"If I may say so, 'Zootopia 2' is more fun." Jennifer Goodwin, who is the 'Judy', acknowledged that 'Zootopia 2' is back.
The Walt Disney Company Korea held a press conference for the film 'Zootopia 2' (directors Jared Bush, Byron Howard) on the morning of the 18th. Present at the event were actor Jennifer Goodwin, who voiced the protagonist Judy, Ki Hoi Kwan, who plays Gary, director Jared Bush and producer Yvette Merino. They spoke with Korean reporters about the film via an online video broadcast.
'Zootopia 2' is a thrilling chase-adventure film in which the best duo from the returning 'Zootopia', rabbit Judy and fox Nick, pursue the mysterious snake Gary, who is shaking the city, and jump into a new world to investigate dangerous incidents. It is the sequel to the Disney animated film 'Zootopia', which excited more than 4.71 million viewers in Korea in 2016.
This film is expected to be this winter's top Disney blockbuster, blending new animal characters and cheerful team play within an even more expanded world. To achieve this, Byron Howard, director of 'Zootopia', and Jared Bush, director of 'Encanto: The Magic of the World' jointly directed the film, and main cast members from the previous series, including Jennifer Goodwin as Judy and Jason Bateman as Nick, reunited.
Also joining as the new character Gary is Ki Hoi Kwan, who won the Academy Award for best supporting actor for 'Everything Everywhere All at Once', offering a different kind of fun and fresh energy. In addition, global pop star Ed Sheeran contributed lyrics and composition to a new song performed by Shakira as the gazelle, promising the birth of another masterpiece OST following the hit 'Try Everything'.
Jared Bush, who newly joined the directing team, discussed aspects ranging from preserving the series' continuity to deliberately attempting changes. He said, "It was important that Judy and Nick's partnership remained at the center. And it was important that they challenge themselves rather than rest in their comfort. We focused on exploring spaces not seen in the first 'Zootopia'. In particular, the wetlands market is my favorite space. It was important that activity could happen both above and below the water. Also, watch how creatures move in massive oceanic spaces like conveyor belts or seas, and how characters change when they ride boats or move from water to land or vice versa," and added with a laugh, "Judy and Nick's relationship had to remain unchanged. Even in bustling modern spaces, you had to see how they focus on each other. The staff were all 'animal nerds.'"
Producer Yvette Merino added, "The core thing that matters most at Disney is 'collaboration.' While making the film, we conducted about six or seven internal screenings, and each time we coordinated opinions to ensure nothing conflicted with the original. In this process we gathered opinions from the entire staff. We changed and reapplied anything that sounded off or was hard to understand, and we screened again to avoid internal conflicts of opinion."
What was it like for Jennifer Goodwin to portray Judy, who is adored like part of a couple along with Nick? She said about fans' support, "I want to be more like Judy. Judy's greatest charm is her 'courage.' This story starts one week after 'Zootopia' ends. Judy tends to micromanage and not listen to others, and through this story I was able to grow as well. The characters' chemistry was more solid in the script than among us actors. Nick and I never met in the recording studio. Still, it's magical that people love the excellent chemistry."
Ki Hoi Kwan, who plays Gary, said, "I was a huge fan of 'Zootopia.' I remember seeing the film in theaters. When I was offered the role of Gary, I wondered if it was really offered to me because my voice isn't scary. But I wanted to play a reptile who survived for over 100 years. The warm sentiment of this film was very important. I wanted audiences to feel the emotion Gary felt, and to see him as a character with a warm heart who transcends the scary stigma of being a venomous snake."
Jared Bush, who newly joined the directing team, said of the new character Gary, "I was fascinated by Disney's snakes from the first time I saw the Disney animation 'The Jungle Book.' Back then the snake was hand-drawn, and Gary might be the first snake Disney made in CG. Ki Hoi Kwan performed it wonderfully."
He went on to emphasize, "Gary is an emotional pillar of Zootopia 2. I wanted to twist audience expectations about reptiles. I wanted to make people wonder why reptiles didn't appear in the first series. I wanted to deliver the message that it's necessary to listen. I wanted to show how important and rewarding communication with someone different from you can be."
In particular, Jennifer Goodwin emphasized, "When I think of the film I think of a puzzle. For a beautiful puzzle, you don't have identical, uniformly shaped pieces. Only when different pieces come together can you complete a beautiful puzzle." Ki Hoi Kwan also said, "As humans, we tend to hide from or avoid people who are different from us. People are uncomfortable with the unfamiliar. But this film says difference is okay. Difference is what makes us beautiful. Embracing that difference will make a better world," adding a poignant note.
Producer Yvette Merino emphasized collaboration, saying, "From the beginning the direction of the story was decided. We aligned all the designs to that, but designing a single world took a very long time. As the story flowed, there came a point for final decisions. I personally told the director many times that it was time to make final decisions."
She added, "After that, the respective teams completed the details. The wetlands market is an example. In fact, there is no real-world counterpart in the human world for such a space. Nonetheless, we had to create a space that felt like it could exist in reality in a fun way. All of our work must exist for the storyline. With more than 700 people working on it, making quick decisions was difficult. We checked through constant communication to ensure we were all moving in the same direction."
Jared, who said he had minored in music in real life, said, "When we first heard Gary's theme, everyone's eyes moistened. It was so beautiful, like hearing an old Hollywood-style song. Moreover, at every moment, music director Michael Giacchino created music of an extraordinary level. When something felt off, he would improvise corrections on the spot with about 80 staff in the studio, which was amazing."
He also expressed pride, saying, "Before Ed Sheeran's OST 'ZOO' came out, we originally used 'Waka Waka,' which Shakira released 15 years ago. We wanted to create a song with a festival vibe, one the crowd could sing along to. We wanted a song that would expand the movie through music. Then a song that fit so perfectly showed up."
He added, "I want to mention one more easter egg. Michael Giacchino also worked on the music for 'Ratatouille.' There is a moment when 'Ratatouille' appears in the film, and Michael personally played instruments for that instant," raising expectations.
In addition, 'Zootopia 2' introduces 67 species of animals and 178 new characters. New additions that pique curiosity include Nibbles, played by comedian Fortune Feistun, the cat character Pobert, and horse characters.
Finally, Jennifer Goodwin, asked whether she felt the popularity of the Zootopia series, which is hugely popular in Korea, said, "I love you all as much as Korean fans love 'Zootopia.' I never take your love and expectations lightly. You won't be disappointed when you see 'Zootopia 2.' If I dare choose, 'Zootopia 2' is more fun," showing confidence.
'Zootopia 2' opens on the 26th.
[Photo] Provided by The Walt Disney Company Korea.
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