Which Hello Kitty Anime Is The Best? (2024)

Hello Kitty is one of the most famous and instantly recognizable franchises ever made, with the titular Kitty appearing on tonnes of merchandise, from clothing items to toys. Of course, the franchise has also jumped to anime, with Kitty and her friends appearing in many different shows since the character made its official debut in 1975.

However, getting into Sanrio'sHello Kitty anime adaptations is trickier than it first seems. Over the years, there have been many different Hello Kitty series. However, several of them are named similarly. Plus, some series feature stories that are very similar to stories found in other Hello Kitty series, making it hard to keep track of what show is which. This is even more true for American fans, as many localizations of several Hello Kitty series change the title, meaning the shows can sound even more alike in some countries. However, for fans who love the cute cat and her adventures, there is plenty of super-cute anime to enjoy.

10 Hello Kitty Goes With Everything

Chogokin Hello Kitty and Mazinger Z x Hello Kitty x Chogokin

There are millions of different lines of Hello Kitty merchandise, from the expected to the perplexing. One of the stranger bits of Hello Kitty merch on offer is the Hello Kitty Chogokin figure, a model depicting a mecha version of the famous mascot. In 2016, this figure was re-released with a new color scheme that references the legendary mecha series Mazinger Z.

These Hello Kitty shorts were made to promote the toys, and they're both a lot of fun, playing with Hello Kitty and mecha concepts in a fun and memorable way. The Mazinger Z short is especially noteworthy as seeing two beloved but massively distinct franchises crossover is supremely exciting. The only downside is that they're extremely short, rendering them nothing more than fun curiosities and leaving fans wondering what could have been.

9 Magic And Imagination

Hello Kitty's Paradise

Hello Kitty's Paradise sees Hello Kitty and her sister Mimmy go on many adventures. Some of these adventures occur in their home and surrounding town, while the others are set in the girls' imaginations. Because of this, stories contain everything from tales about the importance of hand-washing (Kitty's Clean Cuisine), a look at the girl's first solo shopping trip (Adventures In Groceryland), and a quest to find magical, happiness-creating items (The Magic Bags).

This series is charming and amazingly executed, packed with cute storylines and adorable animation. Because of this, it is a perfect first anime for young children. However, older viewers, especially those revisiting it after seeing it during childhood, likely won't get too much from the show, as while it is cute, other Hello Kitty series have a similar aesthetic but more involving storylines.

8 Friends And Adventures

Hello Kitty And Friends

Hello Kitty And Friends is a series of 80 OVAs created by Sanrio and Grouper Productions. These OVAs cover many topics, from adaptations of classic fairytales like Cinderella and Snow White to original slice-of-life tales like The Wonderful Sisters and The Day the Big Clock Stopped. Plus, many episodes put other Sanrio characters, like Keroppi, in the starring role, making this the perfect series for fans of the broader Sanrio brand.

The biggest downside of this series is the varying quality. While no OVA is ever terrible, some are just okay. Plus, many fairytale adaptations are done better in other Hello Kitty shows, making the ones here feel surplus to requirements. In America, this series is further hampered by lackluster home releases, many of which cut scenes from the stories to reduce their runtime. For fans who can overlook this, the series has some cute and memorable episodes.

7 A Kitty Adventure

Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori

Most Hello Kitty shows are episodic, with each episode telling a self-contained story with little to no continuity. The Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori series moved away from this as each of the three seasons had a different over-arching plot line. The first, Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori no Fantasy, saw Kitty and Mimi trying to rescue a princess by finding a golden apple. The second, Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori no Mystery, sees them attempt to solve a string of mysterious thefts. The third and strangest season, Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori to Parallel Town, sees them fall into a parallel world, one that is home to fairy-like humans.

While adding a bigger story to Hello Kitty isn't a terrible idea, Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori's plot is a little too simple, so even children may find it slightly dull. Plus, while the third season tries some fascinating things, it doesn't flesh them out enough, leading to a half-baked experience. But, for fans who want something simple and cute, Hello Kitty: Ringo no Mori is an enjoyable ride.

6 Education Can Be Fun

Growing Up With Hello Kitty

Growing Up With Hello Kitty follows Hello Kitty and Mimmy as they deal with the ups and downs of childhood. Each episode aims to teach viewers life lessons. Sometimes they're emotional lessons, like how to apologize and share with others. Others are practical lessons, like eating vegetables, using the phone, and going to the bathroom. Each episode handles the topic well, presenting it in a way that children will understand without making the concepts seem overly intimidating. Plus, Kitty and Mimmy are written like actual real-world children, making the education portions even more effective.

However, this anime is limited by its subject matter. Modern parents will find that most episodes are still good teaching tools, even if some show their age due to evolving technology. But, this show has little to offer for those outside the target age demographic, even if the viewer has nostalgia for it.

5 A Weirdly Unique Gem

Hello Kitty's Stump Village

One of the most unique Hello Kitty series ever made, Hello Kitty's Stump Village follows Hello Kitty and her friends as they go on many adventures in the titular Stump Village. Unlike previous Hello Kitty series, Stump Village uses stop-motion rather than traditional animation, giving it a unique aesthetic.

Stump Village also features some odd but unique episode premises that, while they touch on common childhood themes like sharing and friendship, approach them from a very unusual angle. This includes episodes where the gang builds a nut-cracking seesaw, one where Pompompurin steals fruit to use as tennis balls, and one where they build cars out of kiwi fruit. Because of this, the show has a slightly absurdist bent, making it fun for children and older viewers, even if it doesn't feel like a regular Hello Kitty anime.

4 The Start Of A Modern Legend

Onegai My Melody

One reason for Sanrio's ongoing success is that it keeps expanding, and the brand introduces new mascots every few years to keep things fresh. Onegai My Melody is one of the best modern examples of this. In this series, My Melody is a resident of Mari Land, a world built from the dreams of humans. However, when the evil Kuromi and Baku steal the Melody Key and escape into the human world, the king of Mari Land summons My Melody. He tasks her with following Kuromi into the human world, hoping she can stop Kuromi before she unleashes the Spirit of Dark Power by giving humans nightmares.

Onegai My Melody is a fan-favorite series that perfectly mixes Sanrio with Magical Girl aesthetics while also fleshing out My Melody as a character. The villain, Kuromi, was made specifically for this show. However, she was such a hit with fans that she became an official Sanrio mascot soon after the first season ended. She quickly became one of the brand's most popular characters, and today, she frequently tops fan polls.

3 Classics Remade

Hello Kitty's Animation Theater

Hello Kitty's Animation Theater is a collection of OVAs that put Hello Kitty and her friends into classic fairytales from around the globe. This series features versions of expected stories, like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Hansel & Gretel, Thumbelina, and Aladdin.

But it also features more unusual choices, including re-tellings of the Japanese classic Momotarō and lesser-known Aesop fables, including The North Wind and the Sun and The Town Mouse and the Country Mouse. Because of this, the show stands out against similar animated fairytale collections. This show has excellent production values, featuring cute, well-done animation, and a great soundtrack, making this a relaxing and charming experience.

2 Perfect Parodies

Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater

Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater follows Kitty and her friends as they attempt to run a theater, and each episode sees the gang put on a different play. The show is charming despite its age, featuring plenty of eye-pleasing vintage animation and fun jokes that will amuse children and adults.

What makes Hello Kitty's Furry Tale Theater stand out is how varied the episodes are. While the majority parody classic fairytales and books, several episodes feature very unexpected spoofs, including Cat Wars (a parody of Star Wars), Paws the Great White Dog Shark (a Jaws parody), and Crocodile Penguin (parodying Crocodile Dundee). These parodies are masterfully observed, making them a delight for long-time fans of the mocked franchise, as well as a delight for Hello Kitty fans.

1 An Unexpected Crossover

Gundam vs Hello Kitty

Hello Kitty and Gundam are legendary long-running franchises, even though they don't seem like natural bedfellows. However, Gundam vs Hello Kitty pulls it off spectacularly while retaining the emotional core of each franchise. Made to celebrate Gundam's 40th anniversary and Hello Kitty's 45th, this OVA starts with Haro interrupting Hello Kitty's tea party. He asks her to help Mobile Suit Gundam's hero, Amuro Ray, noting that the war is causing him immense emotional distress. Hello Kitty agrees and goes to meet Amuro, but Amuro is terrified of Kitty, presuming her to be a new Gundam unit. However, the pair soon become friends as Kitty tries to help end the war by making both sides talk to one another.

What makes this OVA so fun is the unmistakable effort put into it. While the writers could have phoned it in, they put a lot of thought into how Hello Kitty would interact with the world of Gundam and how other characters would see her, making this a unique experience that is essential viewing for anime fans of all kinds.