‘Zootopia 2’ Equals Its Predecessor With Heartfelt Lessons and Crafty Social Commentary

Alci Rengifo

Making a true friend is special. Sustaining that friendship can sometimes be the hard part. Disney’s “Zootopia 2” reminds us that animated family films can still tackle such subject matter with breezy fun and richer layers. It arrives nine years after the first “Zootopia” proved to be a box office hit and won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film. It also contained a social message about demonizing certain social groups that has only grown more relevant. One of the joys of animation is that you can pick up a story even after a lengthy pause, with the world of the plot capable of still looking the same. That is not to say “Zootopia 2” is a mere retread. It expands on its characters while delivering more wonderful sights and imaginative places. 

The mismatched best friends of the first movie, bunny Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) are still partners in the police force of Zootopia, the all-animal civilization where species coexist. After annoying Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) following a wild chase after a suspect in a catering van, the pair is sent to a support group led by Dr. Fuzby (Quinta Brunson), specializing in partners having trouble adjusting to their differing personalities. While Judy is a serious cop, Nick loves to relax and crack jokes. The two then attend a gala where a prestigious book belonging to an ancestor of the Lynxley family (who are indeed lynxes) will be presented. It was the Lynxleys who designed the multi-habitat structure of Zootopia which allows various species to live as neighbors. When a mysterious intruder interrupts the gala and steals the book, Judy and Nick must put their differences aside to solve the case.

Disney hasn’t always been adept at doing sequels to beloved hits, yet “Zootopia 2” is a definite model to follow. Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard give us a sense that the main characters have not stayed stuck in the same attitudes from the first film. If the first film was a great fable about accepting friends no matter where they come from, the sequel finely addresses the idea that personalities are just different due to many factors, from childhood trauma to multiple experiences. In one of the movie’s best moments, Judy and Nick unspool confessions on why they have their quirks with some pretty mature psychological language. There is still plenty of room for winning satire. Zootopia’s new mayor Brian Winddancer (Patrick Warburton) is a gloriously blonde stallion who used to be an actor. A new character who joins our heroes on their investigation is Nibbles (Fortune Feimster), a beaver and conspiracy theory podcaster. Pawbert (Andy Samberg) is a member of the Lynx family who seems to disagree with their power-hungry ways. Most memorable of the new lineup is Gary (Ke Huy Quan), a friendly one-fanged viper eager to expose some truths about the founding of Zootopia that hit close to his family.

In a style subsequent animated movies like “The Bad Guys” have echoed, “Zootopia” somehow worked as a friendship lesson, buddy cop movie, social commentary and visually stunning journey all at once. “Zootopia 2” also keeps its ideas together with the central style of being an investigative case. The gang’s hunt for the stolen book takes them through new, wonderfully inventive vistas. A picturesque mountain terrain features cheery goats in Alpine gear. A coastal spot for marine mammals evokes a southern swamp with dolphins snarling at Nick’s wisecracks. Most stunning is a chase through a subway system that is one vast water-filled tube. As with the first movie, this is an entertainment where there are delights galore in every frame. From the vastness of the various habitats ranging from deserts to jungles, to the shine of the crystal at the gala early in the story, “Zootopia 2” can just be gazed at. Shakira even returns to lend the images a new song, “Zoo,” performed by her onscreen alter ego, Gazelle.

The team behind the movie should be commended for keeping the idea that some delicate subjects can be addressed to younger viewers. Once Judy and Nick uncover why the stolen book was so coveted, the story becomes a commentary on gentrification and the way greedy corporations muscle out communities for their property. It’s always such an irony when corporate behemoth Disney releases films with characters espousing an anti-corporate ethos. Hey, at least these movies are getting made. Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman are again an excellent pair, voicing two opposites who deep down love each other as true friends should. Ke Huy Quan is so good his performance gives real life to Gary and his wide-eyed stares that evoke a lovable puppy. At a time when Disney’s animated department has been struggling to reclaim some of its magic, “Zootopia 2” feels like a throwback to the studio’s more special efforts. It’s deliriously fun and with great nibbles for thought.

“Zootopia 2” releases Nov. 26 in theaters nationwide.