Zootopia 2 (2025)

​“Zootopia 2” stars Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Idris Elba, Shakira, Patrick Warburton, and Quinta Brunson.  Released on November 26, 2025, the film follows Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde as they pursue a mysterious snake in Zootopia.

The film was directed by Jared Bush and Bryon Howard, both of whom have previously directed “Encanto”.  Bush is also known for writing screenplays for “Moana” and its sequel, while Howard is known for co-directing “Bolt”, “Tangled”, and “Zootopia”.  It is the sequel to the 2016 animated film “Zootopia”.  Undoubtedly, Disney has long dominated the Thanksgiving box office with its family-friendly offerings, whether they’re original films or sequels.  However, this stronghold began to wane post-COVID, as recent original films like “Strange World” and “Wish” struggled to achieve similar critical and financial success.  Consequently, Disney turned to its existing IPs to reclaim its Thanksgiving dominance, with last year’s “Moana 2” making a massive splash at the box office despite polarizing reviews.  This year, that trend continues with the return to a vibrant, animal-populated utopia that reflects challenges we currently face.  

“Zootopia” may be dismissed as just another children’s movie with walking, talking animals, which has been all the rage nowadays, regardless of quality.  However, at its core, it’s also a surprisingly profound and timely exploration of diversity and stereotypes that resonate with today’s societal issues.  As a result, it became one of Disney’s contemporary examples of blending innocent family fun with adult themes.  Additionally, it’s another opportunity for the studio to milk it while the popularity is still fresh in people’s minds.  This year, audiences are returning to the bustling and animalistic city for their holiday vacation, as this sequel uncovers a new side of the wild metropolis.  But is it really worth revisiting in terms of quality, or is it another tame cash grab that underscores Disney’s fixation on revisiting its IPs?  Let’s find out.

Set after the events of the first film, the story follows rookie animal officers Judy Hopps (Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Bateman), who have become the ultimate dream team within the Zootopia Police Department.  However, their recent case puts the two at risk of separation.  To retain their partnership, Judy and Nick embark on a mission to investigate the appearance of a mysterious pit viper named Gary De’Snake (Quan), who is targeting a valuable journal owned by the affluent Lynxley family.  As their investigation unfolds, they uncover Gary’s true motives for pursuing the book, resulting in Judy and Nick being falsely branded as criminals.  The two partners must now travel to new parts of Zootopia while staying under the radar from law enforcement, ultimately confronting a conspiracy involving the city’s reptilian inhabitants.

As someone who grew up watching Disney films, I view “Zootopia” as a movie that defines the studio’s storytelling style.  It not only delivered the studio's typical family-friendly charm but also intertwined deeper themes that resonate differently as we mature.  With its vibrant animation, memorable characters, and effective buddy-cop formula, “Zootopia” rightfully earns its spot among my favorite Disney animated films.  While I generally approach sequels with caution, especially recent ones from Disney, I can acknowledge that “Zootopia 2” has the potential of being as good as its predecessor, particularly in terms of its world-building.  The first film only scratched the surface of certain areas in this vibrant and expansive city, yet it infused enough inventiveness to spark wonder and humor throughout its setting.  With the sequel, the folks at Disney aim to expand on the lore they introduced by bringing the city’s reptilian characters into the mix, emphasizing the perspective of stereotyped discrimination.

Of course, “Zootopia 2” also faces the challenge of delivering a storyline that possesses the same narrative impact as its predecessor.  This task is often easier said than done, mainly when most sequels were produced merely for quantity and to satisfy audience demand.  I mean, look at what happened to “Moana 2” when the heads at Disney decided to release its television structure state to theaters.  However, some sequels have risen to the occasion through their quality and entertainment value, even if they don’t match the impact of their predecessors.  “Zootopia 2” managed to become another example of the latter, breaking the studio’s trend of middling animated sequels with an engaging all-ages buddy-cop adventure filled with dynamic characters and relatable messages.

When asked what makes “Zootopia” a groundbreaking family movie, one might assume the answer lies in its innovative world-building, clever animal puns, or memorable characters.  While these aspects certainly contribute to the film’s quality, it’s actually the metaphorical themes that make it more mature than we initially thought.  Sure, it’s another movie featuring anthropomorphic animals getting into wild mishaps, but it also portrays these creatures as living, breathing beings with beliefs and challenges that mirror our own.  “Zootopia" is an uplifting and timely celebration of diversity, emphasizing acceptance amidst a city grappling with complex and xenophobic political dynamics.  It reflected that making a difference in this world is not an easy task, but with trust, loyalty, and heart, it can create the stepping stones needed to make it achievable.

“Zootopia 2” continues to explore these themes by introducing the city’s reptilian residents.  The film depicts the reptiles as a misunderstood species, ostracized by society after a crucial incident that led to their banishment from the city.  However, its new character, Gary, challenges these perceptions through a personality that is more innocent and gentle than vicious.  This narrative further emphasizes the franchise’s exploration of diversity and xenophobia, highlighting those eager to distort history through deception and propaganda.  So, it’s easy to say this is another movie worth discussing with the kids, building on the foundation of its predecessor.  While its thematic intentions are fulfilling in their own way, the sequel doesn’t quite match the narrative impact shown in the original.  It compensates with an entertaining, amusing, and visually appealing caper that illustrates the mismatched duo’s chemistry and growth.  However, on the storytelling front, it offers the same narrative traits seen in other buddy cop films to slither through the tameness of its emotional resonance.

I will commend directors Jared Bush and Bryan Howard for understanding the basics of the universe created for “Zootopia”.  It’s an animal utopia that acts, lives, and breathes like our own city, with its world-building underscoring its diverse species, dynamic settings, and even its rich history.  Through its introduction of the reptilian residents, “Zootopia 2” expands the bustling city while maintaining the original’s thematic focus and animal puns, and boy, were there a lot of them.  It even has numerous blink-and-you-miss-it gags that may require multiple viewings to spot them.  Some of them may not reach the heights of the original’s memorable scenes, especially the DMV run by sloths.  Fortunately, they still pack a punch in injecting charm and wit into the puns and references that were more genuine than groan-inducing.  However, the film also has a similar issue that plagued “Frozen 2” and “Moana 2”.  They offer plenty of intriguing ideas that either fall short or leave me pretty frustrated with their execution.  In the case of “Zootopia 2”, it swiftly slithers through familiar territory, akin to a snake, in its pacing and genre formula, but my biggest gripe was its third-act twist involving one of its characters.  It not only lacked the shock value of the first film’s twist, but it also felt betraying to the sequel’s perspective on accepting people’s differences and the character arc it introduced.  You can say that I found someone who’s just as pathetic as Prince Hans from “Frozen”.

Despite these flaws, I still had a good time watching “Zootopia 2”, notably because of the elements that made its predecessor a triumph in animation storytelling.  One such case is the mismatched yet charismatic dynamic between Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde.  They provide the usual distinctive banter we come to expect from the bunny-fox duo amid their humorous antics, much to my enjoyment.  The sequel also further explores the evolving friendship as they tackle a case that challenges their partnership.  Amid its mature themes, “Zootopia 2” delivers a heartwarming message about the essence of establishing a true collaboration.  While teamwork is crucial for a healthy partnership, it also takes communication and honesty to build trust.  This is a worthy family-friendly message that benefited suitably from Jared Bush’s screenplay, heartfelt tone, and the excellent vocal performances by Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman.  Goodwin once again conveys Judy Hopps's optimism and resilience, further establishing the rabbit cop as an inspiring role model for children.  Additionally, Bateman’s performance as Nick Wilde effectively combines sly humor with genuine warmth, making him a worthwhile companion to Judy.

The rest of the cast was also excellent in their roles, and I have to say.  There were a lot of big names involved in this film, even those who appear in small cameos.  I would list them all, but that’ll take me all day.  So, I’m just going to name a few that stood out to me, starting with Ke Huy Quan as Gary.  Quan delivers a performance that profoundly captures Gary’s innocent and gentle nature, which contrasts with his reptilian appearance.  Additionally, Gary might just be the most endearing animated snake I’ve ever laid eyes on.  I’ve seen plenty of snakes in other films and television shows, but Gary from “Zootopia 2” might just take the cake as my favorite animated serpent that’s not downright deadly.  Fortune Feimster was also a surprisingly delightful addition to the cast as Nibbles Maplestick, a beaver conspiracy theorist who aids Nick and Judy with their case.  Feimster has appeared in previous projects I’ve seen, albeit in supporting roles, and I found her amusing enough to pique my curiosity about her filmography.  Her role as a quirky beaver who runs a conspiracy podcast might be my favorite performance from Feimster so far, showcasing her comedic talent.  Patrick Warburton also leaves a solid impression as Mayor Brian Winddancer, infusing the city’s new mayor with his signature charming goofiness that’ll satisfy his fans, including me.

As for the animation, “Zootopia 2” maintains the strengths of its predecessor, blending its vibrant, innovative, and whimsical elements into its world-building.  Due to the story exploring more of Zootopia’s history, the animators aimed to use their creative minds to develop new parts of the city that were more plot-relevant than filler for animal puns.  Unsurprisingly, the animation strikes a perfect balance between creativity, humor, and visual appeal.  From the Louisiana-esque Marsh Market to the icy landscapes of Tundratown, the film further showcases the studio’s imaginative prowess in crafting worlds that captivate children and leave their parents in awe.  The character designs effectively merge animal traits with human characteristics, and the cinematography and lighting enhance the immersive quality of the settings and action sequences.  It bears repeating that the folks at Walt Disney Animation Studios truly understand that animation remains a key element in delivering wonder and imagination, regardless of the narrative quality.  “Zootopia 2” is unsurprisingly another testament to the studio’s process.

Overall, “Zootopia 2” is a fun and consistently wild follow-up that justifies my return to the animal-filled utopia.  With a story that builds upon its predecessor’s timely messages and world-building, Disney has successfully cracked the case for creating a proper sequel that’s as entertaining and thought-provoking as the first film.  However, it falls short of matching the narrative impact of its fantastic predecessor, offering formulaic plot elements that play it safe with its metaphorical themes, including a flawed third-act twist.  Nonetheless, this second trip to the animal-populated city packs plenty of dazzle, wit, and heart, delivering a slithery mystery worth investigating for audiences of all ages.  Thanks to its outstanding voice cast, breathtaking animation, witty humor, and strong messages amidst a conventional yet diverting plot, “Zootopia 2” stands out as Disney’s best animated sequel in their “Animation Studios” lineup since “Ralph Breaks the Internet”.  If you loved the first film, you will likely have a great time with this sequel, though don't expect it to have the same narrative heights as its predecessor.

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