Before Walt Disney Animation Studios debuted both “Zootopia” and “Moana” back in 2016, most assumed the princess film with songs by Lin-Manuel Miranda would prove to be the bigger hit. In many ways, “Zootopia” seemed like a risk; tackling complex subjects like prejudice and xenophobia in an animal-filled police procedural wasn’t exactly an obvious success. And yet, after it was all said and done, “Zootopia” dominated the box office, taking in more than a billion dollars, and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. According to its directors, Byron Howard and Jared Bush, it wasn’t long after that shocking success that Bush handed a drawing to Howard of the “Zootopia 2” logo, complete with a snake as the “2.”
Now, with “Zootopia 2” just two months away, Next Best Picture was invited to Walt Disney Animation Studios for an early look at the long-awaited sequel. While Disney is still putting the finishing touches on the final film, they showcased a selection of scenes from “Zootopia 2,” pulling back the curtain, so to speak, to reveal how the sequel was crafted, from initial concepts to story development and final animation.
The film picks up right where the first left off, with Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) freshly appointed as Judy Hopps’ (Ginnifer Goodwin) partner on the ZPD. Although the pair earned a great deal of trust after saving the city, their partnership doesn’t get off to the best start. Opening with an exhilarating car chase throughout the city, Nick and Judy cause more than their fair share of chaos. While Nick was the streetwise expert on all things Zootopia in the first film, the pair explores parts of the world that even Nick doesn’t know, like Marsh Market. “Not only is it these weirdo walruses and seals and sea lions running around, but it’s also a place that Nick had never been to,” says Bush. “[In the first film], he was the guy who had all the ins and he knew all the secrets. Now, to put him in a place where he was extremely uncomfortable created a different dynamic.”
From an animation standpoint, Marsh Market is one of the more complex lands explored in this universe so far. Animals live both above and below the water, leading animators to figure out how to craft restaurants that cater to both. During an extensive chase sequence, we see animals seamlessly gliding through this world, posing challenges for Nick and Judy. But “Zootopia 2” isn’t just exploring new spaces within this world. In the first go-around, there wasn’t a single reptile in the entire film. Now, reptiles are encroaching on the rest of the city in new ways, leading Judy and Nick to track down Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), who has stolen from the wealthy Lynxley family.
As always, an enormous team brings “Zootopia 2” to life, but according to the filmmakers, there was something special this time around. Howard described working on “Zootopia 2” as the most collaborative team he has ever worked with. “I think that collaboration comes from us trusting the folks around us, knowing that the best ideas are rarely, rarely going to come from us,” Howard said, laughing alongside Bush. “The team that built around the new story was so genuinely enthusiastic. There was sort of a core joy that was driving this thing from the get-go.” Throughout our visit to the studio, we had the opportunity to observe various aspects of this team’s process. Heads of Story, Carrie Liao and David Vantuyle, took us through an artist’s roundtable, showing us how the team brainstorms ideas for the unique way these animals approach the world. We participated in a live animal drawing session featuring a rabbit and a porcupine, experiencing firsthand how artists can dream up unique character traits in their real-life counterparts.
Composer Michael Giacchino also joined in on the fun, bringing along a troupe of musicians. The band played a jazzy tune that we’ll hear as the characters visit a speakeasy run by reptiles, complete with a percussionist using real turtle shells. Giacchino talked about approaching “Zootopia 2” as a completely new project, preferring to ask, “What is this movie’s theme. I want to hear something new.” The composer also declared that “Zootopia 2” might be “the most insane score I’ve ever written in my life.” While we didn’t get to hear much more of that “insane” score, the filmmakers shared a new song with us from Shakira. This new track sounds fairly similar to Shakira’s smash hit from the first film, “Try Everything,” but playing it safe might pay off.
When “Zootopia 2” premieres this Thanksgiving, it also marks a new era for Walt Disney Studios Animation. Last fall, Bush was appointed Chief Creative Officer for the studio, overseeing all of Disney’s upcoming animated projects. When asked how joining the corporate ranks of the studio has affected him as a filmmaker, Bush pointed to having a trusted team around him to deliver clear feedback. “You have to be open to criticism and feedback, and that has to be real and not lip service. You need someone saying ‘it’s not good enough yet.’” Bush takes the reins of the studio at a time when the world of animation is in serious flux. With China’s “Ne Zha 2” shattering box office records, Netflix and Sony’s “KPop Demon Hunters” taking over pop culture, and “Flow,” a Latvian-produced, shoestring-budget film, winning the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, Disney needs to prove that it’s still the king in this space.
Will “Zootopia 2” be the film to do that? It’s too soon to tell, but this early look promises a satisfying sequel that audiences will likely enjoy on November 26th.
Check out our exclusive podcast interviews with Directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush, Producer Yvett Merino, Heads of Story Carrie Liao and David Vantuyle, and Head of Animation Chad Sellers.
Are you looking forward to “Zootopia 2?” Do you think it will recreate the success of the first film? Please let us know in the comments section below and on our X account.
