By Jon Scarr
Zootopia 2 already had plenty of attention going into its Japanese release, but Disney just added an unexpected twist. Hideo Kojima has officially joined the Japanese dub in a small cameo role, and it’s the kind of crossover I never thought I’d see. Disney Animation bringing in one of gaming’s most influential creators for a character cameo feels like the sort of thing you only hear about in behind-the-scenes trivia, not a confirmed casting announcement.
Disney Japan revealed that Kojima will voice Paul Moldebrandt, a mole who works inside the Zootopia Police Department alongside Judy and Nick. It’s a small role, but the novelty speaks for itself. This all came together because director Jared Bush personally reached out to Kojima with an offer. According to the press release, Kojima accepted immediately, calling it an honour and saying he was surprised to be asked to join a Disney project he already admired.
Kojima’s First Time Dubbing for an Animated Feature
Even though Kojima has done cameos in games and live-action projects before, this marks his first time providing a voice for an animated theatrical film. He talked a bit about the experience, mentioning that having the visuals already established made the recording process smooth. He also noted how much respect he gained for professional voice actors, saying he became more aware of how much attention they put into even the smallest details, like page turns and noise control.
Kojima also mentioned that he took the offer partly because of how much he and his family connected with the first movie. He described Zootopia as a film that let audiences laugh, have fun, and walk out feeling hopeful. Hearing him talk about returning to that world as part of the cast makes this cameo feel a little more personal than most celebrity voice drops.
A Stacked Japanese Voice Cast
The Japanese version of Zootopia 2 is already loaded with talent. Returning voices include Aya Ueto, Toshiyuki Morikawa, Kenta Miyake, Shigeo Takahashi, Dream Ami, and Koji Yamamoto. New cast members such as Hiro Shimono, Noriko Eguchi, Ryosuke Yamada, Masahiro Takashima, Nana Mizuki, Akira Emoto, and more round out the lineup.
Zootopia 2 opens across Japan on December 5, with Disney Japan emphasizing how massive the film’s global debut has been. According to the release, the movie hit a record-breaking opening worldwide, setting new highs for animated films. Japan is expected to bring a lot of momentum as it joins the rollout.
Want to Know What We Thought of the Movie?
If you’re curious about how the film itself turned out, including how Judy and Nick’s new case unfolds and how the sequel builds on the world of Zootopia, I already reviewed Zootopia 2. You can read the full review here:
👉 https://www.4scarrsgaming.com/2025/11/zootopia-2-review-how-sequel-builds-on.html
Kojima’s cameo is just a fun bonus, but it adds one more reason to keep an eye on the Japanese release. It’s not every day you see one of gaming’s most recognizable creators pop up inside a Disney animated movie.