The Cutest Dog Characters In Sanrio/Hello Kitty

When it comes to character designs, Sanrio takes inspiration from a variety of sources, chief among them being real-life animals. As dogs are so popular, there are naturally lots of dog Sanrio characters, and some of them are the company’s most popular and successful.

Though these Sanrio characters are all inspired by dogs, they have different designs and characteristics that set them apart, whether it’s because of the specific breed they’re based on or an aspect of their personality. These are the best canine companions that Sanrio has created over the years.

10

Robow@n

Debuted In 2000

If you were a kid in the early 2000s, you probably had a toy robot dog, which is what Robow@n’s design is evoking. In the Sanrio universe, it was created by Hyper Robo Studio and named after the fact it barked ‘wan’ when it was first turned on.

Robow@n can mimic anything an actual dog can do, including running and sleeping, and you can even see how it’s feeling via the color of the switch on its chest. It’s one of the most unique dog designs across Sanrio’s collection of characters and deserves some more fame like Cinnamoroll and Pompompurin.

9

B. Hills Kid

Debuted In 1986

B. Hills Kid (short for Beverly Hills Kid), is actually called Philip Allen and is a rich kid from Beverly Hills. According to his official Sanrio profile, his father is a famous director and his mother is a successful actor, but that sadly means he’s often on his own.

His simple black and white design is elevated by his matching yellow rain hat and raincoat, making him look positively adorable. He’s not as well-known as other Sanrio dogs, especially as he already looks similar to the popular Pochacco, but he’s still one of the best Sanrio dog designs.

8

Spottie Dottie

Debuted In 1990

Spottie Dottie is very recognisable as a dalmatian thanks to her black spots, which are also represented in her name. Her official Sanrio profile describes her as fashionable and trendy, which is clear to see because of the pink bow hairband she always wears and the various dresses she dons in her official artwork.

She’s also often seen with her best friend Sassy the cat, who wears a matching bow. Who says cats and dogs can’t be friends? Though she was popular when she debuted in 1990, she doesn’t appear in the official popularity ranks now. Her design is very typical of ‘90s and ‘00s girls fashion, so it may just be that she’s fallen out of style.

7

Peter Davis

Debuted In 1978

Peter Davis is a dapper little fellow. He was born in England and has a gentlemanly nature, with his motto, according to his Sanrio profile, to always be “clean” and “noble”. His character design does a great job of showcasing his personality, as he wears a cute red bowtie and is either carrying a bouquet of flowers or a cup of tea.

Despite debuting in 1978, Peter Davis unfortunately hasn’t become very popular. He has very little merchandise, even though he has such a cute design, so it would be great to see Sanrio use him more.

6

Mimicmike

Debuted In 1987

Mimicmike is based on the English bull terrier breed of dog. Sanrio did a great job of capturing the real-life dog’s cuteness while still making the design unique. He has white fur, one black ear, and a black patch on one of his eyes.

He shares his birthday with American novelist Hemingway, and lives in LA, which is a little odd since he’s based on an English dog breed, but perhaps Sanrio was inspired by the famous Spud MacKenzie bull terrier from the ‘80s and decided to make its own.

5

Kashiwankomochi

Debuted In 2013

Kashiwankomochi wasn’t always a dog. It was originally a piece of mochi that went unsold in its store, and transformed into a dog to entice people to take it home. So, it’s essentially a piece of sentient mochi that looks and acts like a dog. Close enough.

Its design reflects its gentle personality and its origins as kashiwa mochi, with little gray ears and a green leaf on the right-hand side of its head. It’s a little weird that it still wants to be eaten after transforming into a dog, but other than that, it’s a super cute character.

4

Chibimaru

Debuted In 2002

Chibimaru is a mini shiba inu puppy with light brown fur and white paws, and a constant smiley expression that makes him look very excitable. His official Sanrio character profile makes him sound like a real-life puppy, as he loves bones and toys, but hates the sound of thunder and getting injections.

He’s also described as being mischievous, so he’s likely guilty of chewing up shoes and stealing socks here and there. His design completely captures the adorableness of puppies, and he definitely deserves some more recognition.

3

Pochacco

Debuted In 1989

The adorable dog Pochacco has a simple black and white design with a pop of color for his clothes. His favorite food is banana ice cream, and the official Sanrio character description says he’s the same size as four cups of it.

Don’t give your real-life dog ice-cream, though!

Pochacco is often seen playing sports and wearing sporty clothes in official artwork, and his athletic personality is also shown in Hello Kitty Island Adventure. He came second in the official 2024 popularity poll, so he’s one popular pooch.

2

Pompompurin

Debuted In 1996

Pompompurin is a carefree golden retriever who wears a brown beret. Both his design and his name reference the popular Japanese dessert purin, which is a type of custard pudding. According to the Sanrio website, his favorite words are “going out” and his least favorites are “staying home alone”, so you could say he’s an extrovert.

Weirdly, Pompompurin’s hobby is collecting shoes, despite him never wearing any — maybe he just likes to look at them instead? He’s up there with Sanrio’s most popular dogs, and often comes in second or third place in the popularity polls.

1

Cinnamoroll

Debuted In 2001

Though sometimes mistaken for a bunny, Cinnamoroll is a puppy with bright blue eyes, white fur, pink cheeks, and a tail that curls like a cinnamon roll, hence his name. He uses his large, bunny-like ears to fly and now lives in Cafe Cinnamon, as he was found by its owner.

Cinnamoroll dominates the official Sanrio popularity polls, coming in first place for many years now. There’s no shortage of Cinnamoroll merchandise, either, so you’ll always find something with him on it if you’re a fan.