Hello Kitty: Difference between revisions

{{other uses}}

{{Infobox character

| name = Hello Kitty

| color = white

| series = [[Sanrio]]

| image = Hello kitty character portrait.png

| image_size = 200px

| caption = Hello Kitty

| first = 1974

| creator = [[Yuko Shimizu]]

| portrayer =

| voice = '''English:'''<br>[[Tara Strong]] <small>(''[[Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater]]'')</small><br>[[Karen Bernstein]] <small>(''Daisuki! Hello Kitty'')</small><br>[[Monica Rial]] <small>(''Hello Kitty's Animation Theater'')</small><br>[[Melissa Fahn]] <small>(''Hello Kitty's Paradise'')</small><br>'''Japanese:'''<br>[[Fuyumi Shiraishi]] <small>(''Kitty and Mimmy's New Umbrella'')</small><br>[[Mami Koyama]] <small>(''Hello Kitty's Cinderella'')</small><br>[[Akemi Okamura]]<br>[[Yuko Kobayashi]] <small>(''Playing with English: Hello Kitty's Magical Journey'')</small><br>[[Kyōko Hikami]] <small>(''[[Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater]] Japanese Dub and Daisuki! Hello Kitty'')</small><br>[[Megumi Hayashibara]] <small>(''Current Voice Actress'')</small>

| nickname = Hello Kitty

| lbl21 = Kitty White

| data21 = Kitty White<ref name="sanriocharacterdetails">{{cite web|title=Hello Kitty|url=http://www.sanrio.co.jp/english/characters/detail/hellokitty/index.html|publisher=Sanrio|accessdate=22 December 2010|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110624000114/http://www.sanrio.co.jp/english/characters/detail/hellokitty/index.html|archivedate=24 June 2011}}</ref>

| birthplace = Suburbs of London, England

| species = Gijinka (anthropomorphization of [[human]] and [[Japanese Bobtail]] cat)

| gender = Female

| family = Mimmy White, George White, Mary White, Anthony, Margaret<ref name="sanriofamily" />

| spouse =

| significantother =

| children =

| relatives =

| nationality = British<ref name="sanriocharacterdetails"/>

}}

{{Nihongo|'''Hello Kitty'''|ハロー・キティ|Harō Kiti|lead=yes}},<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.excite.co.jp/News/bit/E1215736595745.html|script-title=ja:サンリオキャラクターたちの本名、言えますか？|accessdate=2008-07-11|date=2008-07-11|language=Japanese}}</ref> (full name: {{Nihongo|'''Kitty White'''|キティ・ホワイト|Kiti Howaito}})<ref name="sanriocharacterdetails"/> is a [[Character (arts)|fictional character]] produced by the Japanese company [[Sanrio]], created by [[Yuko Shimizu]] and currently designed by [[Yuko Yamaguchi]]. She is depicted as an [[Anthropomorphism|anthropomorphic]] white [[Japanese Bobtail]] cat with a red bow.<ref name="npr">{{cite web|url=http://www.npr.org/2010/12/03/131755914/hello-kitty-hooks-generations-on-cute-kitsch |title=Hello Kitty Hooks Generations On Cute, Kitsch |publisher=NPR |date=2010-12-03 |accessdate=2012-08-13}}</ref>

Shortly after her creation in 1974, Hello Kitty greeted the world with a "Hello!" on her very first product. The Hello Kitty vinyl coin purse was introduced by Sanrio in March 1975. The character was then brought to the United States in 1976.<ref name="Dhamija">{{cite web|url=http://www.toydirectory.com/MONTHLY/Apr2003/designinspiration.asp|title=Designing an Icon: Hello Kitty Transcends Generational and Cultural Limits|last=Dhamija|first=Tina |date=April 1, 2003|publisher=ToyDirectory |accessdate=2008-12-28}}</ref><ref name="Hello Kitty celebrates 30">{{cite web|url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2005-08/19/content_470573.htm|title=Hello Kitty celebrates 30|date=2005-08-19|work=China News Daily|accessdate=2008-12-28}}</ref> The character is a staple of the ''[[kawaii]]'' segment of [[Japanese popular culture]].<ref name="timeyamaguchi">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1834451,00.html|title=10 Questions for Yuko Yamaguchi|last=Takagi|first=Jun |date=August 21, 2008|work=TIME |accessdate=2009-10-31}}</ref> By 2010, Sanrio had groomed Hello Kitty into a global marketing phenomenon worth $5 billion a year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/15/business/global/15kitty.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0|last=Tabuchi|first=Hiroko |title=In Search of Adorable, as Hello Kitty Gets Closer to Goodbye|date=May 14, 2010 |work=[[The New York Times]] |accessdate=2012-10-06}}</ref> By 2014, when Hello Kitty was 40 years old, she was worth about $7 billion a year, all without advertising except on Sanrio's, related show producers', and ticket sales' webpages and at show venues and nearby locations.<ref>Detroit Free Press, ''HELLO KITTY STILL BOWLING ’EM OVER'', by Jenee Osterheldt, page D1, July 14, 2014</ref>

Originally aimed at pre-adolescent females, Hello Kitty's market has broadened to include adult consumers. She can be found on a variety of products ranging from school supplies to fashion accessories and high-end consumer products. Including various diamond necklaces. Several [[Hello Kitty (TV series)|Hello Kitty TV series]], targeted towards young children, have been produced. Hello Kitty is also the main character at the two Japanese Sanrio theme parks, Harmonyland and the indoor [[Sanrio Puroland]].

==Character==

Initially known only as "the white kitten with no name" (名前のない白い子猫),<ref name="kotaku">{{cite web|last1=Ashcroft|first1=Brian|title=Don't Be Silly, Hello Kitty Is a Cat|url=http://kotaku.com/dont-be-silly-hello-kitty-is-a-cat-1627820750|accessdate=29 August 2014}}</ref> the official character profiles for Hello Kitty now lists her full name as {{nihongo|Kitty White|キティ・ホワイト|Kiti Howaito}}, born in the suburbs of [[London, England]], on November 1. Her height is described as five apples and her weight as three apples. Her head accounts for approximately half of her total body mass.

She is portrayed as a bright and kind-hearted girl, very close to her twin sister Mimmy. She is good at baking cookies and loves Mama's homemade apple pie. She likes to collect cute things and her favorite subjects in school are English, music, and art.<ref name="sanriocharacterdetails" /><ref name="sanriofamily">{{cite web|title=Sanrio - Hello Kitty Family |url=http://www.hellokitty.ne.jp/english/kt_family.html |publisher=Sanrio |accessdate=25 July 2011 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110816230401/http://www.sanrio.co.jp/characters/hellokitty/english/kt_family.html |archivedate=16 August 2012}}</ref>

The character is a ''[[gijinka]]'', an [[anthropomorphism]] or personification of a cat. In August 2014 an anthropologist from the University of Hawaii was told by Sanrio that Kitty White was not simply a cat (i.e. "depicted on all fours"), describing her as a little [[England|English]] girl called Kitty White, from outside London.<ref>http://laist.com/2014/08/27/sanrios_shocking_reveal_hello_kitty.php</ref><ref name="LA times">{{cite web|url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/miranda/la-et-cam-hello-kitty-in-los-angeles-not-a-cat-20140826-column.html#page=1 |title=Hello Kitty is not a cat, plus more reveals before her L.A. tour |publisher=LA Times |date=2014-08-26 |accessdate=2014-08-27}}</ref> Following reports that interpreted this to mean she was human, a Sanrio PR representative said that the organization had "never said she was a human", explaining anthropomorphization by comparing the character to [[Mickey Mouse]]: "No one would mistake the Disney character for a human–but at the same time he's not quite a mouse. Just like Hello Kitty isn't a human, she's not quite a cat either."<ref name='rocketnews24'>{{cite web|title=Hello Kitty isn’t a cat!? We called Sanrio to find out!|url=http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/08/28/hello-kitty-isnt-a-cat-we-called-sanrio-to-find-out/|accessdate=29 August 2014}}</ref> Sanrio stated further, "Hello Kitty was done in the motif of a cat. It's going too far to say that Hello Kitty is not a cat."<ref name="kotaku"/>

Hello Kitty is portrayed with a large family with the surname ''White''. Her twin sister Mimmy is described as "shy and very girly," interested in sewing and dreaming of marriage. While Hello Kitty wears a red bow on her left ear, Mimmy wears a yellow one on the right. Their father George is described as dependable, humorous but also absent-minded. Their mother Mary is portrayed as a good cook who loves doing housework. Grandpa Anthony likes to tell stories and Grandma Margaret likes sewing.<ref name="sanriofamily" /> Dear Daniel is Hello Kitty's childhood friend. His character profile describes him as born in London on May 3 with the name Daniel Starr. He traveled with his parents and was away from Hello Kitty for a long time. He is portrayed as fashionable and sensitive, good at dancing and playing the piano, with an interest in photography, and dreams of being a celebrity.<ref name="sanriodeardaniel">{{cite web|title=Sanrio - Dear Daniel |url=http://www.sanrio.co.jp/english/characters/detail/daniel/index.html |publisher=Sanrio |accessdate=25 July 2011}}</ref> Charmmy Kitty is Hello Kitty's pet, a white [[Persian (cat)|Persian]]. She is described as docile, obedient and fond of shiny things. Her necklace holds the key to Hello Kitty's jewelry box.<ref name="sanriocharmmy">{{cite web|title=Sanrio - Charmmy Kitty |url=http://www.sanrio.co.jp/english/characters/detail/charmmy/index.html |publisher=Sanrio |accessdate=25 July 2011}}</ref> Hello Kitty also has a pet hamster named Sugar, who was a gift from Dear Daniel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hello-kitty.sanriotown.com/ |title=Hello Kitty, My Melody, and other Sanrio characters at SanrioTown}}</ref>

==Background==

[[File:Yuko Shimizu 20100702 Japan Expo 2.jpg|thumb|[[Yuko Shimizu]], original designer of Hello Kitty.]]

In 1962, [[Shintaro Tsuji]], founder of [[Sanrio]], began selling rubber sandals with flowers painted on them.<ref name="Belson">Belson, K. (2003). Asia times online. The cat who turned kawaii into cash. Retrieved May 19, 2011, from http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/EL13Dh01.html</ref> Tsuji noted the profits gained by adding a cute design to the sandals and hired cartoonists to design cute characters for her merchandise.<ref name="Belson" /> The company produced a line of character merchandise around gift-giving occasions.<ref name="Europe">{{cite web|url=http://www.sanrioeurope.com/about.asp|title=Sanrio Europe|accessdate=2009-09-14}}</ref> Hello Kitty was designed by [[Yuko Shimizu]] and was added to the lineup of early Sanrio characters in 1974.<ref name="Hello Kitty celebrates 30"/> The character's first appearance on an item was a vinyl coin purse in Japan where she was pictured sitting between a bottle of milk and a goldfish bowl.<ref name="purse">{{cite news|url=http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1902239_1892809,00.html|title=Hello Kitty Turns 35|accessdate=2012-03-14 | work=Time|date=2009-06-01}}</ref> She first appeared in the United States in 1976.<ref name="Dhamija"/>

Sanrio decided to make Hello Kitty [[British people|British]] because at the time when she was created, foreign countries, in particular Britain, were trendy in Japan. In addition, Sanrio already had a number of characters set in the US and they wanted Hello Kitty to be different.<ref name="timeyamaguchi" /><ref name="independent" /> Shimizu got the name ''Kitty'' from [[Lewis Carroll]]'s ''[[Through the Looking-Glass]]'', where in a scene early in the book Alice plays with a cat she calls ''Kitty''.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=4Y9QAAAAIBAJ&sjid=xVwDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6545,6247336&dq=yuko+shimizu+lewis+carroll&hl=en|title=Hello Kitty, You're 30|date=November 15, 2004|work=St. Petersburg Times|accessdate=22 March 2012}}</ref> Sanrio's motto is "social communication" and Tsuji wanted the brand name to reflect that. He first considered "Hi Kitty" before settling on "Hello" for the greeting.<ref name="nytimes1999">{{cite news |url=http://www.nytimes.com/1999/05/29/style/29iht-kitty.2.t.html|title=The Small White Cat That Conquered Japan|last=Tracey|first=David|newspaper=New York Times|date=May 29, 1999}}</ref> Spokespeople for Sanrio have said that Hello Kitty does not have a mouth because they want people to "project their feelings onto the character" and "be happy or sad together with Hello Kitty."<ref name="timeyamaguchi" /><ref>Walker, Rob. ''Buying In: The Secret Dialogue Between What We Buy and Who We Are''. [[Random House, Inc.]], 2008. [http://books.google.com/books?id=o8Z_qq9xjs8C&pg=PA18&lpg=PA18&dq=%22Without+the+mouth,+it+is+easier%22&source=bl&ots=hrFBxMPHWS&sig=VbHbyI8qkdigINbYELEUgeUl-og&hl=en&ei=lAF8TLyIB8P6lwfKrb3rCw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5&ved=0CB4Q6AEwBA#v=onepage&q=%22Without%20the%20mouth%2C%20it%20is%20easier%22&f=false 18]. Retrieved from [[Google Books]] on August 30, 2010. ISBN 1-4000-6391-4, ISBN 978-1-4000-6391-8.</ref> Another explanation Sanrio has given for her 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".<ref name="independent" /> Representatives for Sanrio have said they see Hello Kitty as a symbol of friendship, and they hope she will encourage friendship between people across the world.<ref name="timeyamaguchi" /> While there has been some speculation<ref>{{cite web|last1=Nielson|first1=Paula|title=Japanese Hello Kitty Derived from Maneki Neko|url=https://suite.io/paula-i-nielson/43ns2dq|accessdate=30 August 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Maneki Neko The Beckoning Cat and Nang Kwak|url=http://www.luckymojo.com/beckoningcat.html|publisher=Lucky Mojo Curio Company|accessdate=30 August 2014}}</ref> that Hello Kitty has its origins in [[Maneki Neko]], and that the name Hello Kitty itself is a back-translation of Maneki Neko, which means ''beckoning cat'' in English, others disagree.<ref>{{cite book|last1=Yano|first1=Christine|title=Pink Globalization: Hello Kitty’s Trek Across the Pacific|date=April 29, 2013|publisher=Duke University Press|isbn=978-0822353638|page=127|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=LkailjbwhVoC&pg=PA127&lpg=PA127&f=false#v=onepage&q&f=false|accessdate=30 August 2014}}</ref>

==History==

Hello Kitty sold well immediately after the 1974 launch, and Sanrio's sales increased seven times up until they slumped temporarily in 1978.<ref name="timeyamaguchi" /><ref name="nytimes2010" /> New series with Hello Kitty in different themed designs are released regularly, following current trends. [[Yuko Yamaguchi]], the main designer for most of Hello Kitty's history, has said that she is inspired by fashion, movies and TV in creating new designs.<ref name="timeyamaguchi" /><ref name="nytimes2010" />

Hello Kitty was originally marketed only to young girls. In the 1990s the target market for Hello Kitty was broadened to include teens and grown-ups as a retro brand.<ref name="timeyamaguchi" /><ref name="independent" /> Marketed to those who could not get Hello Kitty merchandise as children, or who fondly remember items they had, Sanrio began selling Hello Kitty branded products like purses and laptops.<ref name="timeyamaguchi" /><ref name="independent" /><ref name="nytimes2010" /> The 1994–1996 ''Face'' series was the first to be designed for a more mature appeal.<ref name="timeyamaguchi" />

According to Sanrio, in 1999 Hello Kitty appeared on 12,000 different products yearly.<ref name="nytimes1999" /> By 2008, Hello Kitty was responsible for half of Sanrio's $1 billion revenue and there were over 50,000 different Hello Kitty branded products in more than 60 countries.<ref name="independent" /> Beginning in 2007, following trends in Japan, Sanrio began using darker designs for Hello Kitty with more black and less pink, and pulling away from ''kawaii'' styles.<ref name="nytimes2010" />

Hello Kitty and Mimmy celebrated their 40th Anniversary on 1/November/2014. The "ARIGATO EVERYONE! Birthday Celebration" took place in Sanrio Puroland in Tokyo for several days.<ref>http://www.gotokyo.org/en/tourists/topics_event/topics/141028/topics.html</ref>

==Products==

[[File:EVA hellokitty1.JPG|right|200px|thumb|The Hello Kitty Airbus A330-200.]]

Originally aimed at the pre-adolescent female market, the Hello Kitty product range has expanded and goes all the way from dolls, stickers, greeting cards, clothes, accessories, school supplies and stationery to purses, toasters, televisions, other home appliances, massagers, and computer equipment. These products range from mass market items to high-end consumer products and rare collectibles.<ref name="Sanrio's Hula Kitty heads to the beach">{{cite web |url=http://starbulletin.com/2003/05/18/business/story3.html |last=Paschal |first=|title=Sanrio's Hula Kitty heads to the beach |work=[[Honolulu Star-Bulletin]]|date=2003-05-18 |accessdate=2015-04-30}}</ref>

===Financial===

As of 2009, [[Bank of America]] began offering cat-themed [[Checking accounts#Checking accounts|checking accounts]], where the account holder can get [[cheque]]s and a [[Visa Inc.|Visa]] [[debit card]] with Kitty's face on it.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.bankofamerica.com/myexpression_banking/productInfo.do?affinity=22755&segmentid=SPIN|title="Bank of America's "My Expression Banking" page with the Hello Kitty theme|accessdate=2010-01-21}}</ref> [[MasterCard]] [[debit card]]s have featured Hello Kitty as a design since 2004. In Thailand, KBank provides Hello Kitty K-Max debit card.<ref name="Mayer">{{cite news|url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A2959-2004Oct2.html|title=Girls Go From Hello Kitty To Hello Debit Card|last=Mayer|first=Caroline E.|date=October 3, 2004|publisher=The Washington Post|accessdate=2008-10-01}}</ref>

===High-end===

[[File:Stand Noguera Kitty Madrid.jpg|thumb|Sanrio stand in [[Madrid, Spain]] with the Hello Kitty character outline as the entryway]]

Sanrio and various corporate partners have released Hello Kitty-branded products, including the Hello Kitty Stratocaster electric guitar (since 2006, with [[Fender Musical Instruments Corporation|Fender]] in the US){{fact|date=November 2015}} and an [[Airbus A330-200]] commercial passenger jet airliner, dubbed the [[EVA Air#Special liveries|Hello Kitty Jet]] (2005–2009, with [[EVA Airways]] in Taiwan).<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/12/13/2003284256 |title=World's first 'Hello Kitty' airplane to make debut Lunar New Year flights |newspaper=The Taipei Times |date=December 13, 2005}}</ref> In late 2011 and early 2012, EVA Air revived their "Hello Kitty Jets" with their 3 new [[A330-300]]s. However, due to high demand,{{fact|date=November 2015}} the airline added 2 more onto their existing A330-200s in mid-2012. A year after, EVA Air added another Hello Kitty Jet onto one of their [[777-300ER]]s, which not only featured Hello Kitty characters, but other Sanrio characters on that aircraft as well.

2009 marked the collaboration between apparel and accessory Kitty entered the [[wine]] market with collection made up of four wines available for purchase online, continuing an expansion of products targeted at older audiences.<ref>{{cite web |title=Please pass the bubbly, Hello Kitty |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2010/03/26/please-pass-the-bubbly-hello-kitty/ |publisher=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|website=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 26, 2010|accessdate=2015-11-02|first1=Catherine|last1=Garcia}}</ref>

===Jewelry===

In Spring 2005, Simmons Jewelry Co. and [[Sanrio]] announced a partnership. "Kimora Lee Simmons for Hello Kitty" was launched exclusively at Neiman Marcus prices ranging from $300 to $5000 Designed by [[Kimora Lee Simmons]] and launched as the initial collection. The jewelery is all hand-made, consisting of diamonds, gemstones, semi-precious stones, 18K gold, Sterling silver, enamel and ceramic.<ref>{{cite web|title=Kimora Lee Simmons for Hello Kitty|url=http://www.hellokittyfinejewelry.com/simmons.php|accessdate=4 May 2011}}</ref>

In Fall 2008, Simmons Jewelry Co. and [[Sanrio]] debuted a collection of fine jewelry and watches named "Hello Kitty® by Simmons Jewelry Co." The collection launched with [[Zale Corporation|Zales Corporation]] to further expand the reach of the brand, and it developed accessories to satisfy every Hello Kitty fan. The designs incorporate colorful gemstones and sterling silver to attract a youthful audience.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hello Kitty Fine Jewelry|url=http://www.hellokittyfinejewelry.com/|accessdate=4 May 2011}}</ref>

===Establishments===

[[File:Hello Kitty cafe Hongdae.JPG|thumb|Hello Kitty cafe in Hongdae, Seoul]]

There is a themed restaurant named Hello Kitty Sweets in [[Taipei]], Taiwan. The restaurant's decor and many of its dishes are patterned after the Hello Kitty character.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/feat/archives/2009/03/27/2003439508|title=RESTAURANTS : Hello Kitty Sweets|author=Catherine Shu|date=March 27, 2009|accessdate=2009-10-17}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://lunchmaniac.blogspot.com/2008/04/hello-kitty-sweets-resto-in-taipei-part.html|title=Hello Kitty Sweets resto in Taipei (Part I)|date=April 30, 2008|accessdate=2008-12-28}}</ref>

In 2008, a Hello Kitty-themed maternity hospital opened in [[Yuanlin, Changhua|Yuanlin]], Taiwan. Hello Kitty is featured on the receiving blankets, room decor, bed linens, birth certificate covers, and nurses' uniforms. The hospital's owner explained that he hoped that the theme would help ease the stress of childbirth.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssLeisureProducts/idUSTP33674020081205|title=Hello baby! Hello Kitty welcomes Taiwan newborns|date=December 5, 2008|publisher=Reuters|accessdate=2008-12-09}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/world/strangebuttrue/taiwan-hospital-a-hit-with-hello-kitty-fans-20090122-7n8u.html|title=Taiwan hospital a hit with Hello Kitty fans|date=January 21, 2009|accessdate=2009-03-06 | work=The Sydney Morning Herald}}</ref>

Hello Kitty is included as part of the Sanrio livery at the Japanese theme parks [[Harmonyland]] and [[Sanrio Puroland]].

There is also a Hello Kitty Cafe, located on an uphill alley off Eoulmadang-ro, the main shopping thoroughfare in [[Hongdae area|Hongdae]], [[Mapo-gu]], [[Seoul]], [[South Korea]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Lim|first=Hyun-wook|title=Hongdae’s bohemian raps and dancing|url=http://koreajoongangdaily.joinsmsn.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=2928607|accessdate=6 March 2013|newspaper=Joongang Daily|date=20 November 2010}}</ref> It is one of several locations in the country.

The Hello Kitty House Café in Bangkok, Thailand, was established in August 2014. Tea, smoothies, cakes, ice creams and souvenir are available. It is located at One Siam Square, Pathumwan Road. Daily opening hours are from 10.00 to 22.00.

[[Sydney]], [[Australia]] is home to a Hello Kitty Diner, located in [[Chatswood]]. [[Adelaide]], [[Australia]] is home to a Hello Kitty Café, located on Moonta Street.

There is a Hello Kitty Dim Sum restaurant in Kowloon, Hong Kong. Half of the menu is Hello Kitty inspired dishes. The plates to the chopsticks to the windows all have Hello Kitty adorning it. Before the restaurant opened, the owners spent a year and a half working towards being approved by Sanrio.

===Media===

====Animated series====

There have been several different [[Hello Kitty (TV series)|Hello Kitty TV series]]. The first animated television series was ''[[Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater]]'' which was 13 episodes long and aired in 1987. The next, an [[Original Video Animation|OVA]] titled ''[[Hello Kitty and Friends]]'', came out in 1993 and was also 13 episodes long. ''[[Hello Kitty's Paradise]]'' came out in 1999 and was 16 episodes long. ''[[Hello Kitty's Stump Village]]'' came out in 2005 and ''[[The Adventures of Hello Kitty & Friends]]'' came out in 2006 and has aired 52 episodes. A [[fictional crossover|crossover]] series with the development name ''Kiss Hello Kitty'' and pairing animated versions of the members of the rock band [[Kiss (band)|KISS]] with Hello Kitty was announced in March 2013, produced by [[Gene Simmons]] and planned to air on The Hub Network (now [[Discovery Family]]),<ref>{{cite news|last=Lockner|first=Melissa|title=Hello Kitty and KISS to Team Up For New Animated Series|url=http://newsfeed.time.com/2013/03/29/hello-kitty-and-kiss-to-team-up-for-new-animated-series/|accessdate=18 January 2015|magazine=TIME|date=29 March 2013}}</ref> but it never aired on any network.

''[[:ja:キティズパラダイス|Hello Kitty's Paradise]]'' was a long-running live action children's program that aired on TXN from January 1999 to March 2011. It was the longest-running weekly kids television program in the network's history. In January 2011, the show's creators mutually agreed to end the series after twelve seasons, with the final episode being broadcast on March 29.

====Music====

Hello Kitty has her own branded album, ''Hello World'', featuring Hello Kitty-inspired songs performed by a collection of artists, including [[Keke Palmer]], [[Cori Yarckin]], and [[Ainjel Emme]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lakeshore-records.com/hellokitty/|title=Lakeshore Records|work=[[Lakeshore Records]]}}</ref>

Hello Kitty was also chosen by [[AH Software|AH-Software]] to be the basis of the new [[Vocaloid]] {{Nihongo|Nekomura Iroha|猫村いろは|Nekomura iroha}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ah-soft.com/vocaloid/iroha/index.html|title=VOCALOID2 猫村いろは|trans_title=Vocaloid 2 Nekomura Iroha|publisher=AH Software|accessdate=September 16, 2010|language=Japanese}}</ref> to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Sanrio.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://dtm.newsblog.jp/archives/51468636.html|title=ハローキティといっしょ!×VOCALOID2って何だ!?|trans_title=Hello Kitty Together with Vocaloid 2; What the!?|author=Fujimoto, Ken|publisher=[[Livedoor]]|date=August 16, 2010|accessdate=August 20, 2010|language=Japanese}}</ref>

Canadian singer-songwriter [[Avril Lavigne]] has written and recorded a song called "[[Hello Kitty (Avril Lavigne song)|Hello Kitty]]" for her 5th studio album released in 2013.

====Video games====

Numerous ''Hello Kitty'' games have been produced since the release of the first title for Famicom in 1992; however, the majority of these games were never released outside of Japan. Hello Kitty also has made cameo appearances in games featuring other Sanrio characters, such as the [[Keroppi]] game, ''[[Kero Kero Keroppi no Bōken Nikki: Nemureru Mori no Keroleen]]''. Special edition consoles such as the [[Dreamcast#Hardware and accessories|Hello Kitty Dreamcast]], [[List of Game Boy colors and styles#Special Edition Variants 2|Hello Kitty Game Boy Pocket]], and [[Xbox special limited editions#Hello Kitty Crystal|Hello Kitty Crystal Xbox]] have also been released exclusively in Japan.

=====Partial list of Hello Kitty video games=====

*''[[Hello Kitty no Hanabatake]]'' (1992, [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]]): a platformer

*''[[Balloon Kid#Hello Kitty World|Hello Kitty World]]'' (1992, [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]]): a Famicom port of ''[[Balloon Kid]]'' co-developed by [[Nintendo]] and Character Soft.

*''[[Hello Kitty's Big Fun Piano]]'' (1994, [[Personal computer|PC]]): a piano simulation<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/hello-kittys-big-fun-piano|title=Hello Kitty's Big Fun Piano|publisher=MobyGames|accessdate=2008-12-28}}</ref>

*''[[Hello Kitty's Cube Frenzy]]'' (1998, [[Game Boy Color]], [[PlayStation]]): a [[Life simulation game|life simulation]]/[[minigame]] collection

*''[[Dance Dance Revolution (Pocket games)#DDR Hello Kitty|DDR Hello Kitty]]'' (1999, [[Bemani Pocket]]): a handheld ''Hello Kitty'' game in the ''[[Dance Dance Revolution]]'' series

*The [[List of Simple series games#Simple 1500 Hello Kitty Series|''Hello Kitty Simple 1500'' series]] ([[PlayStation]]): a series of specifically low-priced games

*''Gotouchi Hello Kitty Sugoroku Monogatari'' (2003, PlayStation): a [[sugoroku]]-based game

*''[[Hello Kitty: Happy Party Pals]]'' (2005, [[Game Boy Advance]]): an action/adventure game

*''[[Hello Kitty: Roller Rescue]]'' (2005, [[Xbox (console)|Xbox]], [[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]], [[PlayStation 2]]): an action/adventure game

*''[[Mainichi Suteki! Hello Kitty no Life Kit]]'' (2007, [[Nintendo DS]]): a puzzle game

*The [[List of Simple series games#Simple 2000 Hello Kitty Series|''Hello Kitty Simple 2000'' series]] (2007, [[PlayStation 2]]): a series of specifically low-priced games

*''[[Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams]]'' (2008, [[Nintendo DS]]): an adventure game published by [[Empire Interactive]] developed by Sanrio Digital. In the game, Hello Kitty moves to the Big City where she meets other Sanrio characters and makes new friends.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.ds.ign.com/objects/142/14250212.html|title=Hello Kitty: Big City Dreams|publisher=IGN|accessdate=2008-12-28}}</ref>

*''[[Hello Kitty Daily]]'' (2008, [[Nintendo DS]]): a [[PDA]] application featuring a diary, calendar, alarm clock, money managing system and school planner

*''[[Hello Kitty Online]]'' (2009, [[Personal computer|PC]]): an online [[Massively multiplayer online role-playing game|MMORPG]] developed by Sanrio Digital and [[Typhoon Games]]. The game allows players to create and customize characters, then use them to battle monsters, socialize with one another, mine for ore, do domestic chores like farming or cooking, and participate in quests.

*''Hello Kitty Seasons'': A game in which the playable character is appointed as Deputy Mayor to help Sanrio Town.

*''[[Hello Kitty Parachute Paradise]]'' (2009, [[iPhone]]/[[iPod Touch]]): an iPhone game with tilt-based controls<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hellokittyparachuteparadise.sanriotown.com|title=Hello Kitty Parachute Paradise|publisher=ZIO Interactive}}</ref>

*''[[Apron of Magic]]'' (2010, Arcade): An Arcade Card Game developed by [[Examu]] to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of Sanrio. The game features Hello Kitty and other notable Sanrio Characters.

====Feature film====

On July 3, 2015, Sanrio announced a full-length Hello Kitty theatrical feature for 2019.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Jaafar|first1=Ali|title=‘Hello Kitty’ To Be Turned Into Film For 2019 Release|url=http://deadline.com/2015/07/hello-kitty-to-be-turned-into-film-to-be-released-in-2019-1201467715/|accessdate=5 July 2015|agency=Nikkei|publisher=Deadline|date=3 July 2015}}</ref>

==Reception==

[[File:Hello Kitty-Bremen.jpg|thumb|150px|Hello Kitty at Children Day in Germany]]

The Hello Kitty brand rose to greater prominence during the late 1990s. At that time, several celebrities, such as [[Mariah Carey]], had adopted Hello Kitty as a fashion statement.<ref name="independent">{{cite news|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/top-cat-how-hello-kitty-conquered-the-world-831522.html|title= Top cat: how 'Hello Kitty' conquered the world|last=Walker|first=Esther |date=21 May 2008|publisher=The Independent|accessdate=2008-09-19 | location=London}}</ref> Newer products featuring the character can be found in a large variety of American [[department store]]s.

The Dutch artist [[Dick Bruna]], creator of [[Miffy]], has suggested that Hello Kitty is a copy of Miffy (in [[Dutch language|Dutch]]: ''Nijntje''), being rendered in a similar style, stating disapprovingly in an interview for the British paper [[The Daily Telegraph]]:

:'That,' he says darkly, 'is a copy [of Miffy], I think. I don't like that at all. I always think, "No, don't do that. Try to make something that you think of yourself".'<ref name="bruna">Daily Telegraph, 31 July 2008, [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/donotmigrate/3557810/Dick-Bruna-creator-of-the-Miffy-books-talks-about-his-life-and-work.html Dick Bruna, creator of the Miffy books, talks about his life and work]</ref>

[[Musti (character)|Musti]], a cat character created by [[Belgian]] cartoonist [[Ray Goossens]], was also cited as an inspiration for Hello Kitty.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/miffy-cracks-down-copyright-infringements |title=Miffy cracks down on copyright infringements &#124; Radio Netherlands Worldwide |publisher=Rnw.nl |date=2011-09-07 |accessdate=2012-08-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lematin.ch/actu/economie/la-star-mondiale-hello-kitty-se-cherche-un-compagnon |title=Le Matin, l'actualité en direct: sports, people, politique, économie, multimédia |publisher=Lematin.ch |date=2012-07-19 |accessdate=2012-08-13}}</ref>

In May 2008, Japan named Hello Kitty the ambassador of Japanese tourism in both China and Hong Kong, which are two places where the character is exceptionally popular among children and young women. This marked the first time [[Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism (Japan)|Japan's tourism ministry]] had appointed a fictional character to the role.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24708771/|title=Hello Kitty named Japan tourism ambassador|date=May 19, 2008|publisher=[[MSNBC]]|accessdate=2008-10-01}}</ref> Dr Sharon Kinsella, a lecturer at Oxford University on Japanese sociology, called the selection of Hello Kitty "a bit farcical"; "as if a dumbed-down cultural icon ... can somehow do something significant to alter the gnarly and difficult state of China-Japan relations."<ref name="independent" />

[[UNICEF]] has also awarded Hello Kitty the exclusive title of ''UNICEF Special Friend of Children''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blog.sanriotown.com/kt_world:hellokitty.com/2007/03/23/unicef-special-friend-of-children/|date=March 23, 2007|title=UNICEF Special Friend of Children|publisher=Sanrio|accessdate=2008-10-01}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nn20040610b6.html|title=Hello Kitty marks 30th birthday |date=June 10, 2004|publisher=The Japan Times Online|accessdate=2008-10-01}}</ref>

Hello Kitty's popularity began waning in Japan before the year 2000. In 2002, Hello Kitty lost her place as the top-grossing character in Japan in the Character Databank popularity chart and has never recovered. In a 2010 survey, she was in third place behind [[Anpanman]] and [[Pikachu]] from [[Pokémon]].<ref name="nytimes2010">{{cite news |title=In Search of Adorable, as Hello Kitty Gets Closer to Goodbye |first=Hiroko |last=Tabuchi |newspaper=NYTimes.com |date=May 14, 2010 |url=http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/15/business/global/15kitty.html }}</ref> In 2010, the ''[[New York Times]]'' described Hello Kitty's characterization as "not compelling enough to draw many fans" and wrote that analysts called the characterization "weak."<ref name="nytimes2010" /> They also said that Hello Kitty not having a mouth has dampened her success as an animated TV character.<ref name="nytimes2010" />

==Controversies==

In 1999, a brutal murder known as the [[Hello Kitty murder]] took place in Hong Kong. The popular name of the case derives from the fact that the murderer inserted his victims into a Hello Kitty doll after decapitating them and hanging the dolls in the victim's house.<ref name="pcn">People.com.cn. "[http://people.com.cn/BIG5/channel1/14/20001011/267172.html People.com.cn]." ''妙齡女郎慘遭殘酷碎尸 三名疑犯陸續落網.'' Retrieved on 2008-02-24.</ref>

As of August 2007, [[Thailand|Thai]] police officers who have committed minor transgressions such as showing up late or parking in the wrong place are forced to wear pink Hello Kitty armbands for several days as penance.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/6932801.stm | work=BBC News | title=Thai cops punished by Hello Kitty | date=2007-08-06 | accessdate=2010-05-04}}</ref>

During the [[financial crisis of 2007–2010]], a poster of a Hello Kitty pre-paid [[debit card]] expanded to roughly 1 metre in length was displayed on the floor of the [[US Senate]] by Senator [[Byron Dorgan]] as a demonstration of extreme methods used by credit companies to attract "children 10 to 14 years of age". It was criticised for its promotional website encouraging users to "shop 'til you drop."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.consumerreports.org/money/2009/05/credit-card-reform-bill-teenagers-teens-teen-hello-kitty-obama-children-prepaid-marketing-fees.html|title=Credit card reform bill: Bye-bye to Hello Kitty?|accessdate=2010-05-02}}</ref>

==Sculpture==

In 2009, artist [[Tom Sachs (artist)|Tom Sachs']] ''Bronze Collection'' was shown at the Public art space in Manhattan's [[Lever House#Public art space|Lever House]], as well as in the Baldwin Gallery in [[Aspen, Colorado]], and the [[Trocadéro]] in [[Paris]]. The collection featured a large white bronze casts of a foamcore Hello Kitty sculpture &ndash; a style distinctive to the artist. As of April 2010, the Wind-Up Hello Kitty sculpture is still on display at Lever House.<ref>[http://tomsachs.org/exhibition/bronze-collection "Bronze Collection"] [[Tom Sachs (artists)|Tom Sachs]] website</ref> Although Sachs did not ask for permission to use the character in his work, a brand marketing manager for Sanrio was quoted as saying "You know, there was [[Marilyn Monroe]] and [[Andy Warhol]], and then [[Michael Jackson]] and [[Jeff Koons]]. When you’re an icon, that’s what happens."<ref>Goldstein, Andrew M. [http://nymag.com/news/intelligencer/47046/ "Kitsch Kitties Stolen by Unctuous Artist"] ''[[New York (magazine)|New York]]'' magazine (May 18, 2008)</ref>

== See also ==

{{Portalbar|Japan}}

==References==

{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==

{{Commons|Hello Kitty}}

{{Wikinews|Thai police to wear 'Hello Kitty' armbands as punishment}}

* [http://www.sanrio.co.jp/character/hellokitty/ Official Hello Kitty website]

* [http://www.sanriotown.com/main/index.php?lang=us/ Sanriotown]

* [http://www.kittylab.com.sg/ Kittylab Singapore Expo 2009] Hello Kitty 35th Anniversary Project Kitty Lab

* [http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324600704578405042212303354.html ''How Hello Kitty Conquered the World''] April 12, 2013 Wall Street Journal

{{Hello Kitty}}

{{Sanrio}}

{{Authority control}}

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