It was revealed on October 30th that Ryosuke Yamada of the popular group Hey! Say! JUMP will be a voice actor for the Japanese version of Disney animation's Zootopia 2 (directed by Jared Bush, to be released on December 5th). Yamada won the role of Paubert, the handsome heir to a wealthy family, after winning an audition held at the US headquarters.
Yamada, who will be appearing in a Disney production for the first time, apparently enjoyed the previous film, "Zootopia," as an audience member, and revealed that she was surprised by the decision, saying, "My biggest feeling was, 'I never thought the day would come when I would be able to enter this world!'" She is enthusiastic about being involved in a Disney production, which she has been so familiar with since she was a child that there is no film she hasn't seen, saying, "It's something I'm really happy about, so I'm really excited!"
Regarding the appeal of "Zootopia," she said, "Each character's individuality stands out, and the story depicts the lives of animals who live like humans. It's not just cute, but the way the characters are explored in depth is what makes it appealing." She also spoke about the appeal of Buddy, saying, "There are probably some tense moments with Judy and Nick, but there's also a sense of security that 'these two will somehow manage,' and they're characters you want to root for."
◇Introducing his role, he said, "Simply put, he's the handsome heir of a wealthy family (lol)."
Yamada will play Paubert, a gentle and sociable lynx heir to the family that founded Zootopia. "To put it simply, he's a handsome lynx heir (laughs). He has some worries, but after meeting Judy, his way of thinking coincides with Judy's, and he ends up cooperating with the investigation," he said, revealing that he will be an "important character."
Regarding the dubbing recording, she said, "I think one of Pauper's charms is that he doesn't show much of his troubles, and as the heir of a wealthy family, he is calm and elegant, so I was conscious of balancing that. He does have an innocent side, but I played him carefully, exploring the expressions and tone of voice he shows in unexpected moments." She also sent a message saying, "In 'Zootopia 2,' the secret story of the birth of Zootopia will finally be revealed. I hope you will also pay attention to the bright and cute interactions between Judy and Nick. Please come see us at the theater!"
◇The previous film was a huge hit in Japan, grossing over 7.6 billion yen
This film is the sequel to "Zootopia," which was released in 2016. The previous film, "Zootopia," was set in Zootopia, a world where animals live in a high-tech civilized society like humans. It depicted Judy meeting Nick and overcoming many challenges together as she grows into a fine police officer. It was the first Disney animation film since "Frozen" to surpass $1 billion in global box office revenue. It was also a huge hit in Japan, grossing over 7.6 billion yen.
In the sequel, Nick, who has successfully graduated from the police academy and become a police officer, and Judy, the first rabbit police officer to do her job, team up again and embark on an epic adventure. A new character, Gary the snake, also appears.
In the Japanese version, actress Aya Ueto will voice the rabbit police officer Judy, and voice actor Toshiyuki Morikawa will voice the fox Nick, just like in the previous film. Furthermore, voice actor Hiro Shimono will voice Gary, the wanted snake who holds the key to Zootopia's biggest mystery. Voice actor Kenta Miyake , comedian Hiro Shimono Takahashi of the comedy duo "Savannah," singer Dream Ami, and voice actor Kazuhiro Yamaji will also reprise their roles from the previous film.
