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{{Short description|Japanese entertainment company}}
{{Distinguish|Soenario}}
{{More citations needed|date=January 2009}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Expand Japanese| サンリオ|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox company
| name = Sanrio Company, Ltd.
| native_name = 株式会社サンリオ
| romanized_name = Kabushiki-gaisha Sanrio
| logo = Sanrio logo.svg
| logo_size = 220px
| logo_caption = Logo used since 1997
| image = Gate_City_Osaki_West_Tower.jpg
| image_size = 200
| image_caption = Headquarters at Gate City Osaki in [[Ōsaki, Tokyo|Ōsaki]], [[Shinagawa]], Tokyo
| brands = [[Hello Kitty|Hello Kitty and Friends]]<br/>[[Mr. Men|Mr. Men & Little Miss]]
| type = [[Public company|Public]] [[Kabushiki-gaisha|KK]]
| traded_as = {{tyo|8136}}
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| founder = [[Shintaro Tsuji]]
| defunct = 
| fate = 
| area_served = Worldwide
| key_people = {{ubl|Shintaro Tsuji <small>(former [[President (corporate title)|President]] & [[CEO]], current Honorary Chairman)</small>|Tomokuni Tsuji (President)}}
| industry = [[Wholesale]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nikkei.com/markets/company/gaiyo/?scode=8136|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161205200046/http://www.nikkei.com/markets/company/gaiyo/?scode=8136|archive-date = December 5, 2016|title = サンリオ&#91;8136&#93;の株価・株主優待など。}}</ref>
| genre = 
| products = {{unbulleted list|Fashion|Accessories|Gifts|Entertainment|Video games|Plushies|Toys}}
| services = 
| revenue = {{increase}} [[Japanese yen|¥]]72,624&nbsp;million<ref name="financials2023">{{cite web |url=https://corporate.sanrio.co.jp/en/ir/statements/ |title=Financial Statements |publisher=Sanrio Co., Ltd. |access-date=December 8, 2023}}</ref>
| revenue_year = 2023
| operating_income = {{increase}} ¥13,247&nbsp;million<ref name="financials2023"/>
| income_year = 2023
| profit = {{increase}} ¥8,225&nbsp;million<ref name="financials2023"/>
| profit_year = 2023
| assets = {{increase}} ¥100,704&nbsp;million<ref name="financials2023"/>
| assets_year = 2023
| equity = {{increase}} ¥50,152&nbsp;million<ref name="financials2023"/>
| equity_year = 2023
| owner = 
| num_employees = 797<ref name="profile">{{cite web |url=https://corporate.sanrio.co.jp/en/about_sanrio/profile/ |title=Company Profile &#124; About Sanrio &#124; Sanrio
|publisher=Sanrio Co., Ltd. |access-date=October 25, 2025}}</ref>
| num_employees_year = 2025
| subsid = {{ubl|'''Japan:'''|{{ill|Kokoro (company)|lt=Kokoro|ja|ココロ (企業)}}|{{ill|Sanriowave|ja|サンリオウェーブ}}|{{ill|Sanrio Entertainment|ja|サンリオエンターテイメント}}|Sanrio Enterprise|Sanrio Music Publications|'''International:'''|Sanrio, Inc. (North America)|Sanrio do Brasil Comercio e Representacoes (Brazil)|Sanrio Chile (Chile)|Sanrio Global (UK)|Sanrio GmbH (Europe)|Sanrio Global Asia (Southeast Asia)|Sanrio Shanghai International Trade (China)|Sanrio Far East (Shenzhen) (China)|Sanrio (Hong Kong) (Hong Kong)|Sanrio Korea (South Korea)|Sanrio Taiwan (Taiwan)|THOIP|Mister Men Limited}}
| homepage = {{ubl|{{url|corporate.sanrio.co.jp/en}}|{{URL|sanrio.co.jp/en}}}}
| footnotes = 
| intl = 
| location = [[Ōsaki, Tokyo|Ōsaki]]
| location_city = [[Shinagawa, Tokyo]]
| location_country = Japan
| locations = 
| foundation = {{start date and age|1960|8|10}} (as Yamanashi Silk Company)
}}

{{nihongo|'''Sanrio Company, Ltd.'''|株式会社サンリオ|Kabushiki-gaisha Sanrio}}<ref>[https://www.sanrio.co.jp/ サンリオ]</ref> is a Japanese entertainment company. It designs, licenses, and manufactures products focusing on the ''[[kawaii]]'' ("cute") segment of [[Japanese popular culture]]. Their products include [[stationery]], school supplies, gifts, and [[Fashion accessory|accessories]], which are sold worldwide, including at specialty brand retail stores in Japan. Sanrio's best-known character is [[Hello Kitty]], a cartoon cat<ref name="kotaku">{{cite web|last=Ashcroft|first=Brian|title=Don't Be Silly, Hello Kitty Is a Cat|date=August 28, 2014 |url=http://kotaku.com/dont-be-silly-hello-kitty-is-a-cat-1627820750|access-date=August 29, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Allen|first=Sarah|title=Is Hello Kitty a Cat? Sanrio Doesn't Know|date=August 29, 2014|url=http://pcmlifestyle.com/2014/08/hello-kitty-cat-sanrio-cat-or-no-cat/|access-date=August 29, 2014}}</ref><ref name='rocketnews24'>{{cite web|title=Hello Kitty isn't a cat!? We called Sanrio to find out!|date=August 28, 2014|url=http://en.rocketnews24.com/2014/08/28/hello-kitty-isnt-a-cat-we-called-sanrio-to-find-out/|access-date=August 29, 2014}}</ref> and one of the most successful marketing brands in the world.<ref>{{Cite web |date=April 2, 2015 |title=Hello Kitty's guide to business success – CNET News |url=http://news.cnet.com/Hello-Kittys-guide-to-business-success/2100-1041_3-5756324.html |access-date=October 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402091706/http://news.cnet.com/Hello-Kittys-guide-to-business-success/2100-1041_3-5756324.html |archive-date=April 2, 2015 }}</ref>

Besides selling character goods, '''Sanrio''' takes part in film production and publishing. They own the rights to the ''[[Mr. Men]]'' characters and Japanese licensing rights to the ''[[Peanuts]]'' characters. Their [[animatronics]] branch, Kokoro Company, Ltd. (''kokoro'' being Japanese for "heart"), is best known for the [[Actroid]] [[Android (robot)|android]]. The company also runs several [[KFC]] franchises across [[Tokyo]] and [[Saitama Prefecture]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Food and Restaurant Division |url=http://www.sanrio.co.jp:80/corporate/about/organization/restaurnt/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707080134/http://www.sanrio.co.jp:80/corporate/about/organization/restaurnt/ |archive-date=7 July 2015 |access-date=21 April 2025 |website=Sanrio}}</ref>

==History==
[[File:Sanrio Strawberry House 20100704.jpg|thumb|right|upright=1.2|Sanrio store in [[Den-en-chōfu]], Ōta, Tokyo]]

[[Shintaro Tsuji]] founded Sanrio on August 10, 1960, then known as the '''Yamanashi Silk Company''' using {{JPY|1 million|link=yes}} in capital.{{efn|{{JPY|250,000|link=yes}} of the capital came from Tsuji's former government colleagues, while the rest came from his government pension and personal savings.{{sfn|Belson|Bremner|2004|p=38}}}} In 1962, Tsuji expanded his enterprise from [[silk]] to rubber sandals with flowers painted on them.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|title=The cat who turned kawaii into cash|url=http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/EL13Dh01.html|date=December 13, 2003|website=Asia Times|url-status=unfit|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050210073227/http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Japan/EL13Dh01.html|archive-date=February 10, 2005|access-date=May 27, 2020}}</ref> Tsuji noticed his success gained by merely adding a cute design to the sandals.<ref name=":0"/> He began using existing cartoon characters for his merchandise. In the late 1960s the company began producing goods with the dog character [[Snoopy]], from the American comic strip ''[[Peanuts]]'', after acquiring the Japanese licensing rights.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gomez |first=Edward |title=How Hello Kitty Came to Rule the World / With little advertising and no TV spinoff, Sanrio's 30-year-old feline turned cute into the ultimate brand |url=https://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/ASIAN-POP-How-Hello-Kitty-Came-to-Rule-the-World-3237700.php |newspaper=[[SF Gate]] |date=July 14, 2004|access-date=January 25, 2020}}</ref>

In 1973 the company was officially established under the name Sanrio. In the book {{nihongo||これがサンリオの秘密です|Kore ga Sanrio no Himitsu Desu}} or ''These are Sanrio's Secrets'' Tsuji, Sanrio's founder, said that {{nihongo||山梨|Yamanashi}}, part of the company's former name, has an alternative [[on'yomi]] reading of ''Sanri''. The remaining ''o'' was added from the {{nihongo||オウ|ou}} sound people make when they are excited.{{sfn|Tsuji|2000}} The company's European website gives another origin of the name, saying the name comes from the Spanish words ''san'' ('holy') and ''río'' ('river').<ref name="Europe">{{cite web|url=http://www.sanrioeurope.com/about.asp |title=Sanrio Europe |access-date=September 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091001063109/http://www.sanrioeurope.com/about.asp |archive-date=October 1, 2009 }}</ref>

Tsuji hired his own designers to create characters for Sanrio, so as to not have to pay outside [[Royalty payment|royalty fees]].<ref name=":0"/><ref>{{cite web  |title=Shintaro Tsuji, CEO, Sanrio - CNN.com |url=http://edition.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/12/07/boardroom.tsugi/ |website=CNN |access-date=November 7, 2022 |archive-date=November 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141105204505/http://edition.cnn.com/2007/BUSINESS/12/07/boardroom.tsugi/#cnnSTCText}}</ref> The first original Sanrio character, [[Coro Chan]], was introduced in 1973.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.sanrio.com/character/1970/coro-chan | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201025135928/https://www.sanrio.com/character/1970/coro-chan | archive-date=October 25, 2020 | title=Coro Chan &#124; Sanrio Timeline }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 22, 2019 |title=サンリオキャラクターたちの知られざる素顔を覗き見!?【誰かに話したくなるサンリオの魅力まとめ】 |url=https://domani.shogakukan.co.jp/176120 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191218145558/https://domani.shogakukan.co.jp/176120 |archive-date=December 18, 2019 |website=domani.shogakukan.co.jp |language=ja}}</ref> [[Hello Kitty]] was added to the lineup of early Sanrio characters in 1974 and the first related merchandise was released the following year. The popular feline whose mouth is usually invisible has had both peaks and drops in sales over the years but always has been the highest contributor to Sanrio's sales. Sanrio constantly adds new characters to its lineup. Specific characters are rotated in and out of active production.<ref>[http://www.sanrio.com/smallgift/more_characters/?chr=a-f Characters] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101223050502/http://www.sanrio.com/smallgift/more_characters/?chr=a-f |date=December 23, 2010 }} - Sanrio.com</ref> For a short time, [[Osamu Tezuka]]'s baby unicorn character [[Unico]], who starred in two feature-length anime movies in the early 1980s, was also part of the Sanrio's lineup; however, the rights to Unico shifted to Osamu Tezuka's own company after Tezuka's death in 1989.

In late 2003, Sanrio won the "Top Brand with a Conscience" award from the Medinge Group of Sweden for its communication principles.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://medinge.org/brands-with-a-conscience/past-winners/2004/ | website=Medinge Group | title=Brands with a Conscience - Past winners - 2004 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101217130913/http://medinge.org/brands-with-a-conscience/past-winners/2004/ | archive-date=December 17, 2010 | url-status=dead}}</ref> The company has partnered with [[UNICEF]] since 1984. In 2006, Sanrio launched [[Sanrio Digital]] together with [[Typhoon Games]] to expand to the Internet, [[online game]]s, and mobile services.

Beginning with [[Jewelpet]] in 2008, Sanrio started collaborating with [[Sega Toys]] in creating characters intended to become media franchises. Subsequent collaborations include [[Rilu Rilu Fairilu]] from 2016 and [[Beatcats]] from 2020.<ref>{{cite web |title=Sanrio, Sega Toys Collaborate on Rilu Rilu Fairilu TV Anime |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-12-11/sanrio-sega-toys-collaborate-on-rilu-rilu-fairilu-tv-anime/.96387 |website=Anime News Network |access-date=October 26, 2022 |language=en}}</ref><ref name="beatcatsanimageplus">{{cite web |date=October 8, 2020 |title=ニャンとかわいい☆ダンスボーカルユニット『Beatcats』公開♬ |url=https://animageplus.jp/articles/detail/33545 |access-date=October 24, 2020 |publisher=[[Animage]] |language=ja}}</ref>

2010 was Sanrio's 50th anniversary. In conjunction with this, [[Build-A-Bear Workshop]] released limited-edition [[stuffed toy]]s of several Sanrio characters, including Hello Kitty, Chococat, My Melody and Keroppi.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100804005380/en/Kitty-Sanrio-Friends-Celebrate-Sanrio%E2%80%99s-50th-Anniversary |title=Hello Kitty and Sanrio Friends Celebrate Sanrio's 50th Anniversary at Build-A-Bear Workshop|website=[[Business Wire]]|location=[[St. Louis]]|date=August 4, 2010|archive-date=December 4, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141204114011/http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20100804005380/en/Kitty-Sanrio-Friends-Celebrate-Sanrio%E2%80%99s-50th-Anniversary}}</ref>

Hello Kitty is alleged to be drawn in a similar style to the rabbit [[Miffy]]. On August 26, 2010, Mercis BV, representing Miffy's creator [[Dick Bruna]], brought suit against Sanrio. They claimed that one of Hello Kitty's companion characters, a rabbit named Cathy, infringes on the copyright and trademark of Miffy.<ref name=miffysuit>{{cite press release | url=http://www.sanrio.co.jp/rs/english/corporate/ir/detail/20101104.pdf | title=Announcement of Provisional Disposition Order Against Sanrio | publisher=Sanrio Company, Ltd. | date=November 4, 2010 | access-date=July 25, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110930032019/http://www.sanrio.co.jp/rs/english/corporate/ir/detail/20101104.pdf | archive-date=September 30, 2011 }}</ref> On November 2, 2010, a Dutch court ruled against Sanrio and ordered the company to stop marketing Cathy products in Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands.<ref name=miffysuit/><ref>{{cite news | last=Kollewe | first=Julia | title=Miffy biffs Cathy in Kitty copycat case | newspaper=The Guardian | url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2010/nov/04/cathy-infringes-miffy-copyright-case | access-date=May 16, 2011 | location=London | date=November 4, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Dawson |first=Chester |last2=Takeuchi |first2=Kanna |date=November 4, 2010 |title=Miffy, Hello Kitty Take Bunny Beef to Court |url=https://blogs.wsj.com/japanrealtime/2010/11/04/miffy-hello-kitty-take-bunny-beef-to-court/ |access-date=May 16, 2011 |publisher=Wall Street Journal}}</ref> Following the [[2011 Tōhoku earthquake and tsunami|March 11, 2011, earthquake and tsunami]] in Japan, Sanrio and Mercis reached an out-of-court settlement on June 7, 2011, for Sanrio to halt production worldwide of merchandise that feature Cathy. They also jointly announced a €150,000 donation to earthquake victims.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/japans-hello-kitty-resolves-bunny-battle-miffy | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110623152455/http://www.rnw.nl/english/bulletin/japans-hello-kitty-resolves-bunny-battle-miffy | url-status=dead | archive-date=June 23, 2011 | title=Japan's Hello Kitty resolves bunny battle with Miffy | publisher=Radio Netherlands Worldwide | access-date=June 16, 2011}}</ref>

In December 2011, Sanrio Global acquired the rights to the ''[[Mr. Men]]'' characters, which includes the subsidiary Mr Men Films Ltd, taking over [[Chorion (company)|Chorion]]'s THOIP company.<ref>{{cite news |last=Sweney |first=Mark |date=December 6, 2011 |title=Mr Men bought by Hello Kitty owner |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2011/dec/06/mr-men-hello-kitty-owner |work=The Guardian |location=UK}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/i-asked-my-dad-what-a-tickle-looked-like-257458/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211116053550/https://www.kentonline.co.uk/kent/news/i-asked-my-dad-what-a-tickle-looked-like-257458/ | archive-date=November 16, 2021 | title='I asked my dad what a tickle looked like' | date=November 16, 2021 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://corporate.sanrio.co.jp/en/about_sanrio/profile/ | title=Company Profile &#124; Sanrio }}</ref>

In 2019 the [[European Commission]] fined Sanrio 6.2 million euros (approximately 6.9 million US dollars) for blocking cross-border sales of its licensed products.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/10/business/hello-kitty-sanrio-european-union-antitrust.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710190158/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/10/business/hello-kitty-sanrio-european-union-antitrust.html | archive-date=July 10, 2019 | title=Hello Kitty's Parent Company Fined $6.9 Million by E.U. | newspaper=The New York Times | date=July 10, 2019 | last=Abdul | first=Geneva }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_19_3950 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200516205542/https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/IP_19_3950 | archive-date=May 16, 2020 | title=Press corner European Commission}}</ref>

In June 2020, it was announced that the company's founder and president, Shintaro Tsuji would step down from the role and hand control of the company to his grandson, Tomokuni Tsuji. Tomokuni was just 31 at the time, making him the youngest chief executive of a listed Japanese company.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-10-31 |last=Ōi|first=Mariko|title=How Japan's youngest CEO transformed Hello Kitty |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c72pr8y2r9wo |access-date=2024-11-07 |website=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref> Shintaro Tsuji ran the company for 60 years.<ref>{{cite web |agency=Agence France-Presse |title=Hello Kitty gets a new boss after 60 years |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jun/13/hello-kitty-gets-new-boss-after-60-years |website=[[The Guardian]] |date=June 13, 2020 |access-date=June 13, 2020}}</ref>

==Locations==
===Japan===
Sanrio hosts two [[theme park]]s in Japan, [[Sanrio Puroland]] in [[Tama, Tokyo]], and Harmonyland<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.harmonyland.jp/english/harmony/hl_guide/attraction.html|title=Attractions}}</ref><ref>[http://www.sanrio.co.jp/english/harmony/harmony.html Harmonyland<!-- Bot generated title -->] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061201183637/http://www.sanrio.co.jp/english/harmony/harmony.html|date=December 1, 2006}}</ref> in [[Hiji, Ōita|Hiji]], [[Ōita Prefecture|Ōita]], [[Kyūshū]].
===North America===
[[Image:Sanrio, Inc. HQ.JPG|thumb|left|Sanrio, Inc. headquarters in [[South San Francisco]]]]
Sanrio, Inc. is Sanrio's North American subsidiary. Sanrio, Inc. has offices in [[South San Francisco, California]], and [[Torrance, California]]. Sanrio's first Western Hemisphere store opened in [[San Jose, California|San Jose]]'s [[Eastridge Center|Eastridge Mall]]. In 2008, Sanrio, Inc. opened its high-end boutique called ''Sanrio Luxe'' in New York City's [[Times Square]]. In the Western Hemisphere, Sanrio character-branded products are sold in upwards of 13,000 locations including department, specialty, and national chain stores and over 85 Sanrio boutiques. In April 2010, the first and only Sanrio-licensed eatery (Sanrio Cafe) in the U.S. opened at [[Pearlridge]]'s Downtown phase in [[Aiea, Hawaii]].

In 2004, Sanrio Co. Ltd., expanded its license to one of its major licensee and plush suppliers [[Nakajima USA]] to include the owning and operating of all Sanrio branded stores in the U.S., overseeing the relationships between individual licensed stores and supplying all categories of products for the retail stores in the US and wholesale accounts.

==Characters==
{{Main|List of Sanrio characters}}
Sanrio has created over 450 characters as of 2022, the best known of which is the white cat character [[Hello Kitty]] from 1974.<ref name="2022eupr">{{cite web|url=https://www.sanrio.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/0407Revised_2022PressRelease_EN.pdf|title=2022 Sanrio Character Ranking Kicks Off!|website=sanrio.eu|access-date=July 6, 2022 }}</ref> Other well-known characters include the rabbit [[List of Sanrio characters#My Melody (1975)|My Melody]] from 1975, the frog [[List of Sanrio characters#Keroppi (1988)|Keroppi]] from 1988, the penguin [[List of Sanrio characters#Bad Badtz-Maru (1993)|Bad Badtz-Maru]] from 1993, the white dog [[Cinnamoroll]] from 2001, the rabbit [[Kuromi]] from 2005, the animal series [[List of Sanrio characters#Jewelpet (2008)|Jewelpet]] from 2008, the egg character [[Gudetama]] from 2013, and the [[red panda]] [[Aggretsuko|Aggressive Retsuko]] from 2015.

Notable designers of Sanrio characters include [[Yuko Shimizu]], original designer of Hello Kitty, [[Yuko Yamaguchi]], lead designer for most of Hello Kitty's history, and [[Miyuki Okumura]], original designer of Cinnamoroll.<ref name="today2016">{{cite web | url=https://www.todayonline.com/lifestyle/hello-kitty-lead-designer-tells-origin-story-british-schoolgirl | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160827174114/https://www.todayonline.com/lifestyle/hello-kitty-lead-designer-tells-origin-story-british-schoolgirl | archive-date=August 27, 2016 | title=Hello Kitty's lead designer tells the origin story of the British schoolgirl |date=June 21, 2016 |website=Today |publication-place=Singapore}}</ref><ref name="nytimes2010">{{cite news |title=In Search of Adorable, as Hello Kitty Gets Closer to Goodbye |first=Hiroko |last=Tabuchi |author-link=Hiroko Tabuchi |newspaper=NYTimes.com |date=May 14, 2010 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/15/business/global/15kitty.html}}</ref><ref name="cinnacrunchy2019">{{cite web |last=Dennison |first=Kara |title=Oda Cinnamon Nobunaga Teams up with Sanrio's Cinnamoroll for Canine Collab |url=https://www.crunchyroll.com/anime-news/2019/11/21/oda-cinnamon-nobunaga-teams-up-with-sanrios-cinnamoroll-for-canine-collab |website=Crunchyroll |access-date=October 26, 2022 |date=November 22, 2019 |language=en-us}}</ref>

Since 1986 Sanrio has held the annual Sanrio Character Ranking poll where fans can vote on their favorite characters. It began in the ''[[Strawberry Newspaper]]'' published by Sanrio in Japan, but now voting also takes place online.<ref name="2022eupr"/>

Besides their own original characters, Sanrio also owns the rights to the ''[[Mr. Men]]'' characters and Japanese licensing rights to the ''[[Peanuts]]'' characters.

==Filmography==

===Theatrical===
From 1977 to 1985, Sanrio produced movies through their Sanrio Films label. After ''A Journey Through Fairyland,'' Sanrio switched gears and started doing short films, OVAs, and TV shows based on their characters. In 2006, Sanrio announced they are again going to do feature-length films.
{| class="wikitable"
|+
!Title (English and Japanese)
!Release date
!Notes
|-
|''Joe and the Rose'' (バラの花とジョー/ ''Bara no Hana to Joe'')
|March 7, 1977 (Japan)
|Animated short film
|-
|''Little Jumbo'' (小さなジャンボ/ ''Chiisana Jumbo'')
|September 10, 1977 (Japan)
|Animated short film
|-
|''[[Who Are the DeBolts? And Where Did They Get Nineteen Kids?]]''
|September 10, 1977 (Japan)<br>December 7, 1977 (USA)
|Live-action documentary;<br>co-produced with [[Charles M. Schulz|Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates]] and [[Korty Films]]
|-
|''[[The Mouse and His Child (film)|The Mouse and His Child]]'' (親子ねずみの不思議な旅/''Oyaro nezumi no fushingina tabi'')
|November 18, 1977 (USA)<br>March 11, 1978 (Japan)
|Co-produced with [[Murakami Wolf]];<br>Based on the children's book by [[Russell Hoban]] 
|-
|''[[Ringing Bell]]'' (チリンの鈴/''Chirin no Suzu'')
|March 11, 1978 (Japan)<br>April 8, 1983 (USA; Direct to Video)
|Animated film;<br>Based on the children's book by [[Takashi Yanase]]
|-
|''[[Olly Olly Oxen Free (film)|Olly Olly Oxen Free]]'' (also released as ''The Great Balloon Adventure'')
|May 13, 1978 (Japan)<br>c. August 1978 (USA)
|Live-action film
|-
|[[Metamorphoses (1978 film)|''Orpheus of the Stars''/''Metamorphoses''/''Winds of Change'']] (星のオルフェウス/''Hoshi no Orufeusu'')
|May 26, 1978 (USA; as ''Metamorphoses)''<br>May 3, 1979 (USA; as ''Winds of Change)''<br>October 27, 1979 (Japan; as ''Orpheus of the Stars)''
|Animated film;<br>Based on the poem, ''[[Metamorphoses]]'', by [[Ovid]]<br>Co-produced with [[Columbia Pictures]]
|-
|''[[The Glacier Fox]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Glacier Fox (1978) - IMDb | website=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079212}}</ref> (キタキツネ物語/''Kita-kitsune monogatari'')
|July 15, 1978 (Japan)<br>January 5, 1979 (USA)
|Live-action documentary
|-
|''[[Nutcracker Fantasy]]'' (''くるみ割り人形/Kurumiwari Ningyō'')
|March 3, 1979 (Japan)<br>July 6, 1979 (USA)
|Stop-motion animated film;<br>Based on [[The Nutcracker]] by [[Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky]]
|-
|''[[Unico|Unico: Black Cloud, White Feather]]'' (ユニコ 黒い雲と白い羽/''Kuroi Kumo Shiroi Hane'')
|April 30, 1979 (Japan)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Unico: Black Cloud and White Feather |url=https://www.myunicofans.com/unico-black-cloud-and-white-feather-2/ |website=myunicofans.com}}</ref>
|Rejected animated pilot;<br>Based on the manga by [[Osamu Tezuka]]
|-
|''[[A Tale of Africa|A Tale of Africa/The Green Horizon]]'' (アフリカ物語/''Afurika Monogatari'')
|July 19, 1980 (Japan)<br>c. 1981 (USA; Released as ''The Green Horizon'' on television)
|Live-action film
|-
|''[[The Fantastic Adventures of Unico]]'' (ユニコ)
|March 14, 1981 (Japan)<br>May 12, 1983 (USA; released direct-to-video)
|Animated film;<br>Co-production with [[Tezuka Productions]] & [[Madhouse (company)|Madhouse]];<br>Based on the manga by [[Osamu Tezuka]]
|-
|''[[The Sea Prince and the Fire Child]]'' (シリウスの伝説/''The Legend of Sirius'')
|July 18, 1981 (Japan)<br>September 8, 1982 (USA; released direct-to-video)
|Animated film
|-
|''[[The Ideon: A Contact]]'' (伝説巨神イデオン 接触篇/''Densetsu-kyoshin ideon: Sesshoku-hen'')
|July 10, 1982 (Japan)
|Animated film (compilation film based on ''[[Space Runaway Ideon]]'')<br>Co-produced with [[Sunrise (company)|Sunrise]]/Co-distributed by [[Shochiku]]
|-
|''[[The Ideon: Be Invoked]]'' (伝説巨神イデオン　発動篇/''Densetsu kyojin ideon: Hatsudou-hen'')
|July 10, 1982 (Japan)
|Animated film (Alternate ending of the television series: ''[[Space Runaway Ideon]]'')<br>Co-produced with [[Sunrise (company)|Sunrise]]
|-
|''[[Don't Cry, It's Only Thunder]]''
|November 5, 1982 (USA)
|Live-action film
|-
|''[[Unico in the Island of Magic]]'' (ユニコ 魔法の島へ)
|July 16, 1983 (Japan)<br>November 10, 1983 (USA; released direct-to-video)
|Animated film;<br>Based on the manga by [[Osamu Tezuka]]
|-
|''[[Oshin]]'' (おしん)
|March 17, 1984 (Japan)
|Animated film;<br>Based on the Japanese [[Asadora|television drama]] of the same name
|-
|''[[Fairy Florence]]''/''A Journey Through Fairyland'' (妖精フローレンス/''Yosei Florence'')
|October 19, 1985 (Japan)<br>November 4, 1985 (USA; released direct-to-video)
|Animated film
|-
|''My Melody no Akazukin'' (マイメロディの赤ずきん)
|rowspan="3"|July 22, 1989 (Japan)
|rowspan="3"|Animated film;<br>Part of Sanrio Anime Festival
|-
|''Hello Kitty no Cinderella'' (ハローキティのシンデレラ)
|-
|''Kiki to Lala no Aoi Tori'' (キキとララの青い鳥)
|-
|''Pokopon no Yukai na Saiyuuki'' (ぽこぽんのゆかいな西遊記)
|rowspan="3"|July 21, 1990 (Japan)
|rowspan="3"|Animated film;<br>Part of Sanrio Anime Festival
|-
|''Hello Kitty no Oyayubi Hime'' (ハローキティのおやゆびひめ)
|-
|''Kero Kero Keroppi no Daibouken: Fushigi na Mame no ki'' (けろけろけろっぴの大冒険 ふしぎな豆の木)
|-
|''Kero Kero Keroppi no Sanjuushi'' (けろけろけろっぴの三銃士)
|rowspan="3"|July 20, 1991 (Japan)
|rowspan="3"|Animated film;<br>Part of Sanrio Anime Festival
|-
|''Hello Kitty no Mahou no Mori no Ohime-sama'' (ハローキティの魔法の森のお姫さま)
|-
|''Tabo no Ryuuguu Hoshi Dai Tanken'' (たあ坊の竜宮星大探険)
|-
|''Hello Kitty no Minna no Mori o Mamore!'' (ハローキティのみんなの森をまもれ!)
|rowspan="3"|January 13, 1996 (Japan)
|rowspan="3"|Animated film;<br>Part of Sanrio Anime Festival
|-
|''Kero Kero Keroppi no Bikkuri! Obake Yashiki'' (けろけろけろっぴのびっくり! おばけやしき)
|-
|''Bad Batzmaru no Ore no Pochi Sekaiichi'' (バッドばつ丸のオレのポチは世界一)
|-
|''Mouse Story: George and Gerald's Adventure'' (ねずみ物語 ジョージとジェラルドの冒険)
|December 22, 2007 (Japan)
|Animated film;<br>Co-produced with [[Madhouse (company)|Madhouse]];<br>Released in a double bill with ''[[Cinnamoroll the Movie]]''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mouse Story: The Adventures of George & Gerald (2007) - Trivia |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt934342/trivia |website=IMDb}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Cinnamoroll the Movie]]'' (シナモン The Movie)
|December 22, 2007 (Japan)
|Animated film;<br>Co-produced with [[Madhouse (company)|Madhouse]];<br>Released in a double bill with ''Mouse Story: George and Gerald's Adventure''<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mouse Story: The Adventures of George and Gerald (2007) - Trivia | website=[[IMDb]] |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1934342/trivia}}</ref>
|-
|''[[Jewelpet the Movie: Sweets Dance Princess]]'' (映画ジュエルペット スウィーツダンスプリンセス)
|August 11, 2012 (Japan)
|Animated film;<br>Co-produced with [[Sega Toys]] & [[Studio Comet]]
|-
|''[[Onegai My Melody|Onegai My Melody: Yū & Ai]]'' (おねがいマイメロディ)
|August 11, 2012 (Japan)
|Animated film;<br>Co-produced with [[Studio Comet]]
|-
|''Gō-chan and his Forest Friends Moko & Marvelous Creatures''
|May 3, 2017 (Japan)
|Animated film;<br>Co-produced with [[TV Asahi]] & [[Shin-Ei Animation]]
|-
|''Gō-chan ~Moco and the Promise Made on the Ice~''
|March 18, 2018 (Japan)
|Animated film;<br>Co-produced with [[TV Asahi]] & [[Shin-Ei Animation]]
|-
|''[[Jewelpet Attack Travel!|Jewelpet Attack Travel!]]''
|May 14, 2022
|Animated short film;<br>Co-produced with [[Ashi Productions]]
|}

===Other animation===
Sanrio began its involvement in the production of TV and direct-to-video animation during the late 1980s and early 1990s, starting with the US-made ''[[Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater]]'' in 1987. The character My Melody got her first starring role in an animated series in the anime television series, ''[[Onegai My Melody]]'', which first aired on [[TV Osaka]] on April 3, 2005, and was produced by [[Studio Comet]]. The [[Sugarbunnies]] franchise was later adapted into a 7-minute short series in 2007 and was popular enough to gain two sequels.

[[Jewelpet]] was also adapted into an anime metaseries in 2009, which was also produced by Studio Comet, spanning 6 official seasons and one theatrical movie, making it the longest-running anime adaptation of a Sanrio franchise in history.

''[[Show by Rock!!]]'', a game by Sanrio and Geechs got an anime adaptation produced by [[Bones (studio)|Bones]] in 2015—and was licensed in the United States by [[Funimation]]. ''[[Aggretsuko]]'' also get three animated adaptations by Fanworks, one aired on [[TBS Television (Japan)|TBS]] and the later two were released officially on [[Netflix]].

* ''[[Mr. Men#TV series|Mr. Men]]'' (1974) – Flicks Films
* ''[[Mr. Men#TV series|Little Miss]]'' (1983) – Flicks Films
* ''[[Button Nose]]'' (1985) – [[Topcraft]]
* ''[[Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater]]'' (1987) – [[DIC Entertainment]]
* ''[[List of Hello Kitty animated series|Hello Kitty and Friends]]'' (1989–1998) – Grouper Production
* ''[[Mr. Men and Little Miss]]'' (1995–1997) – Marina Productions/Breakthrough Films and Television
* ''[[Flint the Time Detective]]'' (1998) – [[Group TAC]]
* ''[[List of Hello Kitty animated series|Hello Kitty's Paradise]]'' (1999)
* ''[[List of Hello Kitty animated series|Hello Kitty's Animation Theater]]'' (2001) – Group TAC
* ''[[List of Hello Kitty animated series|Hello Kitty's Stump Village]]'' (2005) – Studio Tomorrow/SOVIK Venture Capital
* ''[[Onegai My Melody]]'' (2005) – [[Studio Comet]]
* ''U*SA*HA*NA: Dream Ballerina'' (2006) – [[Asahi Production]]
* ''[[List of Hello Kitty animated series|Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori Fantasy]]'' (2006) – [[Asahi Production]]
* ''[[Onegai My Melody|Onegai My Melody ~KuruKuru Shuffle!~]]'' (2006) – [[Studio Comet]] 
* ''Hello Kitty: Ringo No Mori No Mystery'' (2007) – [[Asahi Production]]
* ''[[Sugarbunnies]]'' (2007) – [[Asahi Production]] 
* ''[[Onegai My Melody|Onegai My Melody Sukkiri♪]]'' (2007) – [[Studio Comet]]
* ''Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori to Parallel Town'' (2007) – [[Asahi Production]] 
* ''[[Sugarbunnies|Sugarbunnies Chocolat!]]'' (2008) – [[Asahi Production]] 
* ''[[Onegai My Melody|Onegai♪My Melody Kirara]]'' (2008) – [[Studio Comet]]
* ''[[The Adventures of Hello Kitty & Friends]]'' (2008) - [[Dream Cortex]]
* ''[[Sugarbunnies|Sugarbunnies Fleur]]'' (2009) – [[Asahi Production]] 
* ''[[Jewelpet (anime)|Jewelpet]]'' (2009) – [[Studio Comet]]
* ''[[Jewelpet (anime)|Jewelpet Twinkle]]'' (2010) – [[Studio Comet]]
* ''[[Jewelpet (anime)|Jewelpet Sunshine]]'' (2011) – [[Studio Comet]]
* ''[[Jewelpet (anime)|Jewelpet Kira Deco!]]'' (2012) – [[Studio Comet]]
* ''[[Jewelpet (anime)|Jewelpet Happiness]]'' (2013) – [[Studio Comet]]
* ''[[Lady Jewelpet]]'' (2014) – [[Zexcs]]
* ''[[Show by Rock!!]]'' (2015) – [[Bones (studio)|Bones]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-09-08/sanrio-show-by-rock-mobile-rhythm-game-gets-tv-anime-in-2015/.78515|title = Sanrio's Show by Rock!! Mobile Rhythm Game Gets TV Anime in 2015| date=May 21, 2023 }}</ref>
* ''[[Jewelpet: Magical Change]]'' (2015) – [[Studio Deen]] and [[TMS Entertainment]]
* ''[[Rilu Rilu Fairilu|Rilu Rilu Fairilu ~ Yousei no Door ~]]'' (2016) – [[Studio Deen]]
* ''[[Show by Rock!!|Show by Rock!!#]]'' (2016) – [[Bones (studio)|Bones]]
* ''[[Rilu Rilu Fairilu|Rilu Rilu Fairilu ~ Mahou no Kagami ~]]'' (2017) – [[Studio Deen]]
* ''[[Sanrio Boys]]'' (2018) – [[Pierrot (company)|Pierrot]]
* ''[[Aggretsuko]]'' (2018–2023) – Fanworks
* ''[[Rilu Rilu Fairilu|Oshiete Mahou no Pendulum ~ Rilu Rilu Fairilu ~]]'' (2018) - [[Studio Deen]]
* ''[[Show by Rock!!|Show by Rock!! Mashumairesh!!]]'' (2020) – [[Kinema Citrus]]
* ''[[Mewkledreamy]]'' (2020) – [[J.C.Staff]]
* ''[[Show by Rock!!|Show by Rock!! Stars!!]]'' (2021) – [[Kinema Citrus]]
* ''[[Mewkledreamy|Mewkledreamy Mix!]]'' (2021) – [[J.C.Staff]]
* ''[[Gudetama: An Eggcellent Adventure]]'' (2022) – [[OLM (studio)|Gathering and Oriental Light and Magic (OLM)]]
* [[My Melody & Kuromi]] (2025)- [[Wit Studio|Toruku Studio]]

=== Variety shows ===
A few children's variety shows by Sanrio aired on TV Tokyo.
* ''Daisuki! Hello Kitty'' (1993–1994)
* ''Asobou!! Hello Kitty'' (1994)
* ''Hello Kitty to Bad Badtz-Maru'' (1994–1998)
* ''Kitty's Paradise'' (1999–2011)
* ''Sanrio Characters Pon Pon Jump!'' (2017–2020)
* ''Fun Fun Kitty!'' (2020–2022)

== Video games ==
Sanrio Digital produces and publishes digital content based on Sanrio intellectual property assets like Hello Kitty, My Melody, Badtz Maru and many others. Among the games are: ''[[Hello Kitty: Roller Rescue]]'', ''Hello Kitty: Birthday Adventures'', and ''Hello Kitty Seasons''. ''[[Hello Kitty Island Adventure]]'' (2023) is a Sanrio game created for [[Apple Arcade]], PC and [[Nintendo Switch]]. ''Hello Kitty and Friends: Freeze Tag Party'' was released for the Nintendo Switch on March 27, 2025 in Japan<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2025/01/sanrio-characters-miracle-match-magical-onigokko-announced-for-switch|title=Sanrio Characters Miracle Match: Magical Onigokko announced for Switch|website=Gematsu|date=January 16, 2025 |access-date=November 20, 2025}}</ref> and November 6, 2025 in the West.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gematsu.com/2025/08/hello-kitty-and-friends-freeze-tag-party-coming-west-on-november-6|title=Hello Kitty and Friends: Freeze Tag Party coming west on November 6|website=Gematsu|date=August 26, 2025 |access-date=November 20, 2025}}</ref>

==Publishing==
Sanrio publishes many books featuring its own characters. It also publishes art books (for instance, those by [[Keibun Ōta]]). Sanrio publishes books in many languages, including Japanese and English. Sanrio published video games in the early 1990s under the name ''Character Soft''.

==References==
===Footnotes===
{{notelist}}

===Citations===
{{Reflist}}

===Bibliography===
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book|title=Hello Kitty: The Remarkable Story of Sanrio and the Billion Dollar Feline Phenomenon|last1=Belson|first1=Ken|last2=Bremner|first2=Brian|year=2004}}
* {{Cite book|title=Kore ga Sanrio no Himitsu desu|script-title=ja:これがサンリオの秘密です|trans-title=These are Sanrio's Secrets|last=Tsuji|first=Shintaro|language=ja|year=2000|publisher=[[Fusosha Publishing|Fusosha]]}}
{{refend}}

== Further reading ==
* {{cite book |last=Kinsella |first=Sharon |url=http://www.kinsellaresearch.com/new/Cuties%20in%20Japan.pdf |chapter=Cuties in Japan |title=Women, Media, and Consumption in Japan |editor1-first=Lise |editor1-last= Skov |editor2-first= Brian |editor2-last= Moeran |location=Richmond, Surrey; Honolulu |publisher=Curzon; University of Hawai'i Press |year=1995 |isbn=0-8248-1775-3 |id=  |oclc=32547498}} {{Google books|OLXfn3_YXqgC|Women, Media, and Consumption in Japan}}.
* {{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/wired/archive/7.12/cute.html |title=Cute Inc |first=Mary |last=Roach |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |number=12 |date=December 1999|volume=7 }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{url|corporate.sanrio.co.jp/en|Official corporate website}}
*{{url|sanrio.co.jp/en|Official website}} (Japan) 
*{{url|sanrio.co.jp|Official website}} (Japan) {{in lang|ja}}
*{{url|sanrio.com|Official website}} (North America)
*{{url|sanrio.eu|Official website}} (UK & Europe)
*{{url|sanrio-sea.com|Official website}} (Southeast Asia)


{{Sanrio}}
{{Hello Kitty|state=collapsed}}
{{Jewelpet}}
{{Sega Sammy Holdings}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Sanrio| ]]
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