Huh.

Also extremely popular in Japan is the pink and white cat Hello Kitty, which also looks suspiciously like Miffy. "The producers of Hello Kitty have admitted that it was inspired by Miffy and I appreciate that."
- interview with Dick Bruna, who created Miffy. (At the bottom of the page there's a sort of animation where you can here Dick Bruna reading one of the books.)

SQUEE! GOT villainny'S BADGE TODAY! WHEE!