Meet The Stars Of Sanrio: Your Guide To 10 Iconic Characters

Source: Sanrio’s Instagram

When you think of Sanrio, the iconic image of Hello Kitty might immediately come to mind. But beyond this beloved bow-wearing feline lies a whimsical universe of characters that have each carved out their own loyal fanbases. According to the Hello Kitty Wikipedia page, there are over 400 Sanrio characters in total. Of course, the very first one being Hello Kitty, which was created in 1974 and is now celebrating her 50th Anniversary with a very special Hello Kitty Exhibition at the Tokyo National Museum.

Hello Kitty dominated the Sanrio rankings for many years, securing the top spot 15 times, including a remarkable 12 consecutive wins from 1998 to 2009. However recently, other characters have risen in popularity. Cinnamoroll, a white puppy introduced in 2002, claimed his first victory in 2017 and has since won seven times, including five consecutive wins up to 2024.

You may wonder, how does this ranking system work?

Sanrio Character Ranking

Every year, the Sanrio Character Ranking, also known as the Sanrio Character Popularity Poll, will take place. It is an annual event where fans vote for their favourite Sanrio characters, which will span several weeks. Fans will be able to cast their votes online, via official Sanrio website, or sometimes also physically in select Sanrio stores.

Over 400 Sanrio characters will be included in the competition, and sometimes even buying certain Sanrio items can grant extra votes!

At the end of the voting period, the results are announced, revealing the top-ranked characters. This announcement can come with special recognition for the winning characters, such as exclusive merchandise, events, or new storylines.

Hence, in this article, we will introduce you to some of Sanrio’s most popular personalities and explore what makes them so irresistible!

(1) Cinnamoroll
(2) Pochacco
(3) Kuromi
(4) Pompompurin
(5) Hello Kitty
(6) My Melody
(7) Keroppi
(8) Hangyodon
(9) Gudetama
(10) Little Twin Stars

Sanrio Characters

(1) Cinnamoroll

Position in 2024: #1

Cinnamoroll, a white puppy born on a cloud, was named “Cinnamon” because his tail was curled up just like a cinnamon roll. Recently crowned as the number one character in the Sanrio official rankings, his dream is to become a restaurant chef and to make everyone happy. Known for his fluffy tail and sweet personality, Cinnamoroll floats through the skies by flapping its ears, spreading joy wherever he goes. As the mascot of a café in Sanrio’s universe, he’s loved for his playful and gentle nature.

(2) Pochacco

Position in 2024: #2

A boy dog who debuted in 1989, Pochacco lives on Uguisu Alley on the outskirts of Fuwafuwa Town and is born on 29 Feb, a leap year! Most often seen wearing a red T-shirt or hoodies, Pochacco is a cute little white dog with black floppy ears and no visible mouth. Do not underestimate this canine because it won first place for five consecutive years back in 1991 to 1995! As of today, he has risen up the charts to #2! 

(3) Kuromi

Position in 2024: #3

Kuromi, who is the rival of My Melody from the anime “Onegai My Melody” is a white rabbit-like creature wearing a black jester’s hat with a pink skull symbol on it. Originally designed to be a villain character, Kuromi gradually transitioned to an anti-hero where her personality is more calm and willing to befriend or help others while retaining her mischievous charm. In recent years, her popularity skyrocketed from the 10th place in 2018 to currently, third place in 2024, with many merchandise and fashion styles inspired by her. 

(4) Pompompurin

Position in 2024: #4

Pompompurin is a golden retriever with his distinctive dark brown beret as his trademark look. Ranked #4 on the charts currently, his favourite food is a cream caramel pudding that his mother makes. Just like Keroppi, he was created through an in-house contest held by Sanrio in 1996 to create a new dog character, and his design was the most popular which ended up winning the contest.

If you are a huge fan of this beloved cartoon canine, you will be happy to hear that there are Pompompurin-themed cafes in both Tokyo and Osaka so be sure to add that to your itinerary if you are travelling to Japan! 

(5) Hello Kitty

Position in 2024: #5

Hello Kitty, one of Sanrio’s most iconic characters, was created in 1974 by designer Yuko Shimizu. Known for her signature red bow and endearing simplicity, Hello Kitty was introduced as a cheerful, kind-hearted kitten who lives in London with her family. Her debut on a small coin purse quickly catapulted her to global fame, symbolising friendship, kindness, and cuteness.

Over the decades, she has become a cultural icon, inspiring countless merchandise, collaborations, and even theme parks like Sanrio Puroland. This year, Tokyo National Museum is celebrating her 50th Anniversary with a Hello Kitty Exhibition showcasing the largest-ever collection of original Hello Kitty goods, videos, and original design artworks by various artists. 

(6) My Melody

Position in 2024: #6

My Melody, also known as Hello Kitty’s best friend, is a kind and sweet white rabbit wearing an iconic pink hood, which she wears as a gift from her grandmother. She also often dons a bow or flower on her right side. Hailing from the forest of Mariland, she loves baking cookies with her mom and spending time with her best friend, a mouse named Flat. Currently ranked at #6 on the global rankings, she loves to bake and aspires to become a baker or confectioner!

(7) Keroppi

Position in 2024: #7

Created by Sanrio in 1988, Keroppi is a little green frog with big eyes and lives in Donut Pond. Though he was meant for the Keroppi universe, he is seen more commonly as a Hello Kitty character. He is a triplet sibling of Koroppi and Pikkito, and lives in the Kero Kero House on an island in Donut Pond. Previously ranked as #12 on the Sanrio rankings, he has since risen significantly in 2024 to #7!

(8) Hangyodon

Position in 2024: #8

Hangyodon, introduced by Sanrio in 1984, is a charming half-fish, half-human character who dreams of becoming a hero. Despite his clumsy and awkward nature, his optimism and kind heart make him endearing to fans. Known for his quirky appearance and penchant for making people laugh, Hangyodon has become a beloved character among Sanrio's lineup ranked at #9 currently. 

(9) Gudetama

Position in 2024: #16

Sanrio’s lazy yet lovable egg character, Gudetama, was introduced in 2013 and quickly won hearts with its relatable lethargy and quirky charm. Representing the universal feeling of wanting to do nothing, Gudetama embodies a yolk draped in apathy, often lounging in its egg white "bed." Though it has dropped in its global rankings to #16, it has still been a fan favourite inspiring merchandise. At the peak of popularity, there was even a Gudetama-themed cafe in Singapore.

(10) Little Twin Stars

Position in 2024: #10

Twin siblings born on Christmas Eve on the Omoiyari Star in the Dream Star-Cloud, the Little Twin Stars travelled a long way to Earth to learn how to be the best, shiniest stars. Kiki, who is the younger brother, has short blue hair, while Lala, is the older sister with long pink hair, both of them don a long sleeve white gown and has bare feet.

Ranked #10 in 2024, the Little Twin Stars were first created in the mid-70s and introduced in the Strawberry News, a monthly Sanrio magazine. Ever since then, they have became more popular with readers and is now one of the most distinct icons of Sanrio characters. 

Final Thoughts

Personally, my favourite Sanrio stars are Hangyodon and Pochacco! And whenever I travel to Japan, I make it a point to explore the mega Don Don Donki stores or Daiso for small and unique Sanrio knick knacks that are often unavailable in Singapore, so do check them out during your supermarket runs!

*Photos source: Sanrio

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