Zootropolis 2: this funny, heartfelt crowd-pleaser is a w...

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Academic rigour, journalistic flair Zootropolis 2: this funny, heartfelt crowd-pleaser is a worthy sequel with something to say Published: November 27, 2025 2.02pm GMT Laura O'Flanagan, Dublin City University

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Laura O'Flanagan
PhD Candidate, School of English, Dublin City University

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Laura O'Flanagan does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

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Dublin City University provides funding as a member of The Conversation UK.

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DOI

https://doi.org/10.64628/AB.ecgh3sper

An image from a Disney animation showing a fox, a snake and a rabbit against a city background in the distance.

Justin Bateman voices Nick the fox cop, and Ginnifer Goodwin voices Judy the bunny cop in this mismatched duo comedy. Disney Studios. https://theconversation.com/zootropolis-2-this-funny-heartfelt-crowd-pleaser-is-a-worthy-sequel-with-something-to-say-270484 https://theconversation.com/zootropolis-2-this-funny-heartfelt-crowd-pleaser-is-a-worthy-sequel-with-something-to-say-270484 Link copied Share article

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Zootropolis 2 arrives in cinemas with real confidence: a fun, fast-paced sequel bursting with sharp gags, lovable characters, beautiful animation design and a heartwarming central message which avoids turning syrupy. The film, titled Zootopia 2 in the US, will delight younger viewers and, thankfully, has more than enough charm for adults too.

This new chapter returns to the first instalment’s central duo, Nick (Jason Bateman) and Judy (Ginnifer Goodwin), a mismatched fox-and-bunny partnership working in the Zootropolis Police Department.

Bateman brings knowing, mischievous charisma to the roguish Nick, while Goodwin’s Judy is energetic and flawed, with an endearingly warm dollop of emotional depth. Nick and Judy spend much of the story at odds, creating many of its most poignant moments.

Early on, they are ordered to attend “partner therapy” in a wonderfully over-the-top scene which sets the tone for the rest of the film, prompting giggles from little ones and knowing laughter from the adults, while the surprisingly insightful advice lands with the pair. This is Zootropolis 2’s strength: the humour is blended with heartfelt moments, always preventing it from tipping into the saccharine.

The world of Zootropolis is expanded in this sequel as Judy and Nick leave the confines of the city for the countryside in pursuit of a mysterious snake. This gives the film’s production team ample opportunity to stretch their design muscles, and the result is breathtaking.

Vast animated expanses recall the most stunning snowscapes of Frozen and dazzling twilight skies of Tangled. Vibrant colours and countless animals with individual quirks create genuine playfulness which feels fresh and inventive.

At times the jokes steal the spotlight, leaving our lead duo a bit shortchanged and the central reptile mystery a little muddled and under-explained. But this never undermines the film’s appeal. The script delights in its new, exuberant characters, who bring a generous dose of joy and entertainment.

Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster) – a beaver who has a podcast investigating mysterious reptiles – steals every scene she is in, with slapstick physical comedy and hilariously odd questions like “Do snakes wear half a pant or just one long sock?” (which she later answers).

Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), an electric blue, heat-sensing pit viper, is animated with a dynamism that recalls The Jungle Book’s villainous Kaa. But he manages to pull off the impossible: making snakes likeable.

There are so many Easter eggs, quick quips, action set-pieces and fast-paced jokes that even the keenest-eyed viewer won’t catch them all on first viewing. Puns and visual gags abound and will keep the audience smiling throughout.

We get a macho pair of zebras calling themselves “Zeebros”, a carrot logo on Judy’s phone, and even a weather “furcast”. A music festival cheekily named Burning Mammal pokes fun in all the right ways and the high-octane tube transport system is begging to be a theme park ride.

Especially fun are several call-backs to other Disney films. A loving riff on Ratatouille’s rat chef and an uproariously awkward parody of Lady and the Tramp’s spaghetti scene give the film the comic sensibility of the best of DreamWorks’ Shrek, but with a gilded Disney flair that is both nostalgic and hilarious at the same time.

Behind all of the thrills and jokes lies a message of community and harmony between species. This is gently woven through the film, never becoming didactic. Nick and Judy’s strained partnership mirrors the wider anxieties of Zootropolis itself, while the reptile mystery quietly explores prejudice and fear of the unfamiliar.

Nick says, “Our differences don’t make a difference.” It’s a resonant and powerful idea in 2025’s zeitgeist, shaped by war, conflict, political and cultural unrest.

Zootropolis 2 is a sharp, funny sequel with a heartwarming and vital idea at its core. Confident and imaginative, it bursts with colour and heart, offering crowd-pleasing thrills without losing sight of something worth saying.

By keeping sentimentality at bay and balancing its spectacle with humour-laced sincerity, it proves the world of Zootropolis is still as vibrant and rewarding as ever.

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