Sanrio Celebrating 50 Years of Hello Kitty With Year-Long Party

By Gary Symons

TLL Editor in Chief

The lifestyle brand Sanrio is putting on a year-long party to mark the 50th anniversary of Hello Kitty.

The ridiculously cute Hello Kitty will turn 50 on Nov. 1, 2024, and Sanrio says the intervening year will be filled with ways to celebrate in both the digital and physical worlds, and will be highlighted with many surprises along the way.

“For nearly five decades, Hello Kitty has inspired generations, and her message of friendship, kindness, and inclusivity transcends cultures and continues to resonate with fans of all ages,” the company says. “Hello Kitty wants to promote friendship to everyone in the world—including in the digital space. In anticipation of her 50th anniversary, Hello Kitty will release several digital promotions, reaching both existing fans and new generations to continue discovering Hello Kitty online.”

One question people often ask about Hello Kitty is whether the character is Japanese or British, and the answer is … both.

Also known by her ‘real name’, Kitty White, or Kiti Howaito in Japanese, Hello Kitty was created by Yuko Shimizu and is owned by Sanrio, a Japanese company.

However, on the company’s website, it states very clearly, “Hello Kitty was born in the suburbs of London. She lives with her parents and her twin sister Mimmy who is her best friend. Her hobbies include baking cookies and making new friends. As she always says, “you can never have too many friends!”

So, apparently, the character was conceived of as British.

Whatever her nationality, Hello Kitty was created in 1974 and soon became a world-straddling behemoth in the licensing world. The very first item tied to Hello Kitty was a vinyl coin purse introduced in 1975.

By 2010 the character was worth $5 billion a year and The New York Times called her a “global marketing phenomenon.” By 2014, when Hello Kitty was 40 years old, she was worth about $8 billion a year, according to CNN. 

Today there are theme parks based on the character, a burgeoning media empire that includes animated series, comics, films, video games, books, and music, and of course a massive licensing program. By 2008 there were already more than 50,000 different Hello Kitty products under license. 

Flash forward to 2023 and Hello Kitty continues to be a major force in pop culture, with billions of fans around the world, including the globally famous DJ Steve Aoki, who has also collaborated with the brand.

“Ever since I was a kid I’ve had a deep love for everything Hello Kitty,” Aoki said. “Her influence on culture, fashion, art, and design is unmistakable. Witnessing her digital evolution has been amazing, and I can’t wait to see what she’ll do next! I’m confident that she will keep spreading happiness to millions worldwide. And I’m proud that there is an official Steve Aoki x Hello Kitty collaboration that we got to share with all the fans called ‘Hello Aoki.’ Happy 50th, Hello Kitty!”

For this major anniversary, SANRIO says it’s pulling out all the stops with some major new programs. The company says it will introduce new digital tools including an AR (Augmented Reality) app, short animations on TikTok, monthly promotions in My Hello Kitty Cafe on Roblox, and a presence in the digital world of Zepeto. Here’s what fans can expect:

The AR app allows fans to interact with Hello Kitty as she dances beside five iconic global landmarks: toward SHIBUYA109 in Tokyo, Big Ben in London, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, TAIPEI 101 in Taiwan, and the Empire State Building in New York. These landmarks will come alive with celebratory animations, creating a joyous atmosphere. The AR app will also function as a TikTok effect, enabling fans to create and share their own Hello Kitty-themed videos, further enhancing the anniversary celebration.

To celebrate Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary, a dedicated Hello Kitty animation account, “This is Hello Kitty” (@this_is_hellokitty_), has been launched on TikTok, and up to four short animations of Hello Kitty will be posted every month.

On Roblox, fans will be able to immerse themselves in the Hello Kitty-themed world in My Hello Kitty Cafe on Roblox. Starting in November, they can explore a photo booth for taking Y2Kfeel photos, enjoy a mini-game with emotes and costume rewards, and purchase avatars, costumes, and emotes.

Additionally, from December, fans can experience a museum-themed mini-game and virtual exhibition, as well as participate in a thrilling “Find Hello Kitty” challenge. Sanrio will expand the content in 2024 with the launch of a digital dance floor where fans will be able to dance the night away.

Hello Kitty will also appear in another virtual world on Zepeto, a platform renowned for its customizable 3D avatars and social networking, is now home to a dedicated Hello Kitty environment.

Within this virtual world, fans can immerse themselves in a delightful Hello Kitty experience with themed landscapes, games, boutiques, photo zones, and a dance space. As well, Zepeto is introducing new features, offering users five exciting elements to explore: a Boutique Game where they can channel their inner fashion designer with Hello Kitty motifs, contests, and prizes; a Photo Zone where you can find the hidden Hello Kitty and capture memories; a Dance Zone for dancing alongside Hello Kitty and participating in dance challenges; Athletic Games for entertainment and excitement, and Item Shops brimming with Hello Kitty-themed outfits that allow users to express their unique style.

Items have been available starting from Nov. 1, while the Hello Kitty-themed worlds are planned to be launched from mid-November and onwards.

These digital experiences will be released sequentially starting in November 2023.

Additionally, the Japan Society of Northern California (JSNC), known for its commitment to promoting understanding and friendship between the U.S. and Japan, has presented Hello Kitty with the Cultural Ambassador Award, recognizing her as an international symbol of peace and friendship.

And of course, all of this will be captured on the brand’s social media accounts, so fans can simply follow @hellokitty on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,TikTok, Pinterest and subscribe to the Hello Kitty and Friends YouTube Channel.

Wildbrain Commissions Series Based on Spike Milligan’s Badjelly Novel

Little People Take a Dark Turn With Stranger Things Collection