Zootopia 2 Is The Rare Sequel That Is As Good Or Better Than The Original

Walt Disney Animation Studios have returned audiences to the city of Zootopia and in doing so, have crafted one of the best animated films of the last decade.

The movie picks up shortly after the last film and sees Officers Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), working the beat as officers for the Zootopia Police Department. Despite the success they had in the prior film, they are seen as one-hit-wonders and relegated to menial tasks.

Judy looks to crack a big case and the resulting mayhem from their attempts leads them to be on thin ice as a duo and facing reassignment to other officers.

Nick has a more relaxed attitude but Judy finds a way to get them to the heart of a case involving a smuggled snake and soon the duo find themselves on the run from the law they have sworn to uphold as they attempt to unravel the mystery, track down the snake named Gary (Ke Huy Quan), and solve a threat that could unravel all they know and love about their animal home.

There are so many charming and funny moments along the way as all manner of characters old and new arise and the jokes are frequent. What really makes the film shine is the charming and sentimental tone it embodies without being overly sweet or heavy-handed with the various messages.

There are some really great pop-culture references in the film which are clearly aimed at older viewers and the movie had me smiling from beginning to end. Naturally, the animation is amazing, and you would expect nothing less from Disney. There is also some great music along the way that supports the story well.

The main focus of the film are the two leads and even with some amazing supporting cast members; the movie never forgets that this is the story of two very different individuals who have a complicated but endearing partnership and are willing to go beyond themselves for the greater good.

I absolutely loved “Zootopia 2” from start to finish as it was the rare sequel that was as good or better than the original film. Great characters, animation, and laughs combine to make it the best animated movie of the year.

5 stars out of 5