One of the most ‘Gen Z’ Disney movies has to be “Zootopia” (2016). It was a fan favorite for many of us when we were little, with many still cherishing the memory of seeing a Disney classic in the theater. Now, almost ten years later, “Zootopia 2,” is here to flood Gen Z with nostalgia. The animal adventure follows bunny officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) as they tackle a new case to save the animals of Zootopia once again. Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard returned to create a fun and fabulous new story that will entice the new generation of Disney, while appealing to the original fanbase.
Comedy is sprinkled throughout the film, especially with Wilde’s sarcastic dialogue, yet the story still touches on some more meaningful themes of Hopp and Wilde’s partnership, specifically with how major differences in background affect their dynamic. At the beginning of the movie, a short montage of the new additions to the city and police force. The struggles of a segregated and extremely diverse animal population continue, with the main criticism being toward reptiles. An adorable snake named Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan) becomes a crucial new character that adds heartfelt and excitement.
The film’s antagonists are the Lynxleys, a family of lynxes that are hiding a dangerous secret. The plot is still shocking and full of plot twists that keep the audience guessing. Action-packed scenes continue throughout the film, and are followed by heartwarming trauma dumps from Hopps and Wilde.
Shakira also wrote an upbeat new song for the movie “Zoo,” which may be even better than her original, “Try Everything,” featured in the first movie. However, Shakira’s character Gazelle is not a major character. Despite this, crowd favorites from the first movie return to boost the comedic and overall classics. The sloth Flash (Raymond S. Persi) comes to save the day with his short appearance. Flash and Gazelle are just a few of the fun characters, in addition to new and hilarious animals.
Overall, “Zootopia 2” will meet any Disney fans high expectations and restore the classic entertainment people want during the winter season. An animal-tastic experience awaits the theaters, and is working to single-handedly fight the allegations that Disney’s prime has passed.
