Summary
When you think of Sanrio, you probably think ofHello Kitty. However, the iconic feline mascot has been joined by a supporting cast of well-loved characters in the half a century since she was first introduced, and two of Hello Kitty’s most popular sidekicks are getting newFunko Popsto celebrate their anniversaries.
First looks at new Funko Pops modeled after Kuromi and My Melody have been shared online, hopefully ahead of them being available to buy or pre-order later this week. Kuromi is arguably the second most popular Sanrio character after Hello Kitty, and although it might look like she’s only getting one Funko Pop to celebrate turning 20, she’s technically getting two.
That’s becauseKuromi’s next Pop will have a chase variant.Funko Pop Newshas shared images of both the regular version of the Kuromi figure and its chase version. Both versions have Kuromi in royal attire, fitting for the occasion, with a fascinator crown perched on her head. The regular version is holding a staff, but the absence of the accessory is far from the only difference when it comes to the variant.
Kuromi And My Melody Are Getting Some Anniversary Funko Pops
Kuromi’s Will Have A Chase Variant That Won’t Be Easy To Come By
The biggest difference with the chase version is that it’s sitting down. The figure is also winking, and instead of holding a staff in one hand, Kuromi is clutching what I’m assuming is a tiny version of her sidekick, Baku, on her lap. Chase variants are rarer versions of select Pops, but there’s no way of guaranteeing you’ll get one.Kuromi’s anniversary Pop will be exclusive to the Funko store, meaning all you can do is place your order and hope you’re one of the lucky few who get a chase.
My Melody is celebrating an even bigger anniversary in 2025. Sanrio’s rabbit is turning 50, having been introduced as Hello Kitty’s best friend the year after the company’s leading cat was revealed for the first time. WhileMy Melody’s celebratory Funko Pop won’t have a chase variant, it is one of the more unique Sanrio figures we have seen to date, and there have been a few of them.
Dubbedthe Heart My Melody Popdue to its design, the rabbit is surrounded by two pink ribbons that meet behind her head to effectively frame the character in a heart shape. The ribbons start on a tiny pink plinth on which the Pop is standing which has a yellow bow on the front.My Melody’s new figure will be an Amazon exclusive.
It’s unclear when exactly the Pops will be dropping, but it seems likely they’ll be available to pre-order, at the very least, some time this week. If it’s a pre-order situation ahead of a release later this year, my guess is the figures will be with you around the timeKuromi and My Melody’s stop motion buddy showstarts streaming on Netflix this July.
