Described as the "CEO of super-cute", Hello Kitty was created by Yuko Shimizu, a Japanese illustrator, half a century ago yesterday.
The fictional catlike character became popular in the 1970s and has remained a global phenomenon ever since, thanks to adults, children and celebrities alike.
At 50, the character continues to be loved by many, adorning numerous lines of merchandise from clothing to stationery and makeup, as well as appearing in animated series and films, comics, video games and books.
Sanrio, the Japanese company that owns the character, makes almost $4bn (£3.1bn) in Hello Kitty sales annually, according to the Economist. It is estimated she has earned her creators $80bn over her lifetime.
Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin November 02, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye The Guardian dergisinin November 02, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
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