Of Kittylers and Bronies.

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.