When I walked out of the theatre, I felt like Zootopia 2 was a movie that started slowly, maybe too slowly, but ended up paying off with its intense and action-packed scenes, even if it only really got good after the first half.

It’s no surprise, though, that the movie has become a huge box office hit; it has already passed the $1.14 billion mark worldwide, according to ABC News, showing just how strongly audiences are responding to it despite its slow start.

The franchise continues with the same characters from the first film, the bunny cop Judy Hopps and the cunning fox Nick Wilde, now partners in the police department. The sequential movie feels the same as the first one, same characters, same dynamic. The movie takes a long time to re-establish the plot, introduce new problems, and introduce various new characters and places across Zootopia city.

Because of the long introduction and plot setup, the first half ends up feeling slowed down a lot. There’s a lot of exposition, the film stretches to show us the expanded Zootopia, the new tensions, the underlying threats.

It’s not that this build-up is bad by itself. I understand the need to re-introduce everything after nearly a decade (the first film, after all, came out in 2016)—but it made the pacing horrible. I found myself almost falling asleep before the action started.

Eventually the turning point comes. Once the plot really starts moving along, Zootopia 2 comes alive with the action-filled plot. The mystery involving a snake being seen within the city becomes the focus of the spotlight. Action sequences and reveals come in faster.

The animation, which was always good, becomes more impressive when combined with tension and suspense. The Zootopia world feels alive, colorful, chaotic. Characters get more development, their goals and intentions clearer, conflicts sharpen. That’s when the sequel really reaches the climax I was expecting.

What I like about Zootopia 2 overall is that it doesn’t just rely on nostalgia from Zootopia 1. While it brings back beloved characters and the buddy-cop vibe of the first film, it pushes the city’s world further. The social dynamics, the city’s structure, and the new neighborhoods feel more complex and developed now.

That expansion gives Zootopia 2 more weight than a simple “go-on-another-adventure” sequel. Also, the voice acting, humor, and animation remain hilarious and classic.

Still, because of the slow start, the movie isn’t as engaging for everyone from the start. If you go in expecting a fast-paced adventure right away, you might feel bored at first. But if you stick it out, by the second half it pays off.

In the end, Zootopia 2 turned out much better than I initially expected. It may not be a perfect movie, but it found the balance between emotional development, world exploring, and case solving.