*It’s been nearly a decade since Disney’s Zootopia became a global box office juggernaut, earning over $1 billion and taking home the Oscar for Best Animated Feature. Now, anticipation is building for Zootopia 2, which reunites rookie cop Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and con-artist-turned-officer Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) as they face their most mysterious case yet.
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EUR got an exclusive sneak peek inside Disney Animation Studios, where animators Chad Sellers and Kira Lehtomaki broke down the art — and secrets — behind bringing a whole new set of characters to life.
When asked how they build a character’s signature quirks — whether it’s Judy’s determined ear flick or the slinky swagger of new arrival Gary De’Snake — Sellers said it all begins with research.
“Obviously, we research the animals, and we try to distill down the one specific thing that we can identify with that species,” Sellers explained. “But it’s also a lot of testing… amazing artists just throwing spaghetti against the wall and seeing what sticks.”
Lehtomaki added that the magic is a threefold blend: animal research, observing voice actors, and — yes — the animators filming themselves acting out scenes.
“We’re definitely watching the voice actors in the studio and taking cues,” she said. “But as animators, we embarrassingly film ourselves acting out the scenes. Little quirks and traits we do in those videos end up in the film.”
One character drawing attention is Nibbles Maplestick, a conspiracy-theorist beaver voiced by comedian Fortune Feimster. Her offbeat cadence shaped more than just the dialogue.
“We watched Fortune in the booth, the way she used her whole body when acting,” Lehtomaki said. “That rhythm and timing found its way into Nibbles’ animation. She leans in, eyebrows skewed, like she’s about to tell you a secret.”
Sometimes the quirks belong not to the animals, but the animators themselves.
“There are certain expressions that make us laugh because we know exactly which animator it came from,” Lehtomaki revealed. “We’ll say, ‘that’s so Tony’ or ‘that’s Andrew,’ because we can literally see our teammates inside the performance.”
Sellers laughed, adding, “we still have mirrors at our desks. You catch yourself making a face while animating — and somehow that expression sneaks into the character.”
And for kids (and adults) who watch Zootopia 2 on repeat, the animators promise new layers with every viewing.
“There are so many more characters and animals this time,” Sellers said. “We studied the specifics of each species so even the background feels alive. You’ll catch something new every time — a little tail flick, an ear twitch, or just background characters doing something specific.”
That attention to detail is what made the first Zootopia a global hit, and what could make its sequel another billion-dollar Disney crown jewel. For now, the animators are keeping story secrets under wraps — but one thing is certain: the world of Zootopia is bigger, richer, and more detailed than ever.
Jill Munroe is a Los Angeles-bred entertainment journalist, producer, and host. Follow her socials @StilettoJill or visit JillMunroe.com. Catch her live M-F on KBLA Talk 1580 from 6PM to 7PM.
Jill Munroe is a Los Angeles-bred entertainment journalist, producer, and host. Follow her socials @StilettoJill or visit JillMunroe.com. Catch her live M-Thu on KBLA Talk 1580 from 6PM to 7PM.
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