Sanrio

Sanrio has been in the business of making everyday things adorable since long before "kawaii" was a global export. Hello Kitty arrived in 1974 on a little coin purse, and the roster only grew from there: sweet-natured My Melody, her mischievous rival Kuromi, the cloud-soft pup Cinnamoroll, custard-loving Pompompurin, and the eternally unbothered egg Gudetama. What ties them together isn't a story so much as a mood, stamped onto stationery, plush, pouches, and enamel pins.

Fans famously follow the annual Sanrio Character Ranking like a sports league, campaigning for their favorites. Whether you grew up with Kitty or came for Kuromi's goth-lite charm, there's a face here for you.