BUDGE STUDIOS™ and SANRIO PARTNER FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER WITH THE EXCLUSIVE "HELLO KITTY NAIL SALON"

Creative and Interactive App Lets Girls Show Off Their Supercute Nail Creations In Time for Valentine's Day

Sanrio, the global lifestyle brand best known for pop icon Hello Kitty and Budge Studios™, the world's leading 'freemium' kids app company, are proud to announce the release of Hello Kitty Nail Salon. Launching just in time for Valentine's Day, the app encourages girls ages 6 and up to work their way up to "Superstar Nail Designer" status by creating cute manicures and competing in exciting manicure challenges. The app fosters additional creativity and interaction by allowing users to photograph their friends' nails and dream up customized designs to share with one another.

"Hello Kitty is a crowd-favorite across the globe, so Sanrio was a natural choice for our next partner," says Noemie Dupuy, Co-CEO and founding partner at Budge Studios™. "Our nail salon app gives Hello Kitty fans everywhere a fun and ultra-creative app-tivity for Valentine's Day and beyond, and I can't wait to see the creations my own girls come up with!"

Available in nine languages for fans globally, Hello Kitty Nail Salon is packed with creative options, from varying nail shapes, polish colors, patterns, and backgrounds to design-toppers like the iconic Sanrio characters, stickers, and gems. Users can test their skills with the "Match This" manicure challenge, or they can explore their creativity in "Free Style" mode.

"Our partnership with Budge Studios™ provides an extension of our digital portfolio by offering on-brand content that appeals to fans of all ages," said Jill Koch, Sr. Vice President, Brand Management and Marketing at Sanrio, Inc. "Nail art is a big trend among our fan base. The Hello Kitty Nail Salon app does a great job of translating this trend and incorporating our supercute characters with fun and interactive gameplay."

Hello Kitty Nail Salon is now available for free with in-app purchases on the App Store for iPhone®, iPad®, and iPod® touch or at http://www.itunes.com/appstore/. The Android version is coming soon.

App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/app/id949737354

App Trailer: http://youtu.be/RshzAR9cTqc

KIDSAFE® CERTIFIED
Hello Kitty Nail Salon is certified by the kidSAFE Seal Program.

About Budge Studios
Budge Studios™ leads the industry by providing entertaining apps for kids through innovation and creativity. We develop and publish apps for smartphones and tablets played by millions of children worldwide featuring high profile properties such as Barbie, Crayola, Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, Thomas & Friends, Caillou, The Smurfs, and Garfield! For more information, visit http://www.budgestudios.com or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

 

Media requests: Konnect PR
Jessica Lieu/Brandy Shuman
jlieu@konnect-pr.com/bshuman@konnect-pr.com

About Sanrio
Sanrio is the global lifestyle brand best known for pop icon Hello Kitty, who is celebrating her 40th Anniversary this year. Home to many endearing characters including Chococat, My Melody, Badtz-Maru and Keroppi, Sanrio was founded on the 'small gift, big smile' philosophy - that a small gift can bring happiness and friendship to people of all ages. Since 1960, this philosophy has served as the inspiration for the broad spectrum of unique products and experiences. Today, more than 50,000 Sanrio-branded items are available in over 70 countries and upwards of 15,000 U.S. retail locations including department, specialty, national chain stores and over 80 Sanrio boutiques. For more information please visit www.sanrio.com and www.facebook.com/hellokitty.

Media requests: Orsi Public Relations
Dyann Hawkins/Sarah Danley (323)874-4073
dyann@orsipr.com/Sarah@orsipr.com

©1976, 2015 SANRIO CO., LTD. Used Under License.© 2015 Budge Studios™. All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. All Rights Reserved.