I highly regard the original Zootopia, released in 2016, as one of Disney’s best movies in the last decade. The animation giant successfully incorporated themes of tolerance and inclusivity using an animal metropolis as a setting, where land mammals, both predator and prey, from the fiercest bears to the smallest mice, live in peaceful harmony while still retaining their unique animal instincs and needs. With memorable characters and a noir-influenced script, it’s a well-rounded animated film with a rich message while also being consistently funny.

Almost a decade later, Disney finally releases a follow-up to the Oscar-winning original. If you’ve ever wondered why this supposed paradise only featured mammals, well, the film aims to answer that question. While I think Zootopia 2, directed by Jared Bush and Byron Howard (who both worked on the original), is a worthy sequel, somehow it isn’t as fun, largely because it follows the same story structure and repeats the same beats as the previous one, sending our bunny and fox duo to solve another grand conspiracy involving animals in power.

Opening with a very quick recap is an odd choice, but it’s likely because it’s been nine years since. Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), still carelessly optimistic and enthusiastic, and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), the former con artist and newly minted cop, are now partners. Against the orders of Police Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), the pair find themselves in trouble after causing widespread damage chasing after a smuggler across town. Judy believes that a snake (which, along with other reptiles, aren’t allowed in Zootopia) is roaming around the city after finding a shed snake skin. Further clues lead the pair to believe that the snake will infiltrate a fancy gala hosted by the Lynxleys, an elite family of lynxes. They were right, but it turns out that the snake is not so bad after all.

Jared Bush’s script continues on the social criticism that’s made the original so subversive at the time. As Zootopia touched on issues like prejudice and xenophobia, part two tackles on gentrification, the displacement of minorities and a little bit of ethnic cleansing. Although it only scratches the surface for the most part, I’ve always appreciated this franchise serving as an allegory for social commentary. I won’t spoil the plot any further, but it’s safe to say that the rest of the film sees Judy and Nick finding out why reptiles and sea creatures are banned in the supposed animal utopia.

This adventure brings in an opportunity to add some lovely newcomers into the fold, most notably the pit viper named Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan) and a spunky podcaster beaver Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster). Also joining them is Pawbert Lynxley (Andy Samberg), the black sheep member of the Lynxley family who’s determined to help Gary. There’s also a new mayor in town named Brian Winddancer (Patrick Warburton), a blond maned stallion whose also a former actor. We are also introduced to new environments beyond the bustling city, including a secluded swampy area called Marsh Market, a place where reptiles can safely reside.

What’s surprising to me is there’s some rom-com tropes sprinkled in the buddy cop duo, which I’m sure is to the delight of a very niche Zootopia fanbase. Nick and Judy’s personalities couldn’t be more opposite, and the fact that they resolve their differences and finally accept their own and each other’s flaws later in the movie feels like an equivalent to a love confession. But perhaps what’s stopping the creators from fully committing is that it’s a Disney movie, and that they haven’t figured out how inter-species relationships would actually work in this universe.

Now, I do think Zootopia 2 is tamer and slightly watered down, but only because it plays everything safe. The noir atmosphere and mystery elements, which added so much to the already compelling story of the first one, are missing completely, instead leaning into a more lighthearted buddy cop feel. That said, it’s still a delight with great entertainment value. The attention to detail is incredible, with countless puns, sight gags and references to other films (The Shining and Ratatouille to name a few) scattered all around that will reward repeat viewings. I really do hope it doesn’t take another decade for Disney to revisit this wonderful metropolis.

Rating:

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.