Film Name: 疯狂动物城2 / Zootopia 2
It’s been ages since I’ve seen such a packed theater, mostly filled with young people (even more people snapping photos than usual). That’s the drawing power of this year’s major animated film, Zootopia 2.
The phrase “kingly presence” in the title isn’t just empty talk. Upon reflection, this IP truly holds ‘hegemonic’ status: one of Disney’s most successful animated films, it created the fictional city of “Animal Utopia” and the world-class duo Judy and Nick. Since its debut, its influence has only grown, boasting a massive fanbase. This sequel delivers top-tier entertainment, thematic depth, and production scale. While its creative elements may not match the original’s brilliance and the protagonists’ relationship isn’t consistently ideal, it otherwise leaves little to be desired.
After years of anticipation, Zootopia 2 delivers a sequel that lives up to the audience’s high expectations.
Zootopia remains that utopia—imperfect yet steadfastly upholding its grand ideal: “eliminating prejudice and barriers, transcending racial divides and fences, striving for a world of universal harmony.”
[Spoiler Alert: The following contains plot details.]
The success of the Zootopia franchise owes much to its world-building and imaginative design—distinct environmental zones, infrastructure tailored for animals of various sizes, and more.
In my view, the level of detail in Zootopia’s world-building is entirely on par with the best Pixar animations.
While the new concepts in “Zootopia 2” didn’t surprise me as much as the first film, objectively speaking, the movie still has many standout moments.
For instance, it offers clever “fan-made” takes on animal traits—like the remarkable malleability of sheep wool, showcased not only through hairstyles at the barbershop but also through the former Deputy Mayor’s prison-made “soft-wool furniture.”
Other highlights include Officer Porcupine’s portable quill belt, the lizard boss’s water-skimming escape skills, and the goat’s bouncy gait and habit of nibbling flowers—all delightfully amusing touches.
The most concentrated showcase of Zootopia 2’s creativity is undoubtedly the newly opened Wetlands Market. This area not only gathers numerous water-dwelling mammals that didn’t appear in the first film but also hosts a large number of “illegal immigrant” reptiles.
At the Wetland Market, we encountered a variety of performers: acrobatic sea lions with countless tricks, grumpy bartender dolphins, and clumsy yet endearing boatman walruses. There were also gatekeeper turtles using their shells as doors, lizard musicians playing instruments with their tongues, and heat-seeking, tail-shedding lizard patrons.
Additionally, when Gary the Viper returns to his hometown, I noticed their carpet features irregular straight lines perfectly aligned with a snake’s slithering path, along with horizontal height-measuring lines. These intricate details showcase the film’s meticulous attention to creative craftsmanship.
Not to mention the numerous homages to Ratatouille, The Shining, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and other cinephile references—I missed several details and definitely need a second viewing. I’m sure many others feel the same… Without exaggeration, Zootopia 2 delivers an SSS-tier knockout in pure entertainment value.
Now, let’s briefly discuss the film’s story and themes.
If the first “Zootopia” primarily explored barriers and prejudices rooted in historical reasons and racial characteristics, this sequel builds upon that foundation by introducing broader structural biases within the animal community and class distinctions.
Beyond elevating the “carnivore vs. herbivore divide” to “mammalian prejudice against reptiles,” the film’s antagonistic Lynx family also carries pronounced “exploitative class” traits.
Not only did the Lynx family’s ancestors fraudulently appropriate the Viper family’s climate wall design, they also slandered and orchestrated the expulsion of the entire reptilian community. Having amassed immense power in Zootopia, they remain insatiable, relentlessly pursuing land grabs that squeeze the living space of marginalized groups within the city.
Whether in Western or Eastern narrative traditions, the Lynx family are unquestionably villains. Milton is one thing, but the scheming Baobert never betrayed his class either—he deliberately created and escalated conflicts solely to secure a higher position within his family.
Incidentally, the “Godfather” family also resides in the Snow District, where the feared Linxue family is preparing to expand—evidence that Snow District is essentially Zootopia’s “Upper Class District.”
By contrast, Wetlands Market is the habitually overlooked “Lower Class District” of Zootopia.
Beyond environmental factors, observing the animals’ personalities (either foul-tempered or carefree) and occupations (primarily backbreaking manual labor for meager wages) reveals their immense hardship. Precisely because of this second-class citizen status, the mammals of Wetlands Market have long accepted coexisting with the reptiles expelled from Zootopia.
Zootopia’s glittering facade comes at a cost—one invisible to those intoxicated by its beauty and power.
That said, “Zootopia 2” remains fundamentally an uplifting fairy tale. It may expose the world’s shadows and imperfections, but its ultimate landing place must be bright and hopeful… Thus, the villainous Lin family are complete pushovers, Mayor Madge and Officer Bravest both experience a moral awakening, the truth is revealed, injustices are rectified, and the reptiles return to the Zootopia family.
A happy ending is both inevitable and essential.
Having written this far without mentioning the true heroes of the Zootopia series—the two protagonists, Judy the rabbit and Nick the fox—is indeed my oversight. Let me briefly touch on them now.
Fans of this pairing are in for a treat. “Zootopia 2” delivers plenty of sweet moments between them, whether you interpret their bond as friendship or romance.
My only regret with the film is how the first half overly emphasizes Judy’s impatience and stubborn immaturity, making her seem indifferent to Nick’s feelings and safety. This consequently limits Nick’s otherwise incredibly cool “boyfriend material” moments, creating unnecessary tension in their dynamic that only gradually resolves during the later crisis.
The scene near the end where they dump all their grievances and heartfelt confessions at once is a small stroke of genius. It cleverly overcomes the narrative space limitations by having them down three shots each, while also satisfying every viewer’s desire to see deep emotional connection between Judy and Nick. It’s a perfect way to wrap things up.
In short, “Zootopia 2” is well worth watching. If you haven’t seen it yet, don’t hesitate—go for it.
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