Hello Kitty turns 50 on Friday. Befitting a pop icon at midlife, the bubble-headed, bow-wearing character's fictional birthday has brought museum exhibits, a theme park spectacle and a national tour.

But first, more on the origin story. Unlike Mickey Mouse and Snoopy, Hello Kitty didn’t start as a cartoon. A young Sanrio illustrator named Yuko Shimizu drew her in 1974 as a decoration for ...

Unlike Mickey and Snoopy, who debuted on screen, Hello Kitty’s raison d’être was always merchandise ... and ahead of the likes of Mickey Mouse and Star Wars. But its popularity has seen many peaks and ...

Unlike, say, Mickey Mouse, who is always smiling, Kitty is drawn without a mouth and therefore has no set mood. “Hello Kitty works ... t want to compete with Snoopy. Second on Sanrio’s list ...

This cat-and-mouse game turned into a full-fledged Times Square brawl. Costumed hustlers dressed as Hello Kitty and Minnie Mouse bared their claws while fighting over a tip Thursday — and ended ...

The Beats brand has done similar character collaborations in the past and once created Hello Kitty themed Solo Wireless Headphones and UrBeats. The new Mickey Mouse headphones are listed as ...

But first, more on the origin story. Unlike Mickey Mouse and Snoopy, Hello Kitty didn’t start as a cartoon. A young Sanrio illustrator named Yuko Shimizu drew her in 1974 as a decoration for ...

But first, more on the origin story. Unlike Mickey Mouse and Snoopy, Hello Kitty didn’t start as a cartoon. A young Sanrio illustrator named Yuko Shimizu drew her in 1974 as a decoration for ...