Kuromi

Kuromi
Sanrio character
Kuromi's artwork from Kuromi's Pretty Journey
First appearanceOnegai My Melody (2005)
Designed byTomoko Miyagawa
Yuko Yamaguchi
Voiced by
In-universe information
SpeciesRabbit
GenderFemale

Kuromi (Japanese: クロミ) is a mascot character owned by Sanrio and the darker counterpart to My Melody. She debuted in the 2005 anime series Onegai My Melody. She is presented as a rebellious character with a criminal streak and a hidden girly side. The creator of her character design is unclear, with Onegai My Melody studio Studio Comet and Sanrio having two different claims as to her designer.

Design and conception

Kuromi is a female anthropomorphic rabbit with white fur,[2] a black jester hat[3] with a pink skull design, a pink nose, and a devil tail. She was first designed in 2005 as a rival to My Melody in the anime series Onegai My Melody. Her name was originally Urami (ウラミ).[4]

Her personality has been described as jealous, chaotic, angry, and unpredictable, and she has no qualms about committing various acts of crime. In her original appearance, she is the leader of a biker gang.[3][5] She also has a girly side,[2] with a soft spot for pretty boys[6] and romance novels.[7] She was born on Halloween, 31 October.[8]

The character designer of Kuromi is debated, with both Studio Comet artist Tomoko Miyagawa and Hello Kitty designer Yuko Yamaguchi,[9] claiming to have been her original designer. This has led to a legal dispute between the two companies in June 2025. Studio Comet also claims that series director Makoto Moriwaki was the one to name Kuromi.[6]

Appearances

Kuromi first appears as the primary rival character in Onegai My Melody and is one of two titular protagonists in the 2025 Netflix series My Melody & Kuromi.[5] She is the main protagonist of the 2023 ONA Kuromi's Pretty Journey, where she searches for her older sister Romina,[10][11] a brand-new character created for the show.[12] She also appears in the video games Hello Kitty Island Adventure[13] and Hello Kitty Online.[14]

In 2021, Kuromi became a virtual idol – releasing her first single, "Greedy Greedy".[5] To promote her musical endeavors, Sanrio launched a marketing campaign in Shibuya known as "Kuromify the World".[15] In 2025, she would release her first EP, Kuromi In My Head.[16] Her musical career includes collaborations with metal band Vampillia, hyperpop artist Lilbesh Ramko, and Japanese rapper Daoko.[5]

Reception

Kuromi is one of the most popular Sanrio characters, with Patrick St. Michel of The Japan Times crediting her popularity to her "rebellious approach to kawaii". In Sanrio's Character Ranking polls, she has consistently placed above both My Melody and Hello Kitty since 2022.[5] Reception of her design and personality has generally been positive. In Sanrio's character ranking for 2025, Kuromi ranked number 4 with 3,652,492 votes, one rank above Hello Kitty and one below Pochacco.[17]

St. Michel says that Kuromi appeals to "younger people who see themselves at odds with regular society", noting her popularity on TikTok.[5] Screen Rant's Hannah Diffey says that in comparison to Hello Kitty's more traditional aesthetic, Kuromi is "dynamic as she evolves with trends".[8] In another article, she refers to the character as "My Melody's rebellious foil", calling her a hit among "Gen Z fans who gravitate toward characters with edge and personality".[18] In her review of My Melody & Kuromi, she says Kuromi steals the show with her "mischievous edge and dry wit".[19]

She is particularly popular in China. In 2022, Kuromi was featured in a Douyin video that went viral in China, leading to Sanrio striking up a merchandise deal with Alibaba.[20] Ashlyn Chak of the South China Morning Post writes that Kuromi is often seen as "something of an anti-hero" whose spunky personality is viewed as "a celebration of individuality and authenticity".[3] An interviewee in another article is said to feel drawn to Kuromi for her "edgy, punk feel".[21]

Kuromi's popularity has led to a fashion subculture emulating her style, known as "Kuromi-core". The style mixes dark punk aesthetics with kawaii charm, with combinations of black and pink and accessories like harnesses and chokers.[21] It has some overlap with the established style of Gothic Lolita in Japan.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Kuromi Voices (Hello Kitty)". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  2. ^ a b Phillips, Rebecca (7 May 2025). "What Animal Is Kuromi?". TheGamer. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  3. ^ a b c d Chak, Ashlyn (30 December 2024). "Sanrio's Kuromi, edgy cartoon rabbit, turns 20; Hong Kong celebrates". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  4. ^ いちご新聞2022年10月号. いちご新聞編集局. 10 September 2022. pp. 6, 7.
  5. ^ a b c d e f St. Michel, Patrick (27 August 2025). "From foil to fan favorite, Kuromi embodies Sanrio's darker side of cute". The Japan Times. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  6. ^ a b "サンリオの人気キャラ「クロミ」を巡って裁判が勃発…異色キャラの"生みの親"は誰なのか？（全文）" [A lawsuit breaks out over Sanrio's popular character Kuromi... Who is the creator of this unique character?]. デイリー新潮 (in Japanese). 25 February 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  7. ^ Ball, Siobhan (1 July 2024). "The 10 Best and Cutest Sanrio Characters, Ranked". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  8. ^ a b Diffey, Hannah (24 July 2025). "Hello Kitty's Reign Is Wavering as Sanrio's Edgy Icon Is Stealing Her Spotlight". Screen Rant. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  9. ^ Townsend, Verity (26 February 2025). "Hello Kitty company Sanrio in legal dispute over who created Kuromi, one of Japan's top-selling mascot characters". AUTOMATON WEST. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  10. ^ Esguerra, Vanessa (13 June 2024). "Looking for an Anime About Kuromi? Boy, Do I Have Some Good News for You". The Mary Sue. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  11. ^ Pineda, Rafael Antonio (9 September 2025). "Sanrio Reveals Kuromi's Pretty Journey Short Anime". Anime News Network. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  12. ^ Komatsu, Mikikazu (13 February 2023). "My Melody's Rival Kuromi Gets Her Own Short Anime Series KUROMI'S PRETTY JOURNEY". Crunchyroll News. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  13. ^ Skubich, Daz (30 September 2023). "Kuromi brings chaos to Hello Kitty Island Adventure's Halloween event". Pocket Tactics. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  14. ^ Whitcomb, Daniel (1 April 2008). "Kuromi vs. My Melody - Is Sanrio dedicated to real PvP?". Engadget. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  15. ^ "Sanrio launches the "KUROMIfy the World" project, Kuromi makes her musical artist debut". Grape Japan. 31 October 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  16. ^ "Sanrio's KUROMI Makes Artist Debut, Aims for World Tour". NiEW. 1 August 2025. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  17. ^ "Overall Results | Results Announcement". 2025 Sanrio character ranking Official Website. Retrieved 30 December 2025.
  18. ^ Diffey, Hannah (26 May 2025). "Sorry, Kuromi! Another Hello Kitty Icon Is About to Steal the Top Spot as Sanrio's Most Popular Character". Screen Rant. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  19. ^ Diffey, Hannah (2 August 2025). "Sanrio's New Hit Anime Is So Cute, It Should Come With a Warning". Screen Rant. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  20. ^ Liang, Annabelle (30 June 2022). "Hello Kitty firm strikes China deal after viral hit". BBC. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  21. ^ a b Kandangwa, Sumnima (27 July 2025). "The cult of cute: inside Sanrio's multigenerational grip". South China Morning Post. Retrieved 9 September 2025.
  • Kuromi on Sanrio's official website
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