Sanrio is heading back to San Diego Comic-Con, in celebration of Hello Kitty’s 40th Anniversary. Hello Kitty made her San Diego comic-Con debut with the Hello Kitty Fashion Music Wonderland offsite experience in the Interactive Zone at Petco Park, and for 2014, Sanrio and Hello Kitty will be heading back both inside and outside the convention center for a whole new offsite installation, fan meet and greets, autographs, product launches, and more.

Within the San Diego Convention Center, Hello Kitty fans can find Sanrio all around the exhibit floor, where Hello Kitty head designer Yuko Yamaguchi will be making a special appearance to sign autographs and greet fans at Booth #4539. Hello Kitty will also be offering exclusives and limited edition product launches through various companies, including:

• VIZ Media (Booth #2813): Hello Kitty, Hello 40 story & art anthology published in partnership with VIZ Media. Featuring comic artists, muralists, toy creators and authors commemorating Hello Kitty’s 40th Anniversary, this Comic-Con exclusive edition will be limited to 250 books.
• Toynami (Booth #3229): Comic-Con exclusive Hello Kitty Chun-Li vinyl coin bank limited to 1000 pieces at Toynami. Fans can also purchase Sanrio x Street Fighter plush, figurines, mobile plugs and key chains.
• Upper Deck (Booth #307): Comic-Con exclusive Hello Kitty 40th Anniversary Mini-Figures and Trading Cards by Upper Deck. Featuring Hello Kitty through the decades, the four mini-figures and trading card bundles will be limited to 250 pieces each.
• Bluefin-Tamashii Nations (Booth #3545): Chogokin Hello Kitty die-cast robot action figure at Bluefin-Tamashii Nations This special 40th Anniversary commemorative item will be available at Comic-Con.

We got a peek at the Bluefin-Tamashii Chogokin Hello Kitty die-cast back at Toy Fair earlier this year:

Sanrio can also be found back at the Interactive Zone in Petco Park, where Hello Kitty will be on hand to share hugs and photo opps as part of the global ‘Share a Hug with Hello Kitty’ campaign, as well as offer giveaways and activities, like free temporary tattoos and custom nail art from Sanrio Tokyo’s resident nail designer.

Fans of Hello Kitty can also find her at Hello Kitty Con 2014 in Los Angeles on October 30-November 2, with tickets now on sale.

Here’s the full press release:

Sanrio Returns to Comic-Con International: San Diego to Celebrate Hello Kitty’s 40^th Anniversary

Sanrio has announced their return to this year’s Comic-Con International: San Diego to continue the celebration of Hello Kitty’s 40^th Anniversary. Fans can join in the festivities and enjoy a superfun, interactive experience that includes giveaways, activities and appearances by Hello Kitty herself, as well as special guests from Sanrio’s Tokyo headquarters. Attendees will also learn more about Hello Kitty Con 2014, the first ever Hello Kitty fan convention, which will be held in Los Angeles on October 30^th – November 2^nd. Fans can purchase their tickets for Hello Kitty Con 2014 nowat http://www.sanrio.com/hellokittycon-tickets/.

In honor of Hello Kitty’s 40^th Anniversary, Sanrio will hold activations for fans to enjoy both inside the official convention at San Diego Convention Center, as well as outside at Comic-Con Interactive Zone at Petco Park. Special guest Yuko Yamaguchi, Hello Kitty head designer from Tokyo known by fans as “Kitty Mama” will make special appearances inside the convention hall (booth 4539) to greet fans and sign free limited edition collectible posters. Fans can also find Hello Kitty Comic-Con exclusives and limited edition product launches including:

• Hello Kitty, Hello 40 story & art anthology published in partnership with VIZ Media (booth 2813). Featuring comic artists, muralists, toy creators and authors commemorating Hello Kitty’s 40^th Anniversary, this Comic-Con exclusive edition will be limited to 250 books.
• Comic-Con exclusive Hello Kitty Chun-Li vinyl coin bank limited to 1000 pieces at Toynami (booth 3229). Fans can also purchase Sanrio x Street Fighter plush, figurines, mobile plugs and key chains.
• Comic-Con exclusive Hello Kitty 40^th Anniversary Mini-Figures and Trading Cards by Upper Deck (booth 307) Featuring Hello Kitty through the decades, the four mini-figures and trading card bundles will be limited to 250 pieces each.
• Chogokin Hello Kitty die-cast robot action figure at Bluefin-Tamashii Nations (booth 3545). This special 40^th Anniversary commemorative item will be available at Comic-Con.

Outside the convention, Hello Kitty will join fans at Comic-Con Interactive Zone at Petco Park to share hugs and photo opps. There will also be plenty of giveaways and activities including free temporary tattoos and custom nail art from Sanrio Tokyo’s resident nail designer.   Hello Kitty will continue promoting the global ‘Share a Hug with Hello Kitty’ campaign to spread the message of fun and friendship throughout the convention. Each hug shared with her fans will be added to the Global Hug Report, which is continually updated and displayed at http://www.sanrio.com/global-hug-report/ to track all of the hugs given during Hello Kitty’s 40^th Anniversary.

Hello Kitty’s return to Comic-Con International: San Diego 2014 is one of the many ways that the beloved pop icon will share her 40^th Anniversary celebration with devoted fans as she continues to promote Sanrio’s goal to provide happiness, friendship and fun to the world while delighting fans with the ultimate Hello Kitty experience.

Are you excited about Hello Kitty’s return to San Diego Comic-Con? Let us know in the comments.