YNOT at the Movies

Bursting with color, critters, and comedic chaos, "Zootopia 2" (USA 2025 | 108 min.) storms back onto the screen in a sequel that is cute, loud, dazzling, and a tidbit preachy. Visually, the film remains an exuberant showcase filled with inventive new districts, lovingly animated animals, and a steady stream of modern-life parodies. It is designed to delight first, even as it leans into another message about inclusion.

The plot begins right after the first film. Bunny Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and fox Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) are still working through the awkward early stages of their partnership when they are drawn into a mystery involving the Lynxleys, the most prestigious and politically influential family in Zootopia.

A century earlier, the Lynxleys created a legal charter known as the Lynxley Patent, a foundational document that established their authority and shaped key parts of the city's development. Over time, a falsified version of the patent was used to justify the complete exclusion of snakes from Zootopia, turning the species into feared outsiders.

This history explains why residents panic when Gary De'Snake (voiced by Ke Huy Quan), the first snake seen in the city in 100 years, arrives with a mission. Gary reveals that the publicly accepted patent is a forgery and that the original, truth-bearing Lynxley Patent was hidden long ago.

Judy, Nick, and Gary follow a trail of clues that sends them into Tundratown's icy wilderness, where the real patent was secretly buried to conceal the truth. Determined to restore his clan's rightful place in the metropolis, Gary teams up with the two cops as they race to uncover the original document and expose the lies that allowed the Lynxleys to maintain generations of power.

As expected from Disney Animation, the film dazzles visually. The sheer quantity of animals on screen is astonishing and sometimes overwhelming. Tongue-in-cheek references like Ewetube, ZNN, and an onslaught of pun-heavy background signage reliably bring out chuckles. The cute beaver Nibbles Maplestick (voiced by Fortune Feimster) provides some of the biggest laughs with her conspiracy-podcaster energy. The fabulous stallion Mayor Winddancer (voiced by Patrick Warburton) with his flowing mane and theatrical swagger resembles a drag queen who accidentally wandered into the mayor's office and decided to stay.

Despite the spectacle, the story occasionally strains credibility. The entire plot hinges on the notion that the immensely powerful Lynxley family could be undone or redeemed by a single buried document. Given their dominance in shaping Zootopia's history, the logic feels bent to support the adventure rather than arising naturally from the world's politics.

Still, the film carries surprising thematic weight. The snake clan's exile and their longing to return home evokes modern displacement crises, most prominently the Palestinian struggle for return. Children will likely miss the parallel, but adults will recognize it immediately.

The finale wraps things up with an earnest, slightly cheesy classroom-style reminder about embracing those who are different. It is sincere but not particularly nuanced.

Even with its formulaic narrative beats, this enjoyable sequel is visually rich, frequently funny, and occasionally resonant. It remains an entertaining return to a world that still overflows with charm.

"Zootopia 2" opens in theaters on Wednesday, November 26, 2025.