My Melody, Kuromi Stop-Motion series set on Netflix
Netflix is expanding its Japanese animation offerings with “My Melody & Kuromi,” a new stop-motion series featuring the beloved characters of “Hello Kitty” creator Sanrio, debuting worldwide in July.
The series features My Melody, who continues to be loved by a wide range of fans since her debut in 1975, and Kuromi, who debuted in 2005 as My Melody’s self-proclaimed rival. My Melody is an uncomplicated, cheerful girl who cares deeply about her younger brother and enjoys baking cookies with her mother. Kuromi, who may seem like a troublemaker, is actually quite feminine and is in the Top 3 of the 2024 Sanrio Character Rankings.
“Pui Pui Molcar” director Tomoki Misato is helming the project. “I am thrilled that this project is finally being announced in this important year marking the 50th anniversary of My Melody and the 20th anniversary of Kuromi,” said Misato. “This momentous project motivated us all to come together, take on different challenges and push the boundaries with stop motion. I hope everyone will enjoy this exciting story set in our handcrafted Mariland, the thrilling action that pushes the boundaries of stop-motion, and of course the cute and dynamic characters.”
The series marks the first stop-motion animation series from Toruku, founded as part of WIT Studio. Award-winning playwright Shuko Nemoto wrote the script during the pandemic. “It felt rewarding for me as a writer to have My Melody and Kuromi speak the lines I wrote,” Nemoto said. “Due to the pandemic, I couldn’t meet director Misato and the producers in person. But we connected remotely every week and carefully built this together. The project is filled with love for the world of My Melody, loved by people of all ages. I believe everyone, from adults to children, will have favorite scenes and lines.”
The series joins Netflix’s 2025 Japanese lineup alongside Season 3 of “Bullet Train Explosion,” “Last Samurai Standing” and “Alice in Borderland.”
