Kuromi

Kuromi was introduced by Sanrio in 2005 as a rival character to My Melody, originally appearing in the anime series Onegai My Melody. Designed with a distinct punk-inspired aesthetic, featuring a black jester's hat with a pink skull emblem, she represented a departure from the traditional pastel-heavy character designs of the brand. Her popularity grew significantly due to her mischievous personality and edgy style, eventually cementing her status as a central figure in the Sanrio pantheon alongside Hello Kitty.

The Funko Pop! vinyl figure version of Kuromi, numbered 90 in the Sanrio series, translates the character’s specific design elements—most notably the expressive pointed ears and skull-adorned headgear—into the iconic, stylized proportions of the Funko brand. This figure was released as part of a broader expansion of the Hello Kitty and Friends line, intended to capture the burgeoning nostalgia for Y2K-era character design and the specific subculture appeal that Kuromi cultivated among fans who preferred a grittier aesthetic than standard mascot characters.