“Zootopia 2,” co-directed by Issaquah native Byron Howard, has been nominated for an Oscar for Best Animated Feature. The film showcases Howard’s enduring love for cinema, which began during his childhood in Washington State and continues to fuel his creative work today.

Disney’s return to the bustling animal metropolis seems poised for success, yet it fails to recapture the magic of the original. Our reviewer notes that because “Zootopia 2” tries so hard to charm, it paradoxically pushes audiences away.