Disney’s latest animated film returns audiences to the world of Zootopia for a sequel that succeeds by knowing it can’t recapture the magic of the original.
To be honest, I wasn’t as excited for Zootopia 2 as I thought I’d be. I loved the original, and when my youngest went through a phase of having to watch it every day for long periods of time, I was impressed that I never really grew tired of it. Even so, after the big gap between the films and some so-so trailers, I was worried.
Zootopia 2
Directed By: Jared Bush and Byron Howard
Written By: Jared Bush
Starring: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg
Release Date: November 26, 2025
It felt like a film that might be trying too hard to be like the original, recycling story threads in order to appeal to younger crowds who aren’t as put off by repetitive stories (i.e. kids). Thankfully, the filmmakers know this is what you’re expecting and manage to expertly navigate away from this pitfall, while weaving that idea into its core themes. The result is an impressive sequel that not only justifies its existence, but makes the case for how sequels should look forward.
Fresh off their victory in bringing down Mayor Bellwether and her dastardly plan to get rid of all the carnivores in Zootopia, Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and her newly graduated police officer partner, Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) are considered heroes. Despite cracking the biggest case of a generation (or more), they’re still relatively new on the police force and still have much to learn.
Obviously, they don’t see it that way and try. In their attempt to keep their big track record going, they make some big missteps that gets them in trouble with their boss. Forced into some partner counseling and threatened to be separated, Judy is desperate to prove their dynamic is worth saving. As she drags Nick into snooping around on a hunch about a forbidden snake in the city, the duo accidentally uncover a bigger conspiracy within Zootopia. Worse, they find themselves framed for something they didn’t do.
Now, they must find a way to solve the crime and help their new reptile allies, all while dodging their former police co-workers. What they uncover along they way could change what they know about Zootopia’s history, and challenge the core of their relationship.
On paper, the sequel seems to share a lot of the same ideas from the first film. You’ve got a mismatched duo, out to prove themselves on a case that threatens to upend their society in profound ways. Zootopia 2, however, is far from a retread of the same plot and character beats.
Instead, it openly acknowledges the fact it simply can’t do the same thing and expect the same level of success. At the beginning, there’s a lot of talk (and setup) about Judy and Nick needing to “crack another big case.” There’s this idea that the only reason their dynamic works is if they’re doing something big, and if they can’t do something on a similar scale as the last time, they’re ultimately doomed to failure.
In this way, Zootopia 2 serves as a meta commentary on sequels—especially Disney animated sequels—in general. There’s even a couple great gags specifically about the movie industry and churning of sequels.
Admittedly, it’s approach had me a little concerned at first. The setup for the story seems intent on replaying the same beats from the first film, and generally reminding everyone of how impressive they (Judy and Nick) were the last time. Things shift, however, and even while the new story features some similar overtones, it definitely carves its own path in some fun ways.
The new characters are more than mere devices to move the plot forward, and actively challenge Nick and Judy’s viewpoints. Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster) and Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan) are foils to Nick and Judy in important ways, forcing them to confront the flaws in themselves so they can grow. It also doesn’t hurt that they’re genuinely funny and the film doesn’t try to make them more than the side-characters they are. It knows to keep the focus on the bunny and fox.
The more I think about Zootopia 2, I’ve realized the similarities it shares with the original story is more due to Judy’s insistence on seeing things like the first case. Her laser focus on being over-prepared and forcing Nick into the same “sidekick” role as before, begins to put cracks in their relationship. She’s so focused on making another huge bust, she doesn’t see how different these cases are, nor the need to approach them differently, until she almost loses everything.
As audiences, this is the kind of story we’re conditioned to expect in most sequels; essentially something similar that looks better with a few new faces. Zootopia 2 is surprisingly clever in this way, as it allows the film to hit upon familiar aspects fans remember, without being beholden to them either. In fact, the film goes to great lengths to show how limiting that view is. That in trying to recapture the same magic as before, one can end up missing out on something special as things move forward into something new.
It can be scary to make that jump, as the familiar is safe (it already worked once right?), but you might end up finding something even better. This idea of not clinging to the past for fear of the future is a major theme presented in the movie.
Zootopia 2 overtly dives into Judy and Nick’s relationship. Both are afraid to lose what they’d inadvertently found in the previous film, but their inability to recognize how their lives are moving into a new phase and needs to change, could end up tearing them apart.
This feeds nicely into the film’s primary theme about helping people, even if it won’t save the world. For me, this was particularly poignant, and a lesson I definitely needed to hear. It’s easy to look at the state of things—the world—and feel daunted or hopeless; like whatever help you may be able to give is “too small” to make a real difference in the big picture.
And yet, it shouldn’t always be about the big picture. Helping others out only because we think/hope it’ll have a massive impact on the larger world is fallacy. More often than not, our individual deeds won’t change the world…but they can absolutely change everything for those we’re helping. It’s an important distinction, and gets to the heart of what serving a community really means far better than another world-saving adventure ever could.
Combine that with echoes of the original film’s themes on prejudice/stereotypes, insanely gorgeous animation (seriously some of the best rain/water animation I’ve seen), and Zootopia 2 has a whole bunch of great things going for it. All presented in a way that’s easy for the younger audiences to understand, without feeling too “kiddish” for the older crowd.
It’s a damn good sequel. Honestly, it’s easily among Disney’s best sequels out there thanks in large part to the thoughtfulness behind the story being told, and how the characters grow. The gags/jokes are great for all ages, and the pacing is whip fast without lagging—or missing important character moments. By the time the credits roll, you can’t help but feel…satisfied; you the sappy, warm-fuzzy feeling at the end in a way that feels earned rather than forced.
