5 Fun Facts About Hello Kitty For The 50th Anniversary
It is hard to believe that the adorable Sanrio character Hello Kitty turns 50 this year (her birthday is November 1, 1974)! The Japanese company first created her in 1974 and she has since become a global icon with a variety of just-as-adorable friends. Just a year later, Sanrio officially introduced the character with her iconic red bow on a coin purse. Not long after, she started appearing on other merchandise and in other countries.
In 1987, she got the attention of American kids with the CBS animated series Hello Kitty’s Furry Tale Theater. She remains beloved by kids and adults alike, but did you know that she isn’t actually a cat?!
1 Hello Kitty is not a cat
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Officially, at least. In 2015, the Hello Kitty phenomenon was a museum exhibition at the Japanese American National Museum in Los Angeles. The curator, Christine R. Yano, confirmed that Sanrio considers Hello Kitty to be a little girl and not a cat. She explained, “That’s one correction Sanrio made for my script for the show. Hello Kitty is not a cat. She’s a cartoon character. She is a little girl. She is a friend. But she is not a cat. She’s never depicted on all fours. She walks and sits like a two-legged creature. She does have a pet cat of her own, however, and it’s called Charmmy Kitty.” Also, her full name is Kitty White, not Hello Kitty.
2 She was born in London
Saban International/Everett Collection
While she was founded in Japan, the character was born in the suburbs of London, England. She has a twin sister named Mimmy, who wears a yellow bow. Reportedly, her hobbies are traveling, reading and baking and her favorite food is her mother’s apple pie.
3 She doesn’t have a mouth for a specific reason
Hiroko Masuike/Getty Images
Apparently, she has a favorite food but no way to eat it? You may notice that Hello Kitty doesn’t have a mouth and the creators say it was for a good reason. Creator Yuko Shimizu said that she doesn’t need a mouth because she speaks from the heart and it symbolizes feelings of friendship and unity. However, I do note that she has a mouth in several cartoons so this is not consistent.
4 There is a Hello Kitty maternity ward in Taiwan
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Can you imagine giving birth surrounded by Hello Kitty and her pals? Well, you can in Taiwan and it is the world’s only Hello Kitty-themed hospital, which opened in 2008. It is officially called the Hao Sheng Hospital.
5 Hello Kitty has many friends & a boyfriend
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We mentioned her twin sister and her pet cat, but she also has a boyfriend and several friends. Her boyfriend is Dear Daniel and some of her most popular pals are Badtz-Maru, Chococat, Cinnamoroll, Jewelpet, Keroppi, Kuromi, My Melody, Little Twin Stars, Pochacco and Pompompurin.
What else do you know about Hello Kitty? Who is your favorite Sanrio character? Let us know in the comments!
Kid Stuff
June 2018
Unleash your inner child by reliving your favorite kids TV shows, cartoons, toys and more!
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