Hello Kitty, everyone’s favorite Sanrio character, couldn’t be creepier in her new collaboration with the “Stephen King of anime,” Junji Ito. Manga artist, Junji Ito, is considered one of the most brilliant horror authors in anime history. However, many fans would argue that he is also one of the most talented horror authors outside of anime. Some of his most notable projects include Tomie, Uzumaki, and Gyo, all of which include stomach-churning body horror.

Junji Ito’s work has also been acknowledged by Western horror legends. In 2015, Guillermo del Toro cited on his official Twitter (now X) account that he was going to collaborate with Ito on his upcoming horror game, Silent Hill, developed by Kojima Productions. However, the game’s IP owner, Konami Group Corporation, soon canceled the project.

The sweeter side of Junji Ito’s most recent collaboration is Japan’s cutest kitten: Hello Kitty. Created in 1974 by Yuko Shimizu, the very first Hello Kitty-branded product was a coin purse aimed at a pre-teen audience. However, since then, Hello Kitty has grown into a global icon and has received countless animated series and three animated films released in Japan. Now, in 2024, the red-bowed cat returns for another collab with the most unexpected of partners.

What to Expect from the Junji Ito x Hello Kitty Collab

Parco Department Stores Bring the Year’s Most Unexpected, Yet Most Anticipated Collab

A Junji Ito x Hello Kitty pop-up store will appear exclusively in Parco locations for a limited time from August 23-September 9 in Tokyo, and September 27-October 14 in Osaka, Japan. Despite the gruesome content of Ito’s series, the merchandise at the pop-up stores is bright, pastel-themed, and family-friendly. In addition, three of Ito’s characters are featured on holographic stickers, keychains, coasters, tote bags, and t-shirts. However, Tomie (from the manga series of the same name) receives a spotlight in the collab’s official visual.

In addition to Tomie, who is featured with the titular character, Hello Kitty, two other of Ito’s characters appear in the collab. Pretty Intersection Boy, the main antagonist in Lovesickness Dead, appears in black with Lloromannic Berry and in white with Cinnamonroll. For fans hoping to get a head-start on their shopping, every piece of merchandise that will be sold at the pop-up shops is available for viewing on YTE’s official website.

The Inspiration Behind Junji Ito’s Unlikely Pairing with Sanrio’s Beloved, Red-Bowed Kitty

There’s a Long History Of Collaborations Behind the Sanrio And Junji Ito Franchises

Hello Kitty isn't the first light-hearted anime franchise to team up with Junji Ito. Back in 2021, Ito expressed his love for Pokémon in an iconic original artwork depicting Banette in the creepiest way. The crossover was released as a part of the horror-inspired event “Kowapoke” in 2014.

In addition to Pokémon, Junji Ito also collaborated with alternative clothing brand, Drop Dead Clothing, in a horrifically stunning lineup. Similarly, Hello Kitty’s list of collaborations over the years is quite long, including major brands like Converse, Balenciaga, and Adidas. Considering Junji Ito’s love for cats, as seen in his autobiographical manga series, Junji Ito's Cat Diary: Yon & Mu, it only makes sense that he and Hello Kitty receive this shocking, wonderfully strange collaboration in a new pop-up store.

Junji Ito’s newest collab comes at the perfect time as his manga sensation, Uzumaki’s anime adaptation, is finally set for release. According to an interview with Ito, the anime will premiere later in 2024, after its initial announcement in August 2019. But, until then, Junji Ito fans can enjoy Sanrio's Hello Kitty, who becomes creepier than ever before in this brilliantly bizarre collaboration.