The history of Hello Kitty

Right alongside Mickey Mouse and Snoopy sits Hello Kitty, one of the most recognizable characters worldwide. Sanrio’s biggest star has won over fans of every age since her 1974 debut, thanks to her adorable face and massive quantities of merch.

Like all famous figures, though, we may take Hello Kitty for granted. How much do we really know about her? Does she have a backstory? Does she ever speak? And is she an actual cat, or a cat-like human girl?

Senior Cute Things Correspondent Allegra Frank walks us through a brief history of Kitty White’s life, condensing nearly 45 years into less than 45 minutes. As usual, Chris Plante and Russ Frushtick are left dumbfounded.

Special thanks to everyone who participated in our new segment, Reader Only Memories, wherein we share listener stories about the topic at hand. Here is the full thread of responses:

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