The August 2011 edition of License Magazine confirms the rumors of a Kiss x Hello Kitty collaboration that surfaced when Gene Simmons dropped the following tweet on June 19th, 2011:
Tomorrow (Sat), meeting with execs from Hello Kitty Re: a KISS-Hello Kitty worldwide deal. Wow.
License Magazine reports:
Kiss recently announced a partnership with another iconic brand, Hello Kitty, which will further expand the merchandising efforts of both properties. Furano says the new partnership, which will bring co-branded merchandise to 250 countries, will be heavily promoted during Brand Licensing Europe, Oct. 18-20, in London, and hit retail in the second half of 2012.
The same edition of License Magazine also mentions the Capcom and Sanrio Street Fighter x Hello Kitty collaboration that was announced in July of 2011:
SAN DIEGO – July 22, 2011 – Capcom® Entertainment, Inc., a leading worldwide developer and publisher of video games, and Sanrio, Inc., creator of beloved icon Hello Kitty®, today announced a partnership to create a new line of co-branded Street Fighter™ themed merchandise that will launch in fall 2012. The collaboration will be a fusion of the unique styles of these world-famous brands, yielding a broad range of merchandise featuring Hello Kitty dressed in the distinct costumes from the Street Fighter series of video games.
“Capcom has long admired Sanrio and their ability to create memorable and cherished lifestyle brands so it is a distinct pleasure to partner with them for this new cross-over line of merchandise,” said Joshua Izzo, Director of Licensing, Capcom Entertainment, Inc. “The combination of Street Fighter and Hello Kitty will offer fans a whole new way to experience our characters.”
“We are always looking for new ways to surprise our fans and partnering with a strong brand-focused company such as Capcom is a natural fit for us,” said Jill Koch, Vice President of Brand Management and Marketing, Sanrio, Inc. “Hello Kitty and Street Fighter have a dedicated core following around the world and our collaboration brings the legacy of both brands together in a fun and unexpected way.”
Specific details on the co-branded merchandise and retailer availability will be released at a later date.
Street Fighter® was first released in the arcades in 1987. This was followed up in 1991 with the smash hit Street Fighter® II, and as of April 12, 2011, the series as a whole has shipped more than 31 million units on home consoles worldwide. The innovative battle system found in the Street Fighter games helped to establish the fighting game genre for video games.
Both partnerships demonstrate just how diverse and far reaching the Hello Kitty brand spans.
