Disney Animation returns with Zootopia 2, a sequel that proves Judy and Nick still have plenty of animal instinct as they chase a mystery shaking the city.

When Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan) slithers into town and upends Zootopia, mismatched rookie officers Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) land on a twisting new case. Going undercover in unfamiliar districts pushes their partnership further than ever.

Zootopia 2 picks up shortly after the events of the first film. Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) are still navigating the growing pains of their partnership, but they’re trying to make it work. One has to admire filmmakers Jared Bush and Byron Howard for translating the classic buddy-cop formula into an animal world. By pairing predator and prey in the Zootopia Police Department, they tap into the same mismatched-cop charm that has fueled hits like Beverly Hills Cop.

The glamorous Zootennial Gala, held at Lynxley Manor in Tundratown, brings characters from all corners of Zootopia together to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the city’s weather walls—until the first snake seen in a century slithers into town. His arrival resurfaces a decades-old mystery tied to the prominent Lynxley family. Zootopia 2 sees both Judy and Nick dig into the mystery and become fugitives in the process.

Exploring the mystery takes them into parts of Zootopia we didn’t see in the first film, like Marsh Market. There, Judy and Nick are aided by Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster), an oddball beaver podcaster. It’s in Marsh Market where they are introduced to semiaquatic mammals and reptiles—and gives Zootopia 2 an opportunity to comment on conspiracy theories.

Returning favorites include Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), Bonnie Hopps (Bonnie Hunt), Stu Hopps (Don Lake), Mr. Big (Maurice LaMarche), Clawhauser (Nate Torrence), Flash (Raymond S. Persi), and pop star Gazelle (Shakira). Fans will be pleased with Flash’s expanded role this time around, building on his breakout popularity from the first film.

After winning Oscars for both Zootopia and Encanto, Bush and Howard reunited for Judy and Nick’s next adventure. I was curious to see whether they could top themselves or find a fresh approach with Zootopia 2. I can’t say definitively whether is a retread of the original because I hadn’t rewatched it prior to the press screening, but I’m curious to see how the two films play back-to-back. One thing is certain: this sequel has a stronger shot at grabbing an Oscar than Pixar’s Elio did earlier this year.

In other highlights, the filmmakers have outdone themselves in scale. The Burning Mammal festival features an impressive 50,000 characters, and a total of 67 species appear throughout the film. As for new characters, snakes have a storied history in Disney animation—from Kaa in The Jungle Book to Sir Hiss in Robin Hood to Juju in The Princess and the Frog. It’s no surprise that legendary animator Eric Goldberg helped shape Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan) in early animation tests.

Michael Giacchino returns to compose the score for Zootopia 2. Bush and Howard didn’t give him any rules, and he brings even more variety to the soundtrack this time around. He has a way of pushing the story forward while still keeping it grounded. One of his first tasks was writing new themes for the Lynxleys and for Gary, helping to give the characters a distinct musical identity.

In the end, Zootopia 2 proves that the city’s streets are still hopping with energy, its mysteries still twisting like a snake in the grass, and its buddy cops still paw-sitively unstoppable. From undercover escapades in Marsh Market to the glittering chaos of the Zootennial Gala, Judy and Nick leap, slither, and sprint through a story that keeps audiences guessing—and laughing—every step of the way. With an array of species to admire, a score that sings with personality, and a cast that claws its way into your heart, this sequel reminds us that in Zootopia, there’s always room for a few more twists, turns, and tail-wagging antics.

DIRECTORS: Jared Bush, Byron Howard
SCREENWRITERS: Jared Bush
CAST: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, David Strathairn, Idris Elba, Shakira, Patrick Warburton, Quinta Brunson, Nate Torrence, Alan Tudyk, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake, Jean Reno, Macaulay Culkin, Brenda Song, Maurice LaMarche, Leah Latham, Raymond S. Persi, Jenny Slate, Yvette Nicole Brown, Josh Dallas, Mark Rhino Smith, Tommy Chong

Walt Disney Pictures releases Zootopia 2 in theaters on November 26, 2025. Grade: 4/5

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