Not long ago, Nintendo replaced iconic voice actor Charles Martinet as the voice of Mario after 27 years in favour of the fresh-faced Kevin Afghani. Now, Sanrio is making a similar move by saying goodbye to Hello Kitty‘s longtime voice actress.
Megumi Hayashibara, renowned for voicing iconic anime characters like Rei in Neon Genesis Evangelion and Faye in Cowboy Bebop, has provided Hello Kitty’s voice for over three decades. However, as of 1 November, which coincides with Hello Kitty’s official birthday, Hayashibara has announced her departure from the role.
Hayashibara’s journey with Hello Kitty began in 1990 when she auditioned for the role as Sanrio was preparing to open its Sanrio theme park in Tokyo. Despite a few exceptions, she’s been the voice behind Kitty-chan ever since. Sanrio’s decision for this change came as a surprise to Hayashibara, who was informed of their choice by letter.
However, during a subsequent meeting with Sanrio staff, they discussed their vision for the character’s future, focusing on enhancing Hello Kitty’s global appeal, reaching out to Generation Z, and exploring the potential of artificial intelligence. Sanrio felt that with Hello Kitty approaching its 50th anniversary, this juncture would be a suitable time to transition to a new voice for the character. In line with this change, Miina Tominaga and Go Takahashi will also no longer voice Kitty-chan’s twin sister, Mimi, and boyfriend, Daniel, respectively.
Despite this significant change, Hayashibara views it as a positive moment and wishes the character well with her new voice. She likens her feelings to seeing a daughter leave home to get married, with no sadness or regret. For her, the legacy of Kitty-chan will continue, albeit with a new voice behind the beloved character.
This move highlights the ways that artificial intelligence is putting actors as well as voice actors in jeopardy of reducing their opportunity to work. In addition, it shows that, like Mario, Hello Kitty is a character defined by her iconic status and not by her voice.
Fans will just have to wait and see to find out what Hello Kitty will sound like in the future as she enters a new era.
Edwin is a seasoned raconteur with a lifelong passion for video games, comic books, movies, and more. He thrives on captivating stories and immersive world-building, with a soft spot for adorable monsters.
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