Jared Bush Explains Why ‘Zootopia 2’ Was Such a Hit in China

Leading up to the release of Zootopia 2, we warned that the film’s box office performance in China could have lasting implications for Hollywood.

Early on, however, it quickly became clear that Disney had nothing to worry about.

Photo: Disney

By the time the dust settled, Zootopia 2‘s Chinese debut had brought in over $272 million, giving the film the biggest Hollywood animated opening ever.

In the aftermath of the movie’s historic opening, many have speculated on what made the film so popular.

Photo: Disney

Now, Disney Animation Chief Creative Officer and Zootopia 2 writer/director, Jared Bush, has weighed in.

Zootopia 2’s Universal Appeal

During a recent interview with TheWrap, Bush asked about Zootopia 2‘s historic success in China.

Photo: Disney

While Bush did not go so far as to say he foresaw the massive opening, he did sense that fans were resonating with the film.

Photo: Disney

“We always hope that our stories resonate around the world, but I could see from the premieres for this film in particular that people can really see themselves in these characters and in the emotional journey that Nick and Judy go through,” he said.

The Recipe For Success

Another reason Zootopia 2, or “Crazy Animal City” as it is called in Mandarin, has been so successful is the effort Disney has put into the film’s translation.

As anyone who has seen the film knows, Zootopia 2 is filled with plenty of puns. To ensure that these jokes landed in Mandarin, the film’s script had to be altered.

Then, Disney turned to Chang Chen and Ji Guanlin to voice Nick and Judy.

Photo: Disney

“We’re so lucky that we have collaborators worldwide that could not just translate our jokes and the story, but actually tailor it to the audiences,” Bush said. “And so you’ll get a wholesale different pun in different parts of the world that will work for that audience, and that, I think requires just a lot of people wanting to play in this toy box, understanding the tone and how to best convey to people from different cultures.”

The Blueprint?

While it remains to be seen if Zootopia 2‘s success in China is replicable, the film is now the gold standard for studios looking at the Chinese market.

Clearly, Jared Bush and his team have a lot to be proud of.

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