Some More Sweet Moments With Hello Kitty

Hello again, fellow kitties! It has been almost two months since I was cuted out by the first three episodes of Sweet Moments With Hello Kitty and declared it to be “The Cutest Cartoon Of 2020” [42] [43]. Despite how I reviewed it positively, I am aware that some of us may prefer any of the previous Hello Kitty cartoons [40], such as Hello Kitty’s Paradise [28]. Throughout August and early September in the second half of 2020, six more animated shorts have been uploaded onto the loveable feline’s official YouTube channel to further expand on the series [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18]. To go alongside with the new episodes is an amazing exhibit of a colourful floral display of Kitty White at Bellagio Conservatory and Botanic Garden in honour of the 60^th anniversary of Sanrio [1] [3] [9] [10] [25] [36]. Speaking of anniversary, I do not doubt that many fellow kitties have enjoyed celebrating her 45^th anniversary last year [30], especially on the 1^st of November [21]. With a fondness of kawaii artwork [41], I shall analyse each innocent premise of the new webisodes of Sweet Moments With Hello Kitty, as well as a bewildering rumour about the identity of the adorable white-furred fashion icon who apparently weighs no more than three apples [21].

Bring on the kawaii! [14]

Previously, we have discussed how the new art style gives the series some individuality and makes it seem refreshing yet faithful to how Hello Kitty has always been known for her childlike innocent with suitable aspects [42] [43]. The colouring is still choppy enough to resemble amateur traditional colouring on paper, but not too choppy or saturated to assure passable art quality. While most of the colouring is quite vibrant, I think there could have been a little more light blue colouring for the water in the dumpling-shaped fishbowl in “Sweet Dreams” [17]. Apart from that, there is a new aspect of the animation that further expands on carefully selected elements in that episode. When Kitty turns off her table lamp and attempts to go to sleep, there is a pale purple filter that consumes the entirety of the shot as a sign of her bedroom being completely dark, yet it remains useful as we can still see think black outlines and coloured aspects standing out from it. Aside from the adorably designed coins in Kitty’s purse from “Small Treat, Big Smile”, I still appreciate the series for providing a fresh new look for Kitty’s life in such a difficult year [27].

The backgrounds may be simplistic and lacking in colour like the art style of the asdfmovie series [31] [32] [33] [34], but at least they help Kitty and the things she interacts with stand out excellently. [15]

As for the purple filter that represents darkness in Sweet Moments With Hello Kitty, it shows Plumbers Don’t Wear Ties how it is done [35]. [17]

Let us discuss the short and simple plots of some of the new batch of webisodes fresh from the oven. It was rather amusing how Kitty was bothered by a bee who was seemingly trying to get a taste of her pie in “Bee Kind” [13]. Get it? “Bee” kind? Because later on during a picnic, she eventually replaces one of the red flowers in the vase with a chunk of pie on a spoon in the name of tolerance. I like how the plot of “Small Treat, Big Smile” consists of one moment of irony and quite an adorable twist that is basically Kitty expressing love with red hearts to finally get the pink ball she wanted from the toy vending machine [16]. “The Bow” would have to be my favourite webisode as I love how the tension of Kitty struggling to decide what to wear built up to a familiar red bow that is made out of two hearts and drawn almost exactly like how it looks in her usual nostalgic design [18]. Even though the other kitties, such as Mimmy White are still absent [19] [20] [22] [24], there can still be some hope of any of them appearing in possibly a second season.

The series continues to follow the “slice of life” genre and provide fairly realistic scenarios, making Kitty seem rather relatable to old and new fans. [13]

Despite the series’ focus on Kitty living a normal and fairly modern life, an amount of realism gets ditched when the solution to a problem is simply thinking happily. [16]

What about the plots of the other webisodes with simplistic but welcoming titles? After seeing the resolution of “Heart Of Gold” [14], I believe I ought to think of lovey-dovey thoughts next time I cannot reach something. Why? A creative solution to a simple problem in the episode is Kitty gathering red hearts and climbing on them after piling them up to finally reach an apple on the apple tree. I thought the moment in “Sweet Dreams” when Kitty’s pet fish can finally go to sleep with a teddy bear charm to snuggle with in the fishbowl was just so precious [17]. The premise of “Made For You” is Kitty trying to play the piano but the stools for each coloured piano would make it difficult for her to play in their own unique ways [15]. The same form of conflict except for disco lights that distract Kitty goes on for a short while until she sees a small toy piano and can play it within her reach without a stool. With more moments that provide child-friendly conflict and adorable solutions, the formula throughout the series still prevails as something for the audience to tune into after the theme tune pleasantly rings.

The formula is providing exceptional audio is still present in the new episodes to go alongside with decent writing. Apart from how the buzzing for the bee in “Bee Kind” is highly convincing [13], there are also suitable non-diegetic jiggles, such as one for Kitty’s walking and a mildly suspenseful melody for when she is on her last coin in “Small Treat, Big Smile” [15] [16], along with a funky beat for the disco lights in “Made For You” [15]. She still does not talk, but her gibberish is still sweet-sounding. [13]

Rumour has it that Hello Kitty is actually not a cat, despite her feline-like features, including her whiskers and pointy ears [8] [21] [37]. This statement can also apply to her family and significant other, except for Charmmy Kitty and Honeycute, who are her pet cats. The astonishing and unbelievable conspiracy theory was spread back in 2014 during the celebration of her 40^th anniversary [4] [8] [12] [37], surprising plenty of fellow kitties. Nonetheless, many folks in clothing shops and such are still convinced that she is a white bobtail cat due to her stage name including the word “kitty” [8] [21]. On the other paw, some of those who somewhat believe in the rumour can simply refer to her as a gijinka, the Japanese term often used to describe the humanization of a character with many animal-like features or a humanized version of objects [26]. Next thing, we could be informed that Keroppi, another Sanrio character who strongly resembles a frog is not actually a frog [23]. Whether Kitty White is truly a cat or not, we will always remember her for her super kawaii vibes, sweet nature and how common she has been in fashion mostly for young girls since the mid-1970s [11] [21].

Whether Hello Kitty is a cat or not, her overall portrayal and development would be far more important in an animated series based on her legacy. She is portrayed as a sweet and innocent wonderer of modern life who efficiently solves small problems [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [18], making her personality suit how she is mostly known as a youthful fashion icon [21]. [15]

We can also at least tell that she is anthropomorphic as she is able to spend money like we do! After all, her legacy began on a vinyl coin purse back in 1974 [5] [7] [21]. [16]

While a more mature audience is feeling the rage of Retsuko whilst watching the third season of Aggretsuko on Netflix [29], plenty of today’s youth and our fully grown fellow kitties are delighted by the innocence of Sweet Moments With Hello Kitty in a way that is as refreshing as eating a freshly picked apple. Do I still think it is the cutest cartoon of 2020? Indeed I do! At some point in 2021, maybe there can be a second season co-starring Mimmy as she is Kitty’s underrated twin sister [24]. Or better yet, a second season can welcome back Dear Daniel for an even sweeter moment [20]. Along with how people who have been recognised for outstanding remind their supporters that their acts of kindness are appreciated in this world and how a more mature nostalgic gem from the golden age of YouTube has made a grand return to help us get into a specific groove whilst following restrictions to fight the coronavirus pandemic [6] [38] [39], watching more honeyed experiences with Kitty White can lighten things up in a dull, dangerous and distressing start of a new decade [21]. Stay sweet, fellow kitties!

Hello Kitty can never be on too many coin purses and such [7]! [18]

But until then, have a goodnight, fellow kitties! [17]

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