by Alice-Ginevra Micheli, Contributing Writer
An animated movie about animals solving animal crimes seems like a no-brainer success. So it’s no surprise that when Zootopia came out in 2016, people flocked to cinemas to watch the little bunny who could and her sly fox partner take down a massive city conspiracy.
It’s also no surprise that almost 10 years later, they would return with another mystery to solve, and another sense of self to prove. The real question remains: Will the charm of the first manage to be upheld through the perilous sequel-itis that has taken many a franchise down?
Set only a week after the first film, Zootopia 2 sees Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) on another time-sensitive mission to solve the mystery at the heart of the city, and possibly save a whole race of animals who might have been unjustly persecuted in the past.
If you think that could also be used to describe the first movie, it wouldn’t be that far from the truth. Sometimes sequels try to diverge completely from the original, and sometimes they decide, can there ever really be too much of a good thing? Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard have clearly gone with the latter, and it can’t be said that, so far, it’s been an incorrect decision.
The film really is a lot of fun. It’s a lot more joyful than the first one, with plenty of jokes, quips, and punny situations that will have any target audience laughing in their seats as they enjoy the shenanigans. While the emotion behind the friendship at its core is still present, the directors have decided to spend more time on the amusing nature of the animal society, and have the main storyline happen in the background as a way to complement the different bits on show.
This, however, is also something that could get quite tiresome for those hoping for more depth in the storyline. Zootopia is clearly not the franchise where that kind of soul-searching is going to be explored by Disney, choosing instead to play with the ridiculous nature of its mammalian society, and all the mischievous scenarios creatives can put on screen as a result.
Now, to say there’s no heart would also do this film a disservice. Wherein the first film focused solely on the predator versus prey question, this one brings in the question of an entirely new species — the reptile. Cold-blooded, scaly, and of a different form factor than what our characters are used to, there’s definitely a question of how vast the differences between types of creatures can be, and whether that’s something that should matter. Again, this is a very similar question posed in the first movie — however, it’s now looking at it a little more externally, and potentially trying to introduce to kids further the idea that those who don’t look like you, or are of a different culture are just as worthy.
That’s the real course that it seems this franchise has decided to take, one aimed more toward those younger in the audience than adults. There’s a clear focus on the message of togetherness that both films wish to inspire by the end, with the positivity behind it as the celebratory climax each time. However, that’s not to say that there isn’t some pandering to the aforementioned adults who have come to love this world in the last nine years.
As mentioned, and unlike in a Disney Pixar flick, Elemental, which specifically looks at romantic attachment, Zootopia 2 wants to stay focused on the idea of friendship and its importance. Nevertheless, there seems to still be enough inferred, particularly when looking at the relationship between Judy and Nick, to inspire further want for the two protagonists to be more than friends in the future. It’s unlikely that this will ever eventuate due to the fact that the characters in this are based on real animals that are not designed to commingle as such, yet it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this continue to be explored within pop culture in the interim between this and any future movie.
Overall, Zootopia 2 is a worthy successor to its original. It’s funny, full of heart, crisply animated, and an easy watch for any superfan or casual enjoyer of the Disney machine. While not breaking any new ground whatsoever, it manages to add in some new, pleasing characters who will likely be part of the crew in any future installments, while also developing the relationship at its center in a safe yet strong, family friendly manner. It’s colorful yet simple.
Rating: Loved It
Zootopia 2 is currently playing in theaters
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