Beatcats (ビートキャッツ) are a Japanese character franchise created as a joint venture between Sanrio and Sega Toys. The third collaborative effort after Jewelpet and Rilu Rilu Fairilu, it is the first Sanrio franchise released as a musical group.[1] The characters in Beatcats consist of Mia, Chelsea, Rico, Layla, and Emma. As a musical group, Beatcats are signed under the Japanese recording label Pony Canyon and marketed as a virtual band.
History
Beatcats was created by both Sanrio and Sega Toys as their third collaborative effort. Unlike its previous collaborations, which are meant to develop into their own Animated series and Manga, the franchise more dabbles into the music scene and made the characters a five-member virtual group.[2]