I got to see Zootopia 2 at Midwest FurFest 2025 (oddly I saw the last Zootopia in theaters at Furry Fiesta).

I really enjoyed it. I laughed at some great parts. Loved some of the character beats, Nick's apartment was great for me. Loved the new Shakira song and the big gala event it premiered at. That Gala was likely my favorite part of the movie. Gazelle having her own little arc because SOMEONE pushed her backup dancer was a delight. I love the new neighborhoods we got to see, the world building, and there was just a lot of fun and sense of humor that worked for me. Loved the new mayor and his arc, the moment he showed up I was all in and could just imagine that election. I'm obsessed with Denny Howlett the news reporter. Mr. Big was well used and didnt overstay his welcome. The Zebros were just so fun as a call back to the Maimi Vice/Beverly Hills Cop reference and I love the obvious horse member of the duo CLEARLY dyes his fur to look like a zebra thats such a great subtle little nod to the point that Judy and Nick work as partners because they are different and not trying to conform to each other.

I think the first one had a clearer line and story and this one had to juggle a "is our partnership working and successful or are we failing, but also reptiles" which meant neither story got the development it needed. The "other partners are similar looking and seem functional but are not" gag worked to degree but needed more fine tuning. The reptile characters including Gary De'Snake just didnt have enough room to breathe.

Judy remains a solid character and I like aspects of her story (though I think we needed a more solid moment of her realizing her risk taking had consequences for those she cared about like Nick, or if she had been the one messing up in Marsh Market because she was too focused on her goals). Also Nick didn't have enough space to shine. It would have been fun to have Nick being sly and tricksy and using that to solve some problems and he didnt have the space to do that. I liked the general state of his arc being "I am irreverent because its a coping mechanism" and I liked several parts. Perhaps I would have enjoyed some more snark about the Lynxleys as a line of him knowing they're dangerous and corrupt and Judy not seeing it. I liked the Lynxlys as a family and their antagonism and get why a lot of other people like Pawbert. I just didn't as much though he had some great moments and a good design. His arc made sense it just isn't the one I'd have gone with personally. Still his sinister step out of the office moment was so well animated. Nibbles Maplestick is a fun character and she had good scenes but her introduction as a "conspiracy vlogger" coded person turned me off to her for the most part.

Like I said though I had a lot of fun, I enjoyed major parts of it and loved all the background candy.

Considering how its doing in the box office I look forward to Zootopia 3 (Birds now, I suppose, though I'd like the twist being the birds are just aloof to being in the city but that's, again, me.)

Part of what I think works for Zootopia is it genuinely seems like a nice place to live and a place I'd want to live in. It is a city I want to inhabit (I literally did become a Pine Marten due to the first film and invented a backstory for living in the city). I also like the throughline for both films is "our city isn't perfect, we are not perfect, but we can do better" and that is I think a strong and good line to take.

So yeah good movie, good time, like the last one I had a grand time in Zootopia again.