Hello Kitty Is Not Actually a Cat, Says Sanrio

As a long-time Hello Kitty fan and collector of her merchandise, I was taken aback by the recent revelation that my beloved character is not actually a cat. I grew up with Hello Kitty posters on my bedroom walls, watched her animated series every morning before school, and saved up allowance to buy her newest plush toys. I always assumed that Hello Kitty’s feline features were just part of her charming design, but it turns out she’s a little girl from London instead.

Hello Kitty, the beloved mascot of Sanrio, is widely considered the most successful character in mascot history. Her image graces merchandise across the globe, generating massive revenue for the company. Beyond merchandise, Hello Kitty has starred in animated shows, video games, comics, and films. For years, fans assumed she was a cat due to her name and appearance. However, Sanrio recently revealed a surprising truth: Hello Kitty is not actually a feline.

In a conversation with ABC’s Today, anthropologist Christine R. Yano clarified that Sanrio had amended her script for the show regarding Hello Kitty’s identity. Contrary to popular belief, Hello Kitty is not an albino feline or a cat in general. Instead, she is a cartoon character portrayed as a little girl and a friend. She doesn’t crawl on all fours but rather walks and sits like a bipedal creature. However, she does own a pet cat named Charmmy Kitty.

Will Hello Kitty Ever Be The Same?

Despite debunking the myth that Hello Kitty is a feline, this hasn’t hindered her status as a beloved merchandise symbol and a character that ventures into anime realms. In an astonishing collaboration, Hello Kitty made an appearance on new merchandise alongside Tomie, the renowned figure from horror mastermind Junji Ito’s creations.

Fact #1 is Hello Kitty Is NOT a cat, but a little girl originally from London! ?
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) July 18, 2024

At the same time, Sanrio revealed some intriguing details about Hello Kitty based on the new interview.

Her full name is Kitty White.
She is little girl (and not a cat).
She was born in the suburbs of London, England, where she still lives with her parents.
She has a twin sister named Mimmy, who wears a yellow bow on her right ear.
Kitty’s hobbies are traveling, reading and baking.
Her favorite food is her mother’s apple pie.
She dreams of one day becoming a pianist or a poet.
Her birthday is November 1, 1974.
She has a pet cat named Charmmy Kitty.
Kitty’s boyfriend is her former childhood friend Dear Daniel, or Daniel Starr, who was introduced to the public in 1999.
Daniel’s hobbies are animal photography, dancing, and playing the piano.
Daniel wants to be professional cameraman some day.
Kitty’s best friend is Tiny Chum, a little teddy bear who wears a red bow that Kitty gave to him as a gift.

Via Today

2024-07-21 00:39

Will Hello Kitty Ever Be The Same?

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