Press Releases
SANRIO Names L.A. Works as Charitable Partner for Three Apples
SANRIO Names L.A. Works as Charitable Partner for
Three Apples Hello Kitty 35th Anniversary Celebration
SANRIO is proud to announce L.A. Works as the selected charitable partner for Three Apples, the multi-dimensional three week exhibition and celebration taking place October 23 – November 15 in honor of Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary. L.A. Works is a nonprofit, volunteer action center that creates and implements hands-on community service projects throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
“We are thrilled to have L.A. Works as a charitable partner for Three Apples,” said Janet Hsu, President of Sanrio Global Consumer Products. “They are an inspired organization that works with our communities, so it feels doubly great to host their groups and treat their volunteers to a special event. We also hope to raise money to help promote their efforts going forward.”
During the Three Apples Exhibition, SANRIO & L.A. Works will collaborate on a number of events to teach art appreciation to children & teens from some of the 250+ community agencies that partner with L.A. Works. Groups to participate include L.A Family Housing in Sun Valley, the Midnight Mission Family Housing facility in South Los Angeles, Aviva Family & Children’s Services facility and Alegria Family Shelter. Each group will spend time at Royal/T, the visually stunning and playful, Japanese-inspired art exhibition space, retail store and café which is hosting the exhibition, and receive a docent-led tour of the Hello Kitty-inspired art created especially for Three Apples. The groups will participate in a hands-on workshop to create their own pieces of art followed by a special Hello Kitty-themed lunch, gift bag & a visit by Hello Kitty, herself. SANRIO will also host a special “Volunteer Appreciation Event” for L.A. Works to thanks all of their volunteers for their invaluable contribution to the Los Angeles community.
As SANRIO’s charitable partner for Three Apples, L.A. Works will receive a portion of proceeds from the sale of all original artwork created for this event, as well as from select interactive exhibition elements. On of the most exciting will be a one-of-a-kind “group painting” done live at the “Artist Party” on November 7th, and auctioned off, with proceeds going to LA Works. The unique piece will be a creation from some of the today’s popular contemporary artists whose artwork will be included in the three week exhibition and may include Gary Baseman, Ron English, Natalia Fabia, Tara McPherson, Frank Kozik and Friends With You.
“L.A. Works is extremely grateful and excited to be named as the charitable beneficiary of the Three Apples celebration”, says Deborah Brutchey, Senior Director of Development and Operations. “Generous contributions such as these help to support L.A. Works’ volunteers, who transform the community through their unwavering commitment to serving the needs of Angelenos.”
Hello Kitty is celebrating her 35th Anniversary with an exclusive offering of commemorative products, special brand collaborations and Three Apples, a three week, multi-dimensional product retrospective & exhibition at Royal/T in Culver City, CA. For more information go to sanrio.com/threeapples or contact Dyann Hawkins at 323.874.4073/dyann@orsipr.com.
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ABOUT SANRIO
SANRIO’s signature brand Hello Kitty celebrates 35 years of fun & friendship in 2009. With fans around the world, Hello Kitty will mark the year with special co-branded partnerships, unique products, retail promotions & year-end exhibition events. SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a collection of gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. SANRIO was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today, over 50,000 SANRIO-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO character-branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 85 SANRIO boutiques. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.
ABOUT L.A. WORKS
L.A. Works, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit volunteer action center that creates and implements hands-on community service opportunities throughout the greater Los Angeles area. Our managed and referral programs provide critical infrastructure for nonprofits to recruit, place, and manage prospective volunteers in support of their missions. Since 1991, L.A. Works has successfully connected tens of thousands of volunteers to nonprofits, schools, faith-based institutions, and government social service agencies in the Los Angeles community. L.A. Works coordinates 75+ managed volunteer opportunities each month led by L.A. Works trained project leaders and 250+ ongoing referral volunteer opportunities to nonprofit community partners throughout all of Los Angeles County. In 2009, over 15,000 individuals will volunteer in opportunities through L.A. Works. For more information, please visit www.laworks.com.
Hello Kitty Art Show at Three Apples Exhibition
SANRIO Collaborates with 80 Popular Artists to Celebrate 35 Years of Hello Kitty
It’s Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary and SANRIO is celebrating in a big way. In addition to launching a variety of special, limited edition products, SANRIO will introduce Three Apples, a multi-dimensional exhibition and celebration of all things Hello Kitty running from October 23 to November 15 at Royal/T in Culver City, CA. Royal/T is the visually stunning and playful, Japanese-inspired art exhibition space, retail store and café, located within the city’s vibrant arts community.
This is the first time that SANRIO has produced an event for the Hello Kitty fans in North America. The exhibition as well as all events will be open to the public, free of charge and will offer something for all Hello Kitty fans, no matter their age.
Three Apples – so named as a nod to Hello Kitty’s weight as listed in her official bio – features an unprecedented lineup of over 80 celebrated artists, who’ve been invited to interpret their creative vision of Hello Kitty in unique, original works that will be on display and for sale. The art exhibition at Three Apples will be curated by Jamie Rivadeneira, owner of JapanLA, a Los Angeles boutique that specializes in “cute” Japanese and American products. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the artwork will benefit L.A. Works, a volunteer action center that creates and implements hands-on community service projects throughout the greater Los Angeles area.
Some of the featured artists include:
- Amada Visell’s work combines images of childhood folklore and fantasy, and naughty “not quite fit for the tuck-you-in-with-a-nice-bed-time-story crowd.” Many of her signature characters like Drunky McSkunky or The Pink Elephant are cute with a dark side. Along with her unique illustrations, Amanda has ventured into the toy world as well with her own plush company, My Switcheroo, which has released a plush Frank Kozik monger that stands over 2 feet tall. She also created artwork for Disneyland for the anniversary of the Pirates of the Caribbean ride, as well as other events.
- Colin Christian was born and raised in London where he was influenced by music, fashion and counterculture. Inspired by old sci-fi movies, pinup girl/supermodels, anime, ambient electronic music and H.P. Lovecraft, his original fiberglass figures and sculptures are cartoon realism eye candy. Christian’s work has been featured on The Today Show, and he created the world’s largest mouse trap for pest control company Truly Nolen, which is now featured in the Guinness Book of World Records.
- Buff Monster cites heavy metal music, ice cream and Japanese culture as his major influences. His signature Pepto pink palette is a symbol of confidence, individuality and happiness and can be found in all his works, including fine art paintings, design projects and toy collaborations. Featured in numerous publications, including Juxtapoz and The New York Times, Buff Monster works tirelessly day and night to spread happiness, joy and a love of pink
- Frank Kozik is a prolific artist, graphic designer and toy creator who has been featured in Newsweek, Rolling Stone, Spin and Details. Credited with single-handedly reviving the art of the concert poster, Kozik has produced hundreds of full-color, limited edition, silk screened posters under his belt for such renowned artists as Nirvana, Pearl Jam, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Ice T, Jane’s Addiction and The Beastie Boys. His art has been featured in over 60 exhibitions worldwide, including Tokyo and London, and Kozik’s signature vinyl toys are coveted by collectors from around the globe.
- Friends With You (FWY) is an artist collaborative founded by Miami-based artists Sam Borkson and Arturo Sandoval III. Since its conception in 2002, FWY has promoted the artists’ common message of magic, luck, and friendship, through its popular designer toy line, public art installations, new-form playgrounds, published works, live performances, and animation, motion picture, and multimedia projects. FWY has been featured at many of the most prestigious events in the global creative community including Art Basel in Miami and Pictoplasma in Berlin and was created with one basic concept in mind, to become Friends With You!
- Gary Baseman defines “pervasive art,” blurring the line between toy culture and fine art with his strong iconic imagery, unique collaborations and unforgettable experiential gallery exhibitions, including his 2009 solo show and Basemanesque festival “La Noche de la Fusión.” A leader in the global art movement, Baseman is a three-time Emmy award winning creator/executive producer of the animated series and film “Teacher’s Pet,” designer for the best selling game “Cranium,” and Entertainment Weekly named Baseman one of the 100 Most Creative People in Entertainment.
- Huck Gee is a contemporary artist, illustrator, toy maker, and designer best known by toy enthusiasts for his iconic “Skullhead” character. Influenced by Japanese and Hong Kong pop art, Gee calls his style “Bastardized Asian Pop Culture.” In 2005, Gee partnered with KidRobot and Barneys New York on a unique project with fashion designers Marc Jacobs, Jil Sander, Dries Van Noten, Rick Owens, and Duckie Brown, and in 2007 Gee’s KidRobot collaboration with artists Tristan Eaton and Paul Budnitz was accepted into the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York City.
- Luke Chueh’s paintings playfully weave light and dark narratives, connecting Pop Culture, Street Culture, and Geek Culture. Featured in Nylon magazine, Juxtapoz and Entertainment Weekly, Chueh’s highly-sought after, minimalist work is best described as “a balance of cute & brute walking the fine line between comedy and tragedy” and his paintings have been reinterpreted into the popular toy/urban vinyl format by numerous respected brands.
- Natalia Fabia is known for her signature glitter veneer oil paintings of sultry seductive women and modern ay Belle de Jours. The Los Angeles artist cites Toulouse-Lautrec, ornate interiors, punk rock music and sparkles among her inspirations. A media darling, Fabia has been featured in Juxtapoz, Inked, LA Weekly, New York Arts and on television series Miami Ink. Her custom jewelry line, HookerFeathers, adorns celebrities and fans alike.
- Ron English, the painter whose “Abraham Obama” image struck a chord with so many during the 2008 Presidential Election, straddles three genres when creating his art: Pop Surrealism, Abstract Expressionism, and Neo Realism. When he’s not working on gallery-type pieces, English heads outside to slap posters over billboards and has been known to leave traces of his art around international cities. Considered one of the fathers of modern street art, he has initiated and participated in illegal public art campaigns since the 80’s, and his murals include the Berlin Wall and the Palestinian separation wall.
- Simone Legno is the Italian artist behind the highly popular tokidoki brand. Growing up in the punk scene in Rome, Simone likes to mix the edginess of girls with tattoos and brightly colored hair with his Japanese inspired illustrations. Legno’s iconic imagery has been featured on numerous apparel and product collaborations, and most recently, the tokidoki creative director teamed up with mega retailer Target to feature Legno’s designs on a series of custom items. Recognized worldwide, tokidoki has been featured in publications from W, Paper and Vogue to The New York Times, Variety, and Vanity Fair.
- Tara McPherson, a NYC based artist who got her start working on Matt Groening’s “Futurama”, creates art that’s about people and their odd ways – calling upon personal issues and experiences for inspiration. Named the crown princess of poster art by Elle magazine, McPherson has created visuals for numerous bands including Beck, Modest Mouse and the Melvins. In addition to toy collaborations with various big name companies, McPherson’s art was featured in the award winning film Juno and has been published in numerous magazines including Vanity Fair, Esquire, Juxtapoz, Marie Claire, and Spin.
Limited edition prints of selected artwork will released at special events during Three Apples. For continually updated information regarding Three Apples exhibit and the events, please visit www.sanrio.com/threeapples. For more information on Royal/T, please visit www.royal-t.org.
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ABOUT SANRIO
SANRIO’s signature brand Hello Kitty celebrates 35 years of fun & friendship in 2009. With fans around the world, Hello Kitty will mark the year with special co-branded partnerships, unique products, retail promotions & year-end exhibition events. SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a collection of gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. SANRIO was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today, over 50,000 SANRIO-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO character-branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 85 SANRIO boutiques. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.
ABOUT JAPANLA
Inspired by Japanese and American Pop Culture, JapanLA is a unique retail destination that caters to adults who love “kawaii” or “cute” toys, apparel, and gifts. Owner Jamie Rivadeneira curates a highly-edited selection of rare and limited-edition items imported from Japan, including Sanrio and many other brands . They also carry items inspired by Japanese pop culture, including handpicked items made by local and international independent artists. Also a lifestyle brand, JapanLA plans creative theme parties where guests can hang out with Hello Kitty and take pictures with her, and organizes its highly-anticipated annual “JapanLA Super Mega Fun Tokyo Tour,” where customers and friends travel to Japanese destinations such as Puroland (Sanrio’s indoor theme park), Harajuku, Shibuya, and Akihabara. JapanLA makes it fun for people of all ages to share their love for “cute” in their life. JapanLA is located in the Melrose Shopping Area, at 648 N. Fuller Ave., Los Angeles, CA 90036. Please visit the website at www.japanla.com or call (323) 934-5201 for more information.
ABOUT ROYAL/T
Located in Culver City, Royal/T is a playful blending of café, concept shop, and art exhibition space. The 10,000-square-foot space reflects the interior realm of fantasy that strongly influences the artist’s included in Owner Susan Hancock’s art collection. Royal/T’s café is inspired by the meido kissa (maid café) phenomena of Akihabara, Tokyo’s electronic district. Re-contextualizing the underground culture of Japan that celebrates “cosplay” (costume play), waitresses dress in maid uniforms with a Lolita-esque touch, while serving an amalgam of French and Japanese cuisine. The art space showcases curated exhibitions with a focus on Japanese contemporary art; and an inventive concept store emulates the collection’s sophistication, a seamless merging of Japanese pop culture and high-end design. Royal/T is open Tuesday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The Royal/T café serves breakfast, lunch, high tea, and dinner daily. Self-parking is available on Washington Blvd. and in the Royal/T parking lot on Lindblade St. For additional information, please call 310.559.6300 or visit www.royal-t.org. Royal/T is also on Facebook and Twitter.
Upper Deck Secures Rights to Hello Kitty Brand
MULTI-YEAR ARRANGEMENT INCLUDES RIGHTS TO PRODUCE COLLECTIBLE MINIATURES & STICKERS TRADING CARD GAME STARTING IN SPRING 2010
Carlsbad, CA (Sept. 2, 2009) – The Upper Deck Company is pleased to announce that it has entered into a new licensing agreement with Sanrio Global Consumer Products to produce a Hello Kitty collectible miniatures & stickers trading card game (TCG) starting next spring. The multi-year arrangement provides Upper Deck with the rights to produce the TCG based on the iconic brand which will be celebrating her 35th anniversary in November. The first release is scheduled to hit the market in March 2010.
“We are so excited to be adding such a global icon to our product portfolio,” said Margeaux Sullivan, Upper Deck’s Hello Kitty brand manager. “Hello Kitty has been charming girls of all ages around the world for more than three decades and we look forward to helping her celebrate her 35th anniversary.”
Targeted to the seven-to-twelve year-old female demographic, the fun-to-play TCG will include collectible figures, stickers and trading cards that will appeal to Hello Kitty fans. Upper Deck is planning to issue three concurrent releases next year.
“We are pleased to partner with an established brand such as Upper Deck,“ says Janet Hsu, President of Sanrio Global Consumer Products. “As we celebrate Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary this year, we are excited to bring forth a new category that aligns perfectly with Sanrio’s mission of offering fans a variety of fun collectible products to trade and share with friends.”
The Hello Kitty collectible miniatures & stickers trading card game (TCG) is one of many special releases honoring 35 years of Hello Kitty. SANRIO is celebrating Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary with an exclusive offering of commemorative products, special brand collaborations and ‘Three Apples’, a three week, multi-dimensional event that includes a product retrospective & exhibition at Royal/T in Culver City, CA. Contemporary artists Gary Baseman, Ron English, Buff Monster, Camilla d’Errico, Luke Chueh, Deph, Yosuke Ueno, FriendsWithYou, and Simone Legno are just a few of the 40+ artists that will interpret their vision of Hello Kitty in one-of-a-kind pieces of art that will be for sale and on display throughout the duration of the ‘Three Apples’ event. For more information on Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary and the celebratory events, please visit www.sanrio.com/threeapples.
About Upper Deck
Upper Deck is the leading sports and entertainment trading card and collectibles company. For more information on Upper Deck and its products please visit www.upperdeck.com.
About SANRIO
SANRIO’s signature brand Hello Kitty celebrates 35 years of fun & friendship in 2009. With fans around the world, Hello Kitty will mark the year with special co-branded partnerships, unique products, retail promotions & year-end exhibition events. SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a collection of gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. SANRIO was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today, over 50,000 SANRIO-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO character-branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 85 SANRIO boutiques. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.
Sanrio Global Consumer Products Announces Hello Kitty and Judith Leiber Co-Branded Collection in Celebration of Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary
Janet Hsu, President of Sanrio Global Consumer Products, is pleased to announce the signing of an agreement with renowned accessory brand Judith Leiber, for a special co-branded handbag and accessory collection. After the success of their initial collaboration, SANRIO and Judith Leiber, LLC are coming together with a new collection of Austrian crystal accessories in honor of Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary. “Our new collection from Judith Leiber offers a fresh and elegant take on classic accessories,” said Janet Hsu, President of Sanrio Global Consumer Products. “These beautiful high-end pieces are perfect for special occasions and we are looking forward to bringing these to our fans in celebration of Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary.”
Judith Leiber interprets the iconic Hello Kitty with its signature style, whimsy and sparkle! The co-branded collection features Austrian crystal minaudieres including a “Retro Kitty” curved oval clutch, the “Pink Tulip” airstream, new “Hobo” style with silver handle, double sided mirror compact and key fob. The exclusive Hello Kitty Collection by Judith Leiber, will be available in October 2009 at Judith Leiber boutiques in Beverly Hills, Las Vegas, Costa Mesa and New York, and on line at www.judithleiber.com. Items from the collection will also be available at SANRIO’s flagship boutiques in Times Square, New York and Ala Moana, Hawaii, and on display at SANRIO ‘Three Apples’ retrospective exhibition. Suggested retail prices range from $295 for the key fob, to $3995 for the “Hobo” handbag.
“Hello Kitty has been an iconic favorite for our global, trendsetting customer,” adds Mary Gleason, President of Judith Leiber. “This unique collection taps into the passion points of women everywhere and is sure to be a success at retail.”
The collaboration of Hello Kitty and Judith Leiber is one of many special releases honoring 35 years of Hello Kitty. SANRIO is celebrating Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary with an exclusive offering of commemorative products, special brand collaborations and ‘Three Apples’, a three week, multi-dimensional event that includes a product retrospective & exhibition at Royal/T in Culver City, CA. For more information on Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary and the celebratory events, please contact Dyann Hawkins at 323.874.4073/dyann@orsipr.com.
About SANRIO
SANRIO’s signature brand Hello Kitty celebrates 35 years of fun & friendship in 2009. With fans around the world, Hello Kitty will mark the year with special co-branded partnerships, unique products, retail promotions & year-end exhibition events. SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a collection of gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. SANRIO was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today, over 50,000 SANRIO-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO character-branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 85 SANRIO boutiques. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.
About Judith Leiber
For over forty-five years, Judith Leiber has been the leading American luxury evening handbag brand offering quintessential luxury, timeless quality and international style. The brand is an American icon making appearances at the White House, on Red Carpets and runways around the world. Judith Leiber’s rich heritage can be seen in the permanent design collections at international museums including The Victoria and Albert Museum, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and The Smithsonian Institute. This recognition has contributed to their signature status, enduring popularity and collectible appeal. Judith Leiber debuted with crystal minaudières, which remain a mainstay of every fashionable evening wardrobe. Today, the brand offers day to evening accessories and handbags, including belts, gloves, scarves, wraps, eyewear, jewelry, and a range of small accessories.
Sanrio Global Consumer Products and Jelly Belly Candy Company Announce Licensing Deal
Janet Hsu, President of Sanrio Global Consumer Products, and Herm Rowland, Sr., Chairman of Jelly Belly Candy Company and fourth generation candy man, are pleased to jointly announce the signing of an agreement for Jelly Belly® jelly beans in licensed iconic Hello Kitty® packaging to arrive on retail shelves this fall. The adorable packaging and delicious flavors will make the Jelly Belly Hello Kitty products a must-have for all Hello Kitty fans!
“Jelly Belly’s quality and true-to-life flavored jelly beans are a perfect match for Hello Kitty,” said Ms. Hsu. “Our new partnership comes at a key time for Hello Kitty as we celebrate her 35th Anniversary this year. The supercute packaging, along with Jelly Belly’s signature flavors, are sure to be an instant hit among our fans and Jelly Belly lovers of all ages.”
Jelly Belly Candy Company is introducing a new 10-Flavor Jelly Belly Hello Kitty Gift Box that holds a custom selection of flavors including Berry Blue, Cotton Candy, Buttered Popcorn, Cinnamon, Coconut, Tangerine, Green Apple, Juicy Pear, Watermelon and Very Cherry. The co-branded product brings pop icon appeal to the joint efforts of two global brands and will hit retail shelves in mid-September.
In addition, a cute 1-oz. flip-top Jelly Belly Hello Kitty box holds a selection of assorted flavors of Jelly Belly beans. These clever boxes open at the top and click closed and are the perfect size to take along wherever you go. The single serving size box is ideal for a pocket or a bag. Packed in 24-count display caddy, this item is suitable for the checkout counter, displayed with other Hello Kitty merchandise and included on the candy shelf along with Jelly Belly beans.
“The whimsical Hello Kitty brand is a great fit with our Jelly Belly brand and the two brands together will appeal to a broad range of girls and young women,” said Rob Swaigen, Vice President of Jelly Belly Candy Company.
Additional information for retailers is available from Jelly Belly Customer Service at (800) 323-9380.
The collaboration of Hello Kitty and Jelly Belly is one of many special releases honoring 35 years of Hello Kitty. SANRIO is celebrating Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary with an exclusive offering of commemorative products, special brand collaborations and ‘Three Apples’, a three week, multi-dimensional event that includes a product retrospective & exhibition at Royal/T in Culver City, CA. For more information on Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary and the celebratory events, please contact Dyann Hawkins at 323.874.4073/dyann@orsipr.com.
About Jelly Belly Candy Company
Jelly Belly Candy Company makes the taste defining Jelly Belly jelly beans in 50 official flavors and an ever changing array of new flavors, plus more than 100 other fine confections. The company that put the gourmet jelly bean on the map became known worldwide when Jelly Belly beans were taken to the White House during the Ronald Reagan administration. Today, Jelly Belly beans are celebrating 33 years of fun and flavor, and are the leading jelly bean brand. www.JellyBelly.com
About SANRIO
SANRIO’s signature brand Hello Kitty celebrates 35 years of fun & friendship in 2009. With fans around the world, Hello Kitty will mark the year with special co-branded partnerships, unique products, retail promotions & year-end exhibition events. SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a collection of gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. SANRIO was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today, over 50,000 SANRIO-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO character-branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 85 SANRIO boutiques. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.
Sanrio Digital and Zio Interactive Introduce HELLO KITTY® PARACHUTE PARADISE iPhone Game App
Hello Kitty on iPhone Offers Tilt-based, Arcade Game Play and Unique Social and Interactivity Elements
HONG KONG & SEOUL (August 19, 2009) – Sanrio Digital and ZIO Interactive, Inc. are delighted to announce Hello Kitty Parachute Paradise, a new game application featuring supercute & irresistible, pop-icon Hello Kitty and other Sanrio friends exclusively for iPhone and iPod Touch. Hello Kitty Parachute Paradise, developed by ZIO and published by Sanrio Digital, will be available for download on Apple’s iPhone App Store for North America.
“Offering fans the ability to take Hello Kitty along on their iPhone or iPod Touch is a natural extension of our digital entertainment product portfolio,” said Robert Ferrari, Vice President of Publishing & Business Development for Sanrio Digital in North America. ”We are truly excited to launch our first Hello Kitty mobile game application on the Apple App Store.”
“For the first time ever, users will be able to play as, and interact with, Hello Kitty and other Sanrio friends in a high-definition, 3D game that takes full advantage of the iPhone’s considerable capabilities said Sohyun Park, Global Marketing Director of ZIO Interactive. “We worked hard to make a game that will not only appeal to the massive Hello Kitty fan base, but also to casual gamers and iPhone enthusiasts of all ages—and we are very happy with the results. There is a little something for everyone.”
Hello Kitty Parachute Paradise has two key components: the “My Room” Showcase, and the casual arcade game area.
“My Room” is a unique feature of Hello Kitty Parachute Paradise that provides an interactive area where users customize their Hello Kitty experience. Fans take collected special items from the parachuting stages to style a scene featuring Hello Kitty and other popular SANRIO characters, Badtz-Maru®, Keroppi®, Pochacco®, Cinnamoroll® and My Melody®. Users then create their own wallpapers of their “My Room” space, and upload their handiwork to the game’s web site for sharing and comparing with other scenes.
The casual game area is where users must help Hello Kitty earn points and collect special items to progress through ten increasingly challenging stages, including an unlockable mini-game. To complete a stage, users launch Hello Kitty in the air, then guide her past obstacles to collect special items with left-right, tilt-based controls while parachuting down to safety.
Hello Kitty Parachute Paradise is expected to be available for iPhone and iPod Touch through the Apple App Store on August 19 with an expected retail price of $4.99. For more information on the game, please visit the official game website at http://hellokittyparachuteparadise.sanriotown.com
About Sanrio Digital
Sanrio Digital is a joint venture between Typhoon Games (HK) Ltd. and Sanrio Wave Hong Kong Co. Ltd. Sanrio Digital is responsible for the expansion of Sanrio intellectual property assets into various digital and online media, leveraging an extensive library of original material that includes world-famous brands such as Hello Kitty, Badtz-Maru, My Melody and others. For more information, please visit: http://www.sanriodigital.com.
About ZIO Interactive Inc.
ZIO Interactive, Inc., founded in 1997 is a leading mobile game publisher and developer based in Seoul, Korea. The company has a diverse portfolio of mobile phone and PDA games, both licensed properties and original titles. ZIO’s first simulation golf game, ZIO Golf, was selected by Microsoft to be one of the launch games for Microsoft Windows CE. ZIO Interactive has since narrowed its focus on wireless downloadable games both in Korea and internationally in the US, Europe, China, and Japan. ZIO’s “Sketcher” game was nominated for Best Game for the IMGA in 2006 by IGN and “Sketcher 2” claimed the top spot and won for Best Mobile Game in 2008. For more information, please visit: http://www.ziointeractive.com.
Sanrio Global Consumer Products Announces Launch of Hello Kitty® x MIMOBOT® in Celebration of 35th Anniversary
As part of Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary celebration, Sanrio Global Consumer Products is pleased to announce a new partnership with Mimoco, creator of the MIMOBOT® line of contemporary character-based USB flash drives. The collaboration will transform SANRIO® characters into MIMOBOT designer flash drives, debuting in early September with multiple Hello Kitty x MIMOBOT designs produced and released in time for the pop icon’s 35th Anniversary on November 1st.
“Our new partnership with Mimoco brings forth an exciting collection that infuses SANRIO characters with the fun, pop-art world of MIMOBOT” said Janet Hsu, President of Sanrio Global Consumer Products. “The launch collection celebrating Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary is sure to be a hit among our fans and MIMOBOT collectors.”
The crossover collaboration with Mimoco will begin with Hello Kitty and expand to include SANRIO friends Badtz-Maru®, My Melody®, Kuromi®, Keroppi®, Chococat®, and TuxedoSam™ in MIMOBOT form ranging from 2GB to 16GB capacities. The MIMOBOT flash drives will also be bundled with the mimoDesk™ personalization suite of SANRIO-themed wallpapers, screensavers, icons, and avatars, as well as videos and other digital surprises. The line will be available for purchase at MIMOBOT.com and SANRIO.com, select SANRIO boutiques and other specialty retailers.
“We’re honored to be amongst those licensees celebrating Hello Kitty’s big party!” said Mimoco CEO, Evan Blaustein. “We couldn’t be happier to combine the sweet, cute, friendly and legendary Japanese icon with our data hungry MIMOBOT fiends and flash drive platform.”
Hello Kitty x MIMOBOT is one of many special releases honoring 35 years of Hello Kitty. SANRIO is celebrating Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary with an exclusive offering of commemorative products, special brand collaborations and ‘Three Apples’, a three week, multi-dimensional event that includes a product retrospective & exhibition at Royal/T in Culver City, CA. Contemporary artists Gary Baseman, Ron English, Buff Monster, Camilla d’Errico, Luke Chueh, Deph, Yosuke Ueno, FriendsWithYou, and Simone Legno are just a few of the 40+ artists that will interpret their vision of Hello Kitty in one-of-a-kind pieces of art that will be for sale and on display throughout the duration of the ‘Three Apples’ event. For more information on Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary and the celebratory events, please contact Dyann Hawkins at 323.874.4073/dyann@orsipr.com.
About SANRIO
SANRIO’s signature brand Hello Kitty celebrates 35 years of fun & friendship in 2009. With fans around the world, Hello Kitty will mark the year with special co-branded partnerships, unique products, retail promotions & year-end exhibition events. SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a collection of gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. SANRIO was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today, over 50,000 SANRIO-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO character-branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 85 SANRIO boutiques. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.
About Mimoco
Mimoco was founded in 2005, and has been changing the way people think about USB flash drives ever since. With characters ranging from original and community designs to crossovers with contemporary artists FriendsWithYou, NHK Japan’s Domo Kun, and Lucasfilm’s Star Wars, MIMOBOT is on the cutting edge in the movement to combine pop art and consumer electronics. For more information on Mimoco, including a full list of MIMOBOT characters and outposts, visit www.mimoco.com.
Hello Kitty ‘Three Apples’ Exhibit Celebrates All Things Hello Kitty For 35th Anniversary
Hello Kitty has long been a muse to artists & designers. In honor of Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary celebration, SANRIO, Inc. is bringing an event to the U.S. like nothing America has seen before. ‘Three Apples’ is a multi-dimensional exhibition and celebration of all things Hello Kitty running from October 23 to November 15 that will kick-off with a VIP media event and be followed by unique displays, an art sale for charity and special fan events that will be open to the public, free of charge – all celebrating this beloved pop icon! The celebration, at Royal-T in Culver City, CA, is targeted at Hello Kitty fans of all ages.
‘Three Apples’ (the title is a nod to Hello Kitty superfans’ knowledge of her precise weight listed in her official bio) will take place at Los Angeles’ famed Royal/T (www.royal-t.org), a visually stunning and playful, Japanese-inspired art exhibition space, retail store and café, located within Culver City’s vibrant arts community. Based on the maid café culture in Akihabara, Japan, and infused with L.A. style, Royal/T’s 10,000 square foot space is the perfect setting for this cool, innovative exhibit. In addition to filling Royal/T’s art gallery with one-of-a-kind artwork & products, Hello Kitty will appeal to all the senses of visitors to Royal/T. Guests will be able to sample Hello Kitty shaped food at the maid café, craft their own works of art in the “Hello Kitty Art Corner” and purchase limited edition products created and selected specifically for the event at the Sanrio Pop-Up shop. Here’s a sneak peek at what can be found at ‘Three Apples’:
Hello Kitty Art Show – Contemporary artists Gary Baseman, Ron English, Buff Monster, Camilla d’Errico, Luke Chueh, Deph and Yosuke Ueno are just a few of the 30+ artists that have been invited to interpret their vision of Hello Kitty in one of a kind pieces of art that will be for sale and on display throughout the duration of ‘Three Apples’. The Hello Kitty Art Show will be curated by Jamie Rivadeneira, owner of JapanLA, a Los Angeles boutique that specializes in “cute” Japanese and American products (www.japanla.com). The participating artists all share a love of Hello Kitty, which will blend with their unique style to show through in their works. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of the art will go to community-based charities.
Hello Kitty Apartment – A living installation to showcase wall the legendary breadth of Hello Kitty product in an apartment-like setting. Taking over the glass walled façade of Royal/T, the apartment will be built to represent a Tokyo apartment. This space, complete with live inhabitants for the duration of the exhibit, will feature wall-to-wall Hello Kitty lifestyle products geared toward teens & young adults, from bedding & kitchenware to a decked out Hello Kitty toilet.
Hello Kitty Product Retrospective – This special piece of the exhibit will showcase iconic Hello Kitty products from her inception in 1974 to present day, including the range of ‘signature’ Hello Kitty items through the years to collaborations with Anna Sui, Dior, M*A*C and tokidoki, among others. Also incorporated in the retrospective will be a vintage Hello Kitty costume display and “Only in Japan”, which will feature some of the more “unique” products that have positioned her as a purveyor of pop culture worldwide, including a moving, talking Hello Kitty robot, bento boxes and the infamous portable massagers.
Exhibit Events – During the course of the three week exhibit at Royal/T, fans of all ages will be invited to special events aimed at celebrating this milestone. Events include a Halloween party, a Japanese cultural day celebration, Hello Kitty breakfasts, movie nights screening live action Hello Kitty & Friends features straight from Japan, Japanese underground “cosplay” costume events, special appearances and signings by Hello Kitty creators and of course, a Hello Kitty birthday party on November 1! All events will be open to the public, free of charge – and will offer something for each one of her fans, no matter their age.
Sanrio Pop-Up Shop – As guests leave ‘Three Apples’, they will be treated to a special pop-up shop inviting fans & collectors to peruse and shop for never-seen-before Hello Kitty products including limited edition prints, Japanese imported goods, special Hello Kitty 35th Anniversary collections and of course, ‘Three Apples’ souvenir merchandise. Everyone can take away a piece of the exhibit to commemorate Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary!
For continually updated information regarding Hello Kitty’s ‘Three Apples’ exhibit, please visit www.sanrio.com/threeapples.
For more information on Royal/T, please visit www.royal-t.org.
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ABOUT SANRIO
SANRIO’s signature brand Hello Kitty celebrates 35 years of fun & friendship in 2009. With fans around the world, Hello Kitty will mark the year with special co-branded partnerships, unique products, retail promotions & year-end exhibition events. SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a collection of gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. SANRIO was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today, over 50,000 SANRIO-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO character-branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 85 SANRIO boutiques. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.
ABOUT ROYAL/T
Located in Culver City, Royal/T is a playful blending of café, concept shop, and art exhibition space. The 10,000-square-foot space reflects the interior realm of fantasy that strongly influences the artist’s included in Owner Susan Hancock’s art collection. Royal/T’s café is inspired by the meido kissa (maid café) phenomena of Akihabara, Tokyo’s electronic district. Re-contextualizing the underground culture of Japan that celebrates “cosplay” (costume play), waitresses dress in maid uniforms with a Lolita-esque touch, while serving an amalgam of French and Japanese cuisine. The art space showcases curated exhibitions with a focus on Japanese contemporary art; and an inventive concept store emulates the collection’s sophistication, a seamless merging of Japanese pop culture and high-end design. Royal/T is open Tuesday-Thursday from 10 a.m.-9 p.m., Friday-Saturday from 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and Sunday from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. The Royal/T café serves breakfast, lunch, high tea, and dinner daily. Self-parking is available on Washington Blvd. and in the Royal/T parking lot on Lindblade St. For additional information, please call 310.559.6300 or visit www.royal-t.org. Royal/T is also on Facebook and Twitter.
Sanrio Global Consumer Products Introduces iPhone/iPod touch® Applications Through Global Partnerships
Sanrio Global Consumer Products is pleased to announce the arrival of several new iPhone/iPod touch applications featuring pop icon Hello Kitty®. The applications were created in conjunction with Sanrio Co, Ltd. (Tokyo), Sanrio Digital (Hong Kong) and in partnership with AITIA Corporation (Tokyo). Select products are available now through Apple’s iTunes App Store and the agreements are effective immediately.
“Hello Kitty entering into the iPhone/iPod touch space connects our consumer to the fast-paced, on-the-go world of today,” says Janet Hsu, President of Sanrio Global Consumer Products. “We are thrilled to offer our tech-savvy fans fun and relevant ways to personalize their iPhone and iPods with interactive content and accessories. We are confident that our global partners, with their understanding of the Hello Kitty brand, will together offer a complete mobile experience.”
In celebration of Hello Kitty’s 35th Anniversary this year, Aitia Corporation has developed a series of iPhone/iPod touch applications that launched in 77 countries last week, including the U.S. & Japan. iHelloKitty Tokyo is inspired by the cultures of Tokyo and offers users the chance to dress Hello Kitty in street fashion items from various locations in Tokyo (Harajuku’s Gothic Lolita and Akihabara’s Maid).
Hello Kitty Camera uses a unique facial recognition feature to automatically create fun and customized photos featuring supercute Hello Kitty designs. Hello Kitty 35th Anniversary allows fans to join in the celebration of her anniversary with a special screening of the Hello Kitty Colors video (the theme of this anniversary), an anniversary countdown clock and a Hello Kitty design museum – plus it provides the user with instant news & updates on Hello Kitty’s anniversary. Hello Kitty 35th Anniversary is free to users for download; the other applications retail for $2.99 and are available now at Apple’s iTunes App Store.
Sanrio Digital will be introducing the first iPhone game application based on Hello Kitty and other SANRIO characters. The game will include an interactive application combined with a fun and exciting video game. Players can score points, collect special items, and create wallpapers featuring Hello Kitty and other popular SANRIO characters like Badtz-Maru®, Keroppi®, and Pochacco®. This game will be the first of many game apps planned by Sanrio Digital and will be available for download on Apple’s iTunes App Store this summer.
In related news, Sanrio Global Consumer Products has signed a new licensing agreement with Power Support USA, to produce a collection of Hello Kitty hard cases for the iPhone and iPod. The hard cases feature signature Hello Kitty graphics and are designed for use on the iPhone 3G as well as the iPod touch 2G and the iPod nano 4G. Prices range from $29.95 to $39.95 for the cases which will be available in July 2009 at the Apple online store and www.PowerSupportUSA.com.
About SANRIO
SANRIO’s signature brand Hello Kitty celebrates 35 years of fun & friendship in 2009. With fans around the world, Hello Kitty will mark the year with special co-branded partnerships, unique products, retail promotions & year-end exhibition events. SANRIO develops, distributes and licenses a collection of gift, stationery and fashion accessory items for women of all ages. SANRIO was founded in 1960 based on the concept that a small gift can bring a big smile to a child of any age. Today, over 50,000 SANRIO-branded items are sold in over 70 countries around the world. In the Western Hemisphere SANRIO character branded products are sold in upwards of 12,000 locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 85 SANRIO boutiques. For more information, please visit www.sanrio.com.
About Sanrio Digital
Sanrio Digital is a joint venture between Typhoon Games (HK) Ltd. and Sanrio Wave Hong Kong Co., Ltd. Sanrio Digital is responsible for the expansion of Sanrio intellectual property assets into various digital and online media, leveraging an extensive library of original material that includes world-famous brands such as Hello Kitty, Badtz-Maru, My Melody and others. For more information please visit www.sanriodigital.com.
About AITIA Corporation
AITIA Corporation, founded in 2006 is a leading CrossMedia communications company that provides interactive advertising system solutions and entertainment contents softwares. (Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan; President: Hiroko Mugibayashi). AITIA specialize in the integration of media art, design, information technology, and communications. AITIA is at the forefront of the digital media revolution with flagship interactive solutions. For more information, please visit http://www.aitia.co.jp.
About Power Support USA
Power Support is a global leader in iPhone/iPod/Mac accessories. With its products selling around the world, Power Support is known for its original designs, superior quality, and advanced manufacturing techniques for the entirety of its product line. Power Support (USA), Inc. can trace its roots back to 1994 when Ryoichi Mase started Power Support Ltd. in Tokyo, Japan. In 2004, Keiko Mase Napier, brought the company to the United States and opened offices in Burbank, California. Since the release of the Crystal and Anti-Glare film sets, Power Support has grown to become a protective staple for today’s portable electronic devices. The company strives to ensure great quality, customer satisfaction, and innovative protection technologies. For more information, please visit: www.PowerSupportUSA.com
* iPhone and iPod touch are trademarks or registered trademarks of Apple Inc, US.
