Move over, Freddy and Jason, there’s a new icon in town-and he’s both terrifying and totally huggable! Meet HamiKuma, the creepy-cute bear who has officially made his U.S. debut at Universal Studios Hollywood and Universal Orlando Resort just in time for Halloween Horror Nights 2025.
HamiKuma, whose name translates to “protruding bear” in Japanese, first stole hearts (and screams) at Universal Studios Japan back in 2021. His tragic backstory is straight out of a horror fairy tale: once a beloved circus performer, he was betrayed by jealous peers, torn open under the big top, and later revived by a demon named Death Bringer. Now he roams the earth, guts spilling out, ready to charm and spook fans in equal measure.
The character embodies Japan’s “kowa-kawa” style, which blends “scary” with “cute.” Think teddy bear meets nightmare fuel, and you’ve got the idea. He was such a hit overseas that he not only starred in scare zones but even got his own show, HamiKuma Psycho Circus.
This year, U.S. fans finally get their chance to meet him.
At Universal Studios Hollywood, guests can line up in front of the Animation Studio Store during the day and HHN nights to snap a photo with the gut-spilling star himself. To sweeten the experience, Hollywood is also serving up a HamiKuma Dessert — layers of chocolate cake, buttercream, raspberry jam, and candy, topped with an edible HamiKuma design. Basically, it’s all of his insides, but delicious.
Related: Step Into the Terror of Jason Universe at Halloween Horror Nights 34
Over on both coasts, the merch is where HamiKuma really shines. At Universal Orlando’s Five & Dime and Hollywood’s Animation Studio Store, you’ll find an exclusive HamiKuma popcorn bucket, a spirit jersey perfect for those fall nights, a fuzzy headband, and more. Keychains, tees, and other goodies let fans bring their new favorite nightmare friend home.
And if you just can’t get enough of this bizarre bear, Universal Studios Japan even offers a virtual HHN game featuring HamiKuma, so his spooky stage stretches across the globe.
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