by: Siyona Singhal

Humor Editor

Spoilers ahead for Zootopia 2

After nine long years, Zootopia 2, the long-awaited sequel to Zootopia, has come out, and it’s safe to say that it has met everyone’s high expectations. The movie revolves around the same two main characters as the first movie, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, picking up immediately after its predecessor ended. Zootopia 2 preserves all the charm from the original while touching on deeper themes, such as racism, that connect to broader society. 

One of the best parts of the first Zootopia was the lighthearted plotline, which still maintained viewers’ attention, and that was replicated in the second movie. A little bit of mystery tied in with jokes and jam-packed action scenes kept me literally on the edge of my seat. The storyline didn’t end there, though. When Judy and Nick experience problems in their partnership, I almost cried. When they reconciled with each other, I clapped. Of course, a Zootopia movie would be incomplete without a crazy plot twist, and Zootopia 2 delivered. When the movie reveals that Gary’s grandmother had originally written the plans for Zootopia and Lynxley stole her work, I was shocked. I was even surprised when Pawbert ended up being evil, though any true fan could have seen that one coming. 

Another reason Zootopia was so successful is because of the amazing fictional world it conjured. The city of Zootopia is built in such a way that every animal has its own unique details and environment, making the whole movie feel cute and clever. In Zootopia 2, we get to see even more of this, especially in the new Marsh Market area, where dolphins are bartenders and animals travel through water tunes. 

The new characters introduced in Zootopia 2 further enrich the plot. I personally was a huge fan of Nibbles Maplestick, the podcasting beaver, and Mayor Winddancer, the majestic mayor of Zootopia. Though these new additions are wonderful, I also appreciated the references to characters from the first movie. The cameo from Flash the sloth made me so happy, and the development of Mr. Big’s family is adorable. The characters are just as important to the film as the plot, and truly, they make the movie so much more lovable. The villains of the movie, the Lynxley family, were well-constructed, memorable villains; I don’t know about the five-year-olds watching in the theater with me, but they were creeping me out for sure. 

I also appreciated how the movie touched on more serious topics, such as prejudice. Society shuns reptiles and forces them to stay in Marsh Market, living in fear of being discovered. It brings attention to how many minorities in the real world are treated unfairly and live in fear, facing constant judgment. While it seems like too deep a topic for a children’s movie, Zootopia 2 presents the issue with grace and simplicity. 

Overall, Zootopia 2 is a great movie that presents important themese while still keeping the sparkle and charm of a family movie. I highly recommend Zootopia 2 to everyone, but maybe I’m biased because of Nick Wilde…