Lights, Camera, Mole-tion!
In a delightful twist of cosmic fate (or maybe just a casual coffee break decision), it has been confirmed that the legendary Hideo Kojima is lending his vocal cords to a character in the Japanese dub of Zootopia 2. Yes, that’s right! A video game genius is now venturing into the world of animated moles, because why not?
From Pixelated Adventures to Animated Antics
The cinematic masterpiece graced the screens of numerous countries, including the UK (where it was hilariously rebranded as Zootropolis 2, because, of course, ‘Zootopia’ was just too easy). For the fortunate folks in Japan, the highly-anticipated mole mischief will hit theaters on December 5.
Now, when the lovely citizens of Japan watch the film, they’ll be treated to the melodious sounds of Kojima himself bringing life to a certain Paul Moldebrandt—a mole whose sole mission in life is to work at the Zootopia Police Department. Talk about a career leap! In the English version, the charming Josh Gad, known for his role as Olaf the snowman in Frozen (you know, the one who dreams of summer while melting), takes on this role.
A Not-So-Secret Home Studio
According to the ever-reliable Famitsu, Kojima didn’t just tumble into this role randomly; no, he was personally summoned by the film’s director, Jared Bush. And naturally, he jumped at the chance faster than a rabbit in a field of carrots. “I’ve dabbled in cameo appearances in live-action films and games,” he quipped, “but this is my first time dubbing an animated feature. And for Disney! My favorite Disney flick! How could anyone say no to that?”
Recording such an illustrious role, even one that isn’t the lead, turned out to be as eye-opening as trying to navigate a menu in an old-school RPG. “Even though I only participated in a few scenes,” he said (via the ever-mysterious machine translation), “the whole production was truly impressive. Having the animation already in place made my job easier, but let me tell you—standing behind a mic isn’t as easy as it looks. The attention to detail, like turning pages without sounding like a marching band, was absolutely enlightening!”
A Blast from the Past
Flashback mode activated! Kojima recounted a golden memory of watching the first Zootopia in theaters with his little one. “It was truly a cinematic gem—a Disney flick that impacted both kids and adults. Everyone left the theater feeling the sunshine of hope and inspiration. It was magnificent!”
Hopes Riding High
With that enchanting experience under his belt, Kojima is now convinced this new installment will elevate Zootopia to a whole new level of awesomeness. “My kid’s grown up now, and we don’t really catch Japanese dubs anymore,” he lamented, “but this time around, it’s a must! No more skipping out—I’m hitting the theaters for this one!”
So, get ready, Japan! A legend in the gaming world is ready to add some mole-y magic to the big screen. Forget everything else; this is the moment cinematic history has been waiting for!
