Sanrio is home to some of the cutest characters that everyone needs to know. Originally founded in 1960, the Sanrio corporation has been creating countless adorable creations that have won the hearts of fans worldwide. Hello Kitty in particular has become an international icon, leading to many collaborations with other anime properties, including Junji Ito, to bring her brand of cuteness to the most unlikely places.

However, there's been a wide variety of characters that have become just as popular as Hello Kitty over the years. Sanrio has seen a major resurgence in popularity in the last ten years or so, and many fan-favorites are part of the huge line-up of "Friends" that have been added to the roster over the years. They come in a wide range of different personalities and designs to appeal to any fan, and here are ten of the absolute cutest that everyone should know.

10 Chococat

Original Debut: 1996

Chococat is another feline companion for the Hello Kitty community. However, unlike his friend, he's a black cat with a chocolate-colored nose. He also has a pair of whiskers that keep him up-to-date on the latest news. Still, the two share some commonalities in design, with both having no mouth and needing to communicate through the expressions in their eyes. His design is so simple and appealing to fans that it's made him one of Sanrio's most popular characters, even if he doesn't quite reach the heights of some of his fellow "Friends."

Some of the most well-known pieces of media featuring Chococat include the recently released video game Hello Kitty Island Adventure. He's also been featured in a webseries called Hello Kitty and Friends: Super Cute Adventures. While Chococat may not be as well-known today as he was back in the 2000s, he's still a fan-favorite for those that grew up with him, making him one of the best characters in the Hello Kitty lineup.

9 Keroppi

Original Debut: 1988

Named after the Japanese word for a frog croak, this adorable creation from Sanrio has become one of the corporation's most iconic since his debut in the late 1980s. He's depicted with large eyes and a red-and-white striped shirt. He's usually shown waving to fans with a cute smile. This amphibious character has wowed fans for decades now with his simplistic yet lovable design. Frogs are arguably some of the cutest animals, so creating one with the signature Sanrio design was always going to be a winner for the company.

What's even more amazing though is how much Keroppi's popularity led to him getting his own world outside of Hello Kitty. Just one year after his debut, a whole anime series featuring Keroppi and a cast of cute frog friends called Keroppi and Friends premiered. This made him one of the most recognizable Hello Kitty friends for decades as he got more development than most Hello Kitty characters. Today, he's still one of Sanrio's most successful creations as he continues to delight fans with his signature smile.

8 Tuxedo Sam

Original Debut: 1979

As the final original Sanrio character of the 1970s, Tuxedo Sam has sadly faded from the public eye as years have gone by. He still has his fans who keep him among the cast of Hello Kitty characters, but he just doesn't have the same appeal as some of the creations that came before him. This is a real shame because Tuxedo Sam is actually a delightful little character. He's just as adorable as his friends, while also having a unique visual design.

For starters, the decision to name a penguin after a tuxedo is a stroke of genius given how often penguins are compared to the suit. Then, by giving him an adorable sailor hat and bow tie, it made him one of the more interesting characters on the roster. He would later appear in future series from Sanrio, including Hello Kitty Theater, but he never generated as much popularity as others. This has made him incredibly underrated, and he should absolutely never be forgotten.

7 Gudetama

Original Debut: 2013

As one of the more recent Sanrio creations, it's amazing to see just how much Gudetama has blown up in popularity. This egg yolk with a tendency to be lazy has made him become a widespread phenomenon among fans. Perhaps it's because of his simple design, which is just a yellow blob with a sleepy face sitting in various egg-themed things, but there's no denying that the simplicity paid off. Gudetama has become just as popular as Hello Kitty since his debut, with his signature face found everywhere.

In fact, the character has become so popular that an anime was released nearly ten years after his debut. Gudetama: An Egg-Cellent Adventure was a huge hit for Netflix as the story centered on Gudetama and his sibling seeking out their mother.

The style of the show made Gudetama's simple character trait ripe for comedic potential. Today, Gudetama continues to be just as popular as he was back in the 2010s, and his fame likely won't disappear anytime soon.

6 Pompompurin

Original Debut: 1996

Premiering in the same year as Chococat, Sanrio's take on a dog has undeniably resulted in one of their most successful creations. Pompompurin is a lovable pudgy golden retriever with a stylish brown beret. Just like Keroppi, he has his own set of friends that allow him to have fun outside of get-togethers with Hello Kitty. However, it's the design of Pompompurin himself that has made him a major success for Sanrio.

Today, Pompompurin continues to be one of fans' top favorite characters among the Sanrio roster. However, he's most famous in Japan with the country's culture welcoming him with open arms because of his innocent and joyful expression. There have been countless real-world collaborations with the character, including cafés only available in Japan. Pompompurin is an adorable icon that will continue to delight fans worldwide for years to come.

5 Retsuko

Original Debut: 2015

The popularity of Retsuko (originally known as Aggressive Retsuko) has taken on a life of its own since she debuted two years after Gudetama. This red panda with a ion for death metal to express her frustrations struck a chord with older Sanrio fans for how much she related to their own daily workplace struggles. What's even better is how different the cute and rage versions of the characters stand out from one another. The rageful Retsuko in particular has become iconic for its intense features.

What really made Retsuko take off with fans though was the premiere of her official anime spin-off on Netflix in 2018. The series was a major success, spawning five seasons that, for the most part, were critically acclaimed. In fact, there have been requests for Aggretsuko to continue because of how well Retsuko and her world are handled. While Sanrio's line of characters tends to appeal to all ages, Retsuko is the perfect character for older fans.

4 Hello Kitty

Original Debut: 1974

While not Sanrio's first character, Hello Kitty undeniably made a massive impact when she first appeared in the 1970s. Her trademark white fur and red bow, originally designed by Yuko Shimizu, made her one of the most popular characters to ever come from Japan. In fact, she became so popular that she would eventually become the face of the Sanrio company. The world still can't get enough of Hello Kitty, and her cultural influence continues to show itself to this day.

No matter what Sanrio releases nowadays, Hello Kitty usually appears to her friends on adventures. Her name is usually given priority with the namesake "Hello Kitty and Friends" being the go-to title for anything featuring the Sanrio mascot. Plus, with the release of Hello Kitty Island Adventure earlier this year, it's clear that her popularity has not waned after over 50 years. Hello Kitty is the defining Sanrio character, and even if someone is unfamiliar with her friends, they've likely heard of her in some way.

3 Kuromi

Original Debut: 2005

Giving My Melody a rival that would end up just as popular as her was likely a difficult task when the Sanrio team decided to come up with a new character. However, when Kuromi first appeared in the anime Onegai My Melody, she blew fans away with just how lovable she was. She's the opposite of My Melody in almost every way. She has a ion for the darker side of things while also being a trickster, wearing a jester hat complete with a pink skull.

This character has become ultimately synonymous with My Melody as the years have gone by. She managed to put My Melody in new situations that the latter might not have done years ago, such as crystal ball readings or other magical activities. However, what makes Kuromi so special is her personality. She's so snide that fans can't help but love her. Now, with her and My Melody preparing to star in a new anime together, it's clear that she continues to appeal to fans after 20 years.

2 Cinnamoroll

Original Debut: 2001

While Hello Kitty ultimately holds the top spot for Sanrio's most iconic character, Cinnamoroll gave her a serious run for her money when he first debuted. This small white dog with massive ears that allows him to fly won the hearts of fans. His simple yet appealing design by Miyuki Okumura, who recently left Sanrio, made him incredibly popular, with countless merchandise centered around him and his friends continuing to be made to this day. Plus, his popularity even led to a massive multimedia franchise.

There have been films, anime, manga and even a novel about Cinnamoroll in the nearly 25 years since his creation, and it's clear that the love for him won't die down anytime soon. What's even more interesting is that there have been some Sanrio fans that believe Cinnamoroll has beaten Hello Kitty as the most popular character. It's tough to tell since Sanrio still features Hello Kitty as the main face of the franchise. However, with Cinnamoroll winning multiple times in the Sanrio Popularity Poll according to Crunchyroll, it's certainly a close call.

1 My Melody

Original Debut: 1975

Capping things off is a character that likely needs no introduction because of how iconic she has become since she first appeared 50 years ago. My Melody is a white rabbit wearing a hood around her ears, which is sometimes pink or red. She's incredibly cutesy with a love for most things that people associate with femininity. However, while the character was originally created for young girls, My Melody has since taken on a life of her own as a major Sanrio character.

While Hello Kitty ultimately beats My Melody as the most popular character from Sanrio, My Melody still dominates as one of the company's most well-known creations. She's been featured in popular culture around the world, particularly in Japan. She makes appearances in shows, video games, real world collaborations and more. While it's clear that Hello Kitty will always be the standout face of the company, My Melody is undeniably the cutest Sanrio character among a wide cast of faces that every fan needs to know.

Source: Crunchyroll