First off More evidence that male fans exist.
Antonio Garay drives a ‘Hello, Kitty’ Smartcar
http://www.cbssports.com/mcc/blogs/entry/22475988/32386215
This got me thinking about bronies; for those who have not a clue, a Bronies are older fans of My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. Most of these fans are male but a few are female. The word Bronies, as the call themselves, is a conjunction of Bro and Pony. What fascinates me how in just one year this fandom has gone from a show aimed to selling My Little Pony to five to seven year old girls, to a worldwide phenomenon. There are websites like Equestria Daily to various meets around the world. The credit goes to Hasbro and Lauren Faust creating a kid show with intelligence.
Now as a male fan of Hello Kitty, there are similarities as we men are fans of a character mainly marketed to women and children. The question is how can Sanrio find its hook and make Hello Kitty popular, as My Little Pony Friendship is Magic. There the foundation for male kitty fandom in an article 10 Questions for Yuko Yamaguchi, as reported by Time magazine:
“What will Hello Kitty be doing in 10 years?
Catherine G. Pilie, Covington, La.
In 10 years’ time, everybody around the world will know her. Also, the number of male and female fans will be the same. Men who are still reluctant to be seen with Kitty in public today might be wearing Hello Kitty boxers. But they will eventually stop being shy and will show off Kitty proudly. “
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1834451,00.html#ixzz1aGzW8ycG
Sanrio would love to have a breakthrough with male fans. While Hasbro is doing fine with the gift that was dropped into their lap, I never felt Hasbro does not have very much experience dealing with something outside their demographic. Sanrio is strong suite is collaborations. If suddenly, there was an up tick of male Hello Kitty fans, Sanrio would respond with collaboration with a young male clothing line and if these new fans start visiting Sanrio stores like Toys R Us for MLP items, Sanrio would have an male line of items on the store, within months. Male hello kitty fan would not need to make an appeal to Sanrio like bronies had to with Hasbro.
Of course, it would have to be a different way to attract male fans; they could reboot Hello Kitty and Friends, a la Lauren Faust., The problem I do not see her or any other
Americacreative type navigating your typical top down manage style of a Japanese corporation like Sanrio. Then again if lightning to strike twice creating a male Kitty fandom, I’ll be there to guild new male fans of the cute one.
I too love Hello Kitty. It started when I was building a computer out of old parts I had. The case was a plain white box, so I painted it pink. I was surfing the web and saw Hello Kitty firearms, with guys firing them. I decided to make the computer Hello Kitty themed. It came out pretty good for the first time. After that it was on. I daily wear my Hello Kitty watch, carry my Hello Kitty wallet, and drive my Ford Lightning with Hello Kitty vinyl decals on it. Women are the only ones who ask questions. I keep collecting more things as time goes by. Clothes are a hard one. I’m six foot one and 280 pounds and work out 6 days a week; so there are no clothes for my frame. I did buy a pair of H.K. pajama pants at Walmart that actually fit(for really big girls?). I am going to have them made into shorts and wear them in public. I’m straight and married. My wife thinks it’s odd, but doesn’t trip on it. H.K. just makes me really happy, which is good as I take medications for anger issues and bipolar. It works like another medication; really.
Yes being big and tall is a problem for clothing even when there are mens shirts are available. One day I would like to do a Hello Kitty Case Mod.
Another proud male Hello Kitty and Sanrio fan. I started with Keroppi when i was a little boy then i started like Hello Kitty too. I am proud to always like anthropomorphic characters even they are labeled as a female base demographic in our society.
I love Hello Kitty and Sanrio the same way i love the male demografic series that i love and i have enjoyed it with the same love and joy as those. Now that i am 23, i am very glad that we have choice for Hello Kitty male shirts in some Sanrio collaborations and in http://www.welovefine.com which is one of the most who have choice for it.
The Johnny Cupcakes collaboration was very nice and the Street Fighter one is one of my favorites along the Kiss one and there is a Sonic The Hedgehog one on it’s way.
I’m very happy to see other male Hello Kitty fans around the web and i didn’t know they were called Kittylers, same as the male My Little Pony Friendship is Magic fans are called Bronies.
Thank you for sharing this toughs with us :).
No problem