Hungry Hungry Hippos Costume
Bring the classic 1970s board game to life in vibrant color.
Based on the beloved Hasbro tabletop board game, a Hungry Hungry Hippos costume is a bright, nostalgic choice that is especially popular for group outfits. The look centers on a solid, vibrant color palette—traditionally pink, orange, yellow, or green—paired with a wide-mouthed hippo headpiece and white 'marbles'. It is a lighthearted, high-energy costume that instantly brings smiles to any crowd.
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Time
- ~30 min
- Budget
- $20–60
Try it on
See yourself as Hungry Hungry Hippos
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What you need for a Hungry Hungry Hippos costume
Short on time? Buy it ready-made
Spirit Halloween sells the complete Hungry Hungry Hippos costume — one box instead of 5 pieces.
Solid-colored sweatsuit
A matching hoodie and sweatpants set in bright pink, orange, yellow, or green.
DIY: Use any solid-colored bright sweatshirt and pants you already own.
Hippo ears headband or cap
A matching colored baseball cap or headband to serve as the base for the hippo face.
DIY: Glue matching felt ears to a plain plastic headband.
Felt sheets
White, black, and pink felt sheets to construct the hippo's eyes and teeth.
Plastic bucket or bowl
A small, lightweight plastic bucket in a color matching your outfit to collect marbles.
DIY: Use a clean plastic food container painted to match your outfit.
White plastic balls
A handful of white plastic ball-pit balls to represent the game's marbles.
DIY: Use white foam craft spheres or ping pong balls.
Rather not assemble it? See ready-made Hungry Hungry Hippos costumes at Spirit Halloween ↗
How to put it together
- 1
Choose your signature hippo identity: pink (Lizzie), orange (Henry), yellow (Harry), or green (Homer).
- 2
Put on your matching solid-colored sweatsuit or jumpsuit.
- 3
Cut large white felt circles and smaller black felt circles to create the hippo eyes, then glue them to the front of your cap or headband.
- 4
Cut white felt triangles for the teeth and glue them along the underside of the cap's brim so they hang down over your forehead.
- 5
Fill your plastic bucket with the white plastic balls to represent your hard-earned game marbles.
Makeup & hair
Keep hair pulled back under your cap or headband. If desired, use matching face paint to add colorful circles to your cheeks.
Hungry Hungry Hippos for couples, groups, kids & more
- couples
- Dress as two contrasting hippos (like Pink and Green) and carry a shared basket of white balls between you.
- group
- Get four friends together to represent the complete set of pink, orange, yellow, and green hippos.
- kids
- Use a bright toddler hoodie, glue felt teeth along the hood rim, and give them a small plastic bucket to collect treats.
- Plus size
- An oversized fleece hoodie and matching sweatpants provide a comfortable, warm, and size-inclusive base.
- pet
- A solid-colored dog t-shirt paired with a lightweight matching headband with felt eyes.
Tips
- If going as a group, coordinate your colors in advance to avoid duplicates and ensure a complete four-player set.
- Attach your plastic bowl to your waist with a belt or strap to keep your hands free during parties.
- Use lightweight plastic balls rather than heavy spheres so they are safe to toss and easy to carry all night.
Hungry Hungry Hippos costume FAQ
- What are the names of the Hungry Hungry Hippos?
- The original four classic hippos are Lizzie (pink), Henry (orange), Harry (yellow), and Homer (green).
- How do you make a quick DIY hippo hat?
- Glue white felt triangles under the brim of a matching baseball cap for teeth, and glue two large white-and-black felt circles on top for the eyes.
- What should I use for the game marbles?
- White plastic ball-pit balls or lightweight ping pong balls are perfect, safe, and easy to carry.
Did you know? Introduced by Milton Bradley in 1978, the iconic board game has remained a staple of childhood game nights for decades with its simple, high-energy chomping action.