In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia 2, rookie cops Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde find themselves on the twisting trail of a great mystery when Gary De’Snake arrives in Zootopia and turns the animal metropolis upside down. To crack the case, Judy and Nick must go undercover to unexpected new parts of town, where their growing partnership is tested like never before.
KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Ryker N. comments, “I absolutely LOVE the film Zootopia 2! All the favorite characters from Zootopia, and then some, are back with comical displays of friendship vs foe. And for the Flash (Raymond S. Persi) fans, he does not disappoint!” Elsy S. adds, “I love the movie Zootopia 2 because of its action-packed intensity, emotional layers, and how it talks about making difficult decisions.” Luna C. wraps it up with, “I was thrilled to dive back into the magical creature world of Zootopia 2, this time exploring the Marsh Market, a vibrant realm dedicated to water animals. I enjoyed seeing Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) step away from his criminal past and absolutely love the new mayor in town. The plot is filled with perfectly balanced twists, a few jump scares, and just the right amount of justice.” See their full reviews below.
Zootopia 2
By Ryker N., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10
I absolutely LOVE the film Zootopia 2! All the favorite characters from Zootopia, and then some, are back with comical displays of friendship vs foe. And for the Flash (Raymond S. Persi) fans, he does not disappoint!
The story picks up where Zootopia left off with Fox/Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) and Carrots/Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) being teamed up for their first assignment. But this is no ordinary assignment and, as usual, this team cannot stay away from getting involved in a real crime case. The two take on various battles to ultimately help Gary De’ Snake (Ke Huy Quan) recover the loss of reptiles from Zootopia. Bellwether (Jenny Slate) corruptly tries to keep Zootopia a land of predator vs prey, but Nick and Judy bamboozle her in a way that is unexpected to save Zootopia. A suspenseful plot twist centering around antagonist Pawbert Lynxley (Andy Samberg) and his family brings the story full circle as a reminder that villains never win.
Disney has outdone itself with the animation as it even surpasses the animation of Zootopia. The vibrant colors and attention to detail absolutely nail all the weather scenes. Plus, the funny scenes are endless. My favorite ones involve a recording carrot pen that is used several times for amusing blackmail tactics between Nick and Judy. Mr. Big (Maurice LaMarche) returns as one of my most liked characters because of his integrity in helping Nick and Judy by giving them tips along the way. LaMarche’s voice fits Mr. Big’s character perfectly. Shakira brings the vocals again for another stunning performance as Gazelle. It fascinates me how many big-name celebrities are in this film with minor roles. The character name puns are hilarious. For example: Bartender Slick Di’Giguani is played by Nick DiGiovanni, Zeke AKA That Dik-Dik Stuck in that Tuba is played by Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, Michael J. The Fox by Michael J. Fox, and Ed Shearin is played by none other than Ed Sheeran, to name a few.
This film’s message is about how when everyone works together, despite their differences, everyone wins. The importance of friendship and how to maintain relationships are also common themes throughout the film. Note that there are some violent scenes that may not be suitable for younger audiences.
Zootopia 2 gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. The film releases to theaters on November 26, 2025.
Zootopia 2
By Elsy S., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13
I love the movie Zootopia 2 because of its action-packed intensity, emotional layers, and how it talks about making difficult decisions.
The story takes place in the famous Zootopia, and follows Judy and Nick (Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman) as they work to expose the cunning Lynxleys and save an innocent snake (Ke Huy Quan) from being captured. They infiltrate a gala, and Judy meets a kind Lynxley named Pawbert (Andy Samberg), but they see that the snake has stolen the journal celebrating weather walls, supposedly invented by the Lynxleys, and become the police’s number one target. In the end, Nick goes to jail, but escapes, and Pawbert betrays them, trying to kill Judy and Nick, but they find the original patent for the weather walls, and snakes are welcomed back into Zootopia.
The story really demonstrates how one must look beyond what is obvious, and find what is hidden, even if it means sacrificing how you thought the world was. My favorite character is Nick Wilde, because of his obvious care for Judy, and his rational thought patterns. The voice talent is spot on. There are several main characters that weren’t in the first, as well as the return of many characters we have come to love, such as Chief Bogo, Gazelle, Dawn Bellweather, and Clawhouser (Idris Elba, Shakira, Jennifer Slate, Nate Torrence). The new characters are also very intriguing–Gary, Nibbles, Pawbert Lynxley, and Milton Lynxley (Ke Huy Quan, Fortune Feimster, Andy Samberg, and David Strathairn). My favorite part is when Judy and Nick reveal a lot of emotional trauma between themselves in a very sweet way.
The film’s message is about learning to look beyond what is obvious to find what is hidden, physically, mentally and emotionally. Be forewarned that there are some extremely violent scenes, betrayal, and fear.
Zootopia 2 gets 4.5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 5 to 12. It will be released in theaters on November 26, 2025.
Zootopia 2
By Luna C., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 10
I was thrilled to dive back into the magical creature world of Zootopia 2, this time exploring the Marsh Market, a vibrant realm dedicated to water animals. I enjoyed seeing Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) step away from his criminal past and absolutely love the new mayor in town. The plot is filled with perfectly balanced twists, a few jump scares, and just the right amount of justice.
This sequel to the beloved Disney animated film picks up only a week after the first movie ends. Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde are navigating their new partnership and trying to prove they’re more than a one-hit duo. Once again, they uncover a long-buried secret within Zootopia, and the discovery sends them into brand-new territories as they work to make their city better for all creatures.
I love seeing familiar faces like Flash (Raymond S. Persi) and meeting new characters such as the helpful Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster), Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), who drives much of the plot, and the hilarious and heroic Mayor Winddancer (Patrick Warburton). One of my favorite moments is when Judy and Nick discover the Reptile Ravine. The homes feel truly reptilian, with scale-like textures and long, curved shapes. It feels like a lost world we didn’t get to see in the first movie–because it was buried under the snow! The villainous Lynxly family does not disappoint, and I was excited to see Dawn Bellwether (Jenny Slate), who remains delightfully evil and even escapes from prison… which definitely feels like a hint at Zootopia 3!
The film’s message centers around the need to prove you belong. Whether it’s Judy and Nick proving their partnership, or Gary De’Snake showing that snakes aren’t the bad guys, the message of accepting others for who they are shines throughout the film.
Zootopia 2 gets 5 out of 5 stars from me and I recommend it for ages 5 to 12, plus adults. It releases in theaters November 26, 2025.
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