“Zootopia 2” is about as frenetic an animated feature film as you are likely to see.

The movie is exhausting, in a good way. It will keep the young movie-goers occupied. For the most part, parents have nothing to fret about. “Zootopia 2” is one of the few PG-rated movies now in release in movie theaters for the 2025 holiday season.

The animation is dazzling, detailed and delightful. The character animation is fantastic.

Your eyes dart here and there, squint, and open wide to keep up with the rapid-fire editing, chase scenes and general tomfoolery going on on the screen.

The characters of the original “Zootopia,” released nearly a decade ago in 2016 and winner of best animated feature film at the 89th Academy Awards, are back.

The storyline again pertains to Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin), a rabbit who is now an officer in the Zootopia Police Department, and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a red fox also now a Zootopia police officer.

This time, Hopps and Wilde are on the trail of Gary De’Snake (Ke Huy Quan), a viper who is thought to be, ahem, putting the squeeze on the good citizens of Zootopia, a mythical metropolis.

It’s more complicated than that, and I daresay, too complicated in a plot that is overly-complicated, convoluted and confusing, as was the plot in the original “Zootopia.”

Directors Byron Howard (three-time Oscar nominee, animated feature film, two-time Oscar recipient, animated feature film, “Encanto,” 2022; “Zootopia”) and Jared Bush (Oscar recipient, animated feature film, “Encanto”) direct with a flair for fast-pacing from a screenplay by Bush.

The quality of the art work in “Zootopia 2” is superb. Look for an animated feature film Oscar nomination. Pastels splash across the scenes in “Zootopia 2.” Scene perspectives are dramatic. The animation detail in backgrounds is impressive, as is the character work, with fur so realistic-appearing that you could just want to pet them.

The score is composed by Michael Giacchino (two-time Oscar nominee, original score; Oscar recipient, original score, “Up,” 2010).

During the end credits, Shakira sings “Zoo,” which she co-wrote with Ed Sheeran and Blake Slatkin.

Contemporary animation feature film directors and screenwriters seem to have to invent reasons for the shenanigans of the characters they create.

There was no such compunction in the heyday of classic animation for Woody Woodpecker, Daffy Duck, Elmer Fudd, Bugs Bunny, Wile E. Coyote and Road Runner, Tom and Jerry and Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck.

The great animators Chuck Jones, Tex Avery, Walter Lantz, Fritz Freleng and Walt Disney himself seemed to need no reason for cartoon mayhem, other than to bring excitement, joy and laughter to the movie-going public.

“Zootopia 2,” as with its predecessor, “Zootopia” puts the CGI pedal to the metal, so to speak. And there are many moments of merry mirth. The three main characters, Judy Hopps, Nick Wilde and Gary De’Snake, are stand-alone characters in their own right and strong enough to carry the film.

The film-makers, however, seem less confident and ill-suited to do so, instead populating “Zootopia” with a constellation of characters. Thus, we have what seems like every voice actor and other notable talent in Hollywood getting in on the lip-synch action in roles big and small.

This includes Shakira (Gazelle), David Strathairn (Milton Lynxley), Idris Elba (Chief Bogo), Patrick Warburton (Mayor Winddancer), Andy Samberg (Pawbert Lynxley), Jenny Slate (Bellwether), Quinta Brunson (Dr. Fuzzby), Danny Treyjo (Jesús), Bonnie Hunt (Bonnie Hopps), Michelle Gomez (Captain Hoggbottom), Jean Reno (Bûcheron, Chèvre), Macaulay Culkin (Catrick Lynxley), Brenda Song (Kitty Lynxley), John Leguizamo (Antony Snootley), Tommy Chong (Vax), Tig Notaro (Big Tig), Ed Sheeran (Ed Shearin), June Squibb (Gram Gram), Cecily Strong (Little Judith), Michael J. Fox (Micheal J. The Fox), Josh Gad (Paul Moledebrandt), Mario Lopez (Denny Howlett) and Dwayne Johnson (Zeke aka That Dik-Dik Stuck in that Tuba).

The film-makers will certainly have their choice of characters for a sequel.

“Zootopia” grossed $341.3 million domestically and $1.024 billion worldwide.

“Zootopia 2” grossed $100.3 million and $617 million worldwide for the Thanksgiving Day weekend.

I have it on good authority from members of Credit Readers Anonymous that in a post-credits scene with Judy Hopps at the very end of “Zootopia 2,” a mysterious bird feather lands on her windowsill.

A third installment of “Zootopia” should fly.

“Zootopia 2,” MPA Rated PG (Parental guidance suggested. Some material may not be suitable for children.) for action, violence and rude humor; Genre: Adventure, Comedy, Animation; Run time: 1 hour, 48 minutes; Distributed by Walt Disney Motion Picture Studios.

At The Movies: “Zootopia 2” was seen in Dolby Theatre at AMC, AMC Center Valley 16. Several scenes really rattled the seats effectively.

Credit Readers Anonymous: “Zootopia 2” end credits includes two persons listed as Caffeinators. The soundtrack includes “Down Under,” sung by Colin Hay of Men at Work fame. The film was made from February 2024 to November 2025 at Walt Disney Animation Studios, Burbank, Calif., and Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

Theatrical Movies Domestic Weekend Box Office, Dec. 5-7: “Five Nights at Freddy’s 2,” starring Josh Hutcherson, Elizabeth Lail, Piper Rubio, Matthew Lillard and Mckenna Grace in the Horror Thriller, opened at No. 1 with $63 million in 3,412 theaters.

2. “Zootopia 2” dropped one place from its one-week run at No. 1, $43 million in 4,000 theaters, $220.4 million, two weeks. 3. “Wicked: For Good” dropped one place, $16.7 million in 3,985 theaters, $296.9 million, three weeks. 4. “Jujutsu Kaisen: Execution,” a Japanese animation film compilation, $10.1 million in 1,833 theaters, opening. 5. “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t” dropped three places, $3.5 million in 2,629 theaters, $55.3 million, four weeks. 6. “Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair,” director Quentin Tarantino’s re-release of his two-part movie as a four-and-one-half hour film, $3.2 million in 1,198 theaters, opening. 7. “Eternity” dropped one place, $2.7 million in 2,386 theaters, $9.5 million, two weeks. 8. “Hamnet” stayed in place, $2.3 million in 744 theaters, $4.1 million, two weeks. 9. “Dhurandhar, “ an Indian Hindi-language spy action thriller based on actual events, $1.9 million in 391 theaters, opening. 10. “Predator: Badlands” dropped six places, $1.8 million in 2,080 theaters, $88.2 million, five weeks.

Movie box office information from Box Office Mojo as of Dec. 7 is subject to change.

Unreel, Dec. 12:

“Ella McCay,” MPA Rated PG-13; 1 hour, 55 minutes. James L. Brooks directs an ensemble cast, including Emma Mackey, Woody Harrelson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kumail Nanjiani, Rebecca Hall, Julie Kavner, Sheetal Sheth and Albert Brooks in the Drama, Comedy. A young woman tries to balance her career and personal life.

The most recent feature film that Brooks directed was “How Do You Know” (2010).

Brooks is an eight-time Oscar nominee (“As Good As It Gets,” 1997; “Jerry Maguire,” 1997; “Broadcast News,” 1987) and three-time Oscar recipient (picture, director, screenplay, “Terms of Endearment,” 1983).

Brooks co-created the sitcoms, “The Mary Tyler Moore Show,” “Lou Grant,” “Taxi” and “The Simpsons.” He has been nominated for 62 Emmy Awards and has received 22 Emmy Awards.

“Dust Bunny,” MPA Rated R; 1 hour, 46 minutes. Bryan Fuller directs Mads Mikkelsen, Sigourney Weaver and Sophie Sloan in the Horror Thriller. A girl seeks help for a monster under her bed.

“Not Without Hope,” MPA Rated R, 1 hour, 59 minutes. Joe Carnahan directs Zachary Levi, Josh Duhamel, JoBeth Williams, Quentin Plair and Terrence Terrell in the Docudrama. The story is based on the New York Times best-seller by Nick Schuyler. A boat capsizes while friends are fishing in the Gulf of Mexico.

Movie opening dates from Internet Movie Database as of Dec. 7 are subject to change.

Three Popcorn Boxes out of Five Popcorn Boxes