TIME Hello Kitty: 50 Years
Hello Kitty
Hello Kitty at 50 • How a drawing of a face made up of three circles, six lines, and blank space (oh, and a bow, too) came to rule the world.
HELLO, KITTY! • She hit store shelves in 1975 and never looked back. Meet Kitty and her friends and family, and learn how they won over the world.
Kitty Is Born • When a young designer showed the Sanrio founder sketches of a mouthless white cat, he was skeptical of the feline’s earning power. Then came the plastic change purse.
Lurking Beneath the Bow • Is Kitty a tool of the devil? That’s just one of the improbable theories dogging the unknowing cat.
Kitty’s Long Life • The evolution of Sanrio and its most famous character through the years.
Friends & Family • They’re a tight-knit group, one sweeter than the next. Inside Hello Kitty’s inner circle.
The Fans Who Love Her • From Banda Aceh to Berlin, the young at heart of all ages celebrate Hello Kitty every day.
THINKING PINK • Kitty didn’t conquer the globe on her own. She had pop culture trends, determined collectors, and even a few controversies to propel her to one-of-a-kind character fame.
The Power of Kawaii • A shape-shifting concept that embodies cuteness, ugliness, and the urge to hug, kawaii is king in Japanese culture.
Kawaii, American-Style • The word is Japanese, but the concept is universal. The U.S. loves it.
Collector’s Items • DVD players, plushies, and motorcycle helmets. When it comes to collecting Kitty merchandise, anything stamped with her visage is fair game.
Sexist Throwback or Empowering Icon? • When the famous cat turned 40 in 2014, TIME covered a four-day celebration of her birthday and the controversy surrounding her identity.
Fashion Darling • Kitty is 50, fabulous, and forever beloved by clotheshorses and designers. It’s only natural she has strutted the runway. And the red carpet. And trendsetting locales across the globe.
Twisted Kitty • She has shown up in numerous cultural gags and has been used to critique consumerism, anti-feminism, wokeism, and more.
FRISKY BUSINESS • Digital darling. Licensing juggernaut. Character inspiration. She’s 50 years old, and almost everything Kitty touches is still fattening Sanrio’s bottom line.
The Licensing Juggernaut • The 15th-highest-earning character of all time, Sanrio’s Hello Kitty might look like a cartoon feline, but she delivers like a cash cow.
Questions for Hello Kitty’s Designer • In 2008, TIME subscribers asked Yuko Yamaguchi for insights and explanations.
One Pixel at a Time • Sanrio’s digital strategy with Hello Kitty has been wisely cautious and increasingly creative.
Kitty, Augmented • As part of Hello Kitty’s 50th birthday celebration, Sanrio has an augmented-reality app where fans can see their favorite feline dancing in front of famous landmarks.
Kitty’s Sanrio Siblings • Some are sweet. Some have anger issues. There are humans, pets, and a lovable egg yolk. Meet a few of Sanrio’s other popular characters.
TIME Hello Kitty: 50 Years
Credits
Kitty’s Paddy
