The year’s most compelling romance is between a fox and a rabbit in Zootopia 2, opening in Prague cinemas (in both English and Czech-dubbed versions at most venues) this weekend. This is the rare mainstream animated film that boasts genuine appeal for audiences both young and old, a bright, fast-paced, and joke-laden comedy that also works as a cracking detective story in the mold of Chinatown. After last year’s disappointing Moana 2, Disney has delivered a sequel that lives up to—and perhaps even surpasses—the original.
Zootopia 2 picks up right where the last film left off, quite literally, with a recap of Zootopia‘s climax that saw hero cops Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) bust mayor Dawn Bellwether (Jenny Slate) thanks to a time-worn trope: recording her big villainous speech. The device they used, a carrot tape recorder, is now a beloved memento as they carry on their unlikely careers in the Zootopia Police Department.
The conceit of the Zootopia movies is that everyone in this world is anthropomorphized animal; nothing special when it comes to animated entertainment, but here, the underlying animal stereotypes are played up to an unusual and amusing degree. Judy is an energetic and ambitious rabbit, Nick is a sly fox and reformed criminal, and not only are they up against buffalo (Idris Elba‘s chief), hippos, and, well, pigs in the police department—they’re also up against the natural predisposition of their own species. On a professional and personal level.
But that’s what makes this pairing so fun. Zootopia 2 is at its best when it keeps the focus on the evolving dynamic between Judy and Nick, and the film’s beating heart is their genuine care for each other, despite all the differences. Things never become outwardly romantic—to the chagrin, perhaps, of some fans—but there’s a deeper love between these characters, and terrific voice work between Goodwin and Bateman help sell the relationship.
Out to prove their worth as police within a force that doesn’t believe in them, Judy and Nick get involved in a case involving a mystery surrounding Zootopia’s founder. His upper-class descendants (a family of lynxes voiced by David Strathairn, Andy Samberg, Macaulay Culkin, and others) are hosting the Zootenial Gala, while an illegal immigrant snake voiced by Ke Huy Quan—reptiles are banned in this city of mammals—crashes the party in order to steal the founder’s journal. As the establishment turns against Judy and Nick, a podcaster beaver Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster) helps them unravel the conspiracy.
Most kids movies throw in a joke or two for adults in the room, but Zootopia delivers us a full-blown detective noir narrative that keeps us fully invested throughout: the labyrinthine storyline here, complete with social commentary and real-world parallels, is a lot more engaging than what we get in the usual buddy cop movie. Even if the ultimate outcome doesn’t shock us to our core, we’re completely invested in watching Judy and Nick put together all the pieces of the puzzle.
But there are plenty of jokes, too—and the references come flying so fast and furious that you’re unlikely to catch them all on the first viewing. Some of the best include nods to family classics like Ratatouille and Babe… and less family-oriented classics like The Shining, The Godfather, and The Silence of the Lambs. The film is also packed with celebrity cameos, which include a fox named Michael J. and a sheep named Ed Shearin. You’ll have to work a little harder to identify the character voiced by Dwayne Johnson, however.
Shakira, who voices a pop-music-star gazelle, also returns from the first movie. Her single Zoo—played out in full twice during the movie—is especially catchy compared to her song from the earlier film, even if it’s awfully similar to her megahit Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).
Co-directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard return from the first Zootopia, having made Encanto in-between, and clearly have a way with this kind of vibrant, fast-paced, adult-friendly family film. The fluid, first-rate animation and Michael Giacchino’s energetic score give the final product a sparkling sheen, making it feel like a true evolution rather than a corporate-mandated continuation.
Zootopia 2 cements the franchise as one of Disney’s smartest and most entertaining series, with a post-credit hint that suggests more is on the way. Its layered storytelling balances humor, heart, and mystery, appealing to both kids and adults without pandering to either audience. With standout voice performances, imaginative worldbuilding, and a plot that keeps you invested until the very end, this sequel proves that the House of Mouse can still deliver top-flight animated movies—and they have a real hit with this one.
