If you think Sanrio is just about Hello Kitty and a handful of plushies, I’m here to lovingly blow your mind. Because once you start digging into the Sanrio universe, you quickly realize it’s not just cute faces—it’s deep lore. I’m talking character bios, hometowns, favorite foods, birthday charts, canon friendships, rivalries, entire character arcs, and in some cases…mysterious or tragic backstories. Welcome to the pastel-colored rabbit hole you didn’t know you needed.
More Than 450 Sanrio Characters—And Most of Them Have a Backstory
Sanrio currently has over 450 characters in their official lineup, and many of them have been around for decades. While Hello Kitty (or Kitty White, if you want to get technical) is obviously the face of the brand, there are dozens of other characters with distinct personalities and intricate relationships.
Did you know Pompompurin has a best friend who’s a hamster named Muffin? Or that Keroppi the frog lives in Donut Pond and has a scientist brother named Koroppi? Or that My Melody and Kuromi are technically from the same universe, but Kuromi runs a literal biker gang in Onegai My Melody?
Even the lesser-known characters—like Chococat, Monkichi, or the forgettable-but-still-loved Picke Bicke—often have detailed bios tucked away in Sanrio archives, old merchandise, or Japanese-only releases. It’s a collector’s dream and a lore-lover’s playground.
Friendships, Rivalries, and Surprisingly Complex Dynamics
The connections between characters are part of what makes this world so compelling. My Melody is sweet and good-hearted, while Kuromi is chaotic, jealous, and kind of goth. Their relationship isn’t just “nice vs. mean girl”—it’s more nuanced. Kuromi secretly wants to be loved and often sabotages herself out of fear of vulnerability. Yes, Sanrio characters have character development.
Badtz-Maru, the spiky-haired penguin, is a self-declared “bad boy” who dreams of becoming rich and famous, but he still hangs out with a shy seal named Hana-Maru. Cinnamoroll can fly using his ears and runs a café with his friends in the Cinnamoroll anime. He’s also been depicted as an orphaned puppy that fell from the sky in some of his original lore.
Sanrio isn’t Just for Kids
Sanrio has always had a way of crafting characters that embody specific feelings. Kogumachan (Kitty’s bear friend) is shy and loves honey. Hangyodon wants to be a hero but constantly fails, and it makes him lonely. Even the newer character, Cogimyun, is a flour spirit (yes, you read that right) who dreams of being an onigiri, but she’s too soft and keeps falling apart. It’s sweet, it’s weirdly sad, and it’s also kind of relatable?
These stories are quiet, emotional, and full of themes like friendship, loneliness, jealousy, and self-worth—all hidden behind cute designs and colorful palettes. For many people (especially millennials and Gen Z), these characters served as emotional companions long before mental health was openly talked about.
Hello Kitty Island Adventure Adds a New Layer
And now, with Hello Kitty Island Adventure, we’re finally seeing many of these beloved characters brought to life in a new way—playable, interactive, and emotionally present. Available on Apple Arcade, Nintendo Switch, and PC, the game doesn’t just feature Hello Kitty—it gives screen time, dialogue, and personal quests to a wide cast, including Kuromi, Chococat, My Melody, Tuxedosam, and Cinnamoroll. Each character has their own arc, preferences, and development as you build relationships with them.
It’s the first time a Sanrio video game has given this much depth to so many characters at once. Through cozy quests, heartfelt conversations, and thoughtful world-building, Hello Kitty Island Adventure becomes more than just a life sim—it’s a celebration of Sanrio’s emotional universe, a game that lets fans step into the lore we’ve only read or seen on merch for years.
The Anime, Games, and Deep Cuts
If you’ve never watched Onegai My Melody or Hello Kitty’s Furry Tale Theater, you’re missing out on full-on magical girl plots, transformation sequences, and chaotic subplots that go way beyond the merch. There’s even a Sanrio dating sim (yes, that exists), and Aggretsuko, arguably one of Sanrio’s deepest and most adult entries, tackles workplace toxicity, rage, romance, and the pressure to conform—all through a red panda who sings death metal in karaoke bars.
Some characters, like Kuromi and Hangyodon, have seen major revivals in popularity thanks to TikTok and fan merch. Others remain obscure unless you go digging through old sticker sheets or vintage fan books. It’s a layered world where even a bunny with a mushroom hat (Marumofubiyori) has a deeply specific comfort routine and bedtime schedule.
Final Thoughts: Cute on the Outside, Deep on the Inside
Sanrio’s magic lies in how deceptively simple it all seems. You can love it for the aesthetics alone—soft pinks, cozy cafes, nostalgic designs—but once you start reading between the lines (or playing the games), you realize this universe is full of symbolism, emotional storytelling, and rich interpersonal dynamics. It’s cute, but it’s also incredibly human.
So the next time you buy a Pompompurin pencil case or spot a Kuromi backpack at Hot Topic, just remember: you’re not just picking up some kawaii merch—you’re joining a decades-old emotional saga of friendship, vulnerability, rebellion, and magical cake.
