Dir: Jared Bush, Byron Howard
Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Shakira, Idris Elba, Patrick Warburton, Quinta Brunson, Danny Trejo, Alan Tudyk, Nate Torrance, Don Lake, Bonnie Hunt, Jenny Slate
By successfully recreating the charm, creativity, and humour that made the original film so enjoyable, Disney demonstrates that it is currently more effective at reviving familiar animated properties than developing new ones
I doubt I’m alone in feeling that Disney and Pixar have lost their creative spark in recent years. The legendary animation studios that once filled many of our childhoods with wonder now seem unable to recapture the magic of their golden years. Disney Animation Studios has always ridden a rollercoaster of highs and lows throughout its hundred-year history, soaring during the nineties renaissance before plunging into the forgettable experimental era of the 2000s. The revival era briefly reignited their brilliance, but the last decade has been littered with projects that fall short of expectations. Even the most loyal Disney fans must sense the studio’s current slump, and if only Disney would pour less energy into live-action remakes and Marvel projects, and instead return to the storytelling heart that made them iconic, perhaps their animation could shine once more.
Lacklustre box-office numbers and tepid critical reception, especially for new independent releases like “Wish” (2023) and “Strange World” (2022), have prompted Disney to revisit its tried-and-true hits. Their latest offering, “Zootropolis 2”, arrives nearly a decade after the Oscar-winning original. Normally, I would champion fresh stories over sequels, but right now, Disney seems to need a guaranteed win to reclaim their former glory. Despite my doubts about Disney’s recent animated efforts, I optimistically walked into my opening night screening of “Zootropolis 2” with a spark of hope. The first film was not only the last Disney movie I truly enjoyed, but it might just be one of my all-time favourites of their animated features. Its gripping, grown-up mystery, the delightful odd-couple chemistry between Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, and the inventive world-building all shone brightly amid a sea of overblown, soulless Disney releases from the past ten years.
When I first watched the original film in 2016, it instantly reminded me of the brilliant Telltale game “The Wolf Among Us”. “Zootopia”, as it is known in the US, concealed layers of dark secrets and corruption, swapping out the choice-based video game’s fairytale characters for a city of mammals with their own tangled intrigues, and having rewatched the film prior to the sequel’s release, its appeal to all audiences has not aged a day.
Although nearly a decade has passed since the original film, the eagerly anticipated sequel picks up just one week after the events of “Zootropolis”. Fresh from cracking the case of the missing mammals, Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), Zootropolis’ trailblazing bunny cop, and her cunning red fox partner, Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), are now official ZPD partners. Yet, their contrasting personalities soon spark friction, prompting Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) to send them to partner therapy with an ultimatum: work it out or face separation.
After a raid on a smuggling ring goes awry, Judy stumbles upon shredded reptile skin, sparking a wild theory: a snake may be slithering through Zootropolis for the first time in a century. Clues soon point to the mysterious snake, Gary (Ke Huy Quan), making an appearance at the lavish Zootenial Gala, a grand celebration of the city’s centenary hosted by the esteemed Lynxley family. With their badges and bond on the line, Judy and Nick dive into a high-stakes hunt to uncover the snake’s secrets and his ties to the city and the family of Lynxes.
Just as Pixar dazzled audiences with the long-awaited “Inside Out 2” last year, Disney has once again shown that it is currently more effective at revisiting cherished worlds than at inventing new ones. With the original film raking in over $1 billion worldwide, “Zootropolis 2” was always destined for financial greatness, but its record-shattering opening weekend proves I am far from alone in my excitement to see Judy, Nick, and their vibrant city of mammals return. Surpassing $500 million in its first few days and boasting the biggest animated opening ever, this dazzling sequel is racing toward eclipsing its predecessor. If this momentum continues, I have no doubt we will be whisked back to Zootropolis before long.
The film’s meteoric rise owes much to the return of its original creative team, with screenwriter Jared Bush and director Byron Howard once again at the helm. Their vision ensures the sequel pulses with the same irresistible energy as the first, blending breath-taking animation, sly humour, and masterful world-building that captivates viewers of every age. The world of Zootropolis itself feels even richer this time, with every ecosystem and animal detail woven seamlessly into a tapestry of harmony and wit. The film bursts with clever visual gags tailored to each animal’s quirks, delivering laugh-out-loud moments at every turn. Pop culture nods abound, from cheeky bootleg movie titles – a recurring gag from the first film, to playful tributes to Pixar’s “Ratatouille”, and the more adult titles; “The Godfather”, “The Silence of the Lambs”, and a particularly memorable wink to “The Shining”.
Lightning-fast pacing, dazzling visuals, and irresistible charm will once again enchant younger viewers, but the true brilliance of both films lies in their ability to speak to adults through timely, thought-provoking themes. Prejudice and stereotypes are once again explored with fresh nuance, especially through the story of the snakes, whose outsider status powerfully reflects real-world exclusion and the pain of being labelled as different. At its heart, the film spins another engaging mystery—perhaps a touch more predictable and lighter than before, but still gripping—while giving Judy and Nick space to reflect on and deepen their partnership.
This leads us to our dynamic duo, arguably one of animation’s finest double acts and among Disney’s most memorable original creations. Judy and Nick are instantly endearing, each radiating their own brand of wit and charm. Their contrasting buddy-cop dynamic delivers both heart and humour, and their character growth here feels natural and unforced, perfectly fitting the story’s immediate continuation from the first film. Goodwin and Bateman headline a vibrant cast of actors, pop stars, comedians, and even wrestlers, each leaving their mark among the film’s unforgettable menagerie of animals.
Disney keeps raising the bar with its revivals, but to truly reclaim its creative crown, it must tackle its artistic challenges head-on and put its animation studios back in the spotlight. Otherwise, the future may hold little more than a parade of live-action remakes, Star Wars, and Marvel adventures.
The Verdict:
“Zootropolis 2” recaptures the electric buddy cop chemistry and dazzling world-building that powered the original, and though these sequels merely gloss over the studio’s deeper troubles, I gladly welcome more if they maintain this level of quality.
Zootropolis 2 is now showing in UK Cinemas
Dan Loves Film 
Great review! 😎👏
Think you’re spot on with new content vs dusting off and re-releasing classics. And the culture has changed at Disney, which is not to many’s liking. Throw in the ticket prices to WDW in FL… $109/day for adults (off peak; $140 during peak season) and only slightly less for kids 3-9… that’s $450/day for a fam of four, plus meals and lodging (and loooong wait times for the rides) and it’s not surprising that DIS stock has fallen from almost $200/share pre-covid to just over $100 today.
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