Zootopia 2 has done it again! It took almost 10 years to come up with this sequel hitting fans of the original and a new generation of kids and their parents, big time. The first Zootopia in 2016 was a powerful film for Disney Animation Studios helping it emerge from Pixar’s shadow three years after Frozen melted kids hearts in 2013. This Zootopia sequel picks up right where the first left off. Jared Bush co-Byron Howard directed this film written by Bush who directed the first film.
Bush creates so many colorful animal characters voiced by favorites in a vast cast led by Goodwin and Bateman. The vivid animation fills the screen with saturated colors to see in every part of the frame with sly references to other movies and genres. Both kids and parents may want to go for multiple viewings. Look for Easter Eggs from The Shining and Silence of the Lambs on the horror end, to some from Disney classics like Ratatouille and Frozen.
So many original actors who voiced characters are back, but more have been added to this cast. They include, Quinta Brunson, Danny Trejo, Patrick Warburton, Alan Tudyk, Jenny Slate, and John Leguizamo, even Disney CEO Bob Iger! Shakira plays the sexy pop idol, Gazelle, who moves the story forward through her songs, most notably “Zoo” written by Ed Sheeran.
No longer rookie cops, Judy Hopps (Voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin-Once Upon a Time) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman-Arrested Development, Ozark) are back together, working on a new case, and on their partnership. This is made more difficult because Judy is still the bright-eyed energetic cotton tail, while Nick is that sly, sarcastic fox. Predators and prey are not supposed to get along. She’s friendly while Nick is always wary, making jokes to keep from being serious. He likes to keep everyone at a distance.
Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan – Oscar winner for Everything, Everywhere, All at Once (2022) is trying to clear his reputation and restore his species’ place in society after they were exiled. He’s considered a villain, but is he?
De’Snake arrives in Zootopia and his mere presence causes fear. Judy and
Nick are trying to find out what this reptile is up to. To crack the case, they have to go undercover to explore parts of Zootopia they’ve never even tried to explore before. They’re on the case.
Police Chief Bogo (Idris Elba-Luther,The Wire) knows Judy and Nick don’t always get along and orders them to get some therapy, which is also a chance for more topical humor. Turns out the first case they decide to work on is a challenge trying to uncover why Gary De’Snake is where he shouldn’t be. That leads Judy and Nick on an adventure to follow De’Snake to see what he’s trying to prove which may become all-important for all of Zootopia.
Gary is trying to find real proof that reptiles have history and maybe a rightful place in Zootopia. This takes our undercover cops to the nefarious Lyndsey clan led by Milton and Lynxley and his seemly gentle son, Pawbert (Voiced by David Strathairn and Andy Samberg respectively). There are messages teased about the history and importance of Gary’s ancestor which led the exile of reptiles. Political corruption and cover ups kept the status quo in effect.
There is plenty of action, high and low, with chases, arrests, underground tunnels, following the slithery Gary to a place they never knew existed revealing the proof they’ve all been trying to uncover. Are Judy and Nick about to crack this case? Stay post credits for a scene tease for the fun cops to crack another big case you might be seeing sooner rather than later.
Disney Animation Studios 1 Hour 48 Minutes PG
