Zootopia 2: A Paw-some Disney Adventure

Opening the Gates

A loud roaring echoes through the sky as prey and predators alike live in harmony. That can only mean one thing: a beloved Disney property is back on the silver screen for the first time in nearly a decade! Zootopia 2 is the highly anticipated sequel to Disney’s 2016 hit, Zootopia. During its initial run, the first film saw a great deal of success, being universally praised by critics, winning several awards, and even grossing over a billion dollars at the worldwide box office. But other than a miniseries on Disney+ – fittingly titled Zootopia+ – there was not much word on the franchise’s next cinematic adventure. 

Now, after almost ten years of dormancy, the series is making its grand return during the most thankful time of year, Thanksgiving! But could the series maintain relevancy, even after all the time off? As it turns out, yes: not only has the sequel earned acclaim from critics and audiences, but it is currently tracking to make around $125 million in its first five days of release in North America alone, despite competition from other blockbusters like Wicked: For Good and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. 

Going into this film, I had feelings of both enthusiasm and skepticism. On one hand, I absolutely adore the first Zootopia film – particularly for its animation, humor, and surprisingly grounded approach to topics like prejudice – having rewatched it multiple times since I initially saw it in theaters. But simultaneously, I have not been very impressed with most of the recent Disney animated projects, with films like Strange World, Wish, and Moana 2 being flooded with wasted potential. 

With Zootopia 2, I had a feeling that the near ten-year wait could either make or break the final product, as it could either provide a fresh new approach to a beloved name or play it too safe with the same old tricks as before. Nonetheless, I went into the movie hopeful, crossing my fingers that the creative team could effectively bring one of my favorite Disney films back into the limelight.

Faster than a cheetah in an open field, I secured a ticket at the local Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield and caught a screening of the film on Tuesday, Nov. 25. As the city closed its doors for the evening, I was left with one question: did this film leave me as happy as an energized rabbit, or more angry than a ravenous tiger?

Uncaging the Inhabitants

Set some time after the first film, Zootopia 2 sees the return of beloved duo Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, members of the Zootopia Police Department in the titular animal utopia. One night, the two are suddenly tasked with going undercover and tracking a mysterious viper – the first reptilian to enter the city in a century. But as they hone in closer on their target, the snake opens up about his past and motivation for entering Zootopia, leading to an unexpected race against time in the most intricate case of Hopps’s and Wilde’s entire careers.

Helmed by returning co-directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard, the film features many names both familiar and new to the franchise, including Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Idris Elba, Andy Samberg, and Shakira among many others.

After years of delivering products which were grander in potential than execution, I am pleased to report that Disney has finally released an animated film I can call great. Though I do prefer the first film overall, that did not stop this sequel from efficiently telling its own story, and justifying itself as more than just a quick corporate cashgrab. In fact, the plot structure actually stands out as one of the highlights of the film overall, particularly in its tone and presentation.

The story itself is well-crafted and engaging throughout, perfectly balancing out the tense conflict with sillier antics which add an uplifting feel. In fact, from the perspective of the stakes, there are actually some scenes which feel a bit darker than the first film, primarily when revealing plot details about Zootopia’s past in an unexpectedly unpredictable fashion. Granted, many of the plot details do have foreseeable outcomes – including the overall ending – but the way the film told its story not only introduced a layer of intensity to the viewing experience, but also expands on the world of Zootopia in a resounding manner. 

Speaking of which, there are a plethora of locations explored throughout the film, giving it a grand sense of spectacle equal to that of the predecessor. Whether it be the frozen overtones of Tundratown or the brightly aquatic nature of the Marsh Market, the film uses its runtime to its advantage, exploring as many environments as it can to provide the greatest scale possible. Mixed with several new animal species entering the fray – including reptiles, beavers, walruses, and lynxes – it gives the film senses of variety and creativity which kept me engaged in worldbuilding. 

Meanwhile, the story also makes use of important concepts, just like the first film, which result in an impactful message. The film explores topics like prejudice, personal differences, and teamwork throughout its runtime, each with their own sort of impact on the plot – whether it be positive or negative. This gave the movie a sense of realism, as the characters deal with varying issues in both solving the case and their own personal arcs. 

Resultantly, the characters all felt genuine – especially the protagonists – even amid all the humor and lightheartedness, adding a great balance to the film’s overall tone: it never shies away from the issues at hand, but still keeps audiences entertained through its characters. All of these elements combined lead to a screenplay which nearly-flawlessly feels fun, tense, and realistic all at the same time.

The Stars of the Exhibits

The movie features a massive ensemble who all portray their characters – both old and new – fantastically via voice acting. Each performer lets their own acting style shine, even through the animated barrier, transporting audiences directly into their antics and conversations from the moment the film begins. 

The highlight performers are easily the two protagonists, Hopps and Wilde, portrayed amazingly by their returning performers – Goodwin and Bateman, respectively. This sequel puts their personal traits at the forefront, revisiting plot beats and dialogue from the first film while adding new challenges which put their skills to the test. This can primarily be seen in their conflicting personalities, with Goodwin being hyperactive and work-determined as Hopps and Bateman providing a sarcastically easygoing portrayal to Wilde. 

Their differences lead to two greatly crafted character arcs, which develop consistently from the minute they are introduced, and even a fascinating side plot which sees their traits adding obstacles to their partnership. Goodwin and Bateman showcase great energy as the film’s protagonists, finding comfort and joy in each other’s company despite the differences in their ethics.

The rest of the cast all does greatly, with other standouts coming from the incredibly charming new characters. For example, Feimster portrays Nibbles Maplestick – a beaver who runs a podcast – in a manner that’s as energetic and humorous as her name may imply. She provides some of the strongest enthusiasm of the entire ensemble; I’ll admit, when she was first introduced, I thought she was going to be a standard-but-annoying comic relief. But I found myself surprised by the furry fiend, who not only had prominent energy, but also some of the funniest line deliveries in the entire film. 

Meanwhile, Quan portrays the mysterious snake – who enters Zootopia unexpectedly – in a surprisingly tender fashion. I won’t say much about his character as it delves into spoiler territory, but I will say that this character has both a strong motivation and surprisingly emotional connection to the animal paradise. His character doesn’t get as much screen time until the second half, but once he’s in the spotlight, his presence leads to plenty of heartfelt dialogue and moments. As such, despite his snake status, he arguably serves as one of the most human characters in the entire film.

The only characters I admittedly wasn’t too impressed by were the villains. To avoid spoiler territory, I won’t go too in depth about them, but I found myself somewhat underwhelmed by the film’s big bads. Not because they had no menace or drive, but more so due to how they didn’t have much resonation due to generic lines and motivation. Plus, the movie tries implementing a plot twist into its third act regarding them, but admittedly, this was one of the more predictable instances of the screenplay, even feeling like a bit of a rehash from its predecessor. The villains still have merit in their performances, but their overall impact was somewhat lacking, leading them to be the weakest part of the film for me. 

Reptilian Rambuctiousness

From the moment I sat down in the auditorium and was reintroduced to the world of Zootopia, I felt a rush of joy flow through me like no other film this year has accomplished. In fact, this nostalgically endearing overload kept me smiling throughout the entire runtime, even with the faults the feature sported. This was thanks to the many gorgeous technical aspects which were not only stunning to the eyes and ears, but also made my inner child start cheering. 

The most prominent technical aspect is the animation, which has always been one of Disney’s strong suits – even in their weaker films. In this movie, a vast easel of colors fly out on the screen as it explores numerous landscapes and scenarios. Whether it be traversing empty sand-ridden tundras, capturing the frost of a frozen utopia, or even showcasing a high-stakes car chase through the crowded streets of the city, eye candy is this movie’s specialty, especially in how it introduces and utilizes its environments. 

This also applies to the character animation, with each inhabitant sporting bright fur or clothing and sporting appropriately smooth movements. This is where the movie’s visual variety shines the most, as creatures of the land and sea are depicted through numerous designs and fitting traits, leading to graceful visuals and occasionally humorous outcomes. The reptiles the movie introduces especially shine with their vibrant designs and species-appropriate movements – whether it be a snake’s spontaneous slithering or a tortoise’s slower reaction time.

This also led to some really well-crafted humor, which surprised me in how much it succeeded at getting me to laugh. Going into the movie, I was worried that the humor would take a more juvenile approach, or that it wouldn’t land as consistently as it did in the first movie. However, through a mixture of visual gags, snappy dialogue, and animal-related functions, the humor found ways to remain clever and witty, leading to me chuckling many times throughout the feature. Without giving away the punchlines, one highlight joke provides an effective parody of mob films like The Godfather, while another implements the way a basilisk moves across water. 

There is also a treat for the ears in the film’s terrific musical score, helmed by returning composer Michael Giacchino. His tracks primarily shine in the film’s more intense sequences, including a car chase in the first few minutes and a climactic final battle, but he also showcases strong emotional appeal in his music, especially in one slower scene after an admittedly lacking plot twist. Each tune has a unique compositional approach, ensuring they don’t all blend in with each other and adding to the overall engagement value. 

In addition, just like the first film, Shakira composed her own original song for the movie called “Zoo,” which has an upbeat melody and feel-good tone, accompanied by a catchy chorus which I’ve been humming since I left the theater. Though I prefer her previous song, “Try Everything,” this is still a well-crafted tune which fits with the film’s uplifting nature. 

A Super Safari

Overall, though I wasn’t thrilled by the villains, Zootopia 2 is one of the strongest sequels Disney has released in modern times thanks to its efficient storytelling, charming characters, stunning animation, balanced tone, consistent humor, and themes which parallel that of its predecessor. This is the type of film Disney needed after years of mediocrity, taking viewers back to one of their most beloved series with an impactful roar.

If you’re a fan of the first Zootopia film, the medium of animation, or the prior works of Disney, this is a satisfactory movie to consider for your next watch. Zootopia 2 is currently screening at theaters all over the country, including near campus as Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield. If you want to see the return of beloved characters in all-new expanded environments, this is the perfect film for you.

It may not quite live up to its predecessor’s mastery, but as far as modern Disney films go, this is a greatly enjoyable return to the big screen for our fiendishly furry friends. 

My Rating