There are movies that entertain, and then there are movies that feel simply feel like they comfort you. "Zootopia 2" is absolutely a mix of both, but mostly the latter. It’s a bright, heartfelt reminder that even in the most chaotic seasons, stories can help us smile again.
My husband Sebastian and I decided to watch it on Thanksgiving night, and it helped us cheer up during these insane times in a way we didn’t know we needed.
Returning to the bustling, beautifully wild city of Zootopia feels like reconnecting with old friends you didn’t realize you missed this much. Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde are back, and they’re wiser, more grounded, yet still infused with the spark that made them unforgettable as Disney characters.
But what struck me most about the sequel is how it speaks to the emotional landscape many of us are navigating today: a world still learning how to listen, still figuring out what community means, and trying to navigate everyday stressors.
The film expands its universe by introducing groups that have long existed on the margins of the city, and they’re characters who’ve been misunderstood, pushed aside, or simply never invited into the larger conversation.
Through their stories, "Zootopia 2" invites us to reflect on how easy it is to fear what we don’t know, and how much joy we gain when we choose curiosity instead. While this theme is subtle, it’s also warm alongside that signature humor that makes even the toughest truths feel approachable.
This is what Disney animation does so well: layering meaning beneath the laughter.
Beneath the jokes and chase sequences, there are lessons about us, and our lives, and the relationships that change us.
It also connects us with the fact that we’re all trying to figure out our place in the world. Judy and Nick stumble, learn, forgive, and grow. And in watching them, we realize that it’s ok to make mistakes and that we might find a little laughter between all the chaos.
At a time when so many of us feel stretched thin or pulled in too many emotional directions, films like this do more than entertain. They remind us that kindness is still possible, that connection is still worth fighting for, and that hope doesn’t have to be loud to be powerful.
"Zootopia 2" also manages to be the type of film that all ages will enjoy, lessons and all. It lets us laugh when life feels too serious, and reflect when we’ve forgotten to check in with ourselves.
It’s a celebration of community in all its messy, colorful forms, something that feels especially meaningful right now, because it reminds us that even in tough times, it’s ok to find joy, and it’s necessary.
And sometimes, all it takes to rediscover it is a brave bunny, a sly fox, and a city that believes we’re capable of better and to be able to understand that kindness is the biggest gift of all, and the best one that we can give to each other.
