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Hello Kitty’s first ever Hollywood movie (title yet to be announced) will be a hybrid of anime and live action. Two promising names in the North American animation industry, Jennifer Coyle and Leo Matsuda, were announced to be directing the movie.

Hello Kitty’s first Hollywood feature length film, which title is yet to be officially announced, will be produced through a collaboration between New Line Cinema (Warner Brother’s Entertainment Group) and Beau Flynn’s company, FlynnPictureCo..

It was announced that Jennifer Coyle and Leo Matsuda will together be in charge of the direction.
Coyle has been involved in titles such as HBO Max’s animation “Harley Quinn” as a supervisor, and the 6 seasons of “Bob’s Burgers” as a director.
Matsuda, whose career took off at Walt Disney Animations, is known for directing the short “Inner Workings”, which premiered along “Moana” and made to the final selection under Animated Short Film category of the 89th Academy Awards. For both Coyle and Matsuda, this is their first time to direct a major feature length film. They have been chosen from a large pool of candidates, so how Hello Kitty will be developed by them is something worth looking forward to.

Jennifer Coyle:
I’m really happy for this opportunity to work along side Matsuda. 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. I see it as an important mission to spread big smiles through this work, but it’s also a huge honor for me to be able to work with New Line Cinema and FlynnPictureCo..

Leo Matsuda:
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.

New Line Cinema president/chief creative officer:
We are 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.

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