“Sly fox, dumb bunny.”
Just when you think that storytellers have mined all they can from the odd couple trope, co-writers Jared Bush (Encanto) and Phil Johnston (Wreck-It Ralph series) found a way to invigorate the concept by not only trading human characters for anthropomorphized animals, but doing so while also interrogating race relations, racial bias, and political corruption. Their resultant film, Zootopia (2016) directed by Bryan Howard (Tangled) and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph series), would not only capture audience’s imaginations, it would win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 2017 awards. It’s a no-brainer that Walt Disney Animation Studios would want to see their miss-matched dynamic duo square-up for another mystery adventure in the Oscar-nominated Zootopia 2 which is now headed for home entertainment with approximately 74-minutes of behind-the-scenes material that allows curious viewers to get a strong sense of how the film was made, even if it doesn’t dig into the politics the film bases its entire narrative upon.
Since uncovering Bellweather’s (voiced by Jenny Slate) criminal conspiracy, Zootopia Police Officer Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and the newly-inducted Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman) are struggling to find their footing. After their efforts in an on-going case go sideways, they are warned by Chief Bogo (voiced by Idris Elba) to get it together and are ordered to attend a partner support group. Equally in denial about their working relationship, Judy instead pushes Nick to investigate the sudden appearance of a snake when Zootopia is celebrating its centennial. Neither could realize just how big of a case they would stumble upon or the dangers they would face in order to reveal the truth.
The following home release review is based on a digital edition provided by Walt Disney Home Entertainment. As this is a digital release review, there’s no way to discuss the fidelity of the presentation or audio as that is dependent on your internet service provider, the method of accessing the film (iTunes vs. MoviesAnywhere, etc.), and other streaming-related factors.
Extra Note: We’re going to jump straight into the mystery of Zootopia 2, so if you haven’t seen the film yet but want to learn about the bonus features, make sure to jump down the text just past the “Booth to Scree” video featurette. Spoilers should be all done by then.
L-R: Nick Wilde voiced by Jason Bateman and Judy Hopps voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ ZOOTOPIA 2. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Once more written by Bush, but this time co-directed by Bush and Howard, Zootopia 2 does more than pick things up where the previous adventure left off, it digs in even deeper to demonstrate just how damaged this seemingly-idyllic city truly is. Previously, though Bellweather’s drugging of specific animal types, the audience and Judy came to learn that ideals are easily broken through fear and that harmony is only possible through the daily effort of positive action. Now, she and we discover that the technology that allows for different environments, the mechanism that allows for animals of all climates to co-exist, was stolen, the truth obfuscated by murder and fear. Not only that, but the murderer was able to build an empire of wealth and influence as a result — so much so that the current head of the family, Milton Lynxley (voiced by David Strathairn), can openly threaten Zootopia’s new mayor, Winddancer (Patrick Warburton), and members of the ZPD without fear of reprisal. As the disparity in real world wealth and influence grows ever more obvious between billionaires like Jeff Bezos spending over $75 million dollars to purchase and promote the documentary Melania but claiming he needs to cut The Washington Press staff due to lack of profitability, and the reveals in the released Epstein Files that connect a number of individuals to shifts in global powers, a tale like Zootopia 2 is not only plausible, it’s grounded in reality. Even if one takes the current class gap out of consideration, if one is aware of 1906’s Argenta Riot, 1910’s Slocum Massacre, 1919’s Red Summer in which a series of anti-Black riots took place across the U.S., the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre — there’s plenty of evidence to support the notion that a group of individuals would forcibly remove a community just because of prejudice and greed (Think Who Framed Roger Rabbit? but less dip). Bush just developed a script in which the Black (or Asian or Indigenous or Jewish or Dutch or …) community is represented by Gary Da’Snake (voiced by Ke Huy Quan). Frankly, if not masked by a series of Disney references, call-backs, and homages intermixed with dazzling animal puns (the “mare” one at Winddancer is a brutal double entendre), Zootopia 2 might bear down far more with its thematic bite than it does, but that seems intentional. Rather than make the tale extraordinarily overt and, therefore, likely to put some audience members on their guard (for how dare Disney get political [sarcasm]), the layering makes the narrative far more palatable and inviting for repeat watches wherein audiences might slowly start to realize what Bush is saying via the script.
Impressively, Bush and Howard manage to up the stakes in Zootopia 2 without making it anywhere near as scary as the first. So, if you have young viewers who found the scenes of drug-activated ferocious animals upsetting, Zootopia 2 is far more of a mystery with the violence left until the climax of the film. Even then, its incorporation of character design, setting, and cinematography is a little less frightening.
Gary De’Snake voiced by Ke Huy Quan in Walt Disney Animation’s ZOOTOPIA 2. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Unfortunately, while there are roughly 74-minutes of features to explore on the home edition, not a one will dig into the themes of the script. This is Disney, after all, and if they don’t have to be overtly political, they’ll avoid it, bordering on conservative despite the more progressive messaging of its creative works. The first featurette, “The Zookeepers,” uses Bush and Howard as guides through Walt Disney Animation Studios, traveling between departments and meeting various members of the team across 18 minutes so that we can get a better sense of the process of making not just Zootopia 2 but any Disney animated feature. The second featurette, “A City of Stars,” spends nearly-nine minutes with a few of the voice actors as Bush and Howard walk us through the recording process. The film has a seemingly endless list of voice actors doing even the smallest parts (Michael J. Fox as Michael J. the Fox, for instance), but don’t get too excited, this featurette features a very small selection of the cast. The four-minute “Everybody Can Draw!” follows in the tradition of past Disney animated films in which home viewers are invited to learn how to draw like the animators, this time with a focus on new character Nibbles Mapplestick (voiced by Fortune Feimster).
If you’ve seen the film already, make sure to swing by the nearly-six minute “Zoo-prising Secrets” before your next watch as it will point out a few of the less-obvious references, homages, and direct lifts from past Disney films used here from where Dwayne Johnson appears to billboards referencing Finding Nemo (2003). This featurette makes a rewatch quite a bit more fun as one starts seeking out the mentioned elements and others. There’s not gag reel, but there is a near-three minute “Wilde Times in the Booth” that allows us to watch some of the voice actors at work. If you’re curious about scenes cut from the film, there’s nearly-30 minutes of unfinished sequences with scratch voices you can view and they are accompanied by a single, optional introductory video from Bush and Howard. Rounding out the bonus features are two fluffy bits: the Shakira music video for “Zoo” and a featurette centering the snack cart that helped the animation team keep their energy up on long days.
L-R: Nick Wilde voiced byJason Bateman, Gary De’Snake voiced by Ke Huy Quan, and Judy Hopps voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ ZOOTOPIA 2. © 2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
The first Zootopia released at a time when my eldest was at the right age for it. As such, the number of times we heard a small voice utter an insistent “Zoo” until we played the film (or replayed the dance sequence at the end) was enough that any travel playlist at that time *must* include “Zoo” so that it was always accessible. Now, however, Zootopia 2 has yet to be screened for the littles roaming about the homestead and that has more to do with timing than interest. However, with the introduction of this second adventure, this series is starting to feel a little bit more for the adults in the audience than the kids, while also being an enticing way to start having difficult discussions with our kids about the complexity of the world and the way of compassion. In short, another adventure is an inevitability because the money machine of Disney demands it, however, Bush’s imagination has proven to be capable of the layering necessary to develop engaging, exciting, and stimulating adventures that make audiences long to return to, so it’s going to be a welcome homecoming — hopefully with less venom next time.
Zootopia 2 Special Features*:
- The Zookeepers — Trot along with writer/director Jared Bush and director Byron Howard for a tour of Walt Disney Animation Studios! Get a behind the scenes look as they open up the doors to meet cast and crew and share about all the work done to bring the movie to life. (18:06)
- A City of Stars — Meet the fur-tastic voice actors behind the cast of Zootopia 2 as filmmakers share the joy of having the original cast returning and how each new role found its purr-fect match. (8:54)
- Everybody Can Draw! — Sketch along with Benson Shum, Animation Supervisor, as he talks about his role on Zootopia 2 and guides viewers in drawing everyone’s favorite new beaver, Nibbles! (4:08)
- Zoo-prising Secrets — Uncover ssssurprising references and characters from some of your favorite Walt Disney Animation Studios films hidden throughout the movie, along with fun facts. (5:56)
- Wilde Times in the Booth — Hop inside the recording booth for plenty of laughs and behind-the-scenes fun. See how the hilarious cast brings their characters to life! (2:40)
- The Treat Trolley — Meet the cheerful crew behind the Treat Trolley that brings smiles and snacks throughout the halls of Disney Animation to keep the studio artists fueled and energized. (3:17)
- “Zoo” Music Video by Shakira — Celebrate friendship and adventure with Shakira in her music video for the movie’s new song, “Zoo.” (3:16)
- Eight (8) Deleted Scenes – Check out the scenes that didn’t make the final cut, with an overall introduction by directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard. (28:15)
*Bonus features vary by product and retailer
Available on digital January 27th, 2026.
Available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD March 3rd, 2026.
For more information, head to the official Walt Disney Studios Zootopia 2 webpage.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: Films To Watch, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews, streaming
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