Happy Birthday, Kitty! It’s hard to believe that our favourite cartoon kitten has just turned 50 years old. Her official birthday is November 1, 1974, according to the Japanese designer who created her, Yuko Shimizu.
Thinking of Miss Kitty in terms of her real-life, human age is rather jarring – a feeling we can only compare to when we found out that Timmy Turner of the Fairly Odd Parents had made a secret wish to make time stop, a revelation which also made the elementary schooler half a century old. Yikes.
Animated shows have become an integral part of children’s lives across the globe since their invention by Émile Cohl back in 1908. Nowadays, the very first words uttered by little ones aren’t ‘mama’ or ‘dada’ – they’re ‘Peppa Pig’. Over in Japan, however, the history of anime and manga goes a lot further back.
Multi-narrative panel cartoons made in Japan, otherwise known as manga, are said to originate from illustrated scrolls called emakimono which date back to the 12th and 13th centuries. Some historians credit the occupation of Japan by allied forces with influencing the modern direction of manga and anime later down the line, due to comic books brought over by American GIs.
A medium which has been used to create award-winning films and TV shows for adults and children alike – there's something about animated, often anthropomorphic characters which tugs on our heartstrings. As children, their adorable natures captivate our imaginations and help us to develop speech, follow stories and spark our creativity. As adults, cartoons elicit a sense of nostalgia, offering immediate comfort while opening us up to those covert moral lessons that animators always manage to sneak in.
The ubiquitous, enduring appeal of Hello Kitty since her naissance is reflective of this phenomenon. It’s no wonder, then, that she has made an appearance at the latest Somerset House exhibition ‘Cute’. Curated by Claire Catterall and featuring pieces from artists including Aya Takano, Mike Kelley, Wong Ping and Bunny Rogers, the collection brings together contemporary artworks and cultural phenomena which reflect the emotive charge of cuteness.
Yet in our humble opinion, the most immense example of Hello Kitty’s colossal influence (which we’re not sure would quite fit in Somerset House) is the exclusive Sanrio livery which adorns a small selection of planes in EVA Air’s fleet.
That’s right, an entire Hello Kitty-themed plane with Sanrio food and accessories to boot is flown for specific flights from Taipei to Tokyo, Sapporo, Bali, Los Angeles, Seoul, Shanghai and Chicago. She’s on planes, air fryers, water bottles, headphones, fashion accessories, bedsheets and more. A capitalist queen, Miss Kitty can sell anything.
Rooted in unique, extremely high-level artistry, cartoon characters are designed with love at their core. This is especially the case when we look at famous animation studios including Studio Ghibli, Pixar, DreamWorks and Laika, and it was certainly true for Sanrio’s Shimizu when she dreamt up Hello Kitty.
While ‘born’ in 1974, Hello Kitty remains a timeless cultural icon that we’re sure will remain omnipresent for years to come. With a particular re-interest in Hello Kitty sweeping the globe as we speak, we’ve curated a selection of the best Hello Kitty merchandise on the market that you don’t need to fly to Japan for. Keep scrolling to join the cult of cuteness.
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Hello Kitty Produce Stickers Case
Possibly one of the most unique and kitschy Hello Kitty merchandise designs we’ve come across, this fruit stickers case from Casetify is not only adorable, but it’s made from 50 per cent recycled materials.
Buy now £61.00, Casetify
Baggu Hello Kitty Apple 13" Laptop Sleeve
For safety, security and top-notch cuteness while on the move, look no further than this Kitty-themed laptop sleeve from Baggu.
Buy now £32.00, Urban Outfitters
Hello Kitty Toaster Collectible AirPods Pro 2 Case
A collector’s item fitted with a handy Casetify carabiner, this toaster Kitty AirPods Pro 2 case can clip straight onto your keyring, handbag or favourite pair of jeans.
Buy now £61.00, Casetify
Hello Kitty Mug Cup & Small Plate Set – Blue Rose
Who said Hello Kitty merchandise can’t be elegant? Certainly not us. We’re head over heels for this take on traditional Japanese Mino pottery, complete with subtle Hello Kitty designs.
Buy now £61.99, Ochaski
Hello Kitty Strawberries Waffle Cropped Tank
A waffle-texture tank top with 90s flare, this comfortable piece of loungewear will signal your love for Hello Kitty loud and proud.
Buy now £37.69, Dumbgood
The Hello Kitty Mini
Cambridge Satchel’s collaboration with Hello Kitty has resulted in a drop-dead-cute collection of leather bags for every occasion. Our personal favourite is this apple green mini satchel, complete with illuminating outlines of Miss Kitty.
Buy now £280.00, Cambridge Satchel
Hello Kitty Japanese Graphic Ringer T-Shirt
This incredibly chic, retro-inspired ringer t-shirt features Kitty in her own uber-cool denim and white tee combo. The Japanese text below simply reads ‘Hello Kitty’.
Buy now £20.00, Sanrio
Silver Buffalo Hello Kitty Cup Noodles
Increase the kawaii-levels of your cup noodles ten-fold with this themed bowl and chopstick set.
Buy now £28.99, Amazon
Hello Kitty Slippers
Available in red, black and pistachio green, these adorable fluffy Hello Kitty slippers are most definitely a treat for your feet.
Buy now £18.00, Etsy
Hello Kitty 3D Mug Novelty Mug - White Pink
Get your bid on for this jumbo Hello Kitty mug for housing your tea, coffee or matcha. Or, given its size, pop your weekly bunch of flowers in this novelty piece and display it on your mantle.
Buy now £19.99, eBay
Hello Kitty 50th Anniversary Sterling Silver, Lab Grown Diamond and Enamel Stud Earrings
If diamonds are a girl’s best friend, then it simply doesn’t get any better than a pair of diamond-studded Hello Kitty earrings. This set was created for Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary.
Buy now £100.00, Claire’s
Ty Hello Kitty Squish-a-Boo soft toy 35cm
This machine-washable plush might just replace your regular pillow. At 35cm in height and styled to resemble our favourite cartoon Kitty, the ultra-soft and oh-so-squishy toy feels just like a Hello Kitty-shaped cloud.
Buy now £14.00, Selfridges
Sanrio Hello Kitty X Le Creuset Collaboration Pink Two Cup Set & Two Plate
That’s right, once upon a time, Hello Kitty and Le Creuset released a limited edition range of themed, baby pink dinnerware. You’ll find variations from the collection by scrolling through eBay, but this set of mugs and matching floral saucers take the biscuit.
Buy now £139.00, eBay
Hello Kitty 10” Nigiri Sushi Plush
This rather unique sushi-themed Kitty plush might not be for everyone, but it’s certainly going straight into our basket. At 10 inches tall, she’s crafted from premium fabrics including a fluffy white rice base, red lamé salmon and embroidered felt nori.
Buy now £27.49, Kidrobot
Hello Kitty Siren Clog
The iconic rubber footwear brand has collaborated with Hello Kitty to produce a collection of outrageously cute clogs. The Siren clog features a cobalt blue glittery base with a matching all-over Kitty print, an adorable Kitty figurine and a jumbo-sized red bow.
Buy now £94.99, Crocs
Hello Kitty Year of the Rabbit 13” Interactive Plush
Complete with a silk removable jacket, Kidrobot’s Year of the Rabbit plush is a brilliant Lunar New Year gift. Fear not, for they have options for all the other animals in the Chinese zodiac.
Buy now £27.49, Kidrobot
Hello Kitty Toaster Toast Cookie Cutter
An adorable toast cutter is a kitchen essential in our eyes. This Hello Kitty option also doubles up as a cookie cutter for all your culinary needs. After all, the two main food groups are bread and cookies.
Buy now £11.68, Amazon
Sanrio Hello Kitty Tachikichi Ceramic Traditional Incense Holder Red
A gorgeous, traditional Japanese incense holder complete with a ceramic Hello Kitty figurine is the home accessory you never knew you needed.
Buy now £149.98, Japan Centre
Hello Kitty And Friends Hello Kitty Unicorn Costume Soft Toy
It’s Hello Kitty, and she’s wearing a unicorn onesie. There’s not much more to say, for this is an instant buy situation.
Buy now £16.00, Claire’s
