Who is Rilakkuma? Hello Kitty’s biggest mascot competitor, explained

Sanrio’s Hello Kitty is more than just a beloved Japanese mascot. Ever since Yuko Shimizu created the adorable anthropomorphic cat (and yes, she’s a cat) in 1974, Kitty has been a pop culture phenomenon ever since, consistently churning an annual revenue of approximately $3.1 billion for Sanrio. Over the years, Hello Kitty has been heavily featured in numerous animated endeavors (such as the enjoyably absurd Gundam vs. Hello Kitty), along with merch, vlogs, and even a cozy, Animal Crossing-inspired game. That earns her icon status.