Happy Birthday, Hello Kitty! Take a Look Back at the Cat's (Or, Umm, Not-a-Cat's?) Impressive 40-Year Run
Key chains, dolls, humidifiers, guitars, sewing machines, and even toilet paper: It's 2014 and the world still has a case of Hello Kitty fever four decades after her introduction. The ubiquitous white cartoon character (we're being vague for a reason—more on that later) has had an impressive 40-year run: From her humble beginnings on a vinyl coin purse to this month's massive Hello Kitty Con, she's obviously here to stay.
Click through the slideshow for a look at the most notable events of the character's life. Congrats, Kitty—you don't look a day over 16.
1/17Meow.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio2/171974: Ikuko Shimizu, a designer for Sanrio at the time, creates a then nameless Hello Kitty after graduating from Tokyo's Musashino Art University. The official story, though? Hello Kitty was born in the suburbs of London, England, on November 1. She's about five apples tall and is the weight of three. Cute from the very beginning.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio3/171975: The overalls-wearing cat earns her official name, pronounced "Haro-Kiti" or Hello Kitty in English. Many Japanese fondly refer to her as Kitty Chan, "Chan" being a term of endearment in the Japanese language.
Hello Kitty also appears on her first piece of merchandise: a simple vinyl coin purse with a starry snap closure. And Sanrio's official magazine, The Strawberry News (we told you—everything about this company is cute!) launches.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio4/171990: Sanrio Puroland opens in Tokyo, Japan, and features musicals, restaurants, theme rides, and more.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio5/171978: Sanrio begins to distribute products across Europe and debuts the first Hello Kitty digital watch two years later. Over a million are sold.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio6/171976: Hello Kitty's family is introduced: twin sister Mimmy (who's apparently "shy and very girly") wears a yellow bow on her right ear, while Hello Kitty wears a red bow on her left ear. Hello Kitty's mother's name is Mary and her father's name is George.
And here's where it gets a little bizarre: Hello Kitty actually owns a pet—a white Persian cat named Charmmy Kitty.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio7/171992: It's the great pinkout! Pink is unveiled as the primary color palette for Hello Kitty, establishing a now iconic, ultra sweet look for many years.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio8/171999: Hello Kitty turns 25 and gets a boyfriend, Dear Daniel. He boasts an impressive white tuft of hair, is also a Brit, and likes to "take photos of animals."
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio9/172003: The Spring/Summer 2003 collection from Heatherette is Hello Kitty's first designer collaboration on the runway.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio10/172001: Hello Kitty's first official character collaboration is with Julius the monkey from Paul Frank Industries.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio11/172005: Kimora Lee Simmons debuts the first high-end Hello Kitty diamond jewelery collection.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio12/172007: Hello Kitty makes her first appearance in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio13/172010: Sephora launches their Sephora Originals line with who else but Kitty-Chan? The collection features eye shadow palettes, lip gloss, perfume, and more. The star of the collection is the eye-catching Swarovski crystal-bejeweled Hello Kitty-shaped case and brush set that retailed for $495.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio14/172012: Hello Kitty for President! Kitty throws her bow into the ring as she runs for President of the United States. Under the Friendship Party, naturally.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio15/172013: Eva Air's 777 Hello Kitty jet makes its inaugural international flight from Taiwan to LA. The plane is plastered with the visage of Hello Kitty and friends, and everything in the plane is appropriately themed. Yes, even the food and flight attendant uniforms.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio16/172014: The world discovers Hello Kitty isn’t actually a cat. According to author Christine Yano, she’s…a person. "She is a little girl. She is a friend. But she is not a cat," she told the LA Times. "She’s never depicted on all fours. She walks and sits like a two-legged creature." Yep, we’re confused too.
Photo: Courtesy of Sanrio17/17This Weekend: Sanrio parties down with Hello Kitty’s biggest fans in LA for the first official Hello Kitty Con. Sounds like an awesome weekend to us.
