Zootopia 2 Breaks Records with Unprecedented Global Opening!
Ahead of its Japanese release on Friday, December 5, 2025, Disney Animation’s film Zootopia 2 premiered in various countries worldwide, including the United States. Its opening weekend gross revenue over five days exceeded approximately 556 million USD, setting a new record for the highest global opening in Disney Animation film history.
Disney Animation film Zootopia 2, ahead of its Japanese release on Friday, December 5, 2025, opened in various countries worldwide, including the United States. Over its first five days, its box office revenue surpassed approximately 556 million USD, establishing the highest global opening record in Disney Animation film history.
A Beloved World Returns: The Magic of Zootopia
Zootopia is set in a vibrant paradise where animals live and act like humans, a place where anyone can be anything they desire. Its dramatic and mysterious narrative, unique and diverse characters, and profound messages that resonate with contemporary society caused a social phenomenon, famously described as “fluffy yet deep.” It was the first Disney Animation film since Frozen to surpass 1 billion USD in global box office revenue (equivalent to 150 billion JPY). In Japan, it achieved a massive hit, exceeding 7.6 billion JPY in box office revenue, sparking a social phenomenon. Even now, it maintains the highest ratings among Disney Animation films on various movie review sites, proving its enduring popularity. Now, the long-awaited sequel to Zootopia, Zootopia 2, is finally set to hit theaters in Japan on Friday, December 5, 2025.
Unraveling a New Mystery: Judy and Nick’s Latest Adventure
In the dream city of Zootopia, where animals live like humans, the diligent rabbit police officer Judy and the cynical but kind-hearted fox Nick were tackling cases as an admired investigative duo. One day, the unexpected appearance of a snake named Gary, who shouldn’t exist in Zootopia, unveils astonishing secrets behind the city’s origins. Why are there only mammals in this city? What caused the snakes to disappear? Faced with Zootopia’s greatest mystery, the bond between the contrasting Judy and Nick will be put to the ultimate test.
Smashing Records: Zootopia 2‘s Phenomenal Box Office Performance
Leading up to its Japanese premiere on Friday, December 5, Zootopia 2 had its theatrical release in various countries worldwide, including the United States, starting on Wednesday, November 26, local time. Over its first five days, the film’s box office revenue soared past approximately 556 million USD, which translates to about 86.624 billion JPY (*calculated at 1 USD = 155.8 JPY), making it the highest global opening of 2025.
This monumental achievement surpasses the global opening records of other Disney Animation blockbusters, including Frozen, which also became a social phenomenon in Japan. Furthermore, Zootopia 2 has transcended the boundaries of Disney Animation, becoming the highest-grossing opening for any animated film ever released worldwide, setting an entirely new all-time global record.
Beyond animation, its opening figures also rank an astonishing fourth globally among all films, including live-action features (surpassed only by Avengers: Endgame, Avengers: Infinity War, and Spider-Man: No Way Home). This remarkable feat has significantly rewritten the history of animated cinema, sending shockwaves through the industry.
Critics and Audiences Rave: “Disney’s Greatest Masterpiece”
Not only is its box office performance stellar, but Zootopia 2 is also receiving widespread critical acclaim across the United States. Many are hailing it as “Disney’s greatest masterpiece.” On the American film review site “Rotten Tomatoes,” it has garnered impressive scores: a 91% critic score and a 95% audience score (as of December 1). As a highly anticipated sequel arriving nine years after its predecessor, the film has exceeded expectations, receiving a rush of glowing reviews such as: “A fantastic film that far surpasses expectations,” “The greatest masterpiece in Disney Animation history, expanding the world of the previous film even further,” “Incredibly interesting and fun with a wonderful story and lovable characters. It was worth the nine-year wait,” “A superb movie that contains everything you could want in a sequel,” and “The best work, filled with laughter, beautiful animation, and emotion.”
Furthermore, the story of the protagonists, Judy and Nick, has also drawn immense praise, with comments like, “It’s wonderful to see Nick and Judy’s relationship deepen.” The new characters unique to this latest installment and the plot that delves into the mysteries of Zootopia have also been met with a storm of accolades, including: “A heartwarming and delightful story, packed with plenty of laughs. The familiar characters are as adorable as ever, and the new characters are just as entertaining,” “The mystery-solving is clever and offers a fresh feeling. It’s truly fascinating,” and “A masterpiece that surpasses all expectations. Not only is the mystery excellent, but the depth of its themes, so relevant for today’s era, is also superb.” With such overwhelming praise, a “Zootopia whirlwind” is certainly expected to sweep across Japan upon its imminent release.
Star-Studded Cast and Cameos
Adding to the excitement, this film also features a dazzling array of cameo appearances. In the subtitled version, Jean Reno lends his voice to the goat police officer who pursues Judy and Nick, Dwayne Johnson plays Zeke, the dik-dik stuck in a tuba, Michael J. Fox voices Michael J. the Fox, and Ed Sheeran takes on the role of Ed Sheerhan, the sheep. This star-studded cast, ranging from Hollywood actors to world-renowned artists, creates a presence that is both unique and adorable, delighting audiences visually and audibly. Anticipation is high for future announcements regarding what roles each character will play and who will voice these characters in the Japanese dub.
Japan Zootopia-fication Project: Bringing the World of Zootopia to Life
Moreover, in preparation for its highly anticipated Japanese release, Zootopia 2 has officially launched its nationwide promotional campaign, beginning with the “Japan Zootopia-fication Project Declaration Event” held on Tuesday, the 18th of last month. In the previous film, Zootopia, numerous parodies of real-world companies, brands, and movie titles were “Zootopia-fied” and featured within the film, generating significant buzz at the time.
Given that Zootopia 2 will also feature various “Zootopia-fied” parodies, the “Nationwide Japan Zootopia-fication Project” has been set in motion, transforming prominent locations and businesses across Japan. On Tuesday, the 25th, Tokyo’s Zojoji Temple was illuminated in a vibrant green, symbolizing Zootopia, becoming “ZOOJOJI” for one night only. Furthermore, from Friday, the 28th, until the end of January next year, Shizuoka Prefecture will amazingly be transformed into “ShiZOOoka Prefecture.” Various places throughout Japan have begun to undergo “Zootopia-fication,” sparking considerable excitement and conversation.
And now, a series of parody advertisements have been simultaneously unveiled, featuring “common ads” transformed into Zootopia-style parodies, alongside Zootopia-fied versions of eight leading Japanese companies and brands. These include playful ads where JCB has become “ZTP” and NewDays is now “NewDayzoo,” both of which were teased on the recently revealed Japanese main poster. Additionally, parody visuals show Judy and Nick shopping at a Zootopia-fied AEON MALL (“ZEON MALL”) and Loft, as well as a taxi app “GO” transformed into “ZOO.”
Furthermore, charming visuals have been released featuring Judy and Nick taking selfies in front of “Zootopia-fied” versions of UNIQLO (now ZUNIQLO), TOHO Cinemas (now ZOOHO Cinemas), and SHIBUYA TSUTAYA (now SHIBUYA ZOOTAYA). Following this, the “Shibuya Zootopia-fication Project” has also kicked off, aiming to transform Shibuya with these parody advertisements that brilliantly capture the humorous world of Zootopia 2. This exciting project promises a delightful experience, making it feel as if you’ve truly stepped into the world of Zootopia right in Shibuya.
What’s more, a fictional portal site, “Yazoo JAPAN,” has temporarily opened, based on the concept of “What if ‘Yahoo! JAPAN’ existed in the world of Zootopia?” On “Yazoo JAPAN,” visitors can find fictional news articles reporting on incidents that might be happening right now in the animal-inhabited Zootopia, such as “Sloth employee arrested doing 180 km/h” or “Line forms for ‘Mega Carrot Latte’.” There’s also a delightful animal fortune-telling game where you can enter your nickname and birthdate, a fictional “Chiebukuro” (Q&A forum) filled with adorable animal dilemmas like “What should I get my hibernating partner for their birthday?” or “My skin is dry and flaky after moving from the wetlands…”, and even fictional tie-up articles. The entire site is cleverly sprinkled with the charm of the Zootopia world. This special site allows you to feel as if you’ve become a resident of Zootopia yourself, making it a must-see!
This winter, Zootopia 2 is poised to captivate audiences worldwide. Be sure to witness Judy and Nick’s brand new adventure in theaters!
Zootopia 2 (Original Title: Zootopia2) Works Information
Directors: Jared Bush (Zootopia, Moana 2), Byron Howard (Zootopia, Tou no Ue no Rapunzel)
Original Soundtrack: Walt Disney Records
Japanese Voice Cast
| Voice Actor |
|---|
| Ueto Aya |
| Morikawa Toshiyuki |
| Shimono Hiro |
| Eguchi Noriko |
| Yamada Ryosuke |
| Umezawa Tomio |
| Miyake Kenta |
| Dream Ami |
| Takashima Masahiro |
| Mizuki Nana |
| Emoto Akira |
| Takahashi Shigeo (Savanna) |
| Kumamoto Puro-Resu (Beni Shoga) |
| Takagi Wataru |
| Yamaji Kazuhiro |
| Janbo Takao (Rainbow) |
US Release: November 26, 2025
Distribution: Walt Disney Japan
Shibuya Zootopia-fication Spots
- SHIBUYA TSUTAYA (Friday, November 28 – Tuesday, December 16): Hosting a Zootopia 2 POP-UP EVENT and displaying parody advertisement visuals.
- Shibuya Center Gai Hit Vision (Monday, December 1 – Sunday, December 7): Broadcasting parody visuals for UNIQLO, TOHO Cinemas, and SHIBUYA TSUTAYA.
- MAGNET by SHIBUYA109 Big Board (Monday, December 1 – Sunday, December 14): Displaying TOHO Cinemas parody visuals.
- Cityscape Tokyo Bus Stop Signage (76 screens) (Monday, December 1 – Sunday, December 14): Displaying parody visuals for AEON MALL, ‘GO’ (from December 5), JCB, NewDays, Loft, and UNIQLO.
- Shibuya Center Gai Flags & BGM (Wednesday, December 3 – Tuesday, December 16): Displaying ‘common ad’ parody visuals, as well as parody visuals for JCB and NewDays. Special narration BGM by Japanese voice cast Ueto Aya-san, Morikawa Toshiyuki-san, Shimono Hiro-san, and Eguchi Noriko-san will be broadcast.
- TOHO Cinemas Shibuya (Friday, November 28 – Sunday, December 21): Posters featuring Judy, Nick, and Gary will be displayed on the walls, and special ‘ZOOHO Cinemas’ decorations will appear inside the cinema!
- Shibuya Loft (Friday, November 21 – Thursday, December 25): Hosting “Disney ZOOTOPIA Precious Time by LOFT” in commemoration of Zootopia 2‘s release, featuring a limited collection of 43 Loft-exclusive merchandise items (limited quantity).
- UNIQLO Shibuya Dogenzaka Store (Friday, November 28 onwards): A collection featuring unique companions from Zootopia and Zootopia 2 will be available.
(C)2025 Disney Enterprises, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
By Hori Megumi
