A man who transformed into a dog by using an ultra-realistic costume has announced a drastic life change
Japanese YouTuber Toco shot to worldwide notoriety after spending over two million Yen ($14,000) on a custom-made collie costume so that he could achieve his lifelong dream of becoming an animal.
The faux dog purchased the lifelike costume from Zeppet - a Japanese agency that makes sculptures and models for films.
"I thought a big animal close to my size would be good considering that it would be a realistic model, so I decided to make it a dog," he told Daily Mail. "There are restrictions, but you can move in it. However, if you move too much, it will not look like a dog."
The YouTuber uses his channel - which goes by the handle @I_want_to_be_an_animal - to share videos of himself living out his canine fantasy such as learning how to eat, walk, play, and perform tricks.
Toco's latest video showed him participating in various household activities like vacuuming, cleaning, throwing away trash, and even completing a math equation.
Many people rushed to the comment to praise the man's lifelike suit as one user wrote: "Best suit of all time. Those movements are even spot on. Well done!"
"You're such a smart doggo!" a second person gushed, while a third added: "World's smartest dog."
Despite the support Toco receives on social media, he has revealed that the challenges of moving like a dog have made him consider imitating other animals.
"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 told Japanese news outlet WanQol.
"I might realistically be able to become another dog, a panda or a bear, a fox or a cat would also be nice, but they are too small for humans to try," he continued, adding: "I'd like to fulfill my dream of becoming another animal someday."
He did not reveal whether he has set the wheels in motion for his next animal, but I'm sure his 65,000 subscribers will be anticipating it.
Toco previously disclosed that he chose not to reveal his face to viewers because he doesn't want to share this special aspect of his life with anyone who would criticize his unorthodox 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."
Revealing why he's chosen this particular path in life, he shared: "Since childhood, I have had this unspecific fantasy of becoming an animal," adding, "I wonder whether it was a desire for transformation."
One psychologist told The New York Post that Toco is a “therian," which is someone who identifies with a nonhuman species - a different term to a "furry" which is someone who enjoys cosplaying in an animal costume.
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