Stop-Motion Sanrio Series Coming to Netflix

Netflix has revealed the stop-motion series My Melody & Kuromi, featuring the beloved titular Sanrio characters, which will debut in July.

Celebrating the 50th anniversary of My Melody and the 20th anniversary of Kuromi, the series brings viewers on an adventure in Mariland, the characters’ whimsical home.

My Melody, who debuted in 1975, is a cheerful girl who cares deeply for her younger brother and enjoys baking cookies with her mother. Kuromi, who launched in 2005 as My Melody’s self-proclaimed rival, seems like a troublemaker but is also quite feminine. She is one of Sanrio’s most popular characters, having ranked in the top three in 2024.

The new series is directed by Tomoki Misato (Pui Pui Molcar) and written by Shuko Nemoto. It is produced by Toruku, established as part of WIT Studio, and marks the first stop-motion animation series from the studio.

“I’m thrilled that this project is finally announced in this important year marking the 50th anniversary of My Melody and the 20th anniversary of Kuromi!” Misato said. “This momentous project motivated all of us to come together, take on various challenges and push the envelope with stop-motion. I hope everyone will enjoy this exciting story set in our handcrafted Mariland, the thrilling action that pushes the limits of stop-motion and, of course, the cute and dynamic characters.”

“Having My Melody and Kuromi speak lines I wrote felt like a reward for me as a writer,” Nemoto commented. “Because of the pandemic, I couldn’t meet with director Misato or the producers in person, but we connected remotely each week, carefully building this together. The project is filled with love for the world of My Melody, beloved by people of all ages. I believe everyone, from adults to children, will have favorite scenes and lines.”