Brand Manager Explains, “Hello Kitty Is Not a Cat”
Don’t let the name fool you. Hello Kitty may look like a cat and have the word “kitty” in her name but this adorable 49-year-old character is definitely not a cat.
On July 18, Thursday, Sanrio’s Senior Vice President of Marketing and Brand Management Jill Koch revealed, “Hello Kitty is not a cat.”
We’re as stunned as you are. Koch elaborated, “She’s actually a little girl born and raised in the suburbs of London. She has a mom and dad and a twin sister, Mimmy—who is also her best friend.”
We also learned this little girl is named Kitty White.
Pink Globalization: Hello Kitty’s Trek Across The Pacific author Christine R. Yano supported this surprising fact. “She’s a cartoon character,” Yano informed the Los Angeles Times.
“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,” Yano explained.
We now know this popular character is supposed to be a little girl but why is she British when her creator, Sanrio, is a Japanese entertainment company?
Yano answered, “Hello Kitty emerged in the 1970s when the Japanese and Japanese women were into Britain. They loved the idea of Britain. It represented the quintessential idealized childhood, almost like a white picket fence.”
“So, the biography was created exactly for the tastes of that time,” she concluded.
Hello Kitty Celebrates 50 Years
Hello Kitty (who is not a cat) first appeared on coin purses in Japan in 1975. She will be 50 years old this November 1. Since she was created by Yuko Shimizu, Hello Kitty has appeared on numerous merchandise worldwide, including clothing, lunchboxes, stationery, and notebooks.
Decades later, her popularity remains, especially among the adults who have grown up and have kids of their own. She was featured in CBS’ production of “Hello Kitty’s Furry Tale Theater” in 1987.
Lady Gaga also wore a gown with Hello Kitty dolls in 2009 during the cartoon character’s 35th birthday. Other Hollywood A-listers have also publicly declared their love for the cat-like character, including Mariah Carey, Britney Spears, Avril Lavigne, Christina Aguilera, and Cameron Diaz.
Additionally, the familiar and beloved childhood character has been part of notable collabs with the likes of Pottery Barn, Converse, Nike, and Baggu.
