News Dump Time

First up

Hello Kitty’s Superhero Alter Ego Ichigoman Gets Web Manga.

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-03-15/hello-kitty-superhero-alter-ego-ichigoman-gets-web-manga/.99807

The first  episode is live here

http://comip.jp/15/manga/comics/?title=ichigoman-01

It is interesting  that Sanrio is bring back Ichigoman  and combining with the  Chogokin  (think giant robot line.  Sanrio also will bring back  Dark Grapeman (I missed out getting the plush) and Hony Momo

By the way  I do have an Ichigoman plush in my collection.

Next up She is not your typical cute and cuddly Red Panda

 

Sanrio Debuts Aggressive Retsuko TV Anime Shorts on April 2

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-03-18/sanrio-debuts-aggressive-retsuko-tv-anime-shorts-on-april-2/.99949

What not to like a cute  Red Panda that works in accounting office, has to put up with a load of crap and  blows  off  steam  with a little Death Metal karaoke.   The first episode is  upon Youtube.

 

Finally

Sanrio Boys Get Their Own Line of Merchandise

http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interest/2016-04-06/sanrio-boys-get-their-own-line-of-merchandise/.100740

Sanrio has announced  in the past  the  Sanrio Danshi” (Sanrio Boys). The main plot is :

“The story is simple. It introduces Kōta Hasegawa, a high school boy that loves the yellow Pom Pom Purin dog. By mere coincidence, he ends up attending the same school as Yū Mizuno, a boy who likes the bunny My Melody. Yū tells Kōta that there’s nothing to be ashamed of for liking Sanrio’s cute  characters. Together, Kōta, Yū, Shunsuke Yoshino, Ryō Nishimiya, and Seiichiro Minamoto learn to accept their love of the characters instead of feeling embarrassed.”

My question is what  is the message  is this just Bishōnen /Yaoi  bait aimed  at a female audience or a positive reinforcement  of hey guys it OK to like cute Sanrio characters.   If it was me,  one of the boys will send a strong message I can be masculine  and like Sanrio characters.