Zootopia 2 Movie Review: Among all those princesses, it’s getting lost in the shuffle that Walt Disney Animation Studios has been churning out some real winners – winners that don’t have anything to do with fancy gowns. In the financial world, the real standout is Zootopia. Not only did that one rake in over a billion bucks worldwide, it even snagged an Oscar. And now, 9 years later, the sequel is finally here, offering some answers to the questions that were left hanging from the first and pretty much doubling down on this beloved universe.
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What’s the story behind Zootopia 2
Zootopia 2 picks up a week or so after where the original left off. It turns out that Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are having some serious problems in their partnership – and not just with each other but with the whole town – yeah theyre causing a bit of chaos. But the quick-thinking rabbit soon discovers that a snake may be lurking around – & that’s a weird one, seeing as reptiles haven’t been seen in that neck of the woods for a century & for good reason. The snake, Gary, comes clean about what he’s after: a history book that’s supposed to reveal the truth behind the creation of Zootopia and help his family get back to their own home. And then Judy comes to the realisation that Gary isn’t the villain the town made him out to be. She drags a reluctant Nick on some pretty dodgy business to uncover the real story, but this journey puts their whole friendship at risk of falling apart.
Zootopia 2 is really all about the power of friendship and getting over your prejudices
It’s no surprise that the public wanted more of Zootopia. I mean, the first one was basically the complete package – fun, adorable, & just a sliver of what that world could be like. And now, with this sequel, they get some of the answers they were looking for. I mean, if the first one is all about the mammals, where are the rest of the animals? And some of these questions are finally answered in Zootopia 2. This opens up a whole can of worms when it comes to prejudice, equality, co-existence, & doing what is right even when it’s hard
Some of the formulas that made the first one so beloved are back in Zootopia 2 – that is to say, Judy & Nick have to overcome a load of obstacles – this time even including the police – to uncover another city secret. But this time around, the big difference is that Judy and Nick have some pretty different ideas about how to do things, which leads to some friction between them. Judy is resolute – always willing to take a risk, no matter how big the danger. Nick, on the other hand, wants to help but still tries to put on this tough-guy act – but the truth is that his biggest fear is losing his best mate.
Judy wants to uncover the truth, always determined, no matter the risks. Nick, in turn, wants to help, but still tries to feign a solitary personality – when, in reality, his greatest fear is losing his best friend. You might find yourself shipping a rabbit with a fox again (and thus questioning your own sanity)? Yes. But it’s the partnership between the protagonists that brings the heart of the story.
Zootopia 2 keeps on expanding our wild world (no pun intended)
Among the fresh faces you’ll meet in Zootopia 2, Gary – that snake who’s been making waves – is definitely one to watch. He’s a real glass-half-full kind of guy, just like Judy. Even when things get really tough, he’s convinced good will win out over evil and isn’t easily swayed by all the cynics and hard-luck stories he comes across. And on the lighter side of things, we have Nibble the beaver – a lovable goof who knows more than he should about the reptile world thanks to all the dodgy YouTube conspiracy theories he’s been following.
The Brazilian cast of Zootopia 2 – with Monica Iozzi as Judy, Rodrigo Lombardi as Nick, Danton Mello as Gary, and Samira Fernandes as Nibble – just adds to the main characters’ charm.
Even though it plays it a bit safe by following a similar formula, Zootopia 2 actually gets away with it because the filmmakers are so good at taking the original Zootopia’s winning formula and working with it, rather than trying to reinvent the wheel. That curious, quirky spirit that made the first film an instant hit is still very much in evidence here – and the attention to detail in this totally immersive world is genuinely impressive. Whether it’s a throwaway reference to the human world or a cheeky send-up of a classic film like The Godfather or The Shining.
Clearly, the people behind the film know exactly what made the first film a hit and have brought back some of the favourite supporting characters – like the hilarious Dash, Mr Big and Gazelle, who just happens to be rocking an unreleased new ditty from Shakira – “Zoo”, with no less than Ed Sheeran as one of the contributors.
But, to be honest, with so many other fun characters vying for attention, it feels almost a shame that they’re not being fully utilised. Although at 2 hours long already, perhaps the Zootopia+ short series over on Disney+ might be the way to go for the spin-offs from Zootopia 2.
Judy and Nick are just starting to make waves in the theaters
At a time when Ne Zha 2 is knocking it out of the park as the top film of 2024 so far, it’s pretty amazing that Disney still has the magic touch – they just can’t seem to lose it. I mean, they’ve been at the center of controversy for ages, but they still know how to get families flocking to the cinema & win them over with their incredible universe. Zootopia, being the massive hit that it already is, I guess it shouldn’t come as a huge shock that initial box office numbers are looking like a global smash all over again.
And if you stick around until the very end of the credits (thanks to that annoying little habit Disney inherited from Marvel), you’ll even catch a glimpse of a Zootopia 3 teaser. Kids are totally in love with Judy and Nick, so it’s likely they’ll devour Gary too & the movie’s chock full of gags that both kids and adults can laugh at. So if they can maintain that same level of passion, creativity & meticulous detail that made Zootopia so beloved, we’re in for a treat that’ll keep on coming out for years to come – and probably on the Disney+ streaming service too.
All in all, Zootopia 2 delivers another side-splitting adventure that’ll keep the kids enchanted – and even for grown-ups it still packs a punch with some valuable lessons about prejudice, friendship & justice thrown in. You’ll leave the cinema feeling all fired up to make the world a fairer place and to give those in power a piece of your mind. Course it only takes a couple of minutes for reality to kick back in & remind us just how complex things are, but it’s great to see kids leave with a little bit of optimism in their hearts – given the cynicism of the adult world its probably the right attitude to give ’em.
