The Wonderful World of Sanrio

Have you noticed that a particular cat with a red bow who loves making friends has inflitrated social media? Hello Kitty has become a familiar face on apps like Instagram, Tiktok, Pinterest, and Twitter (or X or whatever dumb name they're calling it these days). It's not just Hello Kitty either, all of the Sanrio gang is extremely popular across all social media websites. The question is: why are these characters all over the internet? In my opinion, the booming popularity of these adorable characters is due to the current state of the world. Everytime you turn on the news, the world seems bleaker than yesterday. The Sanrio characters are full of fun and whimsy. They serve as a colorful distraction for the harsh reality of life. The nostalgia of these characters also allows people to be transported back into their childhoods. So let's take a deep dive into some of the most popular Sanrio!

Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty is arguably the most popular Sanrio character. According to her official bio, Hello Kitty is a kind-hearted girl who loves to bake and make friends. Even though she is a cat, she is anthromorphized to be a little girl. Hello Kitty goes on adventures with her friends or her sister Mimmy. Overall, she's a really wholesome and cute character. Her whole character revolves around the innocence and fun of girlhood. I think this is what draws people to her. Her simplistic yet delightful character design makes her instantly recognizable. As a whole, Hello Kitty is charming character which allows her to be big on social media.

My Melody and Kuromi 

My Melody and Kuromi are definitely some of the most popular Sanrio characters. I would argue that they're in the top five across most social media websites. The most appealing thing about these two would be their 'opposites attract' friendship. My Melody is an adorable pink rabbit who lives in the woods. She is a sweet, good-natured type of character. Kuromi, on the other hand, is a rabbit dressed in all black. She's considered tough and even a little sassy. In the original anime, My Melody and Kuromi are actually rvials. However, people on social media often post pictures of the two referring to them as besties or even girlfriends. Their contrasting color palette and personalities make for an iconic duo. 

Cinnamoroll

Now Cinnamoroll is my personal favorite Sanrio character. He's an adorable white puppy with a swirly tail that looks like a cinnamon roll. He lives in a cafe, where he can do his main hobby: eating. (<3) He has a lot of cute dog friends who have fun food-themed names (Cappuccino, Mocha, Chiffon, etc.). Cinnamoroll is frequently used as a profile picture due to his visuals and overall aesthetic. I really enjoy Cinnamoroll for a multitude of reasons. The first being that dogs are one of my favorite animals. The second being how sweet and wholesome Cinnamoroll is. Like Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll is just a simple guy who really loves food and going on adventures with his friends. There's something just so endearing about Cinnamoroll and that is why he's my number one.

Little Twin Stars

Little Twin Stars are yet another favorite of mine. These characters are sister and brother: Lala, the older sister with pink hair and Kiki, the younger brother with blue hair. They appear as angels. One thing that draws fans in is the beautiful visual design. The siblings were born in the Land of the Stars. The corresponding anime is filled with dreamy imagery filled with pastel colors. The twins enjoy activities like star-fishing and writing poems. 

Pochacco 

Pochacco is a black and white dog who Sanrio created after Snoopy. Pochacco loves to play basketball and skateboard. He likes going for walks and eating his favorite food, banana ice cream. As a Snoopy fan myself, I do enjoy Pochacco. He's just the cutest.