Zootopia 2

“There’s a SNAKE!!!”

Energetic, contemporary and emotional, Zootopia 2 is a fang-tastic sequel that expands its animal world and grows its characters whilst unravelling a new mystery that’s timely and compelling, with dynamic animation, and a heartfelt partnership at its core.

Discussion Points:

Jared Bush and Byron Howard are the dream team behind some of Disney’s biggest hits from the last decade Tangled, Zootopia, Moana and Encanto and have played key creative roles in the studio. So to have them re-team to direct Zootopia 2 meant expectations were rising high. And thankfully this sequel is one of the studios best films in recent memory ranking with the aforementioned hits that they’ve had a hand in. Just as action-packed, creative and heartfelt as the first, Zootopia 2 follows a new mystery which organically expands the world of the first, introduces new loveable characters (Ke Huy Quan’s Gary De’Snake is sssssssuperb!), and cleverly introduces topical and timely themes of colonialism, capitalism, expansionism, and refugees into the already established themes of racism and prejudice established in the first. And like the first, it’s never preachy or forced but rather undergirds a broader world that feels lived in and fully realised. The animation is just as detail oriented as the first, and the action remains fast and furry-ious! Michael Giacchino’s score adds further propulsive energy to a story that also finds quieter moments for emotional depth. The partnership and friendship between Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps remains the heartfelt core of the film in a mature and moving thread woven throughout chases and escapes as the two learn more about what they mean to each other and how they work best together as a team. Ultimately, Zootopia 2 is a fantastic family film that is fast and furry-ious, with great themes for younger audiences about teamwork, friendship and deeper ideas about colonialism for adults to wrestle with, in a colourful, clever, creative and emotionally intelligent film, that’s fun for the whole family.