It was revealed on February 11th that Miyata Toshiya of the popular group Kis-My-Ft2 will be the voice actor for Loaf, a "soothing beaver who is so laid back he often gets eaten" in the Japanese version of Disney & Pixar's latest animated film Hoppers (directed by Daniel Chung, due for release on March 13th). A visual of Miyata transformed into a "real beaver" with special makeup was also released, to the point that Miyata himself commented, "You won't know who I am, right?"
"When I Became a Beaver" tells the story of Mabel, who learns that her precious forest will disappear due to a highway project, and in order to protect her precious place, she uses secret technology to take on the appearance of a beaver and hatches a plan to protect the animals and the forest. Director Chung, who served as a storyboard artist for "Inside Out" (2015), was inspired by Studio Ghibli's "Pom Poko" (1994, directed by Isao Takahata) and thoroughly researched the beaver's ecosystem to create this film.
It has already been announced that in the Japanese version, actress Kyoko Yoshine will voice the main character Mabel, and Kote Shinya will voice the overly kind King Beaver, King George.
Over the past few days, images of people dressed as beavers have been posted one after another on Disney's official social media, from the "real beaver" special makeup to the "handsome beaver" cosplay, sparking a battle of guesses over their true identities. It has now been revealed that the true identity of the beaver is Miyata.
Voiced by Miyata, Loaf embarks on a great adventure to protect the precious forest with Mabel and King George, who have infiltrated the animal world. He is a soothing beaver with a warm appearance and a laid-back personality, but when he is nearly eaten by Ellen the bear, he accepts it, saying "it's the rule," revealing a deep character with a strong conviction that remains unfazed by anything. Miyata is an idol who brings smiles to those around him with his kind personality and soothing appearance, but he is also an openly "otaku" and is a perfect fit for the character, as he is committed to his "love" for anime, games, and cosplay.
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Director Chung praised Miyata, saying, "Miyata's gentle, cute, and calm voice is perfect for the role of Loaf. Miyata's character, Loaf, is unfazed no matter what and in a sense has a philosophical outlook, which I think will add a nice accent to the film's chaotic plot." Miyata, who won the role in a US audition, is known to be an anime fan, and has said that he enjoys Disney Pixar films such as "Coco," "Ratatouille," and "The Elements." Miyata expressed his joy, saying, "I really wanted to play the role of Loaf! I wished for it every day, so I was extremely happy when I heard I'd been chosen."
Regarding the role she played, she said, "I think the common point between me and him is that we can easily accept pretty much any environment. Also, I think we're both a bit lazy," she said. She also revealed her favorite character is Loaf, saying, "He was so funny that I would burst out laughing while acting. The part where Loaf opens his mouth to the mayor was so cute, I loved that scene."
When Director Chung visited Japan, he had the opportunity to have a conversation with Miyata. The director surprised Miyata by presenting him with an illustration of Loaf on a colored paper, to which Miyata burst with joy, exclaiming, "Wow! So cute!" Miyata said, "I had thought he might be a scary person, so when I met him I was relieved to see that he was so cute," to which the director replied, "When I met Miyata, I found him to be such a charming and cute person who is perfect for the role of Loaf. Loaf is a lovable and kind character, so I'm very happy that Miyata will be playing him," to which Miyata responded with a delighted, "Thank you! I'm so happy! (laughs)," showing that they quickly became close.
When asked about the key points for playing Loaf, the director gave the following advice: "Just go with the flow, accept your surroundings, and give off an air of being ready for whatever comes your way, and you'll be fine." Miyata, in turn, spoke of the similarities between himself and the character, saying, "I don't get angry very often either, and I live my life accepting all kinds of things, so I think we have something in common."
Furthermore, upon hearing that Miyata has been the talk of the town for his costumes and cosplay, the director imparted the "key points to becoming Loaf," saying, "There are three key points to Loaf. It's fluffy and soft, it's round, and it doesn't move much. If you can keep these three things in mind, it'll be perfect." Miyata replied, "Okay, then let's start by eating a lot and getting fat!", to which the director responded enthusiastically, "I think that's a good plan (laughs). Today's costume is already a step towards becoming Loaf. When you've finished your cosplay, be sure to send it to me! I want to see it (laughs)."
