After 8 years, Disney finally decided to bring back fan-favorite characters Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard, the film has already made 556 million dollars globally in its opening week, making “Zootopia 2“ one of Disney’s strongest releases in the past decade.
Set about a year after the events of the first movie, the film focuses on the teamwork and dynamic of Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) as they take on their biggest case yet: a conspiracy to keep the reptile population from ever returning to the city of Zootopia.
The movie maintains the bright, cheerful look of the first but adds a little variety. The film takes us to unexplored parts of Zootopia like the desert region, mountain region, and swamp region—each looking better than the last. Beneath all the saturated settings is a story about prejudice and labels, complementing Judy’s internal conflict about proving that she and her partner are just as valid as the other duos in the police force.
The writing by Jared Bush does a good job of balancing mystery, comedy, and emotion. Michael Giacchino was brought back to give the movie a warm feel by mixing jazz and pop. The animation quality was also improved; every fur detail and background joke feels intentionally placed.
Disney took a very bold risk by centering the story around racial prejudice and accountability. These themes could have been interpreted as insensitive or in bad taste by some viewers, but they did a very good job of keeping it lighthearted and realistic. More than 200 million dollars were invested in the film—that’s a lot of money even for the mega-corporation that Disney is. Thankfully, it’s made more than twice the amount spent.
The audience reaction has been positive for the most part. Mark Keppel High School senior, Kyle Wu, said, “The movie felt pretty mature for a kids’ film, I was caught off guard.” Although many fans thought the movie was great, there are others who aren’t very fond of it. Another senior at Mark Keppel High School, Xiang Geng, said, “It was just a retelling of the first one.”
“Zootopia 2” aimed to recapture the lightning in a bottle that made the first “Zootopia” so loved by audiences worldwide. Even with a few hiccups, the film expands the universe in a way that feels normal and natural. It blends humor, emotion, and a strong theme that genuinely feels worth the wait. If Disney ever decides to make another sequel, they’ll have to work hard to top this one.
