Hello Kitty
Fictional cat and global marketing phenomenon created by Sanrio.
Hello Kitty, also known by her real name Kitty White, is a fictional character created by Yuko Shimizu, designed by Yuko Yamaguchi, and owned by the Japanese company Sanrio. First appearing on a vinyl coin purse in 1975, she became a global marketing phenomenon, worth $5 billion a year by 2010 and generating $8 billion in retail sales in 2013. She has been appointed children's ambassador by UNICEF and tourism ambassador by the Japanese government.
- created
- 1974
- first_product
- 1975
- field
- Fictional character / media franchise
- nationality
- British (fictional); owned by Japanese company Sanrio
- known_for
- Anthropomorphic white cat with red bow and no visible mouth; global brand worth
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
Hello Kitty was created in 1974 by Yuko Shimizu and added to Sanrio's character lineup. She was initially known as 'the white kitten with no name.' Shimizu got the name Kitty from Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass. Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji considered 'Hi Kitty' before settling on 'Hello Kitty.' The character was made British because foreign countries, particularly Britain, were popular in Japan at the time. After Shimizu left Sanrio in 1976, Setsuko Yonekubo temporarily took over as lead designer, and Yuko Yamaguchi became lead designer in 1980, remaining in charge since. Sanrio has stated that Hello Kitty has no mouth so people can 'project their feelings onto the character,' though Yamaguchi has said Kitty 'has a mouth' that is 'hidden in the fur.' There is speculation linking Hello Kitty to Maneki Neko, but no definitive statement supports that.
Reader's Guide
Hello Kitty's significance lies in her transformation from a character marketed to pre-teenage girls into a global brand embraced by teenagers and adults starting in the 1990s. Her popularity grew with the emergence of kawaii (cute) culture. By 2008, there were over 50,000 different Hello Kitty branded products in more than 60 countries, and she accounted for half of Sanrio's $1 billion net income. The New York Times called her a 'global marketing phenomenon' in 2010. Her brand declined in Japan after the 1990s but continued to grow internationally, with 90% of profits coming from licensing for the international market by 2014. She has been particularly popular in other Asian countries, such as China, where her cultural impact is compared to Barbie in the Western world. The franchise includes theme parks, animated series, comics, films, video games, and other media. A legal dispute with Dutch artist Dick Bruna over the character Cathy, which he alleged copied his Miffy, was settled in 2011 with Sanrio ceasing use of Cathy.
Did You Know?
- Hello Kitty was initially known only as 'the white kitten with no name' before being named Kitty after a cat in Lewis Carroll's Through the Looking-Glass.
- Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji considered 'Hi Kitty' before settling on 'Hello Kitty' to reflect the company's motto of 'social communication.'
- UNICEF appointed Hello Kitty children's ambassador to the United States in 1983, children's ambassador in Japan in 1994, and gave her the unique title of UNICEF Special Friend of Children in 2004.
- In 2008, the Japanese government appointed Hello Kitty ambassador of tourism in both China and Hong Kong, marking the first time a fictional character was given that role.
- A 2010 court ruling in Amsterdam ordered Sanrio to stop selling merchandise featuring the character Cathy in the Benelux countries, after Dutch artist Dick Bruna alleged it copied his Miffy; the dispute was settled in 2011.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Hello Kitty?
Hello Kitty is an anthropomorphic white cat with a signature red bow, created as a character for the Japanese company Sanrio. She has grown from a simple mascot into one of the most recognizable fictional figures in the world, appearing on countless products and media.
What is Hello Kitty's real name and background?
Her full name is Kitty White, and she is canonically a British cat who lives in London with her family. Sanrio established this backstory to give her a defined identity beyond being just a brand logo on merchandise.
When did Hello Kitty first appear?
The character was conceived in 1974 and debuted publicly in 1975 on a small vinyl coin purse. That single accessory launched what would become a franchise generating billions in annual retail sales.
Why doesn't Hello Kitty have a visible mouth?
Sanrio deliberately left her face without a mouth so that viewers could project their own feelings onto her expression. This open design makes her feel more personal and relatable to fans of all ages.
Who created Hello Kitty and who owns the franchise?
Yuko Shimizu created the character and Yuko Yamaguchi handled the original design for Sanrio in the mid-1970s. The Japanese company Sanrio has owned and managed the brand globally ever since, expanding her into a multi-billion-dollar marketing phenomenon.
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