Hello Kitty: Happy 50th Birthday to the Iconic Pop Culture Icon
3 min read
Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary
Hello Kitty, that character who seems to never fade from the hearts and minds of children and adults alike for decades, marks this year as her 50th anniversary. Invented by Sanrio, a Japanese company way back in 1974, Hello Kitty made an appearance two years later in the shape of a nice little coin purse designed for children and retailed for less than a dollar, in her characteristic red bow.
Since then, Hello Kitty’s blank face has been emblazoned onto every imaginable product as a toy, fashion item, and merchandising icon sold worldwide, becoming so popular that it has enabled her influence to be discussed in academia. Now, she is even taking TikTok by storm and may soon become a movie sensation herself, in an animated/live-action feature film announced in 2019.
A Mystery Character
Despite her omnipresence, Hello Kitty is an enigma. Her name is Kitty White, and, if you believe that, then she is from London, England. She has a twin sister named Mimmy, and curiously enough, she’s not a cat-more about that later.
Hello Kitty’s Rise to Fame
Hello Kitty was one of those icons who made their way into the pop culture of the 1970s. Not long after her first appearance on a coin purse in Japan in 1975, the character became a global merchandising superstar. Her image was put on children’s notebooks, lunchboxes, and clothing, until it extends all the way to adult merchandise.
Hello Kitty Is Not a Cat
Hello Kitty managed to top all the headlines in 2015 when she turned out to be the star attraction of a North American museum exhibition that had the name “Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty” and was hosted at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. The success of the exhibition was accompanied when the curator, Christine R. Yano, released an interview stating that Hello Kitty is not a cat but a little girl.
Anthropologist Yano of the University of Hawaii said that Sanrio “very firmly” corrected her regarding this point just before the exhibit opened. “Hello Kitty is not a cat. She’s a cartoon character. She is a little girl. She is a friend,” Yano explained. “She walks and sits like a two-legged creature. However, she does have a pet cat named Charmmy Kitty.”
Many fans were shocked by the revelation, making a few question their childhood perspective. In cyber, pop star Katy Perry sought to reassure fans by pointing out that her own cat is indeed a cat, humorously named Kitty Purry.
Kitty’s Friends and Family
Dear Daniel, Hello Kitty’s boyfriend, is her childhood friend, and he was introduced back in 1999. Daniel likes to photograph animals, dance, and be a piano player and someday intends to become a professional cameraman. Kitty’s best friend is Tiny Chum, a cuddly teddy bear that she gifted with a red bow.
And so, now that Hello Kitty has been celebrating her golden anniversary, it’s seen that the charm of this lovely kitty is able to win the hearts of ladies across the world as if only she has tasted success. Cheers to many more years filled with joy and cuteness!
