Inside Hello Kitty a.k.a. Kitty strikes again, at least here

Image ©Jason Freeny

The design world is awash with creativity. That’s a good thing. I love it! The things people come up with! And the quality is all out there. Even the quirkiest of designs are slick as slick. Take Jason Freeny’s work, especially the anatomy series. There is the inside of a Gummi Bär or Balloon Dog or many other unlikely subjects (who knew they are full of bones and viscera, but I digress). Thanks to the digital age and Jason’s generosity, cuz - damn - many would want a pay for this good stuff, you can enjoy his designs as wallpapers for your desktop, iPhone, iPad and even have some icons for your Mac for free. So why title this blog “Inside Hello Kitty…”? There is Kitty inside to enjoy, too. Ever so close a proof that Kitty is a living being, not just a mouth-less cartoon *wink wink*

Hello Kitty everywhere!

When it comes to brands expanding into stratosphere, Hello Kitty is definitely up there. Born in 1974 through Yuko Shimizu for Sanrio, Hello Kitty exploded into a global trademark that graces pretty much anything you can think of. The cute stuff you can use at school, eat on or wear is a given, as far as cartoon characters are concerned, but toasters, television, computers, high end bling bling?! A Hello Kitty Airbus?!?! That is truly another level. So although I should not be surprised, my jaw dropped when I found out one can procure Hello Kitty tarot cards. Yep, they are out there. Now, tarot cards are not all fun and games. There are some grim, heavy themes there. Death card anyone? How about the Devil? Or the Hanged Man? Or ten swords stuck in your back? You see what I mean. How can the cuteness that Hello Kitty is manage that?! Well, to quote “A spokesperson for Sanrio says that Hello Kitty is not normally given a mouth because "without the mouth, it is easier for the person looking at Hello Kitty to project their feelings onto the character" and that "the person can be happy or sad together with Hello Kitty."…” I see. I think it is clear now… Kinda.