The three Japanese voice actors for the eccentric forest friends surrounding Mabel, the protagonist of Disney & Pixar's latest animated film Hoppers (directed by Daniel Chung, released March 13th), have been announced. Kanade from the comedy trio 3ji no Heroine will play Ellen, the bear who "eats when she wants to," Mamoru Miyano, a voice actor and actor, will play Tom, the trouble-prone lizard, and singer and actor Kumiko Mori will play Diane, the "most terrifying" predator shark.
"When I Became a Beaver" tells the story of Mabel, an animal-loving college student who learns that the forest she holds dear will be destroyed by a highway project. In order to protect this precious place, she uses secret technology to transform into the appearance of a beaver and devises 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 ecosystem to create this film. In the Japanese version, actor Kyoko Yoshine will play Mabel, Kote Shinya will play the beaver king, King George, while Miyata Toshiya of the popular group Kis-My-Ft2 will voice Loaf, a "soothing beaver who is so laid-back he often gets eaten," and actor Atsuro Watabe will voice Mayor Jerry, a human who threatens the beaver forest.
The new Japanese voice actors for the forest friends have been announced. Ellen the bear, who lives by the pond rule of "eat when you want to," is always hungry and searching for prey. Despite his large and intimidating appearance, he has a kind and caring side, and is a character who has strong friendships with his forest friends. Kanade, a member of "3-ji no Heroine," who voices the character in the Japanese version, is a Disney fan and aspires to become a Pixar voice actor. When asked how she felt when she was chosen to play the role of Ellen, she said, "Being involved in a Disney and Pixar film...it's like a dream," and commented about Ellen, "The bear Ellen is a huge contrast to his appearance. He's kind. He's reliable. That's what it means when I play him (laughs)."
Tom, a small lizard living in the forest, wants to stay away from conflict and trouble as much as possible and live a peaceful life, but for some reason his natural curiosity gets him into trouble. Overseas, a surreal video of Tom the Lizard emotionlessly tapping the lizard emoji on his smartphone, with a continuous robotic voice saying "Lizard, Lizard, Lizard," has gone viral online and become a meme. Furthermore, a Tom the Lizard mascot made a surprise appearance on a live broadcast by the US sports channel ESPN, silently waving to the camera while holding a yellow sign that read "My name is Tom Lizard," creating a huge buzz even before it was released.
Miyano, who is active not only as a voice actor but also as an actor and artist, will play the role of Tom, a cute yet slightly quirky character who is loved by the animals around him. When asked how he felt when he was chosen for the role, he commented with joy, "I'm very happy to be able to play the role of the lizard Tom!" Regarding the character he will be playing, he said, "Tom works alongside Mabel, a beaver who rises up to protect the forest. That said, Mabel is actually human... I was surprised at how she became a beaver, as it was a direction I'd never seen before! I hope everyone will be blown away at the cinema, and I hope they will also be comforted by Tom's funny and cute behavior amidst the hectic developments (laughs)."
Diane, the strongest shark, was summoned by the Grand Council of Animals to thwart Mayor Jerry's highway construction plan, which doesn't care about the disappearance of the lush forests. Diane is the most feared apex predator in the animal kingdom, and is highly professional in assassinating her targets, but she is also kind and considerate of those around her.
The role of Diane will be played by Mori, an actress who is active as a musical actress and is loved for her bright character. When asked how she felt when she was chosen for the role of Diane, she said, "When I heard that I would be playing the role of the shark, who reigns as the most powerful being in the animal kingdom in this production, I wondered if it would be a bad role, but I was relieved to hear that he is actually a very calm, soft-spoken shark with a bright personality. I had a lot of fun playing the kind-hearted and reliable role of Diane."
The full comments from the three are as follows:
◇ "3 o'clock Heroine" Kanade (role of Ellen the Bear)
It's like a dream. To be involved in a Disney and Pixar film...it's like a dream.
The bear Ellen has a huge gap between his appearance and his true personality. He's kind and reliable. That's what it means for me to play him (laughs).
It's a wonderful movie. It's cute, funny, and entertaining. But it's not just that; it's also deeply moving with its grand themes and message. I couldn't stop crying. I want many people to see it.
◇ Mamoru Miyano (Tom the Lizard)
I am very happy to be appearing in the role of Tom the lizard! Tom works with Mabel the beaver, who rises up to protect the forest. However, Mabel is actually a human... I was surprised to see how she became a beaver, as it was a direction I had never seen before! I hope that everyone will be blown away at the cinema, and that they will also be comforted by Tom's funny and cute behaviour amidst the dizzying developments (laughs).
◇Kumiko Mori (Shark Diane)
In this film, I play the role of a shark, the most powerful creature in the animal kingdom! When I heard this, I wondered if it would be a bad role, but I was relieved to hear that the shark is actually very calm, soft-spoken, and has a bright personality. I had a lot of fun playing the kind-hearted and reliable Diane. It's a wonderful film. I hope many people will come to see it in the theater!
