Mary Gilmore, Staff Writer
Nearly a decade after the original film hit the theaters, Zootopia 2 returns to the big screen on November 26, 2025. Fans will be reunited with characters like Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde and introduced to a new villain threatening the city.
The first film, Zootopia, follows Judy, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, and Nick, voiced by Jason Bateman, as they formed an unlikely friendship. They work together to figure out why animals keep going missing around Zootopia. In the end, they learned that Assistant Mayor Bellwether, the innocent lamb helping Judy throughout the film, was actually the mastermind behind the disappearances. By the end of the film, the tension between predators and prey was broken, and Nick was allowed to join the police force with Judy.
In the sequel, Judy and Nick are seasoned detectives. Their partnership is put to the test when Gary De’Snake, voiced by Ke Huy Quan, comes to Zootopia. He sparks a citywide crisis that forces Judy and Nick to go undercover in unfamiliar districts of Zootopia. The trailer shows a make-or-break mission, challenging the trust between Nick and Judy.
The first Zootopia film tackled heavy themes of prejudice and systematic bias through the use of the predator and prey metaphor. Going in a different direction, the second film seems to explore themes of trust, transformation, and the fragility of social relationships. The arrival of a reptile in Zootopia, which is a mammal-dominated city, raises questions about inclusion and the fear of the unknown.
The sequel returns with directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard, with Yvett Merino also producing. This creative team won an Oscar for the original Zootopia and continues to bring depth to the franchise. Composer Michael Giacchino also returns.
In the original film, “Try Everything” by Shakira, who plays Gazelle, is an upbeat pop anthem that captures the film and Judy’s persistence. This song caught fans by storm, being a popular song still played to this day. In the trailer for the sequel, a new song titled “Zoo” was co-written by Ed Sheeran, Blake Slatkin, and Shakira. The single debuted on October 10 and seems to have more emotional tension as compared to “Try Everything”.
Chloe, a college student and self-acclaimed Zootopia lover, said, “I am very excited for the new Zootopia movie to come out. The first Zootopia movie brings back a lot of good childhood memories, and the animation blew my mind when I was younger. Based on the Zootopia 2 trailer alone, I can tell the animation is even better than the first one.”
According to the first reviews of the film, Chloe was right about the animation. From the playlist, Gregory Ellwood stated, “Zootopia 2 is great. Smart, creative, funny, and stunning animation. And moving. Ke Huy Quan for the win…again. Watch out Kpop, you got competition for that Animated Oscar.”
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