Disney’s path to major animated success often involves years of careful notes, revisions, and studio oversight. Yet one of its most impactful films of the past decade emerged from a team willing to go in a different direction — even when the studio advised otherwise.
When Zootopia premiered in 2016, it felt unusually sharp compared to Disney’s recent animated output. The film’s mix of world-building, visual humor, and social commentary stood out in a landscape dominated by sequels and familiar formulas. Few viewers realized how unconventional its development truly was.
That history is resurfacing as anticipation builds for Zootopia 2 (2025). Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde return to investigate a new threat, Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), in a sequel that expands the franchise just as Disney leans more heavily on established brands across Walt Disney Animation and Disney Parks.
The Staying Power of the ‘Zootopia’ Franchise
Zootopia remains one of Walt Disney Animation’s most acclaimed modern projects. The film — which follows rookie rabbit officer Judy Hopps teaming up with con-artist fox Nick Wilde — earned more than $1 billion globally and won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.
The story’s blend of buddy-cop comedy and detailed city design helped cement Zootopia as a rich setting for sequels, shorts, merchandise, and theme park tie-ins. Its influence now stretches across Disney+, retail lines, and even Walt Disney World through offerings like Zootopia: Better Zoogether in the Tree of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
That visibility has renewed interest in how the original film was shaped — and why its creative choices landed so effectively with audiences.
The Creative Decision Disney Tried to Stop
In a recent interview, writer and chief creative officer of Walt Disney Animation, Jared Bush, described how the team approached studio notes during development. Speaking to SFX Magazine (via Film News), Bush said Disney attempted to limit the number of puns in the script.
“I do love a pun,” Bush said. “On the first film, we got a note that said, ‘You can have a total of five puns in this movie.’ This is absolutely true. It was early on. We disregarded that note and put a billion in there.”
The decision shaped the film’s tone and turned background signage into a constant source of humor. That same approach, Bush confirmed, continues in the sequel.
“You’ll see a ton of advertisements and brand labels,” he said. “It is aggressive and we love it.”
Bush emphasized that the affinity for puns extends across the team, especially production designer Cory Loftis. “I think there are a lot of people at Disney who love puns,” he said. “Cory Loftis is our production designer. He also loves them and he’s in charge of all the signage you see in-world.”
One of Zootopia 2’s standout jokes reportedly features Nick using a streaming service cheekily named HuluZoo — another example of the franchise’s commitment to animal-themed wordplay.
Zootopia 2 opens November 26, marking the return of one of Disney Animation’s most successful original properties. If early hints are any indication, the sequel may once again benefit from a team unafraid to bend the rules in the name of better storytelling.
Are you excited for Zootopia 2?
