Get ready to be immersed in the vibrant world of *Zootopia*! Here’s a glimpse of the exciting “Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fes 2025” featuring the *Zootopia 2* special stage and parade:

Ikebukuro Goes Full Zootopia!? Shiono Hiro & Dream Ami Appear in Costume at “IkeHallow” Special Stage Report

Disney Animation Studios’ latest masterpiece, the film Zootopia 2, is set to premiere in theaters on December 5, 2025. Ahead of its much-anticipated release, a special stage event for the film was held on October 25th as part of the Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fes. The event was graced by the presence of Shiono Hiro and Dream Ami, who serve as the Japanese voice actors for the movie.

The Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fes, an annual tradition since 2014, is one of Japan’s largest Halloween events, drawing an impressive 161,000 attendees last year. On October 25th, the venue was completely transformed into a vibrant world of Zootopia 2. Participants, dressed as beloved characters such as the energetic rabbit Judy and the cunning fox Nick, along with many other animals from the film, paraded through the streets, creating an atmosphere brimming with excitement. As the entire area buzzed with the energy of a dream paradise, truly embodying the world of Zootopia, the crowd erupted in a thunderous cheer when Shiono Hiro, who voices Gary, the pivotal new character holding the key to the story, and Dream Ami, reprising her role as Gazelle, Zootopia’s popular and exceptionally talented pop star, made their grand entrance.

Shiono-san had just recently announced his casting as Gary’s Japanese voice actor at the very same venue, directly to the eager fans. Kicking off the event, he warmly acknowledged the rainy weather that had gathered the crowd, humorously remarking, “It’s raining so much it feels like deja vu, doesn’t it? (laughs) My apologies! Though I don’t think it’s my fault! (laughs).” Dream Ami-san, quick to join in the playful banter, added, “I’m supposed to be a ‘sunny woman,’ but… I’m sorry! I couldn’t bring out the sunshine! (laughs).” Both expressed their relief, sighing, “We’re just glad we could hold the event somehow.”

In the spirit of Halloween, Dream Ami-san made a dazzling entrance in a cosplay of Gazelle, the character she portrays. She highlighted the special features of her costume, exclaiming, “Gazelle’s horns were custom-made just for me! And even though it’s chilly, I came in a mini-skirt!” Facing a sea of fans dressed as various Zootopia characters, Shiono-san’s excitement was palpable as he continued with high energy, “Look at all the Judys and Nicks! And some are even wearing costumes from the latest movie already!”

When asked about the film’s exciting highlights once more, Shiono-san prefaced his response with a chuckle, “Well, I know about as much as all of you do! (laughs).” He then excitedly pointed out, “The latest trailer features a ‘water city’ that wasn’t in the previous film, and we also heard the voices of new characters like Pawburt, the bobcat, and Nibbles, the beaver. Who do I ask to find out who’s voicing them?! (laughs)” He clearly showed a keen interest in the Japanese voice actors for the upcoming characters, whose identities are yet to be revealed. Dream Ami-san, who is reprising her role as Gazelle from the previous film, empathized with his curiosity, saying, “I wonder what will happen…!” She then joyfully announced, “In the previous movie, Gazelle performed ‘Try Everything,’ but in the new film, she’ll be performing a brand new song called ‘ZOO,’ and I’m really looking forward to it!” She concluded by teasing that the new installment promises an even greater escalation of mysteries and adventures than its predecessor, urging fans to look forward to the captivating storyline.

The duo further elaborated on another highly anticipated aspect of the new film: the compelling story of Judy and Nick’s companion dynamic. Dream Ami-san, who admitted to being “absolutely smitten by Nick’s manliness” in the first movie, shared her excitement: “Judy, with her slightly naive and innocent charm, often finds herself in tricky situations, but Nick is always there to swiftly support and stand by her. Yet, Nick is the kind of man who speaks volumes through his actions rather than his words! That’s what really makes my heart flutter. I’m incredibly excited to see how Judy and Nick’s companion journey evolves in the new film.” In response, Shiono-san agreed, “They say a man expresses himself through his back, don’t they!” He then playfully made the audience laugh, asking, “Do I look like that kind of man? Not at all! (laughs)” He then added, “I particularly love the scenes where Judy and Nick argue as equals, regardless of whether they’re prey or predator. Even their squabbles feel like a testament to their deep bond. It makes you think, ‘Oh, here they go again!'” He passionately highlighted that the evolving relationship between Judy and Nick is undoubtedly one of the biggest attractions of Zootopia 2.

Inspired by Zootopia’s diverse cast of unique animal characters, when asked, “Which character would you cosplay if you could?” Dream Ami-san promptly chose Clawhauser, the cheerful cheetah receptionist. With an abundance of affection, she explained, “I’ve been a fan of Clawhauser since the first movie. He’s so kind, gentle, and utterly whimsical – just so healing, isn’t he?” She added with a laugh, “It’s also quite interesting that Clawhauser is a huge fan of Gazelle, who I play!” Shiono-san, on the other hand, surprisingly picked Judy, the rabbit. “While I’d love to say Nick because he’s so cool,” he said with a smile, “I really want to cosplay Judy. I’d love to wear that police uniform!”

The two then delved into a conversation themed around Halloween. When asked about their Halloween memories, Shiono-san shared a surprising anecdote: “Every year around this time, for a certain live broadcast program, I dress up in costume. While the costumes are usually provided, I once went to Shinjuku myself to buy colored contact lenses, blending in with women!” Dream Ami-san also proved to be a seasoned Halloween cosplayer. “I’ve spent Halloween with my Dream group members every year, so I’ve done all sorts of costumes. We always start with white face paint, but actually, applying white face paint neatly requires real skill!” she revealed, sharing a behind-the-scenes glimpse into their elaborate preparations.

Following their delightful chat, the stage was graced by passionate cosplayers, each brimming with “Zootopia love.” The audience erupted in applause for the authentic and meticulously crafted costumes, featuring Judys in their police officer uniforms, Nicks sporting his trademark casual aloha shirt, and even a Judy in the striking yellow dress that caused a buzz in the latest trailer for Zootopia 2. Both Shiono-san and Dream Ami-san were profoundly impressed by the dedication, with Shiono-san exclaiming, “They even think about changing the position of the ears to match the character’s emotions! That’s incredible!” Dream Ami-san echoed his admiration, adding, “Even with the same character, there’s so much individuality! It’s truly wonderful!” They appeared to have fully immersed themselves, experiencing the world of Zootopia 2 with every fiber of their being.

Finally, addressing the eagerly anticipating fans, Dream Ami-san enthusiastically encouraged them, saying, “I myself have been eagerly awaiting Zootopia 2, and it’s finally going to be released! It’s coming back with an even grander scale than the previous film, so I would be absolutely thrilled if you all could come and visit the theaters!” Shiono-san also shared his message, “For me, it’s particularly exciting because this is my first time appearing in a Disney production. A lot more information will be revealed from now on, so please keep an eye out for those updates and look forward to the movie!” With these heartfelt words, enveloped in warm applause, the special event drew to a close.

Beyond the captivating stage event held that day, the “Ikebukuro Halloween Cosplay Fes 2025” also saw a massive turnout of enthusiastic cosplay fans gathering for photo calls at Sunshine City and IKE SUNPARK, despite the unfavorable weather. The entire Ikebukuro area was truly transformed, becoming a vibrant “Zootopia” for the day. Disney Animation Studios’ newest feature film, Zootopia 2, is scheduled for theatrical release on December 5, 2025.

Film Information: Zootopia 2

Get ready for an exciting new adventure! Here’s a quick look at the details for the upcoming film:

(C)2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Written by: Nakase Koutarou

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