Beloved Sanrio characters star in handcrafted Netflix original from award-winning director Tomoki Misato
LOS ANGELES — Sanrio fans worldwide can mark their calendars: Netflix is set to premiere My Melody & Kuromi, a new stop-motion animated series featuring the iconic characters, in July 2025. The Netflix original series brings My Melody and Kuromi to life in a visually rich adventure set in the magical world of Mariland.
Created in celebration of My Melody’s 50th anniversary and Kuromi’s 20th, the My Melody & Kuromi series is one of the most anticipated animated shows of the year, especially for fans of Japanese animation and Sanrio’s classic character lineup (Variety, 2025).
Directed by Tomoki Misato, best known for his acclaimed work on Pui Pui Molcar, the stop-motion series promises a charming and emotional experience. “This momentous project motivated all of us to come together, take on various challenges, and push the envelope with stop-motion,” Misato said (Collider, 2025).
The series is produced by Toruru, a subsidiary of WIT Studio, known for titles like Spy x Family and Attack on Titan. This marks the studio’s first stop-motion project. The screenplay is written by Japanese playwright Shuko Nemoto, who developed the story remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic (Deadline, 2025).
Set in the pastel-colored world of Mariland, My Melody & Kuromi explores the dynamic between the sweet and sincere My Melody and her self-proclaimed rival, Kuromi. The Netflix teaser highlights their chaotic, heartfelt adventures and the series’ handcrafted aesthetic (Game Rant, 2025).
The My Melody & Kuromi Netflix show will stream globally starting July 2025, adding to Netflix’s growing slate of Japanese and anime-inspired content, which includes hits like Alice in Borderland and One Piece.
Fans of Sanrio, Japanese animation, and family-friendly fantasy can look forward to a unique blend of storytelling, artistry, and nostalgic charm when My Melody & Kuromi launches on Netflix.
References:
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Variety. (2025, Jan. 31). ‘My Melody’ and ‘Kuromi’ Animated Series Set at Netflix. Retrieved from https://variety.com/2025/tv/news/my-melody-kuromi-netflix-1236270640/
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Collider. (2025, Mar. 6). ‘My Melody & Kuromi’ Netflix Teaser Brings Adorable Chaos to the Screen. Retrieved from https://collider.com/my-melody-and-kuromi-netflix-teaser/
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Deadline. (2025, Jan. 30). Netflix Orders ‘My Melody & Kuromi,’ Stop-Motion Series From ‘Pui Pui Molcar’ Director. Retrieved from https://deadline.com/2025/01/netflix-my-melody-kuromi-sanrio-stop-motion-series-1236252515/
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Game Rant. (2025, Feb. 1). Sanrio’s My Melody and Kuromi Getting Their Own Netflix Show. Retrieved from https://gamerant.com/sanrios-my-melody-and-kuromi-getting-netflix-show/
