Japan’s HamiKuma Comes to Life at Universal Studios Hollywood for HHN 2025—But Skips Orlando

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HamiKuma, a popular character from Universal Studios Japan’s Halloween Horror Nights, is coming to Universal Studios Hollywood for the 2025 event! This will be the first time guests outside of Japan can meet HamiKuma in person. You’ll be able to find the character for meet-and-greets near the Animation Studio Store throughout both the day and night during the event.

Alongside the live shows, Universal Studios Hollywood is offering a range of HamiKuma merchandise for Halloween 2025. You can find items like a $39.99 popcorn bucket, a $30 plush headband, an $85 spirit jersey, and a $25 keychain.

Every item showcases the character’s unique look. This new collection of merchandise expands on the character’s popularity and gives fans plenty of ways to collect keepsakes.

Universal Studios Hollywood is bringing the popular Japanese character HamiKuma to the park, showing its commitment to including attractions and characters from its international parks. Previously only seen as a mascot and in merchandise in Japan, HamiKuma now has live meet-and-greets in Hollywood, suggesting plans to introduce the character to a wider audience.

HamiKuma’s Absence from Universal Orlando Resort

Unlike Universal Studios Hollywood, Universal Orlando Resort won’t have a live HamiKuma character at Halloween Horror Nights 2025. Official sources have confirmed that you won’t be able to meet or interact with HamiKuma at the Orlando park. While HamiKuma merchandise will be available, it will be limited to items you can buy in stores, with no live shows or character appearances.

So, it looks like the new character won’t be showing up at Universal Orlando, and that wasn’t an accident. Universal Studios Japan originally announced where the character would appear internationally, and Hollywood made the list, but Orlando didn’t. It seems like Universal just has different plans for events at each park, and Orlando decided this character wasn’t a good fit for their current programming. It wasn’t just forgotten or anything – it was a conscious decision.

Universal Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights (HHN) is famous for its elaborate haunted houses, scare zones, and shows. Universal often creates unique experiences just for its fans. The decision not to include HamiKuma in the Orlando event’s live performances might be because they’re prioritizing other original or licensed characters and stories.

Seeing HamiKuma items for sale in Orlando shows people are starting to recognize and like the brand. While you can buy HamiKuma-themed products at Universal Orlando, don’t expect to meet the character itself during the Halloween celebrations.

HamiKuma’s arrival at Universal parks outside of Japan marks a slow but deliberate plan by Universal Studios Japan, where the character first appeared. Whether HamiKuma will show up in other parks likely depends on how popular it becomes and what Universal decides makes good business sense.

Conclusion

Just to clarify, you’ll only be able to meet HamiKuma in person at Universal Studios Hollywood during Halloween Horror Nights in 2025. While Universal Orlando Resort won’t have live HamiKuma appearances, they will be selling related merchandise. If you want to meet the character face-to-face, be sure to visit the Hollywood park!

The Halloween events at the two Universal parks show different choices in how they’re planned. Universal Studios Hollywood features HamiKuma as both a costumed character you can see and in the products they sell. Universal Orlando Resort only sells HamiKuma merchandise, and doesn’t have a live character appearance.

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2025-09-16 14:56