Who Created Hello Kitty? Yuko Shimizu-Creator Of Hello Kitty

Did you know Hello Kitty will turn 51 on November 1, 2025? She was first drawn in 1974 by a 24-year-old Japanese artist named Yuko Shimizu. This cute little character with a red bow and no mouth was created for the company Sanrio—and she quickly became a global icon. Over the years, Hello Kitty has helped Sanrio earn more than $80 billion and is still loved by millions around the world. Here’s the story of who created Hello Kitty and how she became so famous.

Who is the creator of hello kitty? Yuko Shimizu

Yuko Shimizu is the artist who created Hello Kitty back in 1974. She worked for Sanrio, a company known for making cute gifts and character designs. At the time, Yuko was just 24 years old and full of creative ideas. Her goal was to design something simple, lovable, and easy to recognize.

She drew a little girl who looked like a cat—with no mouth, a red bow on her left ear, and a sweet, friendly face. That design became Hello Kitty.

Though Yuko Shimizu left Sanrio just two years later, her creation became a global superstar.

Hello Kitty’s Real Name and Background

Many people think Hello Kitty is just a cat, but Sanrio says she’s not. According to the company:

Her full name is Kitty White
She was born in London, England
She’s a British schoolgirl, not a cat
She has a twin sister named Mimmy
She loves baking cookies and making friends

Even though she looks like a cat, Hello Kitty walks, talks, and acts like a human.

Learn more about how old is Sanrio Hello Kitty.

Role of Different Designers in Creating Hello Kitty

Designers in Creating Hello Kitty sanrio in japanese

The Hello Kitty that you see on the screen has been through numerous transitions. Below, we have shed light on the role of different designers in creating the Hello Kitty character.

Yuko Shimizu

Yuko Shimizu was the original creator of the character Hello Kitty. She joined Sanrio as a young designer, who was tasked with creating youthful characters that would appeal to kids. As a young designer, she designed the first “Hello Kitty”, which at that time was called “Hi Kitty” in 1974. Although the design was made in 1974, it was not revealed to the public until late 1975.

Shimizu made the character Hello Kitty, which is a little-girl with a feline-like appearance on 1st November 1975. Hello Kitty was an immediate success when it was released. The inspiration for Hello Kitty came from Sanrio, who at that time was designing cartoon characters aimed at little girls.

Soon after the release of Hello Kitty, Yuko Shimizu left the company in 1976 due to her marriage. Afterwards, she worked as a freelance designer, and created many characters afterwards too, which were although not as successful as the Hello Kitty.

Yuko Yamaguchi

Yuko Yamaguchi, who is also known as the “Hello Kitty Mom” is often credited with the current look of the Hello Kitty. She has been the designer of Hello Kitty for over four decades now. Still, she works with Sanrio, and designs characters for Sanrio.

She gave Hello Kitty the modern look that you see with the Hello Kitty character today. Thus, despite the fact she is not the original founder of the character Hello Kitty, she is provided with the credit that she designed this character.

When Was Hello Kitty Created?

Hello Kitty was first created in 1974 by Yuko Shimizu, but the current Hello Kitty character has undergone significant changes. The current Hello Kitty is often credited to “Yuko Yamaguchi”, who became the lead designer for Hello Kitty after Yuko Shimizu resigned from the company.

She was officially introduced on November 1, 1974, on a small coin purse sold by Sanrio. That date is now celebrated as her birthday.

So in 2025, Hello Kitty will celebrate her 51st birthday!

Timeline of Key Events in Hello Kitty’s Life

1974: Hello Kitty’s design was finalized in 1974.
1975: Hello Kitty made her first public appearance.
1980s-1990s: Yuko Yamaguchi became the lead designer.
1990s-2000s: Hello Kitty became the pop icon.
2000s: Serious changes were done in Kitty’s character to make it a global icon loved by everyone.
2014: Sanrio clarified that Hello Kitty is not a cat but a little girl that has a cat-like appearance.
2015: Major changes were made in Kitty’s style, including animations, appearance, and more.
2024: The year 2024 marks Kitty’s 50th anniversary with a new design, luxury appearances, and new kits.

Why Doesn’t Hello Kitty Have a Mouth?

One of the most unique things about Hello Kitty is that she has no mouth.

Sanrio explained that she doesn’t have a mouth because:

They want people to feel their own emotions through her
Whether you’re happy, sad, or excited, Hello Kitty matches your mood
Her face is kept simple so she can connect with everyone

This special design choice has made her even more lovable to fans around the world.

How Popular Is Hello Kitty?

Hello Kitty is one of the most successful characters ever created. Here are some amazing facts:

She appears on over 50,000 products
Sanrio has made more than $80 billion from Hello Kitty
She has her own TV shows, cafes, theme parks, and even airplanes
People from all ages—kids, teens, and adults—love her

From school supplies and clothes to makeup and video games, Hello Kitty is everywhere!

Did Yuko Shimizu Get Rich from Hello Kitty?

Yuko Shimizu worked as a designer at Sanrio when she created Hello Kitty. Since Sanrio owned the rights to all characters made by their staff, Yuko didn’t make billions from Hello Kitty’s success.

She left the company just two years after making Hello Kitty, but her name is forever remembered as the original creator of one of the world’s most iconic characters.

Notable Quotes About Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty is loved by its creators, and the public alike. Here, we have included some of the most popular quotes about the character Hello Kitty.

“She has no mouth because she speaks from the heart.” – Yuko Yamaguchi
“She isn’t a cat. She’s a cartoon character. She is a little girl. She is a friend. But she is not a cat.” – Sanrio
According to BBC, Yuko Shimizu, the original creator of Hello Kitty, said:
“The idea was to create a character that felt like a friend — not too noisy, not too flashy.”

FAQS

This cute Kitty is owned by Sanrio. Although this character was created by Yuko Shimizu, it is still owned by Sanrio. Since Yuko Shimizu was working for Sanrio, the company had all the rights to the character.

Yes, Sanrio Kitty is a human. Sanrio describes Hello Kitty as a cute little girl who has cat-like attributes. That means Hello Kitty is a little girl who has characteristics resembling a little girl.

Hello Kitty’s real name is Kitty White. She was created in 1974 by a Japanese company called Sanrio. Even though she looks like a cat—with ears and whiskers—Sanrio says she is actually a little girl from London, England, not a real cat. She was born on November 1st and is known as “Hello Kitty” around the world.

Yes, Hello Kitty is based on a girl, not a real cat. Even though she has ears and whiskers like a cat, her creators at Sanrio say she is actually a little British girl named Kitty White. She is 8 years old, goes to school, and lives in the suburbs of London, England. She also has a twin sister named Mimmy.

Sanrio explained this in an interview with the BBC, where they clearly said: “Hello Kitty is not a cat. She’s a cartoon character. She is a little girl.”

Conclusion

Hello Kitty is one of the most iconic Sanrio characters that has made the company a great success. This character was created by Yuko Shimizu, who in 1974 was working with Sanrio.

Although Yuko Shimizu created the character Hello Kitty, he has no rights to Hello Kitty as this character was in the ownership of Sanrio. Since Hello Kitty was first introduced, this character has undergone several changes, and the current look of the Sanrio Hello Kitty is not exactly as it was back in 1974.

Emily R. Blake

Emily R. Blake is a professional writer who has authored countless articles and blog posts for various children’s brands and creative websites. With a special focus on kawaii culture, kids’ crafts, and cartoon history, she loves turning nostalgic icons like Kitty into fun, family-friendly content. In her spare time, Emily enjoys collecting Kitty mugs and plushies that spark daily inspiration.