It’s taken longer than I expected for Walt Disney Animation Studios to green-light and produce this much anticipated sequel.  The original was released in 2016, grossed over $1 billion USD at the international box-office, and won the Academy Award for best animated feature (edging out Moana).  I was a fan too and described it as “cute, entertaining and important.”  If new to the material, it was set in a talking animal-filled world and followed a small rabbit trying to break down barriers by becoming a police officer and solving tricky cases.

Zootopia 2 reunites us with the rabbit, Judy Hopps (Goodwin), and her red fox partner, Nick Wilde (Bateman), who now work in the Zootopia Police Department.  We need an excuse to get them in trouble again and so the opening action sequence does just that.  They’re too overeager in taking down bad guys and after a raid almost results in the death of civilian bystanders, the boss (Elba) hauls them in.  They’re instructed to undergo therapy and stay away from field cases.

Judy and Nick are understandably peeved and so to prove themselves, the covertly start an off-the-record investigation after finding a piece of snakeskin.  That may not sound like much of a mystery but since reptiles haven’t been seen in Zootopia for close to a century, it’s tweaked their curiosity.  Their inquiries lead them to Gary De’Snake (Quan), a friendly viper wanting to expose a township secret that will upend societal order.

It takes a few scenes to warm up but, once it does, Zootopia 2 becomes an animated feature which is both fun and meaningful.  Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere All at Once) is a scene-stealer as the one-fanged Gary.  He’s got a great voice and has created a memorable character.  Ginnifer Goodwin (Big Love) and Jason Bateman (Ozark) reprise their leading roles and continue their great comedic chemistry.

Directors Jared Bush and Byron Howard weave it all together in a manner that generates energy and heart.  The fast-paced reptile mystery is genuinely interesting and, whether you’re a child or an adult, you’ll be keen to see how it pans out.  Like the first movie, the screenplay has well-intentioned messages in respect of inclusivity and diversity.  There’s a sufficient dose of emotion too as our heroes find themselves in life-threatening situations in trying to help others.

As the big release over the Thanksgiving long weekend in the United States, Zootopia 2 will ensure this franchise is not a “one hit wonder”.