The all-new show Zootopia: Better Zoogether! opens today at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park at Walt Disney World Resort, inviting guests to immerse themselves in a story inspired by Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Zootopia and Zootopia 2. In this new 4D show at the Tree of Life Theater, familiar faces and new friends come together for a special watch party in celebration of Zoogether Day — a holiday that celebrates unity across the diverse biomes of Zootopia, from Tundratown to Marsh Market.
“It’s authentically Zootopia as a quick-witted and fast-paced adventure, but distinctly Animal Kingdom with the message that we are all connected to our shared environment,” Danny Handke, Senior Creative Director at Walt Disney Imagineering, said of the nine-minute show. “The 4D elements — sights, sounds, smells, and unexpected special effects — immerse guests into the story as the excitement enfolds around them.”
All in This Zoogether
The directors of Zootopia 2 — Oscar®-winning filmmakers Jared Bush (who helped write the script) and Byron Howard (who directed the animation in the show, all of which was done by Disney Animation artists) — worked closely with the Walt Disney Imagineering team to bring Zootopia: Better Zoogether! to life. “As we were working on Zootopia 2, our partners at Imagineering were also working on Zootopia: Better Zoogether!, which opens just a few weeks before the film,” Howard said. “We’re very proud of it. It’s a great warmup before you go to the theater to see Zootopia 2.”
Handke added that Bush and Howard “were instrumental in collaborating with us on developing our story to complement Zootopia 2,” especially with “bringing in new characters like Nibbles [voiced by Fortune Feimster] and locations like the Marsh Market.”
Bush — who was named Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios just over a year ago — noted, “It’s so rare to have something open in the parks around the same time the movie is coming out. Fans can look forward to not only seeing some of their favorite characters from the first film, but also some of the new characters in Zootopia 2.”
Fun for the Whole Herd
Thanks to special “Carrot Vision” glasses that guests wear during the watch party experience, characters “jump” off the screen, such as detectives Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (voiced by Jason Bateman). Meanwhile, fellow ZPD officer Benjamin Clawhauser (voiced by Nate Torrence) appears in the theater via an all-new Audio-Animatronics® figure. As a Gazelle superfan, he wants to be picked as the V.I.Z. (Very Important Zootopian) who gets special access to the Zoogether Day performers. This leads into an all-new original song, “We Are Zoonited,” performed by Judy and Clawhauser.
Bringing Clawhauser to life with even more realism and charm was an exciting challenge for Imagineers. One key innovation was new functionality for his body movement — creating a dynamic, interactive presence that feels like the beloved cheetah is popping right off the screen and into the theater. Imagineers also enhanced the expressiveness of his face by developing practical eyes, capturing Clawhauser’s excitement and emotion. To fully convey his character and enthusiasm — especially for the Gazelle concert scene — Imagineers paid additional attention to details like his custom Gazelle shirt and glow necklaces, ensuring every aspect of his personality shines through in the guest experience.
Zootopia: Better Zoogether! introduces a character original to the show, Heidi Howler —a slick-talking wolf who hosts the Zoogether Day LIVE! broadcast. “We discussed many different types of mammals as the host of the show. We landed on a wolf character because, like in the first film, when a wolf starts a howl, others can’t resist to join in,” Handke said. “That felt like the perfect mammal choice, and then to give her a larger-than-life personality made her feel like a natural host for one of the biggest events in Zootopia.”
Just as they did with Zootopia at Shanghai Disney Resort, Disney Imagineers and Disney Animation worked “paw-in-paw” to ensure that this immersive Zootopia experience continues the adventures of Judy, Nick, and the other animals in authentic, engaging ways.
“We have the greatest artists and animators in the world, who deeply know these characters,” Bush said. “When you see the subtleties in Jason’s performance, you need people who know how to translate that. It was fun to work with them again, as well as the Imagineers, so that guests will say, ‘That is Nick. I know Nick, and that is him right there!'”
Ultimately, Handke said, “I hope guests feel like they get to spend time with their favorite characters, get in some good belly laughs, and feel exhilarated by the fast-paced adventure and effects. True to the franchise, the show is stacked with layers of storytelling, from the Zoogether Day celebration to Clawhauser’s role inside the theater to the mystery Judy and Nick try to solve. The animation is gorgeous and chock full of rich details. There are so many things to see in this show. I hope guests want to come experience it again and again.”
Bush added that he can’t wait to experience Zootopia: Better Zoogether! “again and again” with his family.
“Zootopia: Better Zoogether! is one of the most fun things that I’ve ever been able to help work on,” Bush said. “To get a film made at all feels like winning the lottery. To have those characters then become tangible in the parks is the most amazing thing. I cannot wait to take my family to visit and experience it. This is the biggest dream come true in the world.”
Global Pawprint
Zootopia: Better Zoogether! is the just the latest example of how Disney Animation and Disney Imagineers teamed up to bring the bustling animal metropolis to life in the parks.
In 2023, Shanghai Disney Resort opened Zootopia, its most immersive land to date. It was designed to accommodate animals of all shapes and sizes, from large giraffes to tiny rodents. That meant Imagineers got to play with the scale of everything, from crosswalk signs and benches to drinking fountains and doors — just like those who animated the film.
Not only that, but next-generation Audio-Animatronics figures appear throughout the land, including in the signature attraction Zootopia: Hot Pursuit and its queue. Imagineers worked closely with animators to ensure that characters such as Judy, Nick, and Chief Bogo behave and look exactly as guests remember them from the movie. The Audio-Animatronics figure for Gazelle is particularly advanced, considering that all the internal mechanics needed to fit inside her slender frame while she performs complex choreography. Zootopia: Hot Pursuit is also unique in that it is the first trackless ride vehicle system in Mainland China.
Shanghai Disney Resort is gearing up for the release of Zootopia 2 by turning its one-of-a-kind Zootopia land into a living extension of the sequel. By working closely with Disney Animation, on Tuesday, November 18, the resort will debut film-inspired décor, immersive embedded details, reimagined entertainment, and limited-time experiences that will collectively activate the continued story of the vibrant metropolis in a new, immersive way.
At Disney Animation and Disney Imagineering, the inspiration goes both ways.
Bush was so inspired after he visited the Zootopia-themed land at Shanghai Disney Resort that he incorporated locations such as the fitness club and the barber shop for sheep into Zootopia 2.
