Years before the release of Zootopia 2, the original Zootopia got a different sequel – and it’s one I can’t believe I hadn’t seen before now. The immediate box office success of Zootopia 2 has brought the expansive anthropomorphic animated world to new heights, and has also opened the door for more follow-up releases – especially since Zootopia 2‘s post-credits scenes tease a new, bird-filled chapter of its story.
However, these two films are by no means the only notable parts of the franchise, even if they’re certainly the main attractions. While the world’s Zootopia-themed amusement park areas are evidence alone of that, the Zootopia series also has a secret sequel that may have slipped under many radars despite having now been released for years.
Another Zootopia Sequel Project Released In 2022
While we saw a nine-year wait between the releases of Zootopia and Zootopia 2, another project did bridge the gap between these two movies. Said project is none other than Zootopia+, which released in 2022 and serves as a follow-up on the story and timeline of the original Zootopia, exploring corners of the plot that we didn’t get an opportunity to see in detail in the original film itself.
The selection of shorts not only delves more into events that took place off-screen, but also gives us some insight into what happened for many ancillary characters between when we last saw them in Zootopia, and the beginning of Zootopia 2, including showing the wedding of Artic shrew Fru Fru, and Duke Weaselton’s brief attempt to break free of his criminal past.
Zootopia+ Is The Perfect Addition To The Series
Having released at the midpoint between Zootopia and Zootopia 2, it’s perhaps no surprise that Zootopia+ works as an ideal way to fill the gap between them – both because of the year it released, and because of the approach it takes when it comes to the universe’s lore and story.
Similarly, Zootopia+ is a perfect addition to the franchise because it’s able to look at this world in a way the movies aren’t able to. The Zootopia films rightfully focus first and foremost on Judy and Nick – which is spot-on for its story, and for developing the main characters individually and as a duo, though it also means that many of the fascinating side characters we’re introduced to don’t get the full spotlight.
As such, Zootopia+ is all the more valuable, since it’s able to provide a range of the series’ best background characters with their own solo stories, and make the world feel more genuine and wide-reaching as a result. Now Zootopia‘s sequel movie has shot to success, hopefully another installment of the series of shorts will be on the way, allowing the iconic animated series to further expand its lore.
