Sony Wants to Create an Original Character IP to Rival Hello Kitty — and a Stressed-Out Insomniac Bear Is in the Running

Japanese character goods, like Hello Kitty, are popular worldwide for their cute and recognizable designs. Now, Sony is entering the fray. Sony Creative Products (SCP), the division that manages the Sony Group’s character IPs, wants to develop its own characters with universal appeal that can generate 10 billion yen (approx. $62.8 million) in annual sales by 2030.

By Wesley Yin-Poole