Hello Kitty movie moves forward with new directors after nearly a decade in development
The animated feature marks Sanrio’s first major Western theatrical adaptation of Hello Kitty and related characters.
The long-planned 'Hello Kitty’ feature film has taken an important step forward, with New Line Cinema and Warner Bros. Pictures Animation formally announcing the project’s creative leadership.
Directing duties will be handled by David Derrick Jr., whose most recent work includes ‘Moana 2′, alongside John Aoshima, who recently co-directed ‘Ultraman: Rising’ for Netflix. The pair replace Leo Matsuda, who had previously been attached to the project. Producing the film are Ramsey Naito and Beau Flynn, with FlynnPictureCo overseeing development and Shelby Thomas serving as the studio executive on the project.
A project shaped by long development
The effort to bring Kitty White—the British-born, girl dressed as a cat created by Yuko Shimizu in 1974—to theaters has been in progress for nearly a decade. Sanrio has pursued a theatrical adaptation since the last decade, with the current script credited to Jeff Chan. That draft builds on earlier versions from Dana Fox, Katie Dippold, and Lindsey Beer, based on an original treatment by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon.
Development was first publicly reported in 2019, when New Line Cinema and FlynnPictureCo confirmed plans for an English-language Hello Kitty feature. The film represents a notable shift for Sanrio, marking the first time the company has licensed Hello Kitty—along with related characters such as Gudetama, My Melody, and Little Twin Stars—for a major Western theatrical production.
Both directors bring extensive experience in animation. Derrick previously worked as a story artist on ‘Encanto,’ ‘Raya and the Last Dragon’, and the original ‘Moana,’ while Aoshima’s credits include ‘Kubo and the Two Strings’ and the television series ‘Gravity Falls.’ Together, they are tasked with translating one of the most recognizable characters in global pop culture into a feature-length animated format designed for theatrical audiences.
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The animated film is currently scheduled for a worldwide theatrical release on July 28, 2028.
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