10 Weird Sanrio Characters You’ve Probably Never Heard of

Think you know all of Sanrio’s adorable characters? Think again! While Hello Kitty, Cinnamoroll, and My Melody may be the stars of the show, Sanrio has a whole host of weird, weird, and downright weird characters that most fans have never even heard of. From a bunch of eyeless anthropomorphic teeth (salarymen, of course) to a hula-hooping butt fairy, get to know some of the weirdest characters ever created by Japan’s kawaii empire.

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1. The Big Challenge (1978)

Say hello to the “Grand Challenge,” Sanrio’s early commitment to “less is more.” The whole ambience of this crocodile is simplicity itself: a goofy smile that says, “I’m glad to be here.” Although Grand Challenge was created in 1978, it wasn’t until the mobile game Hello Kitty Island Adventure was released 45 years later. before appearing on any Sanrio product. There’s no complicated backstory, no complicated character arc, or why his name sounds like something out of a Charles Dickens novel. He’s just…a stupid alligator.

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2. Hopti Kopti (1988)

Enter Hopty Copty, the happiest helicopter you’ve ever seen. Sanrio thought, “Let’s make traffic cute,” and we did just that. Hopty looks a bit like someone opened MS Paint for the first time and decided to use the polygon and paint bucket tools, but somehow this character is still charming with its simple geometric shapes. Part of the Sanrio sub-brand Fancy Friends series, it was developed for the more “fancy” family, because nothing says “fancy” like a smiling helicopter.

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3. Varaunna (1989)

Warau Onna looks like something kids would doodle in art class: a simple crayon drawing of a girl grinning from ear to ear. Her name translates to “Smiling Woman,” which sounds innocent enough until you dig into her Sanrio profile. Turns out, she’s more than just happy – she’s insanely happy. Her profile describes her as someone who “pops up in front of everyone and starts laughing, ‘Hahahahaha.'” As if that wasn’t strange enough, Varaunna also carries a wand and has the ability to fly.

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4. Pompancita (1989)

Oh, Pompancita. “Pon pon” is the children’s name for stomach, and “hieta” means “cold”. The poor kid was caught in an endless cycle of eating too much cold food like ice cream and popsicles, getting a stomachache, and then doing it again. With his round, shaved head and slightly depressed expression, he has one goal: to win that ice cream bar prize, no matter how much pain he suffers. It’s cute and a little tragic at the same time.

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5. Yoshijo Special (1989)

In 1989, Sanrio did take a little too much freedom with their character creation. Case in point: Geetown Special. Despite the name, there’s nothing particularly “special” about this group of nearly identical black and white crocodiles. They wear T-shirts with the letters “G,” “T,” and “S,” but that’s what makes them unique. The personality is minimal and the flair is even less, it feels like Sanrio just grabbed a template and hit copy and paste. If you’re wondering what makes them different from each other – or from any other character – you’re not alone.

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6. Kurosuke(1999)

Now, Heysuke’s weirdness reaches a whole new level. He’s a laughing, genderless, naked baby with no idea where he comes from – and honestly, we can’t figure it out. According to his official Sanrio profile, his hometown is… right next to you. Creepy? He’s a mystery wrapped in a diaper-less mystery, and somehow Sanrio made him work.

7. Beet(2011)

If you want to be judged by robotic insects, meet the Beetroids, a group of friendly neighborhood beetle-robot hybrids. According to Sanrio’s profile, the Beetroid character’s dream is to create a world where humans and insects live in harmony. They can understand human language, but they’d rather just watch you go about your day than form a convoy. Their favorite pastime? looking at you. Viewed from a distance. Yes, they’re people watchers – probably silently judging your life choices while looking cool and futuristic.

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8. Shri Lapper(2013)

Developed in partnership with KAYAC Inc., the Shirirapper is undoubtedly one of Sanrio’s craziest creations. Shirirapper, “shiri” meaning “butt,” originally appeared in a (now unavailable) click-and-collect mobile game. The lustful fairies who make up the gang look like ordinary objects, such as gardening products, smartphones and light bulbs, and have a curve running down their bodies to suggest a butt crack. The main characters include the shy butt peach Hamiketsu, the nervous-faced butt bell pepper Piman-shiri, and the expressionless butt-faced European pear Yonashi-beibe. If you haven’t wondered about this yet, how do you feel about it? Their main job is hula hooping and rapping to help you with…digestive issues.

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9. Hagururuman Style(2015)

When it comes to the digestive tract, this weird part starts at the beginning—your mouth. Hagurumanstyle probably won’t win any beauty contests because their eyeless appearance is a bit disturbing and their names are a bit of a mouthful (pun intended). Known for their tooth-related puns in Japanese, these little guys live in your mouth and their job isn’t dental, it’s spiritual. When you gnash your teeth from stress, these little guys show up to provide emotional support from the comfort of their jaws. Yes, they are indeed here to help you with your daily chores.

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10. Puri Puri Unpies (2023)

Meet Puripuri Unpies, the latest addition to Sanrio’s parade of weirdos. They are poop-shaped fairies (yes, poop) that come in different textures and wear cute little ribbons. While they haven’t been included in the official character roster yet, they are ranked third on Sanrio’s character roster Next kawaii project 2023. Oh, and they all idolize Hello Kitty. Sanrio really went there, and to be honest, we’re not mad about it.

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