Director(s): Jared Bush & Byron Howard
Cast: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Ke Huy Quan, Shakira, Fortune Feimster, Patrick Warburton
Rating: PG | Genre(s): Animated, Adventure, Comedy, Family | Run Time: 1hr 47mins
SURPIRSINGLY DEEP WITH INCREDIBLE LESSONS
“Truth finds a way, even years after it’s buried.”
After Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) fail to arrest blue pit viper, Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), stakes get high as misconceptions fuel Zootopia’s media, painting the once beloved duo into fugitives. The pair must now uncover the truth behind Gary’s mission and Zootopia’s hidden history.
Zootopia 2’s storyline was one that triggered critical thinking and analysis from audiences due to its reflection of reality. It was about taking credit for someone else’s work and rewriting history, which results in keeping the common people ignorant in order to remain in power. In the film, a member of the wealthy Lynxley family steals the idea of weather walls – an invention that allowed all species from different climactic regions in Zootopia to live together in harmony – from a snake thus gaining more influence in the city years later. Gary, the inventor’s descendant, seeks to restore what was rightfully his and his family’s even after facing discrimination from other species.
The coloring of Zootopia 2 plays a critical role emphasizing the differences in climate and environment; using various vibrant colors in the city, to represent a bustling metropolis of different species; cool tone of blue with a low contrast to highlight the villainy of the Lynxleys; and natural lighting in the Marsh Market scenes to give a soft peaceful atmosphere away from the bustling city. This thoughtful use of colour not only enhances the visual storytelling but also deepens the emotional and thematic layers of the film.
One background character that is worth studying in Zootopia 2 is Mayor Brian Winddancer. Mayor Winddancer is a former actor turned politician – charismatic, spirited and attention-loving – he would be the last person suitable to for mayor. It is later implied in the film that the Lynxley family was somewhat responsible for putting Winddancer in a position of power, essentially making him a puppet for the Lynxleys. A subtle but common power-play move of using a figurehead to portray the image of autonomy while actual powers pull strings away from the eyes of the masses.
On the other hand, Pawbert Lynxley, the secondary antagonist of Zootopia 2, is a weak character. Driven by the desire to fit in, he pulls the cliché move of gaining someone’s trust only to betray them later in the movie. Experienced watchers would’ve predicted his betrayal from the beginning. If Pawbert was written to assist the protagonists, it would make the plot more interesting as his character undergoes growth while pushing against his family’s influence.
Final Thoughts:
Zootopia 2 outdid itself, giving both young and older audiences something to enjoy, whether it be the stunning visuals or the complex storyline, it’s definitely for all ages.
Rating: 4.5/5
Great for all ages.
