My First Sanrio.com Order and Being a Sneaky Kitty

I made my first order at Snrio.com. I wanted the Black Hello Kitty lanyard for work, my usual store had ran out of them. This is one my pet peeves: Sanrio stores running out of item or keeping too few in stock. Sanrio.com came though for me.  For good measure, I also bought a Chococat and My Melody Christmas ornaments.

 

There is a rhyme to my reason for the black lanyard. After my earlier contract, I became aware about being furry at work. Even through they say my Hello Kitty items were not the issue; I still feel it doesn’t’ help if I stick out in the environment.  I decided this time  I would be a sneaky Kitty, and be less  overt about my love for Katy Chan at work. First, the Hello Kitty backpack. First rule of working is to fit into the work culture. I noted nobody had character backpacks, so I took a lager backpack to hold my Hello Kitty backpack. All I have to do is to pull out my Kitty backpack for the weekends.  Next, I took care of lanyard and Computer personalization. The word is inconspicuous hence the Black Hello Kitty lanyard. The computer wallpapers was more harder; I could not find a subdue Hello Kitty wall paper, too many of them bright or pink colors,. The solution was to uses Paint Shop pro on my chosen background, Black background with a pink Hello Kitty badge.  First, I changed the color to blue then blended Hello Kitty into the background.

Of course, there is one way to be 100% Kitty without working at Sanrio, my own business. If my business grows and I am a rich CEO, my personal secretary will have to remember to load my private jet with my Hello Kitty plushies and take them to the hotel room.  Another way as a go, as a furry I know puts it, s to be the most valuable worker and they will put up with some eccentricities.

 

Happy Birthday Mimmy and Kitty

I went on Hello Kitty online on 1st Nov. I Unlike Kitty’s birthday event there no decorations in Sanrio Harbor, no birthday quest or piñatas.

Then I went to London, the site of last year events; the site was barren.

Even without the crowds, the celebration quest, and other players and seemingly the abandonment of the game by Sanrio Digital I took time to say Happy Birthday to Kitty and Mimmy.

Sadly, I feel this may be the last time on HKO; a clear sign there limited development at Hello Kitty Online. Thanks to the GMs to put on some type of birthday event even through it not what I expected and hope for. .

Of Kittylers and Bronies.

First off More evidence that male fans exist. 

Antonio Garay drives a ‘Hello, Kitty’ Smartcar

http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/32386215
This got me thinking about bronies; for those who have not a clue, a Bronies are older fans of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. Most of these fans are male but a few are female. The word Bronies, as the call themselves, is a conjunction of Bro and Pony. What fascinates me how in just one year this fandom has gone from a show aimed to selling My Little Pony to five to seven year old girls, to a worldwide phenomenon. There are websites like Equestria Daily to various meets around the world. The credit goes to Hasbro and Lauren Faust creating a kid show with intelligence.
Now as a male fan of Hello Kitty, there are similarities as we men are fans of a character mainly marketed to women and children. The question is how can Sanrio find its hook and make Hello Kitty popular, as My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. There the foundation for male kitty fandom in an article 10 Questions for Yuko Yamaguchi, as reported by Time magazine:

“What will Hello Kitty be doing in 10 years?
Catherine G. Pilie, Covington, La.
In 10 years’ time, everybody around the world will know her. Also, the number of male and female fans will be the same. Men who are still reluctant to be seen with Kitty in public today might be wearing Hello Kitty boxers. But they will eventually stop being shy and will show off Kitty proudly. “

Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1834451,00.html#ixzz1aGzW8ycG

Sanrio would love to have a breakthrough with male fans. While Hasbro is doing fine with the gift that was dropped into their lap, I never felt Hasbro does not have very much experience dealing with something outside their demographic. Sanrio is strong suite is collaborations. If suddenly, there was an up tick of male Hello Kitty fans, Sanrio would respond with collaboration with a young male clothing line and if these new fans start visiting Sanrio stores like Toys R Us for MLP items, Sanrio would have an male line of items on the store, within months. Male hello kitty fan would not need to make an appeal to Sanrio like bronies had to with Hasbro.

Of course, it would have to be a different way to attract male fans; they could reboot Hello Kitty and Friends, a la Lauren Faust., The problem I do not see her or any other

Americacreative type navigating your typical top down manage style of a Japanese corporation like Sanrio. Then again if lightning to strike twice creating a male Kitty fandom, I’ll be there to guild new male fans of the cute one.

 

Three Years Ago

While visiting Hello Kitty Hell page in 2008 I left a comment on his web page I wrote:

“#66 Comment from Itakethefith
Time: June 22, 2008, 9:46 pm

I feel sorry for you and your tolerance speaks of your compassion and charter.
I am a male furry fan, my Hello Kitty Hell is knowing I can’t really tell anybody I like Hello Kitty plushies . I Finlay succumbed to the cuteness and bought a 20? Hello Kitty Plush to add to my plushie collection. I do not see it going any further. I wonder there are some similarities between Hello Kitty and Furry fans.
Keep up the good work.”

Update: I was wrong, I did not know how much she would take over my life.

In August 2008 I joined Hello Kitty Junkies. I had to confess I was not sure I would be accepted or immediately drummed out. I was afraid ether the mostly female members would think a guy who like Hello Kitty had alterer motives or was just creepy. I was soon relieved to find my fears were unfounded.

Three years and loving it.

PS. Congrats to Hello Kitty Junkies for reaching their 5000 member.