Top 10 Easter Eggs Hidden in Zootopia 2

10 Easter Eggs Hidden in Zootopia 2

Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re looking at Easter eggs, small details, and in-jokes in “Zootopia 2.” Since some of these directly tie into the film’s mystery, this is your spoiler alert.

Animal Wordplay

Like its predecessor, some of the sequel’s puns are on the nose, but others are cleverly hidden. Undercover during the opening, Nick sports a shirt that says, “Foxy Dad,” while Judy wears one that reads, “Don’t Worry Be Hoppy.” During their subsequent high-speed chase, they pass a sign to “Gnu Jersey,” which we assume is populated by wildebeest. We guess you could say they were “in a furry,” which can also be spotted in the background. In another gnu reference, the shrew family is making a killing selling knockoff Gnucci bags. Arguably the film’s most “un-bearably good” gag can be found on Nibbles the beaver’s bumper sticker, which says, “I Love My Whittle Car.” We’re sure there are others, but you can Zoogle the rest!

Coca-Cola Product Placement?

As we can see from Nick’s trip to the vending machine, Zootopia has a wide selection of soft drinks, such as Cub Soda, Carrot Soda, and Koala Kola. Does Coca-Cola exist in this universe, though? At the very least, we think the brand’s mascot does. During the film’s chilling climax, our heroes cross paths with a polar bear. Not just any polar bear. He’s helping himself with a beverage that looks suspiciously like a classic Coke bottle. Could this be one of the polar bears that regularly pop up in Coca-Cola’s ads around the holiday season? It’s hard to say since there’s no label on the bottle. In any case, CGI fur has come a long way since 1993.

Disney References in Marsh Market

The film is flooded with self-referential humor, much of which can be found in Marsh Market. The neighborhood is like an aquatic and semi-aquatic Disneyland. In a nod to “The Little Mermaid” and “Peter Pan,” there’s a shop called Ariel’s Grotto and another named Hook’s Bait & Tackle. When Judy and Nick hop aboard a boat, the captain serenades them with “Bella Notte” from “Lady and the Tramp.” Upon arriving at the reptile hideout, there’s a sign that reads, “Mr. Toad’s,” hinting at the wild ride they’re about to take. As our heroes flee from Marsh Market, be on the lookout for a sign reading “Club 33,” a reference to the most private, elite, and expensive dining experience you’ll find at a Disney park.

“The Shining” Hedge Maze

It’s funny to think how often “The Shining” has been referenced in Pixar movies. Just look at the carpeting in the original “Toy Story” or this line from “Finding Nemo” for a few examples. Now Disney’s animation studio is getting in on the in-joke, with part of “Zootopia 2’s” climax taking place in a giant, snowy hedge maze. Not only is the setting similar, but Pawbert Lynxley has a crazed look on his face that resembles Jack Nicholson’s in the 1980 film. Thankfully, Wendy and Danny Torrance survived by getting away in a snowcat. Likewise, Judy and Nick stumble upon a snowploy. Instead of using it to get away, though, they come up with a shortcut through the maze.

Silence of the Lamb

Believe it or not, “The Shining” isn’t the darkest movie that “Zootopia 2” pays homage to. During a prison break that backfires, our heroes have a run-in with an incarcerated Dawn Bellwether. The former mayor eerily looks as if she were waiting for them, much like Hannibal Lecter first greeted Clarice in “The Silence of the Lambs.” We guess this would be “Silence of the Sheep,” since Dawn isn’t a lamb anymore. Dawn has also made furniture out of her wool, which we think must be the sheep equivalent of Ed Gein’s skin keepsakes. Having escaped, Dawn resurfaces at the airport in the end, again looking like Lecter when he called Clarice over the phone. Thankfully, Nick and Judy are already on the case.

Rat in the Hat

“Zootopia 2” has a couple of Pixar Easter eggs. When Nick’s jumbo soda blasts through the wall, a poster over Paul’s desk reads, “Crush the Bugs,” mimicking the logo for “A Bug’s Life.” There’s also the tiniest of hidden Mickey’s on another work’s desk. During Nick and Judy’s chase through a kitchen, a lion chef loses his hat, exposing the rat pulling the strings, or hair. While you might’ve caught this “Ratatouille” reference, there’s a subtle detail in the raccoon chef who calls the lion out. Not just because the raccoon is voiced by Disney regular Alan Tudyk, but it’s seemingly a nod to “Raccacoonie” from “Everything Everywhere All at Once.” If so, this reference brings the joke full circle like an everything bagel.

Frying Pans, Who Knew?

Fifteen years after “Tangled,” co-director Byron Howard is still finding clever uses for frying pans. As Gary De'Snake pleads with Judy to let him go, Nick intervenes with a trusty kitchen utensil. According to co-director Jared Bush, the frying pan isn’t just modeled after the one that Rapunzel used. It’s the same sound effect as well. This isn’t the only time in “Zootopia 2” when frying pans come in handy. Just when it appears the villain has been defeated, he resurfaces to finish the job. Fortunately, Captain Hoggbottom and Truffler show up with a frying pan in hand. And since they’re pigs, they couldn’t resist stealing a line from “Babe.” Don’t tell them that frying pans are used for bacon in our universe.

Once a Decade

Having repaired the carrot recorder pen, Nick makes a new message for Judy, saying that he loves her. Nick informs Judy that he’s only telling her that once every decade, however. He’s not lying. While the events of “Zootopia 2” occur not long after its predecessor, the first film came out nearly ten years ago. That film ended with Nick slyly saying, “You know you love me,” which Judy can’t deny. So technically, it’s been almost a decade since Nick last used that four-letter word that starts with L. Does that mean we’ll have to wait another ten years for “Zootopia 3?” When we inevitably do, we think Nick and Judy will be headed for the sky if the post-credits scene is any indication.

Voiceover Cameos

The voice cast is loaded with Disney royalty. Josh Gad, best known for voicing the overly optimistic Olaf, is the cynical Paul. Several “Encanto” alumni can be heard, with Stephanie Beatriz and Wilmer Valderrama as a couple of hippo cops, plus John Leguizamo as Antony Sootley. Former Disney Channel star Brenda Song voices a Lynxley alongside her partner, Macaulay Culkin. In a “Moana” reunion of sorts, Auliʻi Cravalho voices Gary’s anti-venom pen while Dwayne Johnson briefly surfaces as Zeke the dik-dik. Beyond Disney stars, wrestlers Roman Reigns and CM Punk are the Zebros. With Ed Sheeran as Ed Shearin, Blake Slatkin as Baalake Lambkin, and Michael J. Fox as a fox named Michael J., some of these jokes write themselves.

In-Universe Disney Movies & Shows

In the first film, we see Duke Weaselton selling bootleg DVDs for several Disney movies with an animalistic twist. Duke is still in the DVD black market, not only peddling copies of the latest entries in the “Wrangled” and “Floatzen” franchises, but also “The Pandaorlian.” And yes, we see the irony of Duke’s comment about endless remakes, reboots, and sequels. While physical media isn’t what it used to be, a world of streaming is open to Nick, who logs into a service mirroring Disney+. Instead of “Andor,” Zootopia has “Ramdor.” Instead of “Futurama,” it’s “Futurllama.” There’s also “Ham-ilton,” although the founding father was a pig in this reality. We wonder who shot him… Aaron Burrow? Okay, we’ll leave the animal puns to the professionals.

Did you catch any more Easter eggs in “Zootopia 2?” Let us know in the comments.