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Ready, set… woomy! Sanrio new character collaboration poll starts, featuring Splatoon 2 and more

Katy Kelly May 10, 2018
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Hello Kitty’s home company is running its yearly poll to decide which out-of-company character will get their own event at the Puroland theme park.

Who’s your favorite Sanrio character? Hello Kitty herself is a safe bet: she has a timeless design that’s easy to plaster on everything from toys to trains. Maybe you’re a Gudetama type, because who wouldn’t climb out of bed to save his mom’s life? Personally, I like both pudding AND dogs, so Pom Pom Purin is the winner for me.

One of the big pulls of Sanrio in recent years is their canny eye for collaboration opportunities. Remember the super-cute My Melody café, where she teamed up with Sailor Moon and pals? ? How about the time they drew the Fullmetal Alchemist cast in their signature style? Kitty even donned Wonder Woman’s tiara not too long ago.

Yes, Sanrio is the king (queen?) of collabs – but who do the fans want them to team up with next? Sanrio is asking the fans directly in their latest character poll, starting from May 10th and running until June 11th. The candidates feature all your faves from Sanrio and a host of cameo candidates, from the super-popular to the charmingly niche.

Let’s look at our contenders, shall we?

▼ Left to right: How to Keep a Mummy, Panpaka Pants, Koeda-chan, Suzy’s Zoo

Pom Pom Purin learns How to keep a Mummy (a cute critter manga turned anime), but maybe you’d rather he hang out with pantied pig mascot Panpaka Pants. Little Twin Stars Kiki and Lala are paired with Takara Tomy doll Koeda-chan, while My Melody favors American import Suzy’s Zoo.

▼ Battle Cats, Splatoon 2, Aoi Shouta, The Seven Deadly Sins

Nyanko from mobile game Battle Cats wields a Gudetama in their collab, though Meliodas from hit manga/anime The Seven Deadly Sins just ended up with egg on his face. Kitty appears in her stylish Splatoon 2 studs with her lady inkling pal, or The Little Twin Stars can join forces with anime voice actor Aoi Shouta.

▼ Bam&Boo, Namba Wan, Gokuuma-kun, Ecomado-kun

Pom Pom Purin has a potential playdate with Bam and Boo from Foods Market Satake. Kitty could also form cliques with the Namba Walk underground mall’s dog mascot Namba Wan, Nikkan Sports Newspaper’s horse boy mascot Gokuuma-kun, or most bafflingly the eco-friendly window mascot from Nichibei, Ecomado-kun.

▼ Catty-chan, Peko-chan, Maru the Shiba Inu, Shuri-kun

Kitty just keeps up the cameos: Catty-chan, a mascot from pet retailer Doggyman; Milky mascot Peko-chan, who always has her tongue poking out; and Shuri-kun, the handyman dalmatian from e-smile. Pom Pom Purin courts another famous puppy for friendship: internet star Maru.

▼ Pixy-kun, Kakuo and Joe O’ Silk, Koguma, Kumashacho

Rion’s kid-targeted mascot Pixy-kun really lucks out by scoring both Kitty and Purin in his collaboration! Pom Pom Purin has royal mascot buddies Kokuo and Joe O’ Silk from the Kokumin drug store. Kitty shows off her dancing with Bunmeido Castella’s Koguma troupe, or if you’d rather she just stick to one bear there’s Kumagai Gumi’s Kumashacho.

▼ Misakigyu, Bunbun, Kitappy, Kawasaki Norfin, Milhee

If you’re a Kobe beef otaku, you can vote for Kitty’s alliance with Miyasakigyu. Fans of bees (and newspapers?) can opt for Oita Godo Shimbun’s Bunbun. I like to think all of Kyushu will vote for her combo with Fukuoka’s funny little bus mascot, Kitappy… But maybe the people of Kawasaki will win out by voting their own bus mascot, Kawasaki Norfin. Sadly, I don’t think the people of Nasushiobara City have much of a chance at winning, even if their cow mascot Milhee is cute as a creampuff.

Okay, but now that you’ve seen the competition…It’s gotta be Splatoon 2, right?!

『スプラトゥーン2』とハローキティがコラボ!!　“サンリオキャラクター大賞コラボ部門”、2018年5月10日より投票スタート！ https://t.co/6z9nphKtTk pic.twitter.com/lWDR6E5TO3

— ファミ通.com (@famitsu) May 6, 2018

The winner of the collaboration contest gets to be celebrated in Sanrio’s own cute Tokyo character theme park, Puroland. When they’re not running zombie specials or reading gay erotica, Puroland is dedicated to providing the bubbliest character-packed experience in Japan. Whoever wins the poll will get that sparkly special treatment in their very own event!

▼ Just imagine how fun this aesthetic would be in an actual theme park.

I for one definitely want to see Puroland splattered in neon paint and blasting the latest in unintelligible ocean jams. If you’re a contrarian and would rather ensure Kitappy’s Puroland Bus Extravaganza, make sure to check the site when it goes live on May 10 and vote, vote, vote!

Oh, and while you’re waiting, you can always vote in the regular old character popularity poll here.

Source: Famitsu via Esuteru, Sanrio
Images: Sanrio