Hello Kitty's First Hollywood Animated Feature: Production Details and Industry Implications

Warner Bros. Pictures Animation and New Line Cinema are producing an original animated Hello Kitty feature slated for summer 2028. Directors David Derrick Jr. (Moana 2) and John Aoshima (Ultraman: Rising) lead the project, with producers Beau Flynn and former Paramount Animation head Ramsey Naito; Shelby Thomas oversees production for FlynnPictureCo.

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Hello Kitty, created by Yuko Shimizu for Sanrio in 1974, grew into a global merchandising empire. Sanrio first pursued a feature film in 2015, secured an English-language deal in 2019, and after multiple creative cycles, the current Warner Bros. project marks the franchise’s first Hollywood theatrical debut.

Hollywood Reporter

David Derrick Jr. brings story-artist credits on *Moana*, *Encanto* and DreamWorks titles; John Aoshima adds two decades of TV animation, including *Gravity Falls* and *Kubo and the Two Strings*. Both hold overall deals with Warner Bros. Pictures Animation. Jeff Chan writes the current script, building on drafts by Dana Fox, Katie Dippold, Adam Sztykiel, Jenny Jaffe, Lindsey Beer and Tamara Becher-Wilkinson.

‘Hello Kitty’ Feature Film Directors & Creative Team Announced

1974 – Hello Kitty debut. 2015 – first film reports. 2019 – Sanrio licenses rights to New Line. May 2026 – Derrick Jr. and Aoshima appointed directors. 2028 – planned release (July 21/28).

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The development cycle exceeds ten years, with a proposed $160-240 million budget in earlier plans and a writing team of seven credited writers. The film will feature Dear Daniel and Ichigoman.

Hello Kitty movie lands ‘Moana 2’ and ‘Ultraman: Rising’ Directors for 2028 release

Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji said Hello Kitty “has long been a symbol of friendship” and the film “will only serve to grow that circle of friendship worldwide.” Warner Bros. and New Line confirmed the creative team and 2028 release window.

Hollywood Reporter

Warner Bros. lists July 21, 2028, while The Hollywood Reporter and ComicBook.com cite July 28, 2028. Plot and animation style remain undisclosed.

Hello Kitty Movie Finds Directors for Warner Bros. -

• “I am extremely pleased that Hello Kitty and other popular Sanrio characters will be making their Hollywood debut,” — Shintaro Tsuji, Sanrio founder.

Hollywood Reporter

• “Flynn spent nearly a decade working with Sanrio founder Shintaro Tsuji to get rights to the character.” — Variety.

Variety Magazine

• “The film marks Hello Kitty’s Hollywood theatrical debut as Hello Kitty and her friends embark on a cinematic adventure sure to delight audiences of all ages,” — New Line/Warner Bros. press release (as reported by ComicBook.com).

New Hello Kitty Movie Nabs Disney and Ultraman Directors With Latest Update

• “The film will follow Hello Kitty and her friends on a cinematic adventure designed to delight audiences of all ages.” — HOLR Magazine.

Variety Magazine

Hello Kitty’s Hollywood debut gives Warner Bros. a multigenerational brand, likely sparking a massive merchandising surge and strengthening its family-entertainment slate against Disney, Illumination, Sony.

Hello Kitty Movie Finds Directors for Warner Bros. -

Production continues through 2027; animation pipelines and casting will solidify in 2028, with marketing slated for early that year ahead of the summer theatrical launch.

New Hello Kitty Movie Nabs Disney and Ultraman Directors With Latest Update