Zootopia 2 had a lot to live up to. The Academy Award-winning original film is widely considered a masterpiece in Disney Animation’s 21st-century library, thanks to its poignant honesty and sharp humor.
As one of my personal favorites, I prayed and hoped a second film would not ruin it. And thankfully, I’m happy to report that the mammals behind the second chapter have crafted an installment that not only lives up to the first movie but also makes me hopeful for the future of this smart and warm franchise.
From beginning to end, returning to the expansive world of Zootopia is guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Zootopia 2 is that rare, delightful follow-up to a classic that doesn’t tarnish the legacy of the original and, most importantly, doesn’t feel like a cheap or quick cash grab. It complements the first movie the same way Inside Out 2 complements its masterpiece of a predecessor. And more than that, it presents a case for the continuation of the franchise by furthering the intrigue in its world, and strengthening its characters and their relationships to one another.
This time, the action takes place a mere week after the end of the first film. Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps are trying to navigate through their professional and personal partnership. Being that they are quite the unconventional team, chaos ensues. However, when they investigate a crime linked to the smuggling of a snake into the reptile-free Zootopia, they find themselves on the other end of the law, running for their lives, to try and uncover the truth behind the biggest conspiracy their city has ever seen!
The core of this film is the relationship between Nick and Judy. This is what the filmmakers wanted to prioritize, and it’s a smart move to set this movie only one week after the events of the first film. These are two characters who have grown, but still have a lot of growing to do as individuals and partners. However, centring the movie on this week-to-month-long relationship works because it helps hammer home the film’s greater themes of truth, communication, and empathy, which are necessary in a time like this. Their relationship is a microcosm of larger societal issues today, as we see empathy and honesty attacked by the facades we put up, whether on social media or in regular media.
These two characters discover how different they are, not just on a species level, but also on an ideological level. And them working past those differences to find common ground and prioritize the care they have for one another would benefit audiences watching this today. And thankfully, given the light, breezy approach to the characters and narrative, the movie never feels overtly preachy about this, executing the characters’ realizations in a funny yet charmingly poignant way.
That being said, this is also a Zootopia film. Meaning, as with the first film, there’s an even deeper exploration of society and its flaws through the greater mystery that drives the narrative. At its core, Zootopia 2 is about the dangers of what happens when people in power are allowed to both capitalize on the contributions of marginalized cultures and erase those cultures’ historical contributions to retain control and wealth through lies and scapegoating. As a society, if Zootopia 2 has to spell this out for us, I fear we’ve learned very little since the first film’s release almost 10 years ago. So I admire the bravery and courage in the message and truly hope audiences take it to heart. Characters like Gary De’Snake and the reptile community are misunderstood and sympathetic, which, again, helps drive these messages across without them seeming like overt condemnations of today’s world. And yet, it could not be more relevant today, which has to be greatly commended.
The only flaw in all of the above, in contrast to the first Zootopia, however, is that it seems more surface-level. While I don’t think the film is heavy-handed or preachy, it also explores these deeper themes in a less subtle, more dialogue-driven fashion. While it still feels sincere, it feels a bit more surface-level as a result, compared to how the first film explored the themes of prejudice through Nick’s tragic backstory. For this reason, Zootopia 2 feels slightly less than its predecessor.
That being said, Zootopia set the bar incredibly high, so any subsequent act was always going to feel inferior. However, that absolutely doesn’t mean it’s bad, and there are many assets to the sequel that actually surpass the first; namely, Zootopia 2 is definitely funnier than the first movie. There’s simply no statute of limitations to animal humor, be it puns or sight gags. I laughed hard seeing the spontaneity of the explosive Partners-In-Crisis group Judy and Nick are forced to attend, with hilarious gags being driven by the natures of animals like badgers and elephants. And as a cinephile, the parodies of some of my favorite films came at moments that not only felt appropriate for where the scenes were heading but were also bursting with a kinetic Looney Tunes-type energy that made everything feel so charming and uncensored.
I also can’t stress enough how much I love the characters in this world. Nick and Judy, and their flaws, will always make them near and dear to my heart. Nick’s traumas have understandably created a relatable cynicism in him, making him feel so real. Judy’s optimism and determination, while overbearing at times, feel necessary and urgent given her understanding that she’s the one character who never underestimates the world’s capacity to change. Furthermore, the new characters are also fantastic. Fortune Feimster’s hilarious Nibbles Maplestick is such a welcome addition to the team, proving herself to be a smart and funny character, if not also slightly demented and delusional. Naturally, Ke Huy Quan‘s Gary De’Snake adds so much heart to the mix, with a kind, honest, and sincere performance that will have you falling in love with him and his tragic story.
The world-building here is also terrific. When you thought the world of Zootopia couldn’t get bigger, given how expansive the first movie made it, the sequel gives us an excellent narrative reason to make it bigger. It showcases the potential for this environment to grow even larger than it is now and provides a purpose for it as well. This expansion also ties closely to the movie’s themes of how fear and scapegoating can harm and further marginalize groups, while providing a hopeful outlet for society to change and rectify historical mistakes. In short, making the film and its consequences bigger and better is not just sequelitis. It feels necessary and welcome.
On a technical level, the animation is, of course, gorgeous. The heads of animation and their teams have created new environments, such as the Marsh Market and the mountainsides of Zootopia, lush with vibrant colors and terrific effects. You couldn’t ask for more from the wizards at Disney Animation. As with the first film, however, Michael Giacchino’s score doesn’t quite pop as much as his usual endeavours (such as his stellar work on The Fantastic Four: First Steps earlier this year). Zootopia has a few memorable themes, but overall, his work does get lost among the chaos of the narrative, which is a shame, even though it still helps the film maintain a brisk and energetic pace.
Overall, however, Zootopia 2 is as charming as a fox, and as ‘Wilde’ and wonderful as the first! It gets ‘zoo’ thumbs up from me, as a worthy successor to Zootopia, which justifies the expansion of this world and the evolution of its characters. Simply put, I love this franchise! While it’s not as deep as the first, it’s still poignant and actually funnier! It allows us to fall deeper in love with Judy and Nick and their fantastic friendship, and also allows us to fall in love with Gary De’Snake and Nibbles! As such, I can’t wait for my next visit to Zootopia! I hope it doesn’t take another 10 years to get there!
Rating: 8.5/10