A Japanese YouTuber, known as Toco, has shared a surprising update about his unique lifestyle. Toco gained worldwide attention after spending over two million Yen ($14,000) on a custom-made collie costume, crafted by Zeppet, a Japanese agency specializing in sculptures and models for films. Toco’s dream was to live as a dog, and he meticulously planned to create a lifelike costume that would enable him to fulfill this fantasy.
On his YouTube channel, @I_want_to_be_an_animal, Toco shares videos of himself living as a dog, learning how to eat, walk, play, and even perform tricks. In his latest video, Toco showcased himself performing various household chores, such as vacuuming, cleaning, throwing away trash, and solving a math equation. The realism of his suit has earned him significant praise from viewers, with comments like “Best suit of all time. Those movements are even spot on. Well done!” and “You’re such a smart doggo!”
Despite the positive feedback, Toco has revealed the physical challenges of moving like a dog due to the different bone structures and movement patterns of dogs and humans. This difficulty has led him to consider imitating other animals. He told the Japanese news outlet WanQol, “Dogs and humans have different bone structures and the way they bend their legs and arms, so it’s very difficult to make movements that look like this.” He added that he might consider becoming a panda, bear, fox, or cat in the future, although some animals are too small for humans to emulate convincingly.
Toco has not disclosed if he has started planning his next animal transformation, but his 65,000 subscribers are eagerly awaiting his next move. He has chosen to keep his face hidden to avoid criticism of his unconventional hobby. Speaking to The Mirror, he explained, “I rarely tell my friends because I am afraid they will think I am weird. My friends and family seemed very surprised to learn I became an animal.”
Reflecting on his lifelong fantasy, Toco shared, “Since childhood, I have had this unspecific fantasy of becoming an animal. I wonder whether it was a desire for transformation.” A psychologist told The New York Post that Toco is a “therian,” someone who identifies with a nonhuman species, differing from a “furry,” who enjoys cosplaying in animal costumes. As Toco continues his journey, his unique lifestyle continues to captivate and intrigue audiences worldwide.
