Hello Kitty is a character created in Japan to sell products to young girls. She was created in 1974 by the Sanrio company and first appeared on a plastic purse. Sales were extrordinary, and soon her image was everywhere. Many other characters followed, such as the Little Twin Stars, My Melody, Tuxedo Sam, and now such characters as Badtz-Maru, Pochacco, Purin and Chococat. Early in the 1980's, Hello Kitty came to the United States, and soon her appeal spread to every other continent. Now the little girls that were her original fans have grown up, and are demanding more adult products and spawning many web sites, and even a usenet group, alt.fan.hello-kitty.
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