Kitty at fifty

Hello Kitty might be the most famous cat in the world — with a round face and a red bow tied to her pointed ears. She celebrated her 50th birthday on Nov 1.

To mark the occasion, Hello Kitty's manufacturer, the Japanese company Sanrio, created a special web page, and the Sanrio Puroland theme park in Tokyo displayed large birthday posters. Starting in spring, Sanrio has released collaborative products with brands like Uniqlo and McDonald's. In September, the Hello Kitty-themed cafe at Universal Studios Hollywood, US, officially opened.

According to Sanrio, the prototype for Hello Kitty was inspired by a little girl from London. In 1974, Hello Kitty's image debuted on a plastic coin purse and quickly gained worldwide popularity.

Hello Kitty has also achieved significant commercial success. At one point, she was the primary source of profit for Sanrio. As reported by Xinhua, about a decade ago, approximately 75 percent of Sanrio's profits came from Hello Kitty. Today, while the company holds the copyrights to hundreds of popular cartoon characters, Hello Kitty still contributes about 30 percent of its profits.

Christine Yano, professor emerita of anthropology at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, explained Hello Kitty's enduring appeal. "Her minimalist design, with no mouth, allows fans to project their own emotions onto her, making her a personal and emotional icon for people from all walks of life," she told the university's news website.

"In today's world, Hello Kitty brings joy and empathy, and I think there's value in that. It's comforting to see something so simple evoke such positive emotions."