LOS ANGELES, CA – The bunny and fox are chasing Hollywood’s biggest prize.
‘Zootopia 2’ has officially landed a nomination for Best Animated Feature at the 98th Academy Awards (Oscars 2026) , which take place on March 15, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood. The Disney sequel, which arrived on Disney+ in March 2026 following a record-breaking theatrical run, is considered a top contender in a competitive field that includes Pixar’s ‘Elio’, alongside ‘KPop Demon Hunters’, ‘Arco’, and ‘Little Amélie’.
From Billion-Dollar Box Office to Awards Glory
The nomination caps an extraordinary journey for the follow-up to 2016’s original Zootopia. As we explored in our previous coverage of ‘Hoppers’ vs ‘Zootopia 2’: The $2B Battle Begins March 6 , the sequel didn’t just succeed—it dominated. Crossing $1 billion at the global box office, it proved that the beloved characters Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde still have massive audience appeal more than a decade after their debut.
BAFTA Victory Paves the Way
Adding momentum to its Oscar campaign, Zootopia 2 recently won the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, a key precursor that often signals Academy success. The British Academy recognition places the film firmly in the spotlight as one of the year’s most celebrated animated works.
The Competition Heats Up
While Zootopia 2 enters as a frontrunner, the Best Animated Feature category is stacked with worthy contenders:
- ‘Elio’ – Pixar’s original sci-fi adventure about a boy who becomes Earth’s ambassador
- ‘KPop Demon Hunters’ – The boundary-pushing Korean animated sensation
- ‘Arco’ – The critically acclaimed European fantasy
- ‘Little Amélie’ – The charming French import that captured hearts
What This Means for Animation
The nomination reinforces Disney’s continued dominance in animation while acknowledging the global nature of the medium. With competitors spanning South Korea, Europe, and Pixar’s latest original, the category reflects animation’s expanding artistic and cultural reach.
Interestingly, as we noted in our analysis of the animation box office battle , Pixar’s Hoppers (which hit theaters March 6) arrived in the shadow of Zootopia 2‘s massive success. Now both films find themselves connected through awards season—one as a nominee, the other as a fresh theatrical release aiming to capture similar magic.
Zootopia 2: The Road to the Oscars
With the Oscars ceremony set for March 15 on ABC (hosted by Conan O’Brien), Zootopia 2 enters the final stretch of awards season with serious momentum. A BAFTA win plus billion-dollar box office creates a compelling narrative for Academy voters who value both artistic achievement and audience impact.
Why This Nomination Matters
For Disney, a win would mark another milestone for the Zootopia franchise, following the original film’s Oscar victory in 2017. For the animation industry, it reinforces that sequels can achieve both commercial success and critical recognition—a theme we explored in our deep dive on the evolving animation landscape .
What’s Next?
All eyes are on March 15. Will Judy and Nick hop away with Oscar gold? Can they fend off challenges from Pixar, Korea, and Europe? One thing is certain: the race for Best Animated Feature has never been more exciting.
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