TL;DR, David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima have been confirmed as directors of the Hollywood Hello Kitty movie. Ramsey Naito is producing, Jeff Chan is writing the current draft, and the film is scheduled for July 21, 2028.

Variety reports David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima have been confirmed as Hello Kitty movie directors.
Former Paramount Animation president Ramsey Naito is producing, Jeff Chan is writing the current draft, and the Sanrio feature is dated July 21, 2028.

Who is directing the Hello Kitty movie

Two filmmakers will steer Sanrio’s feature: David Derrick Jr., credited on Moana 2, and John Aoshima, credited on Ultraman: Rising. Variety confirmed their attachment, naming the Hello Kitty movie directors after earlier listings shifted. The pairing gives the project an official directing team as it advances through development.

The report identifies them as co-directors responsible for shaping story, tone, and pacing. The David Derrick Jr Hello Kitty hire follows his recent Moana 2 credit. The John Aoshima Hello Kitty hire follows Ultraman: Rising, bringing CG feature experience and character-forward sensibilities.

Hello Kitty, also known as Kitty White, was created by Yuko Shimizu in 1974 and remains Sanrio’s best-known character. With directors set, the film’s creative choices can be centralized and paced against a fixed date. The project now has a leadership core and a timetable to meet.

• Variety confirms David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima as the film’s co-directors, formalizing the current leadership on the project.
• Derrick Jr. arrives credited on Moana 2, keeping him active on large-scale animated features ahead of this assignment.
• Aoshima’s recent credit is Ultraman: Rising, a CG feature that emphasizes character dynamics alongside set-piece storytelling.
• Hello Kitty, or Kitty White, first appeared in 1974 and was created by artist Yuko Shimizu for Sanrio.
• Producer Ramsey Naito, formerly president of Paramount Animation, is attached to produce the feature.
• Screenwriter Jeff Chan is handling the current script draft for the film.
• An earlier treatment was written by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon.
• Previous script drafts came from Dana Fox, Katie Dippold, Adam Sztykiel, Jenny Jaffe, Lindsey Beer, and Tamara Becher-Wilkinson.
• Leo Matsuda had previously been listed as director, a credit now superseded by the confirmed co-directors.
• The release date is set for July 21, 2028, first announced last October alongside the film’s ongoing development.

Why David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima are on the Hello Kitty movie

Recent marquee credits likely put both filmmakers in the frame. David Derrick Jr’s Moana 2 credit signals comfort with musical adventure and family storytelling. John Aoshima’s Ultraman: Rising credit points to CG action timing and broad-audience humor, a mix that suits Sanrio’s global icon.

The announcement also highlighted collaborators essential to shaping the film. Ramsey Naito, former head of Paramount Animation, is producing. Jeff Chan is writing the current draft, while Leo Matsuda was previously listed before the directing lineup changed.

Together, that group reflects studio-feature experience and an ability to iterate across drafts while protecting brand tone. That balance matters on a character with five decades of merchandising and media history, and a fixed 2028 date that sets practical guardrails for development.

• David Derrick Jr: recent Moana 2 credit, aligning with musical, character-first adventure storytelling.
• John Aoshima: Ultraman: Rising credit, showing fluency with CG scale and comedic beats.
• Ramsey Naito: producer, previously president of Paramount Animation, now guiding the feature.
• Jeff Chan: currently handling the screenplay draft for the project.
• Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon: provided an earlier treatment that informed development.
• Earlier draft writers include Dana Fox, Katie Dippold, Adam Sztykiel, Jenny Jaffe, Lindsey Beer, and Tamara Becher-Wilkinson.
• Leo Matsuda: previously listed as director before the Derrick Jr. and Aoshima confirmation.
• Additional Sanrio characters, such as Gudetama, My Melody, or Little Twin Stars, are not yet confirmed to appear.

Hello Kitty movie release date, producer, and script status

Release planning remains firm. The Hello Kitty movie release date is July 21, 2028, a target announced last October and reiterated with the latest leadership news. That timeline places the Sanrio feature on a midsummer track with development continuing under its confirmed directors.

On the producing side, Ramsey Naito holds the Hello Kitty movie producer credit. On the page, the Hello Kitty movie script is currently in Jeff Chan’s hands, following a treatment by Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon and earlier drafts from multiple writers.

With directors now locked, schedule and script can align. The team can refine tone and structure around the Hello Kitty movie 2028 window while preserving brand familiarity. Variety’s update also clarifies that the confirmed co-directors, David Derrick Jr.

and John Aoshima, are now steering those creative choices.

• The date is July 21, 2028, positioning the film for a midsummer release.
• That timing was announced last October, before the newest directing confirmation.
• Producer: Ramsey Naito is attached to produce the feature.
• Current draft: Jeff Chan is writing the screenplay now.
• Earlier material: Robert Ben Garant and Thomas Lennon delivered a treatment used in development.
• Prior drafts: Dana Fox, Katie Dippold, Adam Sztykiel, Jenny Jaffe, Lindsey Beer, and Tamara Becher-Wilkinson contributed versions.
• Directors: David Derrick Jr. and John Aoshima are the confirmed Hello Kitty movie directors.
• Previous credit: Leo Matsuda was earlier listed as director before this update.
• Character roster: Additional Sanrio character appearances are not yet confirmed in the reporting.
• Status: The feature remains in development as work continues toward the 2028 target.

Source: Crunchyroll