Dear Daniel isn’t just any cute personality—he’s the one who makes Hello Kitty’s world even more special! With his signature spiky hair, cool British style, and passion for dancing, he adds that extra spark to Hello Kitty’s life and the entire Sanrio family. While Hello Kitty often takes the spotlight, Dear Daniel shines in his own way, bringing his unique charm. So, if you haven’t met him yet, now’s the perfect time to discover the magic that Dear Daniel brings!
- Japanese name: ディアダニエル (Pronounced Dia-danieru)
- Full name: Daniel Starr (ダニエル・スター)
- Birthday: May 3
- Place of birth: London, England
- Gender: Male
- Species: Cat (Japanese Bobtail)
- Favorite food: Cheesecake and yogurt
- Hobbies: Taking photos of animals
- Dream: To be a photographer or a celebrity
WHO IS DEAR DANIEL?
Imagine a charming white cat with spiky bangs that are hard to miss—that’s Dear Daniel! Inspired by a cute bobtail cat, Dear Daniel is a personification of a cat created by Sanrio. His full name is Daniel Starr, but you can simply call him Daniel. This cheerful kitty-like cutie has a soft, sentimental side. He’s the kind who might tear up during a sad movie or feel overjoyed just by seeing his friends smile.
Daniel loves taking pictures of nature and animals, and he dreams of becoming a photographer one day. Besides photography, Daniel is also interested in music and dancing. He’s good at playing the piano and he’s an excellent ballet dancer—so much so that he even had a dancing stint in New York!
THE MEANING OF DEAR DANIEL
Did you know that Dear Daniel got his name from a character in a story? The name “Daniel” comes from the main character in a Hollywood film called “Melody of Love.” It’s a sweet name that fits the Sanrio cutie perfectly because just like the character in the book, Dear Daniel is kind, thoughtful, and always there for his friends. Plus, adding “Dear” to his name makes it sound extra special because he’s someone Hello Kitty really cares about!
WHEN IS DEAR DANIEL’S BIRTHDAY?
Dear Daniel was born in London on May 3 (making him a Taurus), and it’s a day filled with fun and celebration! He often has special parties at Sanrio Puroland, a theme park in Japan filled with everything Sanrio. There are limited-edition Dear Daniel merchandise and even a Birthday Live performance! It’s a perfect time for everyone to come together and enjoy the joy that Dear Daniel brings into our lives.
WHEN WAS DEAR DANIEL CREATED?
In 1993, Dear Daniel was introduced as a baby in the Baby Kitty series, giving fans a peek into Hello Kitty’s early days. But it wasn’t until 1999 that he appeared as a grown-up and became Hello Kitty’s boyfriend, making the year Daniel’s official debut year.
So, how did Dear Daniel come to be? Well, in the early 1990s, popular Japanese artist Namie Amuro announced to the public that she had a boyfriend, which became hot news. This inspired Yuko Yamaguchi, the Sanrio artist who created Hello Kitty, to think that Kitty might become even more popular if she had a boyfriend too. And so, Daniel was created as Kitty White’s special friend, and he’s been charming everyone ever since!
HOW TALL IS DEAR DANIEL?
Sanrio has a knack for measuring their characters by fruit! According to this Japanese company, Daniel Starr is as tall as four melons stacked on top of each other. In illustrations, you’ll notice he’s just a bit taller than Hello Kitty. Want to learn how tall she is? Check out our complete guide to Hello Kitty!
HOW TO DRAW DEAR DANIEL
Drawing Dear Daniel is so much fun, and it’s even made easy with video tutorials like the one above. Start by grabbing your paper and pencils, and get ready to create his cool look. The video will guide you step by step, showing you how to sketch his round face, spiky bangs, and cute little ears. Pay close attention to how his eyes and nose are drawn to capture his sweet expression. The tutorial will also help you add the finishing touches, like his outfit and the details that make Dear Daniel so unique!
MEET DEAR DANIEL’S DAD
Daniel grew up in a family of four that had a strong influence on his life and interests. His dad is a photographer and traveled frequently for work, which sparked Dear Daniel’s interest in photography. While details about his mother and younger brother remain a mystery, it’s clear that Dear Daniel’s dad played a big role in shaping who Daniel is today.
WHAT IS DEAR DANIEL KNOWN FOR?
Everyone knows Dear Daniel as Hello Kitty’s boyfriend! They’ve been friends since they were kittens, and he even gave her a pet hamster as a gift! He has traveled all over the world, including Africa, and explored exciting places, but he came back home to be with Hello Kitty from New York. Though Daniel has made a name for himself, he’s still Kitty’s perfect match, the one who makes her smile the most!
WHO DOES DEAR DANIEL HAVE A CRUSH ON?
Well, it should come as no surprise that this Sanrio cutie has a big crush on his girlfriend, Hello Kitty! He thinks she’s the sweetest and cutest girl ever. Daniel loves spending time with Kitty, and they always have the best adventures together. He’s totally head over heels for Hello Kitty!
ARE HELLO KITTY AND DEAR DANIEL MARRIED?
No, Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel aren’t married. While they’ve had lots of fun adventures together and are the cutest couple, they haven’t tied the knot. You may have seen the two kitties dressed in wedding outfits, but that may be due to the couple being a popular wedding and bridal fair theme.
But, there’s a story about a wedding proposal! In 2013, during Sanrio’s yearly popularity contest (which you can learn more about in our Sanrio Character Ranking Guide), Daniel promised that he would propose to Hello Kitty if he placed in the top 10. Too bad he didn’t make it into the top 10, so the proposal didn’t happen and there’s still no Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel wedding for fans to look forward to.
HOW LONG HAVE HELLO KITTY AND DEAR DANIEL BEEN TOGETHER?
Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel have known each other for a long time, and their friendship has grown into something really special. They officially became a couple in 1999, and they’ve been together for more than 20 years. Despite the long distance, they’re still the best of friends and the cutest couple ever.
WHERE TO WATCH DEAR DANIEL
You can watch Dear Daniel in various Sanrio anime and videos, including “The Adventures of Hello Kitty & Friends.” In the second episode of this series, “Our New Friend Dear Daniel,” Daniel makes his big entrance, and you get to see his sweet personality shine as he bonds with Hello Kitty and her friends. Additionally, Sanrio sometimes shares fun videos featuring Dear Daniel on their official social media platforms.
LET’S PLAY WITH DEAR DANIEL!
Dear Daniel has appeared in several video games, adding his charm to the Hello Kitty universe. In “Dear Daniel no Sweet Adventure: Kitty-Chan o Sagashite,” he goes on a quest to find Hello Kitty. He also joins the fun in “Hello Kitty: Birthday Adventures” and “Hello Kitty Island Adventures,” where players explore, celebrate, and complete quests together. Even on Roblox, fans can interact with Dear Daniel in various user-generated experiences, making him a cute part of the gaming world.
DANCE WITH DEAR DANIEL!
Whether it’s a lively tune or a slow, romantic melody, Dear Daniel loves moving to the rhythm of music. That’s why you can often see him busting some moves at Harmonyland and Sanrio Puroland! He’s regularly seen dancing with fellow Sanrio dancers, like Pekkle and Usahana.
Besides that, there’s even a dancing game featuring Daniel. It’s called the “Dance Dance Revolution: Dear Daniel” (DDR Dear Daniel for short) from Bemani Pocket, a handheld video game console. This special edition game brings the rhythm right to the gamers’ fingertips!
DEAR DANIEL AS A MUSIC ARTIST
Dear Daniel isn’t just a smooth dancer, he’s also a talented music artist! His music journey began with a special CD release of his song “White Angel” at Sanrio Puroland. Later, he teamed up with Hello Kitty for a widely distributed single, “Koishinchaina Town / Mou Nakanaiyo” (I’m in Love, Town / I Won’t Cry Anymore). This catchy duet showcased Daniel’s sweet voice and love for music, making him even more popular with fans.
CELEBRATE VALENTINE’S DAY WITH DEAR DANIEL!
Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel are often seen having dates at Sanrio Puroland, and the two even hosted a special Valentine’s Day event at the famous theme park! It’s called “LovePuroland” with Kitty and Daniel dressed as Puro Angels. They decorated the place with romantic lights and prepared a “Love Photo Spot” where visitors could take cute photos. Couples even got special discounts for the exclusive Sanrio merchandise!
They also had a special event for Sanrio fans who couldn’t leave their homes. In February 2021, there was a special live-stream event called “Viva La Valentine.” It’s not a typical song-and-dance show, viewers got to enjoy a heartwarming story featuring Hello Kitty along with Dear Daniel, Pompompurin, Cinnamoroll, Kuromi, and more Sanrio characters.
JOIN THE PURO HALLOWEEN FUN!
Just because Dear Daniel is a certified romantic, doesn’t mean he’s only celebrating Valentine’s Day. For Halloween 2024, Daniel is ready to join the magical fun at Sanrio Puroland’s special Puro Halloween event! The park often celebrates with enchanting collaborations, and one of the highlights is a fantastic partnership with Ojamajo Doremi, an anime series featuring cute magical girls.
The theme is “Magician x Immersive,” promising a spellbinding experience for everyone. The Puro Village lights up with a special Halloween illumination show, where Doremi-chan and Sanrio Characters sparkle together, bringing the magic to life! With Daniel in the mix, this Halloween event is sure to be full of cute surprises, fun, and a whole lot of spooky charm!
MORE PUROLAND ESCAPADES WITH DANIEL!
Besides going on dates and trick or treats, Dear Daniel is also a regular character at Sanrio Puroland. He brings his charm and energy to all sorts of fun events! You can see him live in the park’s exciting stage shows, like the Miracle Gift Parade and character greetings. He also joins in special events like the Puroland Neo Natsumatsuri and Kawaii Kabuki. Whether he’s dancing, greeting fans, or just having a great time, Daniel always adds a touch of magic to the Sanrio experience!
DEAR DANIEL AT HARMONYLAND
With his charming looks and awesome dance moves, it’s no wonder that Dear Daniel is also a star performer at Harmonyland! This theme park in Oita, Japan has shows and events where you can watch Dear Daniel and other Sanrio characters like Wish Me Mell and My Melody. You can even get a chance to meet Daniel and take pictures with him, or have delicious treats featuring this adorable Sanrio buddy.
What’s more, Dear Daniel is also a part of the M’s Idol, a group consisting of Sanrio male characters. With him are Bad Badtz-Maru, Cinnamoroll, and Pompompurin; together, they make the stage shine brighter! You can watch M’s Idol performances only at Harmonyland, but the group has an X (formerly Twitter) account that you can follow so you’re always updated!
DEAR DANIEL’S ICE CREAM SUMMER FUN!
In 2023, Daniel also took part in Harmonyland’s summer parade called “Iceful Parade” with Sanrio characters dressed in colorful costumes with an ice cream motif. Even people at home got to witness the event as it was streamed live on the park’s official platforms. As for the park visitors, well, they had the best time because they got to meet Dear Daniel together with Kuromi at the special Iceful greeting event!
THE CUTEST COLLABS WITH DEAR DANIEL
Our Sanrio bestie isn’t alone in spreading kawaii vibes. Sometimes, Dear Daniel teams up with other kawaii characters and popular anime shows, making for some super fun collaborations! For instance, in the Sanrio x Mofusand collaboration, a Mofusand cat gets dressed up as Dear Daniel, blending two adorable worlds. Daniel also joined the fun in a special lottery with “Project SEKAI Colorful Stage! feat. Hatsune Miku”, where fans could win cool items like cute pouches and kawaii drinkware.
But it doesn't stop there—Daniel has also partnered with characters from popular anime shows! You can find him alongside Sumeragi Tenma from “A3!,” Shiba Hakkai from “Tokyo Revengers,” Yuichi Jin from “World Trigger,” and even Hans from “Attack on Titan.” These crossovers are a delightful mix of cuteness and anime excitement!
DELICIOUS DEAR DANIEL TREATS
As if kawaii collaborations aren’t enough, Dear Daniel has also joined forces with Floresta Nature Doughnuts for a special Christmas 2020 treat! Fans could enjoy delicious matching Hello Kitty and Dear Daniel ring donuts coated with chocolate and organic matcha and strawberry powder. These festive donuts are the perfect sweet treat to celebrate Christmas with Daniel Starr!
DEAR DANIEL’S BLOCKBUSTER JOURNEY
Another fun and unique collaboration featuring Dear Daniel is Sanrio’s team-up with the blockbuster Indian film RRR (Rise, Roar, Revolt). A new line of Sanrio merchandise was launched featuring characters from both the movie and Sanrio’s beloved world. This special collaboration celebrated the first anniversary of RRR and included items like badges and keychains with Dear Daniel, Hello Kitty, and the RRR casts. It’s a cool mix of kawaii and action!
WHERE TO BUY DEAR DANIEL MERCH
If you're looking to buy Dear Daniel goodies, you're in for a treat! You can find a wide range of adorable items at Sanrio stores, both in Japan and other countries. You can even find them online! Check out our Dear Daniel collection on Blippo. From plushies to stationery, there's something for every Dear Daniel fan.
Time to wrap up! It’s clear now that Dear Daniel brings more than just a dash of charm to Hello Kitty’s universe. From his smooth dance moves at Puroland to his collaborations with kawaii friends, Daniel has added a lot of sparkle to everyone. His charm is undeniable!
We’d love to hear your thoughts and experiences with Dear Daniel—feel free to leave a comment and share your favorite moments or memories! If you haven’t had the chance to dive into his world yet, now’s the perfect time to embrace the magic of Dear Daniel and all the joy he brings to fans everywhere!