Watching Zootopia 2 was a last-minute decision. My friend and I were at the movies, and we had no idea what to watch. However, as we looked at the options, only Zootopia 2 was available. I went into the movie not expecting much. After all, it’s a kids’ movie.
I have never been so happy to be wrong. Zootopia 2 was one of the best movies I have watched in a long time. It was funny, engaging, and surprisingly full of subtle innuendos.
At the time this article was written, only three months after its release, Zootopia 2 had claimed the spot of Disney’s most successful movie in the box office, knocking Frozen out of its long-uncontested top spot. Considering the storyline, messages, and stunning graphics, Z2 deserves the position.
One of Zootopia 2’s strongest points was its plot. The movie follows Nick and Judy,a rabbit and fox cop duo, as they struggle to work together as partners. Set immediately after the first movie, in which Judy and Nick stop a nefarious plot to create division between different predators and
prey, Z2 focuses much more on the protagonists’ interpersonal conflict: Judy’s overbearing personality and Nick’s struggles with adjusting to being a cop after his past as a con man create a source of tension that reaches a boiling point as the movie approaches its climax.
These character arcs fit the characterizations of Nick and Judy in the previous movie, and so it felt satisfying to see them continue to grow from the original Zootopia.
The main conflict of the movie centers on an issue lurking in the first Zootopia’s background: the lack of reptiles in the city. The movie explores the idea that reptiles were driven out of Zootopia after a snake was framed for a crime she didn’t commit. In order to expose the city’s true history, Nick and Judy must prove the innocence of the snake and tackle both external and internal prejudices against reptiles.
The film acknowledged Nick and Judy’s flaws but also showed how they managed to move past their differences. Each choice revealed more about Nick and Judy’s past, as well as the struggles that shaped them. The characters and their backstories were engaging, and I found myself rooting for them and getting really into the movie.
Despite being a kids’ movie, Zootopia 2 explores deep themes. In 107 minutes, it examines prejudice, stereotypes, and the impact of childhood trauma. We see Nick beginning to acknowledge the childhood trauma he faced because of the stereotypes and prejudice he was judged against when he was younger, and how that trauma pushed him to isolate himself from others.
We also see a deeper side to Judy, as she acknowledges how the stereotype of being a “dumb bunny” has pushed her to do impossible tasks with no support. It pushed her to always be the best and to go above and beyond the standards set for her because of a fear of not being good enough.
There are also some new characters introduced in the movie, including Gary the snake and Pawbert the lynx, but my favorite was the beaver Nibbles Maplestick. Her scenes were full of laugh-out-loud moments, and her comedic timing was impeccable!
The movie also communicated a powerful message about the importance of perseverance and relying on your friends. At the movie’s climax, Judy finds herself in an impossible position that nearly forces her to abandon her quest, but her friends are able to convince her to keep going.
The movie also provides an exciting hint in the post-credits scene that teases the idea of Zootopia 3 relating to birds.
One of the directors of Zootopia 2, Jared Bush, said there are “limitless numbers of stories
to tell in the world of Zootopia.” And if those stories are anything like Z2, we have a lot to look forward to.
