Yuko Shimizu
Yuko Shimizu | |
|---|---|
.jpg){kind=spacer} Shimizu at the 2010 Japan Expo | |
| Born | November 1, 1946 Kyoto, Japan |
| Education | Musashino Art University |
| Known for | Designing Hello Kitty |
Yuko Shimizu (清水 侑子, Shimizu Yūko; born 1 November 1946) is a Japanese designer who created Hello Kitty.
Early life and education
[edit]Shimizu was born in Kyoto, Japan, on November 1, 1946.[citation needed] She attended Musashino Art University, and joined Sanrio after graduation.[citation needed]
Career
[edit]Hello Kitty
[edit]In 1974, Shimizu made the original design for Hello Kitty, whose fictional birthdate is November 1, the same as Shimizu's.[1][2] Hello Kitty is Sanrio's most successful and best known character. Shimizu based her name on Alice's black 'Kitty' from Through the Looking-Glass. Hello Kitty was designed to be a kawaii (cute) symbol to be used on merchandise.[1][2][3] In 1975, the design made her debut in Japan with her image on a coin purse.[1][2]
Sanrio has said Hello Kitty has no mouth because she "speaks from the heart" and that she is "Sanrio's ambassador to the world who isn't bound to one certain language."[4]
At Sanrio
[edit]In 1973, Shimizu designed the first original Sanrio character, Coro Chan, a bear.[5] Before designing Hello Kitty Shimizu also did designs of fruits for Sanrio.[6] Other characters designed by Shimizu for Sanrio include Bunny & Matty (バニー＆マッティ), a rabbit and mice, and Yachiyo Charmer (八千代チャーマー), a girl wearing a kimono, all from 1974.[7][8][9][10]
After Sanrio
[edit]Shimizu left Sanrio in 1976 to get married. She has been working as a freelance designer ever since. She did not make a lot of money from Hello Kitty.[11]
The other characters she has created include Angel Cat Sugar and Rebecca Bonbon.[12] She has also published some picture books.[citation needed]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c Kageyama, Yuri; Leff, Lisa (1 November 2024). "At 50, Hello Kitty is as 'kawaii' and lucrative as ever". Associated Press. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ^ a b c "'I created Hello Kitty'". BBC. 28 June 2024. Archived from the original on 16 August 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ Chuang, Tamara (15 November 2004). "Mom, Apple Pie and Kitty". St. Petersburg Times. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ "Sanrio character info: Hello Kitty". www.sanrio.com. November 2005. Archived from the original on 24 November 2005. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ "巻頭大特集 サンリオが大好き!/キキ&ララ・マイメロディ 40周年記念". MOE. Vol. 438, no. April 2016. Hakusensha. 2016. p. 23.
- ^ Belson, Ken; Bremner, Brian (2004). Hello Kitty: the remarkable story of Sanrio and the billion dollar feline Phenomenon. Singapore: Wiley. p. 70. ISBN 9780470820940.
- ^ 西沢正史 (1990-11-20). サンリオ物語 ―こうして一つの企業は生まれた. サンリオ. pp. 48–53. ISBN 4-387-90198-5.
- ^ "Sanrio | Bunny & Matty". Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ "バニー＆マッティ｜サンリオ". Archived from the original on 21 January 2025.
- ^ "Sanrio | Yachiyo Charmer". Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 28 April 2025.
- ^ Dennis, Alicia Diaz (December 11, 2008). "Fashion Influential #95: Yuko Shimizu". Zimbio. Archived from the original on 2009-03-18.
- ^ Yannetta, Tiffany (July 26, 2011). "Hello Kitty Creator's Latest Character Is a French Bulldog in NYC". Racked.
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