What is the work of Toco, the human dog?

December 10, 2025 •

4 min read

In 2022, a Japanese man, known only as Toco, captured the internet's imagination by spending approximately $14,000 on a lifelike collie costume to fulfill his childhood dream of becoming an animal. His work has since evolved from simple YouTube videos documenting his life as a 'human dog' to an expanding project that includes public appearances and even a unique zoo.

Quick Summary

This article delves into the viral phenomenon of Toco, the Japanese man who lives as a 'human dog' in a custom-made collie costume. It examines his viral online content, his public interactions, motivations for privacy, and his new business venture, the 'Tocotoco Zoo'.

Key Points

Origin: Toco is a Japanese man who fulfilled his childhood dream of becoming an animal by commissioning a custom, hyperrealistic collie costume for thousands of dollars.
Online Presence: His work primarily involves creating viral videos on his YouTube channel and TikTok, where he documents his life and performs dog-like activities in his costume.
Public Appearances: Toco has expanded his work to include public walks and appearances, which have garnered significant media attention and curiosity from onlookers.
Business Venture: He launched a unique business called the "Tocotoco Zoo" in Japan, allowing others to rent high-quality animal costumes and experience living as an animal.
Anonymity: A crucial aspect of his work is maintaining his anonymity to protect his professional and private life from the judgment associated with his unique hobby.
Future Plans: Toco's work includes ambitious future plans, such as designing costumes for other animals like a panda, to continue his project.

From Childhood Dream to Internet Sensation

The Birth of a Collie Persona

Toco's journey began with a childhood aspiration to become an animal, a dream he decided to turn into a reality as an adult. The crucial first step was commissioning a highly specialized effects company named Zeppet to create a custom, hyperrealistic collie costume. This process was complex, as the designers had to figure out how to reproduce the skeleton and movements of a dog on a human frame. The final product, which cost around $14,000 to $20,000, took 40 days to complete and was meticulously crafted to obscure the human inside. Toco chose the collie breed specifically because its long fur was ideal for concealing his human form, making the transformation remarkably convincing.

Documenting the Canine Life Online

Toco documents his life as a 'human dog' on his YouTube channel, "I want to be an animal," and other social media platforms. His content ranges from performing typical dog behaviors like rolling over and playing fetch to more unusual feats, such as interacting with other people and real dogs in public. Some videos showcase him simply going for walks on a leash, an act that has captivated millions of viewers and sparked widespread discussion. The online content has generated a mix of fascination, curiosity, and criticism, yet Toco maintains that his hobby brings him immense happiness.

Public Appearances and the Tocotoco Zoo

After achieving viral fame online, Toco has cautiously ventured into the public sphere. His first public walk in 2023, captured by a German TV station, stunned passersby and other animals. In January 2025, Toco took his persona to the next level by launching the "Tocotoco Zoo" in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. This unique attraction allows visitors to pay to dress up in realistic animal costumes and experience life from a different perspective. The initial offerings include an Alaskan Malamute costume, with plans to expand to other animals like pandas in the future.

The Need for Anonymity

Despite his very public content, Toco maintains his anonymity to avoid judgment from his friends and coworkers, keeping his persona separate from his day-to-day life. This desire for privacy highlights the social stigma that can surround unconventional hobbies. He believes his colleagues would find his dream strange and views the costume as an expression of personal freedom rather than an escape. He has, however, expressed a desire to connect with other individuals who share his unique interest.

How Toco's Work Has Expanded

Toco's work demonstrates a clear expansion from simple content creation to entrepreneurial pursuits. His journey highlights several distinct phases of his project.


Phase	Focus of Work	Examples of Activities
Phase 1: Online Content Creation	Documenting his life as a 'human dog' for a dedicated online following.	Creating videos of daily activities in costume, such as rolling in the grass, playing fetch, and performing tricks.
Phase 2: Public Interactions	Venturing into public spaces to engage with the world while in costume.	Taking public walks and interacting with curious onlookers and other dogs, often for filmed interviews or documentaries.
Phase 3: Business Expansion	Monetizing the unique persona by creating a business centered around the experience.	Launching the 'Tocotoco Zoo,' a unique attraction allowing visitors to rent hyperrealistic animal costumes and live out similar fantasies.
Phase 4: Future Growth	Considering future costume changes and expanding the animal zoo concept.	Expressing interest in new animal personas, such as a panda or a bear, and growing the rental service.

Conclusion

The work of Toco goes far beyond simply dressing up in a dog costume. It involves meticulous planning, significant financial investment, and the consistent creation of content for an audience of millions. His journey from fulfilling a childhood dream in secret to launching a public business reveals a complex narrative about personal identity, self-expression, and the power of viral internet culture. While his work may continue to spark debate, Toco has successfully transformed a private hobby into a public spectacle and a unique business enterprise, all while maintaining a separation between his public persona and his private life.

The Evolution of Toco's Work

Initial Online Videos

Toco's initial work involved creating videos for his YouTube channel, "I want to be an animal," where he showcased his new identity.

Public Appearances and Media Features

His work gained international attention through public walks and features on news channels, such as a German TV station.

The 'Tocotoco Zoo' Concept

The most significant evolution of Toco's work was the creation of a 'zoo' for humans in early 2025, where guests can rent animal costumes.

Maintaining a Separate Identity

A key part of Toco's work involves meticulously protecting his anonymity to prevent his public persona from affecting his private life.

A New Form of Entertainment

Toco's work has pioneered a new niche of performance art and internet entertainment centered around the experience of 'becoming' an animal.

Exploring New Animal Personas

His work includes exploring the feasibility of creating and inhabiting costumes for other animals, such as pandas or bears.

Inspiring Others to Chase Dreams

Beyond entertainment, Toco's work is seen by some as an inspiration for people to pursue their dreams, no matter how unconventional.

Frequently Asked Questions

Toco is the pseudonym of a Japanese man who gained viral fame for spending thousands of dollars on a custom-made, hyperrealistic collie costume to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming an animal.

Toco's work involves creating viral content on social media, making public appearances in his costume, and running a unique business called the 'Tocotoco Zoo,' where he rents out realistic animal costumes to other people.

The custom-made collie costume cost Toco approximately $14,000 to $20,000 and took 40 days to create by the special effects company Zeppet.

Toco keeps his human identity private to avoid judgment from friends and coworkers who might find his hobby strange. He wishes to keep his personal and professional life separate from his public persona.

The 'Tocotoco Zoo' is a business venture Toco launched in Saitama Prefecture, Japan. It allows visitors to rent lifelike animal costumes, like an Alaskan Malamute, to experience what it's like to be an animal.

Yes, Toco's videos have generated mixed reactions, including fascination, curiosity, and criticism from people who find his lifestyle bizarre. However, he insists that his hobby makes him happy.

Toco has expressed interest in expanding his project by inhabiting costumes of other animals, such as a panda or a bear, though he notes that smaller animals like cats would be too difficult to realistically mimic.