10:04 AM Jul. 15, 2004 PT
Japanese fans of Hello Kitty will be able to get a robot of their favorite character in November.
The 400,000 yen (about $3,700) toy will have similar capabilities to the Sony Aibo. The robotic Kitty will recognize and remember up to 10 faces, identify voices, hold conversations and even sing, according to its manufacturers, which include Business Design Laboratory, NEC System Technology and Futaba Industrial. Business Design Laboratory, based in Nagoya, Japan, has created some of the world's most sophisticated robots.
"I think the Hello Kitty Robot would be a wonderful thing," said Linda Thornton, a 61-year-old hairdressers and Kitty fan from Ohio.
Diehard fans spend about $500 million a year on Hello Kitty products in the Western hemisphere alone, according to Hello Kitty creator Sanrio.
The robot's release is timed to coincide with the 30th anniversary of Hello Kitty. Sanrio says there are 100 new Kitty products planned for the occasion.