Hello Kitty, one of the properties widely believed to have been squeezed by Frozen’s wild popularity in 2014, is taking to the road to defend her turf. The Sanrio property, an almost $4 billion globally licensed brand in 2013, is at the center of Hello Kitty’s Supercute Friendship Festival, the property’s first-ever North America touring show. The live entertainment show will stage more than 100 performances in at least 18 North American markets through October. Festival stops include a multi-stage show, interactive exhibits, cosplay fashion parade and, of course, lots and lots of Hello Kitty tour merchandise.
Hello Kitty ranked No. 3 on TLL’s most recent list of $100 million-plus properties, with an estimated $1.1 billion in retail sales of licensed merchandise in the U.S. and Canada for 2013, and $3.9 billion in global retail sales. Those figures represented a 3% decline in the U.S. and Canada and a 5% dropoff outside of North America, when compared to 2012, before the property would have felt any Frozen effect. The Frozen movie was released theatrically in late 2013, and become a licensing phenomenon the next year. It is expected to show up as a $1 billion brand, or close to it, for 2014 on TLL’s next ranking, due later this year.