The fictional character Hello Kitty was introduced in 1974 by the Japanese company Sanrio. Yuko Shimizu, a Japanese designer, created the character that now has a franchise of everything from clothing and accessories to toys and games — and that’s not even the end. The fictional feline has already had a number of television programs and TV movies, and now she’ll be making her theatrical debut in an upcoming film. The currently untitled Hello Kitty movie, directed by Jennifer Coyle and Leo Matsuda, was planned years ago and in 2021 Deadline provided an update, so while its release is yet to be determined, it’s possible it could come out this year or next.
We might not know when Hello Kitty will hit theaters or streaming services, but it's been confirmed that the film will mix live-action and animation, meaning we’ll likely see the cat and her friends as cartoon characters, while real life is around them. The film type goes all the way back to Mary Poppins and is still around with films like Sonic and Space Jam 2. But it’s still yet to be announced if the titular kitty and her friends will be 3D or if they’ll take the classic route of 2D animation. Either way, because of Hello Kitty’s many previous shows and films, she has a lot of animated critters around her and, flat or bulgy, here are some we hope to see in the upcoming movie.
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7 Mimmy
It’s hard to tell the difference between our lead cat and her twin sister Mimmy. In fact, they appear to have identical designs, with the exception of their attire, as the two wear different clothes and colored bows on opposite ears. The two celebrate their birthday on November 1st. Mimmy’s hobbies included sewing and patchwork and one day she dreams of becoming a bride. Due to their friendship and of course, sisterhood, it’d be fun to see the two together, especially for those who always saw Mimmy and thought she was her sister in a different outfit. Maybe the two could even pull a switcheroo and pretend to be one another. Look at their faces – they’d definitely fool people.
6 Dear Daniel
Like the twins, Dear Daniel is another white cat and Hello Kitty’s childhood friend. The two have known each other since they were kittens, and he even gave her a hamster called Sugar. Dear Daniel has traveled the world and in the end, ended up in New York where he reunited with Hello Kitty. Some consider Dear Daniel her boyfriend and if he’s in the new movie, maybe there will be a romance between the two of them.
5 Keroppi
The frog Keroppi appeared on the 1989 show Hello Kitty and Friends. A resident of Donut Pond, the largest and bluest pond around, Keroppi lives with his siblings and parents, and is a big fan of baseball and boomerangs. Before Keroppi made it to screen, a contest was run to vote on the design of a new frog character and the giant eyed, neon green, bow-tie wearing amphibian was the winner. His full name Kerokerokeroppi translates to “morning glory,” but “kero” also means “ribbit,” which makes sense given the type of critter he is. Eagle-eyed viewers might’ve seen Hello Kitty and Keroppi in Ready Player One, so it’s possible this film will give them a chance to meet again on the big screen.
4 Mama and Papa
According to Sanrio, Hello Kitty was born in 1974, so even if she’s technically an adult, it’s hard to see her that way considering she looks the same way she did almost 50 years ago. Because of this, Hello Kitty could potentially reside with her parents in the new movie. Like she and her sister, Mama and Papa are two white kittens who care deeply for their children. Where Hello Kitty and her friends are main characters, her parents are pushed to the background but still, this doesn’t mean they can’t have small roles.
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3 My Melody
A Hello Kitty story couldn’t be told without the cat’s best friend My Melody. My Melody is a cookie-loving white rabbit who appeared on The Adventures of Hello Kitty & Friends, a CGI animated series that ran in 2008. She also had her own show called Onegai My Melody that was on air for 52 episodes. My Melody is an incredibly cheerful individual, and she’s got magical devices that allow her to cast spells. With enough popularity to get her own program, it’s not long before My Melody perhaps has her own movie as well.
2 Charmmy Kitty
Where Hello Kitty is an anthropomorphic cat, her pet Charmmy Kitty is pure feline. She even looks like the titular kitty but with more catlike features like fur and a fluffy tail. A gift from her father, Hello Kitty’s pet appears to be a white Persian cat and is described as well-mannered and quiet. Her name comes from the word “charm” as she walks around with a key charm around her neck. Hello Kitty gave it to her because, apparently, shiny things make her happy.
1 Hello Kitty
The star of a Hello Kitty movie would undoubtedly be the white, mouthless cat herself. A Hello Kitty film would be incomplete without its titular tabby. Since the cat’s debut, she has become a commercial success, initially dominated towards children and eventually becoming a trend among adults. She was produced by the Japanese company Sanrio and since she first appeared, Hello Kitty has been responsible for half of Sanrio’s income. According to the company site, Hello Kitty is the same height as five apples and while she may have an American accent, she resides in London, England with her family due to Britain’s popularity in Japan when she was created. Hello Kitty likes to travel, read and eat the cookies her sister makes her. Hello Kitty says, “You can never have too many friends,” and hopefully that is a prelude to the Japanese critters we see in her new movie.
