The Death Stranding and Metal Gear Solid director will provide his voice for a supporting role in Zootopia 2. Read on to find out more about Kojima’s first-ever appearance in an animated film.
Hideo Kojima Appears in Zootopia 2 at Director’s Personal Request
Metal Gear and Death Stranding Director Makes His Animated Debut
Hideo Kojima, the director and auteur behind the Metal Gear series and the Death Stranding games, will be making his animated debut in Disney’s Zootopia 2 (and before you ask, no, he isn’t playing a snake). Kojima plays supporting character Paul Moledebrandt, a member of the Zootopia Police Force who helps out main characters Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps throughout the story in the Japanese dub of the film.
While this isn’t Kojima’s first foray into voice acting, having provided his voice in small cameo roles as well as throughout the Metal Gear Solid and Death Stranding games, this is his first time appearing in an animated feature film. According to his interview with Mantanweb, Kojima was personally approached by Disney CCO and Zootopia director Jared Bush for the role.
Kojima seems to be really excited about his involvement in the film, with him claiming that he was "honored" by Bush’s invitation and "accepted [the role] without hesitation." He noted that the first Zootopia was his favorite Disney film for its mix of lighthearted family fun and exploration of deeper social themes.
The Death Stranding director also showered Disney with praise for their work on Zootopia 2, stating that the "the production was incredibly well-crafted" and that the movie would "definitely be a 'new Zootopia' that surpasses the previous one." His excitement to work with Disney comes as no surprise, as he has a reputation for being one of gaming’s most beloved film buffs, with his eclectic tastes in art and cinema serving as strong influences for his critically acclaimed games and strong directorial vision.
Kojima, An Enjoyer of Absolute Cinema
Hideo Kojima has made it no secret that he loves cinema, from the movie reviews he’s posted on his Twitter account (which have become trusted indicators of a film’s quality amongst his fans) to his interviews with film outlets such as the Criterion Collection, a company focused on the restoration and archiving of classic films. This is most prevalent in his work, though, as his games have always professed his love for cinema.
For the Death Stranding games, for example, Kojima worked with Hollywood actors like Norman Reedus, Mads Mikkelsen, and Margaret Qualley, and even filmmaker Guillermo Del Toro to portray the game’s most important characters. The series’ distinctly post-apocalyptic, science fiction narrative also takes heavy inspiration from classic sci-fi films, such as "Interstellar," "2001, A Space Odyssey" and "Akira."
The Metal Gear Solid games are also chock-full of references to classic cinema, from multiple scenes throughout the series being tributes to classic films, to the influence that movies such as "Apocalypse Now," "The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly," and the "007" franchise have had on Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater. The game itself says as much when the player saves their game, where they can hear Kojima’s opinions on a bunch of movies filtered through the main character, Naked Snake, and his companion, Para-Medic.
Cinema also serves as a great influence on Kojima’s current work, with his upcoming horror game OD being co-written by comedian and director Jordan Peele, known for critically acclaimed horror films such as "Get Out" and "Nope." Actresses Sophia Lillis and Hunter Schafer will also appear in the game alongside a posthumous appearance by horror icon Udo Kier. Not much is known about OD yet, but an ominous teaser trailer was released last September, showcasing scenes from the game’s story.
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Hideo Kojima: Game creator personally approached director to make cameo appearance as Japanese voice actor in Zootopia 2
- confident it will definitely surpass the previous work
The Snake Eater Interview
