On Nov. 26, Disney released the sequel to their hit 2016 film, Zootopia, and with such high expectations, many wonder if it was a good decision to make a second installment or if it should’ve been left as a stand-alone movie.
Zootopia is such a beloved film thanks to its world-building, iconic characters, fun energy, and humor that appeals to all ages. This caused the sequel to the almost 10 year-old movie to top the box office charts, beating out Wicked: For Good over Thanksgiving weekend.
However, it’s the audience’s opinion that really matters.
The movie doesn’t waste much time on reintroductions or a “where are they now?” montage, as it takes place just a week after the ending of the first installment. For this reason, it’s a good idea to go back and watch the original before diving straight into the characters’ new adventure.
The plot lines and specifically the messages of both films are fairly similar, causing the narrative to get boring if you choose to have a Zootopia 1 & 2 mini-marathon. The comedic style is also very similar, but it’s definitely not boring since the jokes consistently land throughout Zootopia 2’s entire 108-minute run time.
The expectations for Nick Wilde, the fan-favorite fox and main character, were particularly high and viewers anxiously hoped his wit, charm, and humor wouldn’t be lost to his reformed criminal arc.
Luckily, the banter between him and Judy Hopps, his by-the-books bunny counterpart, is just as good if not better than before since they’ve gotten to know each other better.
There are plenty of hilarious callbacks to past scenes and dialogue as well as references to other iconic Disney films such as Tangled and Ratatouille. It’s obvious that the scriptwriters were very aware of the likes and dislikes of fans which has allowed Zootopia 2 to be so well received.
Another reason the ratings are so high is the star-studded cast. In addition to the already incredible lineup of returning actors, the voices behind new characters belong to some very well-known and well-liked individuals. Ke Huy Quan, Andy Samberg, and Patrick Warburton were brought on to play prominent roles and delivered amazing performances.
There were also many smaller cameos from icons like Josh Gad, Quinta Brunson, Macaulay Culkin, Robert Irwin, Dwayne Johnson, Danny Trejo, Ed Sheeran, and more. The voices really bring the characters to life, especially since all of the characters are different animals. It’s really fun to see what type of voice each species has and how much attention to detail was put into the casting, accents, and even character names.
Of course, Zootopia 2 is targeted towards kids and is therefore a bit predictable and cliché at times; but, it has what a lot of children’s movies don’t: an educational and motivational message.
The sequel further explores the topic of discrimination, which was introduced in the first film, through displaying reptiles as being oppressed. This reflects real-world issues such as colonization, prejudice, and corruption in a digestible way.
While this can feel like a repetition of the original movie at times, there are some key differences that keep the audience interested. Instead of the flash panic and sudden discrimination in the first Zootopia film, the new one shows how marginalized communities can be erased over time.
It’s extremely important for today’s youth to be aware of injustice in the world and both Zootopia 1 & 2 do a fantastic job of educating through entertainment.
The funny one-liners and heartfelt connections between characters help to keep the film light-hearted while delivering the more serious message.
The smooth animation, attention to detail, and vibrant colors make the film very visually appealing even when the dialogue is dragging. Zootopia 2 really expands on the animal world and highlights the differing cultures between groups and species.
What’s really cool is that these different cultures are based on the real-life locations each animal can be found in along with their traits and demeanor. For example, a major plotpoint of the movie is how a powerful family of lynxes is trying to expand Tundratown, the part of Zootopia they call home.
Lynxes are, in fact, very territorial animals that live in snowy regions. With this in mind, you can start to notice more and more of these references to real world wildlife as you rewatch the film.
While audiences got introduced to new reptilian characters and unique locations, Disney made sure that some things remained a mystery. Birds have been noticeably missing from both Zootopia films, leaving viewers with lots of questions.
However, Zootopia 2’s post-credit scene seems to have some answers as it shows a single feather floating down to land on Judy Hopps’ windowsill, right next to her beloved carrot pen. Because of this, fans are looking forward to a future third installment focused on the feathered creatures.
Any future Zootopia films will have some big shoes to fill with the first two having an average rating of 95.5% on Rotten Tomatoes. Overall, Zootopia 2 is a great movie that everyone can enjoy.
It has the classic crime-fighting duo with conflicting personalities, but with some wild twists to keep it from feeling too cliché. If you ever want to watch something guaranteed to make you smile, look no further than Zootopia, the place where anyone can be anything.