The brand's net worth is estimated to be over 120 billion Australian dollars. Nobuko Burnfield is a Sydney-based former animator for Sanrio. She says Hello Kitty's success lies in the "innocence ...

Even as Hello Kitty turned 50 this year, the cultural phenomenon shows no sign of slowing, with a Warner Bros movie in the pipeline and a new theme park due to open next year on China's Hainan island.

With over 50,000 product lines sold in more than 130 countries, the Hello Kitty brand has transcended language and cultural barriers to reach its 50th birthday. But what accounts for the enduring ...