As a fan of Disney myself, I must admit that the past few productions we’ve gotten from Disney Animation these past few years haven’t been the strongest entries in the Disney canon. (Strange World, Wish, and Moana 2 weren’t bad films by any means, but they could’ve been better.) So, when a sequel to Zootopia was announced, my excitement was accompanied by a minor hint of worry. When Zootopia first released back in 2016, it quickly became one of my favorite modern Disney films thanks to its animation, the infectious chemistry between its very likable characters, and its use of different animals to cleverly convey its allegories for discrimination and marginalization. I was pretty concerned that a sequel would water down the elements that made the original film special. However, Zootopia 2 ended up surprising me in the best ways possible. Everything that was great about the first film is definitely present, but done in a way that feels like a fresh and original take on its formula. The dynamic between our main duo of Nick Wilde & Judy Hopps is one of my favorite aspects of the Zootopia films, and it continues to entertain here. As the story follows the two of them cracking a new case for the Zootopia Police Department and encountering a plethora of locations and animals both new and familiar (Gary De’Snake and Nibbles Maplestick were probably my favorite new characters.), this particular plot centers around the reptile community, using them to represent the film’s message revolving around gentrification and coexistence. Besides the incredible animation, the top-tier voice performances, and the enjoyable dialogue, this film paced its story and conveyed its message in a way that would not only entertain audiences, but resonate with them as well, young and old alike. Although the film could feel like a retread of already charted territory at times, the film’s many positive qualities ensured that Zootopia 2 is not only one of the best Disney sequels we’ve ever gotten, but also the best Disney film we’ve gotten in years. Score: 9/10
Noah Robinson 