The purr-fect star! Hello Kitty gets green light for animated feature film adaptation due out in 2019

By Paul Chavez for MailOnline

Published: 23:17 EST, 7 July 2015 | Updated: 23:31 EST, 7 July 2015

Hello Kitty at age 40 has been given her own film adaptation.

The Japanese anthropomorphic cat character will appear in an animated feature set for release in 2019, according to an article by Deadline.

The white Japanese bobtail cat with a red bow and six symmetrical whiskers will star in the film project with an estimated budget of $160 million to $240 million. 

Scroll down for video 

Film star: Hello Kitty, shown in June in Texas, will star in her own feature film adaptation due out in 2019

Film star: Hello Kitty, shown in June in Texas, will star in her own feature film adaptation due out in 2019

Hello Kitty was created in 1975 by the Sanrio lifestyle company that specializes in the cute sector of Japanese popular culture.

Sanrio created US subsidiary Sanrio Media & Pictures Entertainment last month to expand the company's brand worldwide.

The company's managing director Rehito Hatoyama was named chief executive of the new subsidiary and will oversee the Hello Kitty film project.

Wildly popular: Merchandise featuring Hello Kitty is show in May in a shop window

Wildly popular: Merchandise featuring Hello Kitty is show in May in a shop window

The cute cat will have to overcome not having a mouth in order to make it as a film star.

Sanrio also has been considering other similar film projects for its characters Little Twin Stars and My Melody.

Hello Kitty according to her official character profile was born in the suburbs of London and her full name is Kitty White.

The characters height has been described as five apples tall and her weight as three apples.

Theme park: A new Hello Kitty theme park opened last week in China

Theme park: A new Hello Kitty theme park opened last week in China

Hello Kitty has been portrayed as a friendly and kind girl and has been well received over the decades.

The character early was marketed to young girls with products ranging from dolls to school supplies to backpacks.

Sanrio has since expanded the target market to include teenagers and adults with branded products such as purses, luggage and laptops.

The Japanese icon last year was worth about $7 billion.

New products: Elle Fanning is shown in October 2013 in Los Angeles with Hello Kitty luggage

New products: Elle Fanning is shown in October 2013 in Los Angeles with Hello Kitty luggage

 

Comments (7)

Share what you think

The comments below have not been moderated.

The views expressed in the contents above are those of our users and do not necessarily reflect the views of MailOnline.

Add your comment

By posting your comment you agree to our house rules.

Who is this week's top commenter? Find out now