All About My Melody: Japan's Sweetheart from Sanrio

Meet My Melody, Sanrio’s most lovable rabbit character and Hello Kitty’s best friend. We’ll reveal the true nature of My Melody, her origins, evolution, popularity, and lots more!

Introduction: My Melody, the Lovable Rabbit

My Melody is one of the over 450 fictional characters owned by Sanrio, a Japanese entertainment company that specializes in making and selling branded merchandise. The character is famous for its cute, rabbit-like appearance.

Also called My Melo, the female creature is often depicted wearing a red or pink hood that covers her entire head, including her ears. Melo has white fur with a yellow, oval-shaped nose. 

Created in 1975, My Melody is one of Sanrio’s oldest original characters, only preceded by Little Twin Stars (1975), Hello Kitty (1974), and Coro Chan (1973). Recently, she has turned out to be one of Sanrio’s most beloved characters and was the second most profitable in 2019. She ranked 5th in the 2023 Sanrio Character Ranking, one place behind the iconic Hello Kitty.

My Melody is the star of her own fictional world known as Mariland, along with her arch-rival turned friend, Kuromi. She is also Hello Kitty's best friend, and both characters have interacted in multiple media over the years. Other notable people in her life include her parents, grandparents, younger brother Rhythm, and good friend Flat.

Who is My Melody?

My Melody is one of the many Sanrio characters created by Yasuko Matsumoto, the same designer responsible for creating Little Twin Stars. Yasuko and Sanrio designed and launched My Melody in 1975 as part of a Christmas promotion. The character was originally meant to be a rabbit-like version of Little Red Riding Hood from the popular children’s fairytale. Hence, My Melody’s hood was red upon release.

According to her Sanrio profile, My Melody was born on January 18, making her a Capricorn. She grew up in Mariland, a fictional forest region in London, with her parents, grandparents, and only brother. The white rabbit loves to bake, and she makes cookies and almond cake in her spare time. 

My Melody is an honest, wholesome, and good-natured character who showers love on everyone around her. She adores her family, particularly her brother, despite his rascality. She also cherishes baking almond pound cake, which is her favorite food, with her mother.

In the Sanrio universe, My Melody has been a major character in several television series, web series, video games, promotions, and merchandise collections. 

The Evolution of My Melody Over the Years

The original My Melody character released in 1975 is visibly different from the one we know and love today. This is due to the changes the character has undergone in terms of design and traits.

One of the most noticeable changes is My Melody’s hood. Today, the character is often depicted wearing a pink hood. But in her debut, the hood was red. The story is that My Melody passed her red hood on to her cousin, Littleforestfellow. But in reality, this change may have been a deliberate attempt by Sanrio to distance the character from their original plan to make her their version of Little Red Riding Hood.

There have been several versions of the character over the years, but some milestones have truly shaped her evolution. Check them out below:

• 1975: Official release of My Melody as a Sanrio character.

• 1999: First release of My Melody merchandise with pink hoods.

• 2005: Release of the first anime series based on My Melody, Onegai My Melody.

• 2005: First video game release based on the character.

• 2008: Release of the first My Melody Barbie doll.

• 2014: 40th anniversary and the release of a special My Melody merchandise collection, where the character wears a bonnet and flower pin.

Where to Find My Melody Merch in Japan

The best place to find authentic My Melody merchandise in Japan is to visit an official Sanrio store. The company owns 154 stores in different regions of Japan, particularly Tokyo, which is home to 31 of those stores. Most of them have their own My Melody shops. If you’re in Tokyo, you should visit the following popular stores:

• Sanrio World Ginza in Chuo City

• Sanrio Cute Cube Harajuku in Shibuya City

• Sanrio Gift Gate in Shinjuku City

One of the most interesting places to find My Melody merchandise and explore other related characters all at once is Sanrio Puroland. It’s an indoor theme park dedicated to Hello Kitty and her friends, and it has a My Melody shop.

For lovers of online shopping and the convenience it brings, we’ve got you covered with two fantastic options. The first option is to browse through the Sugoi Mart My Melody merch collection and discover your favorite items. The second option is to get yourself a Hello Kitty Box Subscription from Bokksu and have collectibles and themed snacks sent to your doorstep every two months. We add new items regularly, so expect delightful surprises!

My Melody Collaborations with Other Brands

There have been several notable collaborations between Sanrio’s My Melody and other companies; each one of these partnerships enhances the brand's reach and diversity. The first big collaboration happened in 2008, when Mattel released a My Melody-inspired Barbie doll, targeting lovers of Sanrio characters and fashion dolls. The doll was given pigtails and adorned with a My Melody-themed bag, belt, scarf, and other accessories.

Sanrio collaborated with doll maker Pullip to create the “Pullip My Melody Pink Version” doll in 2020. The doll is holding a miniature version of the Sanrio character. This would not be the first time she was turned into a Pullip doll. “Pullip My Melody” was created in 2008 and “My Melody x HEN-NAKO" was created in 2016. All of the collaboration dolls share similar concepts.

Tearbridge Records received permission to use My Melody on the cover of their album in 2008. The album was titled “I Love 30 - My Melody.” In 2017, there was another popular collection of collaboration merchandise, this time between My Melody and Sailor Moon, a manga and anime series about a teenage girl. 

Exploring My Melody's Popularity in Pop Culture

My Melody may have global popularity now, but that wasn’t always the case. There was a period in the 1980s when her fame declined because Sanrio only produced sweets and stationery featuring the character. The company would eventually give in to demand and start reproducing merchandise for the character in the late 1990s.

Since then, My Melody’s popularity has been as enduring as ever. When her animated series and video games first came out, they had a large global fan base made up of mostly girls but also including a significant male audience. The character has a strong fandom in Singapore, which is the venue for many fan events and conventions, including the “My Melody & Kuromi Spring Party.”

A little research will reveal online communities on forums and other forms of social media dedicated to My Melody, Kuromi, Hello Kitty, and other Sanrio characters. My Melody has also inspired a whole new generation of kawaii cosplayers. 

The Role of My Melody in Japanese Kawaii Culture

Kawaii refers to the culture of cuteness in Japan, and few characters exemplify it more than My Melody. In terms of both looks and character, My Melody oozes cuteness. She is an ageless white bunny, often voiced in a light, childlike tone. My Melody is also eager to make her friends and family smile, no matter the situation. She does not resent Kuromi, even though the latter attacks her repeatedly, and eventually, the two become friends. Her soft and adorable nature is one of the reasons she remains one of Sanrio’s biggest kawaii superstars.

My Melody’s cute and friendly personality showcases one of the brighter aspects of the Sanrioverse. Her relationship with her family displays a strong bond and reminds people of their own parents and grandparents. The love shared between My Melody and her folks is what many might consider unconditional. Even though her brother, Rhythm, is always up to no good, she loves him regardless. Hence, the character also promotes strong family values.

What's Next for My Melody? Upcoming Releases and Events

We sense that there’s a lot more to come for My Melody in the near future. Sanrio will probably celebrate her 50th anniversary sometime in 2024, and you can expect to see them release several products to commemorate the event. You can also expect Sanrio Puroland to honor the occasion by creating an indoor ride similar to “My Melody Drive," which they launched on the 40th anniversary.

We don’t know when or if Sanrio will release a new anime series for the character. However, My Melody placing 5th in the Sanrio Character Ranking for 2023 is an assurance of more merchandise releases and collaborations coming your way. Fans have been speculating on a same-sex relationship between the super-girly My Melody and the tomboyish Kuromi for years. Could we see them become Sanrio’s first official gay couple? We can’t know for certain, but there’s a chance!

Conclusion: Exploring My Melody’s Enduring Global Appeal

With charm, grace, and unconditional love, My Melody has had a massive impact on fans worldwide. The best part is that there’s so much more to come for the character. If you love kawaii, you’ll enjoy exploring more about My Melody through merchandise, media, and events.

We recommend that you visit the Bokksu Boutique website, your one-stop shop for My Melody products. Perhaps you would prefer a steady supply of snacks and My Melody-inspired collectibles. If that’s the case, subscribe to our Hello Kitty Subscription Box now! You’ll get a special box from Japan once every two months.

With the Hello Kitty Subscription Gift Box, you can also give this opportunity to your friends and family as a thoughtful and unique gift.