Sanrio fans, this one’s for you. My Melody & Kuromi, a brand-new stop-motion animated series, premieres exclusively on Netflix on July 24, and it’s the first time the beloved characters have been brought to life in this handcrafted style. With 12 episodes at 13 minutes each, the series promises big heart in small bites—perfect for fans of stop-motion storytelling and Hello Kitty’s extended universe.
This original series brings together two of Sanrio’s most adored characters. My Melody, ever the upbeat, independent girl, runs a bustling cake shop in Mariland with help from her friends Flat and Piano. Across the street, her rival Kuromi—a self-proclaimed troublemaker with a surprisingly girly side—struggles to draw customers into her Japanese sweets shop. But when My Melody discovers a pink heart deep in the forest, strange things begin to happen, leading to a series of events that escalate into a crisis threatening all of Mariland.
The pair prepare to face off in a high-stakes sweets-making contest, judged by the world-famous pastry chef Pistachio. But the real challenge goes beyond cakes and competition: My Melody and Kuromi must learn to work together to save their home and protect their friends.
The newly released trailer gives fans a first look at the expressive stop-motion puppetry, the vibrant world of Mariland, and a lineup of original characters created just for this series. The visuals are detailed and warm, reflecting the work of TORUKU from WIT Studio, under the direction of Tomoki Misato (Pui Pui Molcar), with a script by Shuko Nemoto (Rilakkuma and Kaoru).
Adding even more star power, K-pop sensation LE SSERAFIM performs the theme song, “Kawaii (Prod. Gen Hoshino)”, featured in the trailer. This marks the group’s first collaboration with celebrated Japanese artist Gen Hoshino, who produced, composed, arranged, and wrote the song. It’s also included in their upcoming 4th Japanese single “DIFFERENT”.
The group—KIM CHAEWON, SAKURA, HUH YUNJIN, KAZUHA, and HONG EUNCHAE—are all longtime Sanrio fans. CHAEWON, often compared to My Melody by fans, said, “We really love My Melody and Kuromi, so we were thrilled to be chosen to sing the theme song.” SAKURA, known for her love of Kuromi, added, “This song embodies the theme ‘cuteness is strength.’” YUNJIN co-wrote the English lyrics with Hoshino, while KAZUHA expressed her joy in finally working with him, and EUNCHAE called the series “captivating” with “very rich and entertaining” character expressions.
The release is timed to celebrate two major milestones: 50 years of My Melody (who debuted in 1975) and 20 years of Kuromi (who made her first appearance in 2005). Both characters have become global favorites across generations, and this new series highlights their contrasting personalities—and unexpected friendship—with sweetness, humour, and heart.
Whether you’re here for the nostalgia, the stop-motion artistry, or the cake-fueled drama, My Melody & Kuromi is a playful and heartfelt celebration of Sanrio’s iconic characters and their enduring charm.
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