JacobsonCinemas

snakes, why did it have to be snakes?

Zootopia 2 is the long-awaited sequel to the 2016 Disney film. The sequel takes place right after the first film where Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are now partners. After a botch police chase, the duo is assigned a new case involving a snake named Gary. After an incident at a gala where Gary steals an old journal detailing the creation of the weather walls and accidently paralyzing Chief Bogo, the duo is accused of helping the snake. The duo ends up on the run and now have to clear their names by finding Gary while also uncovering a huge conspiracy on who actually created Zootopia.

One of the best things about the first film is the worldbuilding. The city of Zootopia has different districts each with their own ecosystems designed to help specific animals live. What helps is the amazing animation. Each district has their own unique look and the way each of them work is shown wonderfully. Zootopia really goes feel like its own character and is one of the most complex settings in any Disney movie. Zootopia 2 builds upon that by introducing reptiles and new locations such as the Marsh Market. We see all kinds of reptiles such as snakes, lizards and turtles (yet surprisingly no alligators or crocodiles). Having the film focus on reptiles really does help make the world of Zootopia feel bigger. SPOILERS: I always felt a sequel to Zootopia should introduce the origin of the city and we actually do get more detail on that here. In this film we not only find out the origin of Zootopia but also find out that Gary’s aunt was the true founder and creator of the weather walls.

The voice acting is really good and is surprisingly one of the biggest casts of any Disney movie. Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman are still great as Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Their dynamic in this film is a lot stronger. Great newcomers include Ke Huy Quan as Gary Snake, Fortune Feimster as Niddles, and Andy Sandberg as Pawbert. There’s also a bunch of cameos from actors that have been in previous Disney films such as Patrick Warburton (from the Emperor’s New Groove) as Mayor Windancer, and even Micheal J Fox (from Atlantis) as an actual fox. Honestly this felt more like Disney Animation’s 100 anniversary celebration than Wish.

SPOILERS: One of the first film’s biggest issues was the twist villain. Bellwether was a very weak villain due to being revealed during the climax, her personality going a complete full 180, and she barely had enough screentime to be evil. Zootopia 2’s twist villain Pawbert however is a huge improvement. What works is that there’s already a set up villain being his father, Milton Lynxley. Pawbert also has a lot more time to be a villain and even then, his personality doesn’t change that much. What’s also unique is that he’s more tragic compare to other Disney villains. All he wants is to just. Probably my biggest issue with the film is technically not even in the film. The first teaser had this mysterious hooded figure that was supposedly the main villain yet it never shows up in the film at all. It felt like there was supposed to be but was changed right after the teaser released.

SPOILERS: there is a post credit scene that hints that the possible third film will introduce birds. I’m pointing this out because last year I jokingly predicted that the third film should be about birds. Zootopia 2 is the best Disney animated film since the original Zootopia and one of if not the best sequel in the canon. It has the same great characters, animation, and worldbuilding that made Zootopia so great. I’d even goes as far as say this is better than the first film.

Verdict:

+The animation

+The voice acting

+Twist villain

+Worldbuilding

-Hooded figure wasted

Score: A