Yuko Shimizu
Yuko Shimizu | |
|---|---|
Shimizu at Japan Expo 2010 | |
| Born | November 1, 1946 Kyoto, Japan |
Yuko Shimizu (清水 侑子, Shimizu Yūko; born 1 November 1946) is a Japanese designer who created Hello Kitty.
Early life
Shimizu was born in Kyoto, Japan, on November 1, 1946. She attended Musashino Art University, and joined Sanrio after graduation.
Career
Hello Kitty
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
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
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.
References
- ^ a b c Kageyama, Yuri; Leff, Lisa (1 November 2024). "At 50, Hello Kitty is as 'kawaii' and lucrative as ever". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 4 November 2024. Retrieved 15 November 2024.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ 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.