It’s been almost 10 years since the release of the original Zootopia film from Disney. It’s hard to believe it’s been that long. It seems like only a few short years have passed. But we’ve been missing a Zootopia sequel for almost a decade. That’s no longer the case.
In Zootopia 2, we revisit the city where diverse animals live in harmony. There’s even a police force made up of various animals. Most of them get along swimmingly.
Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and her fox friend Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) team up again to foil another criminal case. This time, they’re investigating why reptiles have a bad rap in Zootopia. Other types of animals have their own section of the city. Yet reptiles have been exiled to the extremes of society.
Judy discovers there’s more to things than they seem when she and Nick attend the Zootenial Gala, an event celebrating the founding of Zootopia. It’s believed Ebenezer Lynxley founded the city. Yet the Lynxley Journal, being displayed at the Gala, may tell a different truth. Gary (Ke Huy Quan), a snake, steals the journal because he knows the truth. The journal reveals that reptiles, specifically snakes, were not always ostracized. They were once embraced as a vibrant part of the community.
This journey of discovery will change the course of Zootopia forever. It may also change the course of your leadership forever. If you look closely, you’ll see the Reel Leadership lessons in Zootopia 2.
Quotes And Leadership Lessons From Zootopia 2
1. What happened before…
Zootopia 2 opens with the text: What happened before. They go into a montage of the previous film and what’s happened.
It’s an excellent reminder for those who watched the previous film but don’t remember it clearly. The film reminds viewers of what they watched… Or maybe what they missed.
How does this relate to leadership?
Leads need to constantly remind their people of what happened before. Great leaders share stories about where the organization came from, its mission and purpose, and that leadership is for them.
Your team can easily forget this information. You must remind them.
2. Chief Bogo (Idris Elba):
Be on the same page everybody.
Chief Bogo was giving his daily police briefing. He shared what was happening in the department. He gave assignments. And he gave a great reminder.
What was the reminder? He wanted everybody to be on the same page.
You should, too.
When you get people on the same page, everyone is paddling in the same direction. There’s not a constant struggle of Bob wanting to go left, Phil wanting to go right, and Beth wanting to go straight.
They’re all going in the same direction. They’re all on the same page.
Help your people get on the same page.
3. Stop trying to prove yourself to others:
Nick asked Judy whether the two made a great team. Judy said she believed they did. Then she said something else.
Judy thought that she and Nick had to prove themselves to others. They had to show them that the fox and bunny could get things done.
Did they really? No…
Too many leaders fail to move initiatives and projects forward because they’re too busy trying to prove themselves. They’re spouting off the latest leadership speak or talking about the latest and greatest book they read.
Instead, they should be out there doing the work.
Great leaders know their worth. They’re done trying to prove themselves. Instead, they find themselves doing the work, which shows others they know what they’re doing.
4. Connect the dots:
After a botched arrest of an anteater, Judy and Nick are sent to team member training. Their relationship becomes more strained.
While watching a newscast, something clicks with Judy. After the botched arrest, Judy found a shed snakeskin in the stolen van. At the upcoming Gala, there was a similar van.
What did this mean? Could the two events be linked? Was there a snake in Zootopia?
Judy connected the dots. There was a snake in Zootopia.
Watch for ways to connect the dots. You may receive information from your team members that aligns with a close colleague.
Does the information line up? How could you interpret events?
You’re going to come across information, actions, and more that tell a story. Use them to connect the dots to get the big picture.
5. Know what upsets people:
Nick and Judy went to the Marsh Market. There, Nick engages a sea lion. What he does next is hilarious.
He doesn’t understand the sea lion. So, he interacts with it improperly. He does the following:
- Touches the sea lion
- Calls the sea lion a seal
- Offers the juggling sea lion change (it’s a choking hazard)
Each of these things escalates to a level of hilarity. Why? Because we’ve all been there and done that. We’ve interacted with people the wrong way. Even accidentally pushing their buttons.
Leaders must be acutely aware of what buttons not to press with the people they lead. The more buttons you push, the more frustrated you make your team.
You don’t want that.
6. Jesús (Danny Trejo):
When you two save the city, maybe everyone will see, reptiles ain’t that different.
Nick and Judy meet Jesús, a green plumed basilisk lizard. He’s dressed as a cowboy and brings some great comic relief.
Yet he also offers some good advice, telling Judy and Nick what they could do.
Zootopia had excluded reptiles. They saw them as bad, vile, evil. They’re not. And he’s hoping that this will change.
He believes the two cops could do it.
What does this scene show us? Leaders have the power to change others’ opinions.
When you do right, others will see it. They will consider whether or not their long-held ideas are valid.
Be a leader who helps others change for good.
7. Judy Hopps:
The world will never be a better place if no one is brave enough to do the right thing,
The Lynxly family:
- Milton Lynxley (David Strathairn)
- Cattrick Lynxley (Macaulay Culkin)
- Kitty Lynxley (Brenda Song)
had pushed the reptiles out of Zootopia and claimed the patents on the weather walls. Their actions were not right.
Judy eventually saw this as the movie progressed. She concluded that something had to be done. She also concluded that the world will never be a better place if no one is brave enough to do the right thing.
What are leaders? Leaders are people who are brave enough to do the right thing. What does that look like?
- Great leaders are brave when they call out bad behavior
- Great leaders are brave when they say no to doing something unlawful
- Great leaders are brave when they help a struggling team member
- Great leaders are brave when they confront evil
Be brave. Be a great leader.
8. Gary De’Snake:
If I fix things for my family, it’ll be worth it.
Gary had spent 7 days in a crate while being smuggled into the city. That’s a long time in isolation.
Yet, Gary didn’t see a problem with it. He was willing to go the distance to fix things.
What extremes are you willing to go through to make things right? Will you suffer in isolation? Challenge oppressive leadership? Admit you were wrong?
Be like Gary. Understand that fixing things for your team members (or family) is the right choice. Doing so will be worth it.
9. Watch for the twist:
Nick was locked out of the power plant. Judy, Nibbles, and Pawbert Lynxley (Andy Samberg) had entered it to return power to the reptile lighthouse. This is where the twist happens.
Pawbert tells Judy that he knows there was a twist in the last outing with Nick and her. Then he told her there was a twist in this outing as well.
What was the twist? Pawbery was a villain. He wanted to make his family see that he had what it takes, even if he turned on the ones who had helped him out.
Watch out for the twists in your organization. It could be an employee who goes rogue or quiet quits. You may find yourself dealing with a vendor who changes the deal at the last minute.
Twists happen.
Be prepared. Be ready to pivot.
You can survive twists if you’re prepared.
10. Nibbles Mapplestick (Fortune Feimster):
Do you want to play a hero on TV or be a real one?
Nibbles Mapplestick is a podcaster/conspiracy theorist. She’s constantly spouting off inane theories. Yet, some are true. And she winds up partnering with Judy and Nick.
The Lynxleys had controlled Mayor Winddancer (Patrick Warburton). He was under their spell, playing a hero on TV.
Nibbles challenged Mayor Winddancer. She told him he could continue pretending to be a hero or step up to the plate and be a true hero.
It was his choice. He was done playing a hero. He would step up and be one this time.
You have a choice. You can play the role of a leader or you can be the leader.
You need to step up and truly lead. It’s not playing based on theory or ideas. Leading requires taking responsibility for your choices and actions.
Choose to be a real leader.
