My Melody & Kuromi, a stop-motion animated series, was released on Netflix in July 2025 in 190 countries and regions worldwide. The series —featuring My Melody, who celebrated her 50th anniversary in 2025, and Kuromi, who celebrated her 20th anniversary in 2025—marked second worldwide in the non-English language series category on Netflix in its first week of release, and in December won the Best Animated Feature Award at the 8th Asian Academy Creative Awards 2025.

To commemorate this event, we spoke with Tomoki Misato, the director known for Pui Pui Molcar, and Shuhei Yamada, the head of Sanrio's Design Division. We asked them to share their thoughts on the work they created in collaboration with the filmmakers, as well as some behind-the-scenes insights into its production.

Profiles
Tomoki Misato: Born in Tokyo. In 2018, he completed his graduate degree in animation at the Tokyo University of the Arts. His works "Look at Me" (2016) and "My Little Goat" (2018) won many awards at international and domestic film festivals, including the Tokyo Governor's Award and the Short Shorts Film Festival Excellence Award. He was also selected for "Young Guns," an international award given to talented young creators. He made his TV animated series debut as director of 2021's "Pui Pui Molcar." He currently works for WIT Studio and is developing a stop-motion animation studio.

Shuhei Yamada: He joined Sanrio in 1999 and was assigned to the Design Division, where he started to manage all aspects of character creation from 2022. His hobbies include mountain climbing and camping.

Misato: I felt truly honored to be involved with characters that are loved around the world, but at the same time I felt pressure to create a work that fans would truly enjoy. I also did not want the work to be "just cute." I wanted to bring out the deeper appeal of both characters by depicting them as they face and overcome difficulties.

Yamada: I was intrigued by how Mr. Misato would depict My Melody and Kuromi, and eager to see the kind of synergy that might arise from a director known for a subtly dark aesthetic taking on Sanrio characters.

Misato: There is a scene where My Melody is feeling sad because she realizes that her kindness hurt someone, and beneath Kuromi's jealousy lies a desire to connect with others. I hope that these depictions will make the two of them feel even more relatable.

Misato: Since this was a project we could tackle on the large scale of Netflix, we aimed for visuals with a cinematic feel. We also took on the challenge of incorporating action scenes, car chases, and daring camera work. Developing a camera stand that could freely be moved left to right, back to front, and up and down allowed us to capture images with a sense of speed and dynamism. That was the biggest revolution in this work. In the past, we had to rely on analog methods, such as placing the camera on top of a stack of boxes and fine-tuning the angle and height by inserting pieces of cardboard between them.

Misato: I put meaning into everything I make, down to body movements and small gestures. The appeal of movement lies in its universality, it can communicate without words, and that was what I wanted to highlight.

Misato: The character designs were developed through many discussions and close collaboration with Sanrio. Together, we worked out all the details of My Melody and Kuromi's hoods (including what materials to use,) the position of their eyes, and even the shape of their mouths. Incidentally, I used soft silicone for the hoods because I wanted to take advantage of how their ear movement expressed their emotions. I made sure to read "The Strawberry News" (a newspaper that provides the latest information on Sanrio characters and goods) and studied mascots, figures, and other merchandise. The world of Mariland was also crafted with great attention to detail—referencing art books, wrapping trees in soft fabric, and using beads to represent fountains.

Misato: We were very particular about the characters' costumes. From hair accessories to clothes, we actually asked costume artists to create several high-quality outfits for us.

Yamada: I told the production team, "I want you to have the freedom to create." On the Sanrio side, rather than mechanically checking every detail, we focused on careful communication, explaining the intent behind any revisions and sharing our thoughts and messages to stay aligned throughout the process.

Yamada: I was really impressed. I was able to see the characters I usually imagine moving in my mind come to life in a vivid way, different from how they appear in real-life shows or other appearances. I was moved by the scenes of My Melody shedding tears and Kuromi struggling with complex emotions, and I think the stop-motion method of expression brought out emotions that are difficult to portray through merchandise or illustrations alone.

Misato: The scene in the middle of the story where Kuromi gently cuddles My Melody as she’s going through a hard time, and the two begin walking toward the same goal together, is especially memorable and very moving for me as the film’s creator. It's two people with different personalities and different ways of thinking, caring for each other and walking together. Seeing it was just marvelous.

Yamada: I believe that compassion is not a one-way street; it is only possible when there is mutual respect in both directions. Kuromi's awkwardness is actually born out of a desire to relate to someone else. On the other hand, My Melody's kindness also has a danger of sometimes hurting others—their differences complement each other, and I feel that their relationship is built on mutual understanding.

Misato: I think this work will be enjoyable for both longtime fans and those who are unfamiliar with Sanrio characters. We’ve included a variety of elements, not just cuteness but also action and some slightly darker moments, so we hope people of all ages and genders around the world will enjoy it.

Yamada: I hope you will watch it not just once, but many times. On your first viewing, focus on the story. The next time, pay attention to the characters’ movements, and on the third viewing, take a closer look at the backgrounds and props. I think you’ll discover something new and enjoyable each time you watch.

Netflix Series My Melody & Kuromi
Original story: Sanrio
Director: Tomoki Misato
Script: Shuko Nemoto
Theme song: LE SSERAFIM "Kawaii" (Produced by Gen Hoshino)
Production: TORUKU from WIT STUDIO
Distribution: Available exclusively worldwide on Netflix (12 episodes, approx. 13 min. each)
Netflix Movies Page: https://www.netflix.com/mymelody&kuromi

Story:
My Melody opens a cake shop in Mariland. After encountering a heart in the forest, strange things start happening around her. Meanwhile, Kuromi's Japanese sweets shop across the street is always empty. Kuromi searches for the secret to My Melody's cakes. My Melody and Kuromi work hard to prepare for a sweets-making contest judged by the world-famous pastry chef Pistachio. However, no one knows that this will lead to an incident that threatens the fate of Mariland.

©︎ 2026 SANRIO CO., LTD.

*This article is a re-edited version of an article published on October 3, 2025.