This Hello Kitty x Mazinger Z mashup will save the world

Two classic Japanese pop culture icons collide for an awesome action figure collaboration.



This is what happens two classic Japanese pop culture icons collide. Bandai Tamashii Nations has created two incredible action figure collaborations combining, believe it or not, Hello Kitty and Mazinger Z.

Standing approximately four-inches tall, the Hello Kitty Mazinger Z Color Chogokin Die-Cast Metal Action Figure is Hello Kitty rocking a retro Mazinger Z metallic look with a mini pilot Hello Kitty finished in Koji Kabuto colors. The set includes a special display case and underwater-mode parts.

The Mazinger Z Chogokin Hello Kitty Color Version Die-Cast Metal Action Figure features Hello Kitty's iconic red ribbon where Mazinger Z's trademark chest piece usually rests. And the iconic giant robot's Jet Scrander belt has been reformed as Hello Kitty's face. The figure includes a special display base, four interchangeable hands, Jet Scrander, Mazinger Blade and measures approximately 5 1/4-inches tall.

How did this colossal collaboration happen? This video gives us the origin story:

Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty

October 11, 2014 - April 26, 2015 at the Japanese American National Museum



Hello Kitty fans, make some plans to be in Los Angeles. The Japanese American National Museum invites you to Hello! Exploring the Supercute World of Hello Kitty, a special exhibition in celebration of the 40th anniversary(!) of pop icon Hello Kitty, running October 11 through April 26, 2015.

The first-of-its-kind exhibition will combine a product-based historical and sociological examination of Hello Kitty, including rare and unique pieces from Sanrio's archives, with an installation of mixed media works by artists demonstrating Hello Kitty's influence on contemporary art.

Hello! is curated by Christine Yano, PhD, author of Pink Globalization: Hello Kitty's Trek Across the Pacific, and Jamie Rivadeneira, founder and owner of the Los Angeles pop culture boutique JapanLA. The exhibition's six-month run will also include lectures, panel discussions and workshops.

Here are some more details about the exhibit:

Avril Lavigne's latest single is called "Hello Kitty." The music video is as bad as you could imagine.

Gwen Stefani was doing this sh*t like ten years ago.



Oh, come on. Avril Lavigne is back, and is the latest pop star to take part in the time-honored tradition of cultural appropriation, taking a big dip into a silly approximation of kawaii aesthetic. The video for the craptastic tune, "Hello Kitty," features four expressionless Asian backup dancers (of course), a trip to the sushi chef, and a stroll down a Japanese street, complete with giggling schoolgirls -- cuz all that sh*t is soooo Japaneeeeeeese:

jeremy lin's late night escape in taipei

If you've been following Jeremy Lin's every move -- LIKE I HAVE -- you know that he's been hanging out and making his way through Beijing, Hong Kong and Taipei over the last month. As you can imagine, his presence has created quite a stir among media and fans.

In this Jeremy Adventure, A Late Night Escape in Taipei, Jeremy and his crew, including David Lee of the Golden State Warriors, sneak out of their hotel rooms to plays some hoops with the Taipei locals. This is a fun one: