Welcome to Zootopia... again! You may have herd that fans are paws-itively thrilled for Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde to return to the big screen in Zootopia 2 on Wednesday, November 26.
If you’re simply buzzing with excitement to see this dynamic duo in action again—even before the film hits theaters—then you’re in luck: The New Adventures of Zootopia 2, an all-new collection of comic stories published by Papercutz, follows the lives of Judy and Nick after they solve Zootopia’s biggest mystery. From dealing with delicious exploding packages to discovering suspicious foundlings, the pair learns that every case, even the boar-ing ones, are important to their city. With each new assignment, these unlikely partners learn that when it comes to saving the day, they’re better zoo-gether.
Before The New Adventures of Zootopia 2 hits shelves on December 9, D23 sat down with author Joe Caramagna and Disney Comics art director Roberto Santillo to talk about their fun, new project:
D23: What inspiration does The New Adventures of Zootopia 2 take from the original Zootopia and upcoming Zootopia 2 films?
Joe Caramagna (JC): Both Zootopia and Zootopia 2 films are largely about identity and trying to prove oneself, and we bring those same themes to The New Adventures of Zootopia 2. Nick and Judy are back, of course, but now we have new characters from Zootopia 2, who we get to meet in a special way.
D23: What is your creative process for developing a comic story based on a Disney animated film?
JC: My creative process when writing a comic that’s based on a film is to pace back and forth and speak in the voice and mannerism of the characters. It’s a good thing I don’t share an office with anyone, heh. But the real challenge is when the scripts need to be finished before I’ve seen the movie.
Roberto Santillo (RS): Developing a comic book based on a film is a complex creative process that requires adapting the visual language, narrative rhythm, and original tone of the film into comic language. The first step is to study the film in depth to understand the context from a visual point of view and to fully understand the characters and their evolution, especially since this is a sequel. Then, the scenes must be structured to make them interesting from the point of view of the story.
Finally, a complete storyboard version is prepared before moving on to the actual drawing and coloring. It is, therefore, always an artistic reinterpretation I would say, although it is essential that it be consistent with the original spirit of the film.
D23: What was the most creatively challenging and/or fulfilling part of creating this book?
JC: I have this terrible habit of writing musical performances into a lot of my stories. And The New Adventures of Zootopia 2 is no exception. That means, on top of having to think up a story that’s funny, compelling, and meaningful, I’m forced to write song lyrics. When it came together for this book—and was actually funny—it was creatively fulfilling because it was so challenging. It’s probably my favorite story in the book.
RS: It is always very exciting to bring characters you have greatly appreciated from a cinematic point of view to life on paper. It is a privilege but also a huge responsibility to work with characters that are so perfectly conceived by the Walt Disney Animation Studios filmmaking team from a visual and psychological point of view. At the same time this creates the most fascinating challenge: to offer readers new perspectives on their most beloved characters without disappointing their expectations. What's more, Zootopia is a world that allows for enormous visual creativity. We can create urban satire, illustrate action scenes, and alternate them with moments of tenderness and mystery that always have a very original and captivating result. The greatest reward, however, always comes from drawing stories that, even if told with anthropomorphic animals, speak authentically about our humanity.
D23: Who are some of your favorite characters, and how did you get to explore their stories in this book?
JC: My favorite Zootopia characters are usually the most quirky and over-the-top. They’re especially fun to write. Officer Clawhauser is a favorite. He also loves donuts like I do. But in Zootopia 2, I was immediately drawn to Mayor Winddancer. First of all, he has the most horsey name ever. But I also love his backstory, and I wanted to tell a story where one of his tasks as mayor depended on the skills he used in his past life as an actor of stage and screen. It’s absurd and I absolutely love it.
D23: How are Judy and Nick "better zoo-gether"? What makes them a great team and what do they go through to become the great team that we see in the book?
JC: Judy and Nick are “better zoo-gether” because they’re so different. And their differences complement each other. In The New Adventures of Zootopia 2 we see them playing off each other’s abilities and personalities—we even see times where they pick up each other’s traits to become better versions of themselves. And that’s what’s great about Zootopia—all of these animals from all different places bringing their own cultures to the city to learn, work, and grow together. We could learn a lot from them.
D23: Did you take inspiration from any sources that readers would find surprising?
JC: Some readers might remember a movie from the 1980s called Breakin’ 2: Electric Boogaloo. The basic plot is that a group of friends try to save a recreation center from being demolished by bringing the community together for a breakdancing show. That was definitely on my mind when I was telling Winddancer’s story, but sillier (if you can imagine that!). And there are a couple of fun movie references for older readers in that story as well. The New Adventures of Zootopia 2 is truly a book for all ages.
D23: What are you most excited for readers to discover in The New Adventures of Zootopia 2?
JC: I’m most excited for readers to meet some of the characters in The New Adventures in Zootopia 2 who are making their first appearance ever in the Zootopia universe. And for readers to see new characters they will meet in the Zootopia 2 film get to be the stars of their own stories. They are a true testament to the depth and unlimited possibilities of the world of Zootopia where anyone can be anything.
Look for The New Adventures of Zootopia 2 on bookshelves (both digital and practical) beginning December 9, and find Zootopia 2 in theaters starting November 26!