By Sophie Yablonski

It’s been nearly a decade since Zootopia first played in theaters, captivating the audience with its lighthearted comedy and its compelling plot. Now, after a long-awaited return, Disney has finally released Zootopia 2, and many viewers have found themselves stepping back into a world they had previously forgotten about.  

Zootopia 2 poster. Photo credit: Sophie Yablonski.

Zootopia 2 continues the story of police officers and friends Judy Hops, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman, as they tackle a new mission that shakes both their friendship and the entire city of Zootopia. The film is made up of action, heart, and comedy, blended in a way that Disney perfectly executes. The studio managed to expand upon the original story and plot while still keeping fans invested. The new movie contains new animals and conflicts to help the story grow, while the charm and energy of the original remain intact. It feels like a natural next step into the story and its plot. 

Ava Babik (‘27) and I went to see the movie in its first week in theaters. As the credits rolled, she said, “That was so good! It brought back a lot of nostalgia for me,” which captured how I felt too. My recommendation is to go see the movie with your friends, and after watching, you’ll feel like you’ve been brought back to 2016.

Robert Furwin, voiced by Robert Irwin. Image credit: Walt Disney Animation Studios via instagram @disneyanimation.

Another notable feature was the sheer amount of celebrity cameos. Robert Irwin, the wildlife personality and recent winner of Dancing with the Stars, played an upbeat koala that perfectly meshed his outgoing personality and his Australian flair. Some other notables are Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan and actor-comedian Andy Samberg, who played main character roles as Gary De Snake and Pawbert Lynxly.  Along with many more cameos, the new film features these celebrities in cleverly integrated ways. Instead of playing general characters, each cameo and its corresponding character have linked personality traits, which other films seem to overlook, leading to viewers thinking of the celebrity as they know them rather than the intended character. For example, in Happy Gilmore 2, when Travis Kelce portrayed a waiter, people didn’t picture him as a waiter; they saw him as Travis Kelce the football player. Babik agreed, saying that, “usually movies with celebrities aren’t that good, but in this I didn’t even realize I was listening to a famous person at times.”  

So what do others think? Online Zootopia 2 has seen an overwhelming amount of positive reviews. On Rotten Tomatoes, both critics and the general public share high scores, coming in at 92% and 96%. With a 96% audience score, the movie now has one of the highest audience scores for an animated sequel. On IMDb, the reactions are also strong, with lots of people saying the movie is fun, emotional, and a solid follow-up to the original. Many users mentioned that the story feels fresh and that the characters still have the same charm they did in the first movie.

The film also slips in subtle references and appearances from the first film, a detail that fans of the old movie can appreciate. Whether it was the appearance of the Godfather-based character Mr. Big, or Shakira’s Gazelle role, the movie integrates memorable moments that fans are able to spot and talk about. These little references bring back the nostalgia of the first film, while also showing that Nick, Judy, and the city itself have grown since their first adventure. 

Overall, Zootopia 2 succeeds at something many other sequels struggle with, which is honoring the original film while offering something genuinely new. The movie is vibrant, funny, and full of heart, and I recommend that you go see it. You’ll particularly enjoy yourself if you loved the first film and its balance between meaning and humor. Whether you watch it with friends, family, or even on your own, Zootopia 2 leaves you smiling in the end.