VNR: UH expert on Hello Kitty’s 50th anniversary

Link to video and sound (details below): https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/7tsHRQzkwL

*suggested VOSOT script below*

WHAT: November 1 marks Hello Kitty's 50th anniversary, celebrating her impact on cute (kawaii) culture around the world. Created by Sanrio in 1974, Hello Kitty has grown from a Japanese character into a beloved global icon, embraced by people of all ages in many different countries and cultures.

WHO: Christine Yano, professor emerita of anthropology at University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, is a leading expert on Hello Kitty’s cultural impact. Yano is recognized for her expertise in cultural anthropology and Japanese popular culture, and author of Pink Globalization: Hello Kitty’s Trek Across the Pacific.

WHY: Yano’s interest in Hello Kitty started in 1997 while teaching a Japanese popular culture course, where she realized Hello Kitty’s deep cultural resonance. Yano says her lasting appeal is attributed to her design, which evokes a sense of sweetness, nostalgia and universality. 

MORE INFORMATION:

• In 2014, it was revealed that Hello Kitty isn’t technically a cat but rather a “little girl” or “a friend,” per Sanrio’s guidance. This surprising fact, shared by Yano during an exhibition, made headlines worldwide and remains a notable part of her mystique. (UH News story)
• Hello Kitty’s influence in Hawaiʻi is unique, as she’s seen as part of everyday life rather than a symbol of identity. Special editions, like a version of Hello Kitty that "tans" throughout summer, have been especially popular among tourists visiting the islands.
• Sanrio has sustained Hello Kitty’s relevance by pushing boundaries in creative ways—examples include launching products like Hello Kitty wine, appealing to older fans while keeping her charm intact.
• More in UH News story on Hello Kitty’s global impact

Link to video and sound (details below): https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/7tsHRQzkwL

B-ROLL: (1 minute, 12 seconds)

0:00-1:12 - Yano’s personal Hello Kitty collection, Hello Kitty items in stores.

Sound:

Christine Yano, UH Mānoa Professor Emerita of Anthropology

(15 seconds)
“You think about 50 years of a figure, a character, a toy, like Hello Kitty. And so how is that possible? Because things change, generations change. So what is it that can make her still appealing?" 

(20 seconds)
“I can only guess that in talking with many different people, all walks of life is that they make her (Hello Kitty) their own and that's part of the appeal of the blankness. Undeniably cute, but somehow flexible in its spareness of the design.” 

(16 seconds)
“Lots of credit to Sanrio for having of course, a recognizable brand item, branded item, like, Hello Kitty, but always doing something with creativity, with a little sometimes an edginess that you would say, ‘Really, they're doing that?’” 

___

VOSOT script

INTRO
Hello Kitty is celebrating the big 5-0 this month! Created by Sanrio and born on November 1, 1974, the beloved character has grown from a simple cartoon to a global icon, inspiring fans and shaping pop culture for half a century. 

VO
Christine Yano, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa professor emerita has studied Hello Kitty for over 25 years and attributes her popularity to her design.

SOT
(Christine Yano, UH Mānoa professor emerita of anthropology)

(1:31-1:51)
<“I can only guess that in talking with many different people, all walks of life is that they make her (Hello Kitty) their own and that's part of the appeal of the blankness. Undeniably cute, but somehow flexible in its spareness of the design.”>

VO
From lunch boxes to high fashion, Hello Kitty has influenced everything from art to consumer culture, and continues to earn a special place in the hearts of fans young and old.

In Hawai‘i, Yano says there’s even special editions of Hello Kitty, like one that "tans" through summer, which are popular with tourists visiting the islands.