“Hello Kitty is not a cat. In fact, this character is a little girl,” Jill Koch, Senior Vice President of Global Licensing and Brand Management at Sanrio, shared. The Sanrio company in Japan is the creative force and brand manager behind the Hello Kitty character for many decades.
According to Sanrio, Hello Kitty is actually a little girl who is three apples tall and five apples high. She lives in the suburbs of London, England, along with her mother and her twin sister Mimmy. She also has a pet cat named Charmmy Kitty.
However, many fans are skeptical about the information released by the company. Many were shocked to learn that Hello Kitty was born and raised in England.
“She has cat ears and whiskers but isn’t she a cat?” one user commented on TikTok. “She has ears like a cat, whiskers like a cat, yet she is actually a little girl?” another account chimed in.
“So she has whiskers, has ears, and is named ‘Kitty,’ yet she is a human? What gives?” “Is she really British?” many users expressed disbelief.
According to Christine R. Yano, an anthropologist and author, many Japanese people went to England during the time when Hello Kitty was created in 1974. “At that time, many Japanese people loved England. Therefore, the character was created to resonate with the perceptions of the people when they arrived,” Yano explained, noting that the character Hello Kitty is indeed a little girl.
“Hello Kitty is not a cat, but a friend to everyone. She is never depicted standing on her feet. Besides that, she even has a pet,” Yano added.
In 2014, to celebrate the 40th anniversary, Sanrio also shared specific distinctions between the character of Hello Kitty and her cat likeness.
This year, as we commemorate the 50th anniversary of the beloved character Hello Kitty, numerous events are taking place worldwide. “As a symbol of friendship and kindness over the past 50 years, Hello Kitty has touched the hearts of many fans around the globe. We want to share our excitement with fans by bringing delightful experiences inspired by Hello Kitty, especially during this special anniversary,” Craig Takiguchi, Managing Director of Sanrio, stated. This organization is currently planning a series of anniversary events throughout the year.
