Hello Kitty at 50: Still Cute, ... But in Japan, we also see how she may appear happy if you’re happy, and sad if you’re feeling sad,” Nishimura told The Associated Press.

Released by Takara Tomy Arts, the "Hello Kitty DOLLY MIX Figure" series includes four figurines based on Sanrio mascot characters. A somewhat sleepy and almost sad looking Hello Kitty is one part ...

TOKYO--Hello Kitty turns 50 on Friday. ... and sad if you're feeling sad," Nishimura told The Associated Press. ... And so that is also the dark side of cute,” Bow said.

Hello Kitty, the cute, enigmatic character that adorns everything from handbags to rice cookers, turns 50 on Friday ... “So if they’re sad, Hello Kitty will comfort you.

Unlike Mickey Mouse and Snoopy, Hello Kitty didn’t start as a cartoon. A young Sanrio illustrator named Yuko Shimizu drew her in 1974 as a decoration for stationery, tote bags, cups and other ...

As such, Hello Kitty is also a commercial behemoth that has earned her creator an estimated $80 billion, placing her alongside Pokémon, Mickey Mouse and Winnie-the-Pooh as history’s top ...

Kitty’s popularity is emblematic of the global craze for cute things.In Japan the phenomenon, known as kawaii, dates back to at least the 17th century, when artists started producing miniatures ...

A display of "Hello Kitty" items are seen at a press preview of the "CUTE" exhibition at Somerset House in London, England, on January 24, 2024.

Fans of Hello Kitty might be drawn to the simple lines of the cartoon, or the “cute” style of Japanese culture. Leslie Bow takes the conversation much deeper. When Hello Kitty had her 50th birthday in ...