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Hello Kitty Film Debuts July 2028, Directed by Derrick and Aoshima

5/19/2026

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Summary

Hello Kitty Film Debut

David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima will helm the Hello Kitty film releasing on July 21, 2028.
Beau Flynn and Ramsey Naito will produce, with Shelby Thomas overseeing for FlynnPictureCo.
Jeff Chan is writing the script, building on earlier drafts by Dana Fox.
Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon created the original treatment, enabling Hello Kitty’s first Hollywood debut after Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji spent nearly a decade securing the rights.

Summary

Hello Kitty Expands

The upcoming Hello Kitty movie is expected to launch new toys and apparel.
Hello Kitty topped the 2026 Sanrio Character Rankings with the film announcement.
Analysts say the film is central to Sanrio’s plan to grow the brand into cinematic franchises after a decade of new-media expansion.
The production team has not confirmed whether the animation will use traditional anime or Western CGI, a choice that may affect audience response.

History

Historical Context

The 2001 release of Warner Bros.’ *Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone* launched a franchise that earned over $9.6 billion and reshaped Hollywood’s blockbuster model toward established media properties. That shift encouraged studios to extend character brands, a pattern echoed today as Sanrio’s founder Shintaro Tsuji pursues a Hollywood Hello Kitty film to broaden the brand’s global merchandising.

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Hello Kitty Film Debut

David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima will helm the Hello Kitty film releasing on July 21, 2028.
Beau Flynn and Ramsey Naito will produce, with Shelby Thomas overseeing for FlynnPictureCo.
Jeff Chan is writing the script, building on earlier drafts by Dana Fox.
Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon created the original treatment, enabling Hello Kitty’s first Hollywood debut after Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji spent nearly a decade securing the rights.

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