My bestie is surrounded by animals; her living environment a virtual haven for a dizzying array of dogs, cats and even occasional visiting creatures of sundry species from their nearby forest who ingratiate themselves into the otherwise mundane lives of her relatives who all live in close proximity on a family compound. So it’s not much of a surprise that a few of them actually start to take on anthropomorphized qualities and the ability to communicate on higher plane levels. My particular favorite is an adorable older cat who never fails to acknowledge when I’m on the phone–audio only–and with his sweet low gutteral “mwwlrow” engages me in conversation. Knowing how much my bestie adores him, I naturally respond as if I were talking to her actual child and playfully ask him to spill all the tea about the fam and the neighbors that my bestie usually glosses over. This can go on for as much as 15-20 minutes on a rare day where signal and battery quality will allow. It’s also a sweet reminder of conversations with my own now long-gone tuxedo cats, a subset universally known as being remarkably conversant. Yes, I concede that on the surface that may sound a bit nuts, but anyone who’s ever loved or been loved by an animal might be inclined to cut me just a tad more slack.
I bring this quirky story up because I am sometimes at a loss for words for exactly how big a deal ZOOTOPIA is for a company with nearly a century invested in anthropomorphic animation. No less an authority than the most recently dated post from earlier this week on the Walt Disney Company’s investor relations page spells this out:
When Walt Disney Animation Studios released Zootopia in 2016, audiences around the world fell in love with Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin), the city’s first bunny police officer, and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman), a con artist fox. The unlikely duo teamed up to solve the case of missing otter — and, in doing so, stumbled upon an even bigger mystery. The film went on to become a box office sensation, grossing more than $1 billion worldwide and winning the Oscar® for Best Animated Feature, among other awards.
The reason the film resonated across generations and geographies is because it includes “real human themes,” Jared Bush, who co-wrote and co-directed Zootopia, said in the video below. “How do we get along with one another? Are our differences too much? There’s something [about] no matter where you are in the world, you can see your story onscreen.” As a city, it really is a melting pot for characters and points of view from all different angles,” added Byron Howard, who directed the film. “And that’s why it’s such an easy way for us to talk about ourselves, as human beings, and what we experience in our own lives.”
And that admittedly biased spiel has been reinforced from just about every independent pundit I’ve had access to in the glowing reviews of the long-awaited sequel which got the coveted Thansgiving weekend window once again. COMIC BOOK.COM’s Marco Vito Oddo was particularly gushy and nuanced in the piece he authored as we were basting our birds:
When Zootopia hit theaters in 2016, it was a lightning-in-a-bottle moment for Walt Disney Animation Studios. The film crossed the rare billion-dollar mark at the global box office while earning a staggering 98% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with critics praising its ability to blend a classic buddy-cop mystery with sharp social commentary. That level of acclaim set an intimidatingly high bar for any follow-up. However, Zootopia 2 has arrived with a “Fresh” rating of 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, a score that proves the franchise has not lost its touch, even if it sits just shy of its predecessor’s near-perfection.
The first Zootopia introduced audiences to a city designed for animals of all sizes, but Zootopia 2 takes that concept and runs with it. Critics are universally praising the visual expansion of the universe, noting that the animation technology has made a significant leap forward in the last decade…Zootopia 2 is being hailed as a legitimately funny film that respects the intelligence of its audience, avoiding the trap of dumbing down its humor for the youngest demographic. Reviewers highlight that the script is packed with rapid-fire gags, visual puns, and pop culture references that land with precision. The Hollywood Reporter praises the “sophisticated humor” and mentions specific highlights, such as a chase scene that pays homage to The Shining and a hilarious sequence involving a walrus boat. The film balances broad physical comedy for kids with clever Easter eggs for adults…The heart of the franchise remains the undeniable chemistry between Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman). Critics are relieved to report that the sequel does not reset their character development but instead explores the realistic growing pains of their professional partnership. The film places them in a new context where they must learn to communicate effectively rather than just survive a crisis.
SCREEN RANT’s Molly Freeman underscores how that central relationship that pays homage to just about every Preston Sturges comedy has been expanded upon:
Judy and Nick’s story isn’t necessarily groundbreaking, but it ties in nicely to the overall themes of Zootopia 2. Along with expanding the world of Zootopia comes introducing a whole host of new animal characters. (Ke Huy) Quan’s Gary De’Snake is a delightful addition to the world, and his journey in Zootopia proves unexpectly sweet. Meanwhile, Fortune Feimster’s Nibbles Maplestick is a hilarious and scene-stealing beaver, and Andy Samberg’s Pawbert Lynxley rounds out the main cast with a charming performance. Disney went much bigger in Zootopia 2, and there’s a long list of big stars who have cameos in the film — including Robert Irwin and Dwayne Johnson — but these appearances never draw away from the story of Nick and Judy, which is central to the film. Their partnership is in danger because the two approach their cases very differently, and their story sees the pair learning to compromise and communicate in order to strengthen their bond.
It’s not like Disney hasn’t tapped into worlds like this before; heck, anyone who’s ever seen THE JUNGLE BOOK or THE ARISTOCATS in their youth can immediately relate to how this world resonates with today’s kids. But timing is indeed everything, and in light of the most recent real world headlines that scream divisivness and misogny the observations offered up by INDIE WIRE’s Kate Erbland ring especially true:
(N)ine years on, and the fervor around the film‘s long-awaited first sequel has in no way diminished. Fans are, well, they’re feral for it. They may also be feral for some similarly long-awaited retconning and clarifications. As smart and savvy as the film’s original premise is, it came with plenty of unanswered questions, like “why just mammals” and “where the heck are the birds and reptiles” and “what’s the deal with the crackling romantic chemistry between our two leads, who happen to be different species.”
Perhaps that’s where the answer to my burning question may lie; if nothing else, it certainly helps to explain the ebullient early returns that THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER’s Pamela McLintock served up yesterday:
Zootopia 2 topped Thanksgiving Day with a near-record $19.7 million, the second best showing of all time after fellow release Moana 2 ($27.8 million) after posting an opening day of gross $39.5 million on Wednesday. That puts the sequel on track to open to a better-than-expected five-day holiday opening of $140 million-$150 million (rivals think it could easily come in higher), which would likewise be the second-best showing after Moana 2. Finally, there is something for families to see at the multiplex after a long dry spell for such fare. After just two days, the sequel has grossed $133.2 million globally, including $59.2M domestically and $74.0 million internationally, including a record-smashing $54 million two-day gross in China, where it is serving up the best-ever launch for an animated title and the best for any Hollywood film since all the way back in May 2021.
At a moment in time when trying to cope with what comes out of some humans’ mouths becomes increasingly nausea-inducing, it’s a welcome relief to have options like this that allow us to become participants in an animal kingdom that offers escape and optimism. That is, for those of us who don’t otherwise have access to talking cats.
Until next time…
