Hollywood’s Hello Kitty movie: Co-directors revealed
The first Hollywood movie about Hello Kitty and other Sanrio characters will be a hybrid of live-action and anime. It was announced that Jennifer Coyle and Leo Matsuda will be its co-directors.
The film is a production by New Line Cinema of Warner Bros. Pictures Entertainment Group in the United States, and FlynnPicture, which is led by producer Beau Flynn. It will be released worldwide as Hello Kitty’s first feature film for theaters. No details about the plot have been revealed. Lindsey Beer is the scriptwriter.
Richard Brener, the president of New Line Cinema, said that they were “extremely lucky to have found in Jennifer and Leo, two directors who not only share a profound connection to the unforgettable characters Shintaro Tsuji and Sanrio have created over the past 40-plus years with Hello Kitty and her friends, but also have the imagination, talent and heart to bring this iconic world to life on the big screen.”
Coyle and Matsuda have worked on many anime movies and TV series for quite a few years, and the movie will be their collab for a first major feature-length movie as directors.
Here’s what Coyle had to say: “this is not only a rare chance to bring a beloved character to life, but also to spread the message of love, friendship and inclusivity that Hello Kitty stands for. The world so needs her brand of joy and happiness.”
Jennifer Coyle has worked on shows like DC Super Hero Girls, Bob’s Burgers, and The Spectacular Spider-Man.
“Growing up in Brazil with a Japanese family, I was surrounded by the whimsy of Hello Kitty and it served as a reminder that it’s okay to be different. Along with Jen, FlynnPictureCo. and New Line, I am delighted by this incredible opportunity to work with one of the most universally beloved characters and expand their relatable Sanrio stories even further.” said Matsuda. 
Leonardo “Leo” Matsuda is known for working as a director on the short Inner Workings. He has also been the story artist for movies like Wreck-It Ralph, Big Hero 6, and Zootopia.
