with her. Another explanation from the company is that their mascot “speaks from the heart” and is not tied to any language.
Hello Kitty was born in London on November 1st, has a sweet, friendly, and very extroverted personality, and is very close to her family, which consists of her father George, her mother Mary, and her twin sister Mimmy.
In addition to her family, she has a boyfriend named Daniel and several friends, among whom we can highlight My Melody, who is her best friend. We will talk about these characters later.
Her origin
Hello Kitty was originally created by designer Yuko Shimizu in 1974 for the Sanrio company where she worked, about a year later she left the company and her character passed into the hands of Setsuko Yonekubo until 1980, from then on the responsibility passed into the hands of Japanese designer Yuko Yamaguchi.
The name “Kitty” was based on a black cat that the main character Alice played with in the book “Alice Through the Looking Glass” by Lewis Carroll.
After choosing the name Kitty, Sanrio’s founder Shintaro Tsuji wanted the kitten to carry the company’s motto “social communication,” which is how the character became “Hello Kitty.”
She was designed for the pre-teen female market and had a good acceptance from the public leading to the expansion of her products to clothing, school supplies, plush toys, toys, stickers, bags, and a giant array of products.
She made her first appearance on a vinyl coin purse that became the best-selling item of that year in Japan. The great popularity of Hello Kitty made her one of the most influential characters in the Kawaii scene and the official mascot of Sanrio, which also created Gudetama, with a recognition of about 92% of the global population.
Her animated series
Her first animated series on television was called “Hello Kitty’s Furry Tale Theatre” which was produced in 1986 and contains 13 episodes. Its plot was basically Hello Kitty along with her friends reenacting famous fairy tales.
In 1993, a new animated series titled “Hello Kitty and Friends” was released, which also contained 13 episodes. Some time later, “Hello Kitty’s Paradise” was released in 1999 with 16 episodes.
In 2004, “Hello Kitty Stump Village” was released in Korea containing 26 episodes. In 2006, Sanrio Digital and Dream Cortex produced a 3D animated series called “The Adventures of Hello Kitty and Her Friends,” which has 52 episodes.
In 2018, Hello Kitty gained an official channel on YouTube, which features vlog-style videos where Kitty talks about her interests and shows her travels. In 2020, Sanrio launched a free series on YouTube on the channel “Hello Kitty and Friends.”
Some of Hello Kitty’s characters
Now, let’s talk a little about some of the Sanrio characters that accompany her in the Hello Kitty series.
Mary White
Mary White is Kitty’s mother and George White’s wife. She is a white cat that resembles Hello Kitty’s design, wearing a yellow hat, a long dress with an apron, and shoes.
Mary has a very cheerful, kind personality and shows to be quite protective and caring towards her husband and daughters.
In addition to her pleasant personality, Mary has great cooking skills and is also an excellent seamstress. She has a clothing repair business in which she is successful.
George White
George White is Hello Kitty and Mimmy’s father and Mary’s husband. He is the head of the White family and his appearance is also similar to the rest of the family, that is, he is a white cat.
He has a more serious appearance and usually wears office attire such as: collared shirts, ties, dress pants, shoes, and black glasses. He also smokes a pipe.
George has a calm and serious personality, is very hardworking, and despite spending a lot of time working, he always manages to find time to enjoy with his family.
Mimmy White
Mimmy White is Kitty’s twin sister. Being an identical twin, she has the same physical appearance as her sister, being a white cat with a yellow nose and like Kitty, she does not have a mouth. She also wears a yellow bow on her left ear.
She has a more introverted and shy personality than her sister and is also very polite and attentive. Mimmy is very close to Kitty and they have a strong bond.
My Melody
My Melody is Hello Kitty’s best friend, she is a white rabbit and wears a red or pink hood with a flower or a bow on the right side of the hood.
My Melo (as she is often known) is a cheerful girl who was born in the Mariland forest in London. Her favorite food is an almond pound cake and her hobby is baking cookies with her mother.
Dear Daniel
Dear Daniel or Daniel Star (as he is generally known) is Hello Kitty’s childhood friend and boyfriend, he is a cat of the same breed as Kitty (Bobtail), and they have known each other since childhood.
Daniel is vain and always cares about being fashionable, he is also very kind and attentive. Both he and his family have lived in various places around the world, before returning to England they had a stint in New York.
This experience allowed Daniel to become a great dancer. He dreams of becoming a celebrity or a photographer like his father in the future.
Details about Hello Kitty
- Full name: Kitty White.
- Birth date: November 1, 1974 (Scorpio sign).
- Place of birth: Suburb of London, England.
- Family:
- Father: George White.
- Mother: Mary White.
- Twin sister: Mimmy White (yellow bow).
- Pet: Cat Charmmy Kitty.
- Creator: Yuko Shimizu.
- Company: Sanrio (Japan).
- Creation objective: Attract the female audience to school products.
Characteristics
- Age: 3rd grade of elementary school.
- Height: 5 apples.
- Weight: 3 apples.
- Favorite food: Apple pie.
- Hobbies:
- Traveling.
- Making new friends.
- Listening to music.
- Playing piano.
- Playing tennis.
- Curiosities:
- She has no mouth so that people can project their own emotions.
- The red bow on her left ear is her favorite fashion item.
- She was named a UNICEF ambassador in 1983.
- She has a line of licensed products that includes clothing, accessories, toys, stationery, and much more.
Cultural impact
- Global icon: Recognized in over 100 countries.
- Symbol of kawaii culture: Represents cuteness, innocence, and optimism.
- Billion-dollar brand: Generates billions of dollars in sales each year.
- Inspiration for artists and designers: Collaborations with famous brands like Chanel, Louis Vuitton, and Supreme.
- Presence in pop culture: Appearances in movies, series, music videos, and songs.
Less known facts
- Not a cat: Despite her appearance, Sanrio defines her as a “happy girl.”
- Has a boyfriend: Daniel Star, a British boy.
- Inspiration for the name: “Kitty” comes from a character in the book “Alice in Wonderland.”
- Had an anime series: “Hello Kitty’s Paradise” aired from 1996 to 1997.
- Hello Kitty Museum: Located in the city of Hakone, Japan.
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