Zootopia 2 is a worthy sequel to its predecessor. With beautiful animation, great voice acting, and relevant themes, the film proves to be not only entertaining for all audiences, but timely to our current landscape. 

Zootopia 2 proves that Disney’s beloved metropolis of mammals (and maybe more) still has plenty of life and weight behind its bright colors. Rather than retelling the original’s detective structure, the sequel widens its scope and leans boldly into its political themes. It’s visually resplendent, culturally relevant, and narratively ambitious in ways that feel uncomfortably timely yet earnestly hopeful. 

The film finds Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde (once again wonderfully voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman respectfully) settled into their partnership at the Zootopia Police Department when a series of coordinated disruptions across different districts threatens to fracture Zootopia’s delicate inter-species harmony. Where the first movie honed in and focused on prejudice and the fear that derives from our internal biases, the sequel expands its scope to include misinformation, civic responsibility, and who gets the right to shape public narratives. In true Zootopia fashion, these heavy themes are presented in a way that remains accessible and outright hilarious, even as they cut a little too close to our current real-world anxieties. 

The sequel’s greatest evolution lies not just in worldbuilding – it’s in the new characters whose struggles reshape Judy and Nick’s understanding of justice and help them come together as partners in crime. At the center of this is Gary De’Snake, voiced with sweet sincerity by Ke Huy Quan. Gary’s quest for a “right of return” for all snakes and reptiles to their ancestral burrow, a territory lost generations before due to city expansion and forced expulsion, gives the film its core. Gary’s storyline resonates far  beyond the plot mechanics, tapping into real-world themes of displacement, cultural erasure, and the longing for home. 

Balancing the film’s dramatic heft is the new character of Nibbles, an amateur “investigative journalist” whose conspiracy-laced livestreams unintentionally lead Judy and Nick in the correct direction. Fortune Feimster as Nibbles gives a hilariously sharp performance, leaning into the character’s manic energy and deadpan delivery.

Judy and Nick’s dynamic remains the film’s emotional throughline, but the sequel gains real richness by weaving their personal stakes with the struggles of these new characters and political undertones. Judy’s idealism falters as she confronts her limits as just a bunny trying to make the world a better place, while Nick grapples with trying to break out of his chosen self-isolation to be closer to his partner. These themes are universally very relevant for many struggling with childhood trauma or simply trying to prove themselves in whatever capacity. 

Visually, Zootopia 2 is stunning. The city is more expansive than ever, with the new districts that let the animators show off widely imaginative environments and species-specific design details. In some sequences, the water some of the mammals were swimming in looked so real one may forget they are watching an animated film. The film’s lighting is also perfect at capturing the different weather patterns of the districts. Action sequences are crisp, exciting, and incentive, blending slapstick timing while furthering the atmospheric world-building. The humor still lands with the film possessing plenty of jokes for adults to enjoy. If there is a drawback to this entry that falters compared to the first one, it is the pacing. Occasionally the film feels a bit dense, particularly in the middle stretch, but once it gets back on track, it stays there. 

Ultimately, Zootopia 2 succeeds because it respects what made the original resonate so deeply with audiences while daring to push the world and its characters forward. It’s not just a repeat performance – it’s a thoughtful sequel that invites the audience to grow alongside its heroes, and respects all of the viewers’ intelligence. Kids will enjoy the fast-paced fun and colorful creatures, adults will enjoy those plus the substance beneath the surface. It’s a worthy continuation that proves Zootopia remains one of Disney’s most sharply realized worlds in recent years. 

Rating: A-

Oscar Prospects:
Likely: Best Animated Feature
Should Be Considered: Best Animated Feature

Where to Watch: In Theaters