Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) return for another adventure in Zootopia 2, where they face new challenges like uncovering the mystery of snakes reappearing in the city after years away.
The partners in crime, well, in fighting crime, are centre stage once again, and this time, it’s to uncover the mysterious reappearance of the slithering serpents in Zootopia who haven’t been seen in the bustling metropolis for years. It’s up to Hopps and Wilde to uncover the truth, which could lead to some dangerous conequences if they are not careful.
However, with all the obstacles in their way, their partnership is tested in ways the dynamic duo never expected. From partners’ counselling to disagreements on how to tackle the case, Hopps and Wilde will need to dig deep to find a path forward, not only to uncover the truth and set things right in Zootopia, but also to keep their friendship intact.
Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard are back at the helm for Zootopia 2, nearly 10 years after the first film in the series was released. The story by Bush picks up where the first film left off, with Wilde becoming Hopps’ partner at the Zootopia PD. As the pair are the first bunny and first fox to be on the force, they have something to prove, especially Hopps (a sentiment that has carried over from the first film). She never wants to be stuck on meter duty again, but she still has a habit of defying Chief Bogo’s (Idris Elba) orders.
In this regard, there is a bit of redundancy from the first film, with Judy continually trying to prove herself, even if it’s detrimental to her and, now, to her partner. However, the rest of the story is a new one that gives viewers a deeper look into the history of Zootopia’s creation, specifically the different zones which provide inhabitable climates for all of Zootopia’s residents.
That said, there is a lot of newness the second film has to offer, including new characters like Gary De’Snake (voiced by Ke Huy Quan), Dr. Fuzzby (voiced by Quinta Brunson), Nibbles Maplestick (voiced by Fortune Feimster), the Zebros (voiced by Roman Reigns and CM Punk), Jesus (voiced by Danny Trejo), and many more. Gary and Nibbles are the main new characters as it pertains to the story, while others like Dr. Fuzzby and the Zebros serve the comedic aspects of the film, but aren’t in the movie as much as some of the other new characters. Despite that, their presence is still impactful and serves the story well.
Part of what made the first Zootopia film so great is the voice work throughout. This carries over into Zootopia 2, with the return of Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman as Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, respectively. Goodwin and Bateman are in top form as Hopps and Wilde, giving the audience more of what they loved the first time around, voicing the characters. Whether it’s Bateman’s pitch-perfect delivery of Nick’s sarcasm or Goodwin’s excitable delivery as the always optimistic Judy, both actors easily bring the best out of their characters. The pair have undeniable chemistry that has you rooting for Judy and Nick every step of the way.
Newcomers to the Zootopia crew include Ke Huy Quan as Gary De’Snake. Gary is absolutely adorable – something many would not think to be a proper descriptor of a snake, but alas. Quan does a phenomenal job of bringing Gary to life in Zootopia 2. Gary is sure to become a fan favourite after this movie. The same could be said of Fortune Feimster’s Nibbles Maplestick. The talkative, paranoid beaver helps Judy and Nick with their case and is an absolute riot in the process. Moviegoers are sure to be pleased with the new members of the Zootopia crew.
Of course, we cannot discuss Zootopia 2 without mentioning the incredible animation. From every tuft of fur to every set of scales, the animation is stellar. The utmost care was taken with every animal that appears in the film. The beautiful animation isn’t solely on display with all the different animals. It’s seen in each mountain of snow in Tundratown, every inch of sand in Sahara Square, and the water that ripples throughout the newly introduced Marsh Market. There are so many eye-catching details throughout the movie, and the animation team did a superb job in bringing every element together.
Sometimes, sequels don’t live up to their predecessors. However, thankfully, Zootopia 2 doesn’t fall into that category. Aside from the minor redundancy I mentioned previously, Zootopia 2 brings new things to the world, including significant character developments for our leading team. Coupled with amazing animation, the inclusion of fun new characters, and new secrets to the world-building of Zootopia, Zootopia 2 is a stellar sequel that proves that the magic of the first can be recreated.
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