Interview with Noriko Eguchi: Her first voice acting role in "Zootopia 2"

Actor Noriko Eguchi is voicing the new character Nibbles the beaver in the Japanese version of Disney Animation's "Zootopia 2" (directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, currently in theaters). We spoke to Eguchi about her first time as a voice actor, an episode from when she met the original cast at the world premiere in Los Angeles, looking back on this year and what she plans for next year.

◇ Suddenly hearing the news that I had passed the voice acting exam

"Zootopia 2" is the sequel to "Zootopia," which was released in 2016. The first film was set in Zootopia, a world where animals live in a high-tech civilized society like humans, and depicted Judy meeting Nick, overcoming difficulties together and growing into a fine police officer.

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.

Eguchi won the role of Nibbles after auditioning at the US headquarters, and was told by a staff member that he had been accepted.

"On the day of the script reading, after we had finished introducing ourselves one by one, we were about to take a 15-minute break... when my manager, as if he had just remembered, said, 'By the way, I got in.' I was so happy."

What is your image of Disney films? "They're works that have been around since I was a child, and I imagine them as fantasy, dreams, hope and love. When I was a child I loved 'Peter Pan' and 'Pinocchio' too. I liked adventure films," he says.

◇ Nibbles, the beaver who voiced the character, said, "He's quite a clever guy."

Eguchi's character, Nibbles the beaver, is a Caster who talks about conspiracy theories. "When I think of beavers, I imagine them as silly beavers or a bit of a goofball. I thought Nibbles might be like that, but he's actually quite a clever character, a Caster who talks about conspiracy theories. But even though he has a forceful personality, he's also a character who you can sense a kindness in as he watches over Judy and Nick," he says.

At the world premiere in the United States in November, he also had the opportunity to meet comedian Fortune Feimster, who voiced Nibbles in the United States.

"When I listen to Fortune's voice, it's very intelligent and clear-spoken, completely different from the impression I get of Bieber's silly personality. And yet, Fortune's voice is just like Nibbles. I immediately became a fan of her voice, and I wanted to carry on Fortune's charm."

When asked about her own voice, she said, "I've never thought about whether I like it or not," but added, "I think your feelings come out in your voice. No matter what kind of acting you're doing, I think your voice is very important." When told that she feels she has a calm voice, she replied, "When my voice sounds calm to me, it's because I'm trying my best to sound that way (laughs)."

◇ "Zootopia 2" is "the perfect movie for the holiday season"

At the world premiere, she said, "I was able to watch it at the venue, and I could really feel the atmosphere that the audience had been looking forward to this film. There were two teenage girls, probably around 13 or 14 years old, sitting next to me, and they were really excited watching. It made me realize how much they were looking forward to the screening of a single film, and of course the film itself was wonderful, but seeing the audience so happy made me think again about my own work."

She continued, "This is a movie that is perfect for the holiday season. The snowy scenes and the music played throughout the film match the winter scenery, and I'm sure everyone will find it nostalgic. It's a warm film that will remind you of cold winter nights spent snuggling up at home, thinking, 'Yay! It's winter vacation!' Even as an adult, I find it interesting to watch, and it's not just for children or adults; relationships between people are a concern for all generations, so I think both adults and children will enjoy it and feel a lot of different emotions while watching it."

◇Stay healthy by getting good sleep and eating a proper meal. What is your morning routine?

In 2025, Eguchi will not only be trying her hand at voice acting for the first time, but will also be active in a variety of fields, including playing the role of Hatako, the heroine's mother, in the NHK morning drama "Anpan." When asked to look back on the year that has just finished, she said in her unique style, "I don't remember much (laughs). It's like, all of a sudden it's already December. I'm stunned. I'm like, wait a minute, what was I doing?"

"I was also in a Asadora. But I've already started to forget about that. I have one thing to do after another, so I guess I forget what happened before."

In her busy life, she pays attention to her health and beauty by "getting plenty of sleep. Also, eating a good meal." She adds, "I like vegetables and meat. I like to eat a fairly simple diet."

He also revealed his morning routine, saying, "When I wake up, the first thing I do is drink black coffee.I've always been drinking the beans ground by the owner of a local coffee shop, and I always think it's delicious."

Finally, we asked what kind of year they would like 2026 to be.

"I wonder what kind of year it will be. I can't really think about next year right now. The days just pass by as I have to work hard at the job in front of me. I want to take responsibility for what I have decided to do and see it through. I'm doing my best with today and tomorrow, so I'll think about next year when the time comes," she said with a smile.

"Zootopia 2" (currently in theaters)... The latest installment in the Disney film series "Zootopia," which sparked a social phenomenon with its "fluffy yet profound message." Zootopia is a dream city where animals live like humans. Judy, a hardworking rabbit police officer, and Nick, a sarcastic but kind-hearted fox, are the investigators they aspire to be, tackling cases together as a buddy team. One day, Gary, a snake who shouldn't be in Zootopia, appears, and the shocking secret behind his creation is revealed. Why are there only mammals in this city? What caused the snakes to disappear? The bond between Judy and Nick, polar opposites, is put to the test as they face Zootopia's greatest mystery...