So far, the West has seen some success in bringing fan-favorite 2D characters to the big screen, such as Pikachu and Sonic the Hedgehog. The next character in line to get the live-action treatment might throw people for a loop because it’s none other than Sanrio’s darling herself…Hello Kitty?!
California-based New Line Cinema has thrown its hat in the ring to direct not only the first US-based Hello Kitty movie but also the first “live-action/animation hybrid” film for the character. Production is currently in the beginning stages, with c0-directors Jennifer Coyle (Harley Quinn, DC Super Hero Girls, Bob’s Burgers) and Leo Matsuda (Big Hero 6, Zootopia, Ralph Breaks the Internet) combining forces to make both Sanrio’s and New Line Cinema’s vision for the project come to life. Both directors expressed their excitement for the project as well as their own feelings on the legacy of Hello Kitty, with Coyle saying “This is not only a rare chance to bring a beloved character to life, but also to spread the message of love, friendship, and inclusivity that Hello Kitty stands for. The world so needs her brand of joy and happiness.” Matsuda said, “Growing up in Brazil with a Japanese family, I was surrounded by the whimsy of Hello Kitty and it served as a reminder that it’s okay to be different.”
Given both co-directors previous work, it looks like the live-action Hello Kitty movie may remain strictly as a children’s film, though one wouldn’t be surprised to see a bit of sly humor sprinkled in for the adults watching, as is par for the course for most children’s films in the US. The larger challenge for the film remains in its art style, as well as for deciding on whether or not Hello Kitty will have a visible mouth for the film. While Hello Kitty usually goes without, she has had a visible mouth in earlier projects meant for TV.
As long as we don’t end up with a five-apples-tall, human-toothed monstrosity akin to everyone’s first look at Sonic the Hedgehog, things might be ok. However, a more interesting idea for the film may come from the fact that Hello Kitty isn’t actually a cat, but whether or not the directors will run with that idea remains to be seen.
Source: Sora News 24
