Netflix has a treat in store for global fans of Japanese kawaii culture. The company revealed on Thursday that production is underway on My Melody & Kuromi, a Japanese stop-motion animated series devoted to two of the most beloved characters from Sanrio, world-famous as the creator of Hello Kitty. Directed by visionary stop-motion artist Tomoki Misato, the series will launch on Netflix in July.
The characters My Melody & Kuromi have been favorites in Japan for decades. Sanrio launched My Melody in 1975 and describes the character as “a straightforward, cheerful girl who cares deeply for her younger brother” and “enjoys baking cookies with her mother.” Kuromi is a more recent addition to the Sanrio pantheon of cute, having launched in 2004. My Melody’s self-proclaimed rival, Kuromi is often pitched as a lovable but adorable troublemaker. Both characters are widely considered Sanrio favorites.
“I’m thrilled that this project is finally announced in this important year marking the 50th anniversary of My Melody and the 20th anniversary of Kuromi,” says Misato, who is acclaimed at home in Japan for his work on the popular stop-motion anime series Pui Pui Molcar. “This momentous project motivated all of us to come together, take on various challenges, and push the envelope with stop-motion. I hope everyone will enjoy this exciting story set in our handcrafted Mariland, the thrilling action that pushes the limits of stop-motion, and, of course, the cute and dynamic characters.”
The series is scripted by Japanese playwright Shuko Nemoto, a passionate fan of Sanrio character world who says she developed the story during the pandemic.
“Having My Melody & Kuromi speak lines I wrote felt like the greatest reward for me as a writer,” Nemoto says. “Because of the pandemic, I couldn’t meet with director Misato or the producers in person. But we connected remotely each week, carefully building this together. The project is filled with love for the world of My Melody, who is beloved by people of all ages. I believe everyone, from adults to children, will have favorite scenes and lines.”
The series is the first stop-motion project produced by Toruku, a subsidiary of powerhouse anime company WIT Studio (Attack on Titan, Spy × Family).
The project follows Netflix’s popular Japanese stop-motion series from last year, Pokemon Resort. The series is part of the streamer’s ongoing expansion into Japanese original content, as interest in the country’s pop culture and traditional aesthetics continues to swell globally. Other Japanese titles coming to Netflix this year include Bullet Train Explosion, a film reboot of the 50-year-old film that inspired the Hollywood movie Speed; Last Samurai Standing, the company’s first samurai action series; and a third season of the hit sci-fi thriller series Alice in Borderland.
In its announcement on Thursday, Netflix also included a few comments from My Melody & Kuromi to their fans.
My Melody said: “Our animation with Kuromi-chan is starting this summer! ♡ I want to bring lots of excitement to all my friends.♪ Please look forward to it. ♡”
Kuromi added: “A new anime with My Melody and me is starting! All you KUROMIES around the world, you’re gonna watch it, right? Don’t miss my cuteness. ★”
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