# Sweet Cartoon Character Smoothies Mcdonald’s Japan Has a New Hello Kitty Juicy Ichigo Smoothie By Katherine Pendrill | Published 2026-04-07 | Lifestyle Source: Trend Hunter, https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-juicy-ichigo-smoothie References: [soranews24](https://soranews24.com/2026/04/07/mcdonalds-japan-adds-new-hello-kitty-and-pompompurin-drinks-to-the-menu-for-a-limited-time/)  [McDonald’s Japan](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/holiday-mcflurry) is teaming up with Sanrio to release the new [Hello Kitty](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-and-mcdonalds) Juicy Ichigo Smoothie. Perfect for the warm spring days ahead, the new Hello Kitty Juicy Ichigo Smoothie is a sweet strawberry smoothie with a thick texture reminiscent of strawberry gelato. The new smoothie is a first for the chain and it will be sold in a cup featuring an image of Hello Kitty drinking the very same smoothie. As if the new Hello Kitty Juicy Ichigo Smoothie weren't cute enough, [McDonald's Japan](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-happy-meal) is also releasing a new Pompompurin Creamy Pudding Frappe, which boasts the rich egg yolk and milky flavors of purin (pudding) as a nod to the drink's namesake character. Both of the new drinks will be available as of April 10th for a limited time. Image Credit: McDonald’s Japan ## Trend Insights (Trend Hunter) - Score: 8.9/10 - Popularity: 98% | Activity: 98% | Freshness: 71% - Audience gender: 50% men, 50% women - Primary generations: Gen Z, Millennial, Gen X - Top markets: Asia ## Categories [Trend Hunter](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends) > [Lifestyle](https://www.trendhunter.com/lifestyle) > [Drinking](https://www.trendhunter.com/drinking) ## Key Themes ### What Makes This Trend Stand Out - **Character-branded Limited-time Foods:** Limited-run menu items featuring beloved characters result in heightened foot traffic and premium pricing potential through nostalgic emotional appeal. - **Dessert-texture Hybrid Beverages:** Thick, gelato-like smoothies merge dessert indulgence with beverage convenience, creating opportunities for sensory-driven premium SKUs. - **Collectible Branded Packaging:** Iconic character imagery on disposable cups transforms packaging into collectible merchandising that extends campaign reach beyond the point of sale. ### Sectors Adopting This - **Quick-service Restaurants:** Major chains see concentrated sales spikes and menu diversification from character collaborations, altering promotional economics and customer acquisition dynamics. - **Licensed Consumer Goods:** Branded merchandise companies encounter blurred lines between consumables and collectibles, enabling new co-branded product categories and licensing revenue streams. - **Food and Beverage Research:** R&D teams exploring hybrid textures and nostalgic flavor profiles produce offerings that command higher margins and elevated social-media shareability. ## Related on Trend Hunter - [Cartoon Cat Dessert Collections](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-birthday-double-cup.md) - [Cartoon Cat-Inspired Cafes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/universal.md) - [Cartoon New Year Treats](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-friends-lunar-new-year-pineapple-cake-gift-box.md) - [Cartoon Cat Boba Beverages](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-friends-boba.md) - [Anime-Themed Adorable Meal Sets](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-x-yugioh.md) - [Mochi-Inspired Cartoon Pancake Mixes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/asha-hello-kitty-mochi-pancake-mix.md) - [Collaboration Kawaii Cookie Doughs](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/sweet-lorens-hello-kitty.md) - [Ready-to-Mix Mochi Pancake Mixes](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-mochi-pancake-mix.md) - [QSR Meal Sunkissed Toys](https://www.trendhunter.com/trends/hello-kitty-happy-meal.md)