Showing posts with label Zootopia 2. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zootopia 2. Show all posts
(Crisp) Movie Review: ZOOTOPIA 2 by FENIL SETA
11:54 AM
Zootopia 2 releases with a lot of expectations since the 2016 flick Zootopia was terrific. Thankfully, the sequel doesn't let viewers down. It is one of the lengthiest Disney animated films at 108 minutes, but there's no room for boredom as so much is happening every minute. This time, we get to understand the city of Zootopia even more and also its secrets and conspiracies. The climax is nail-biting and clapworthy. Yet again, what stands out is the ups and downs in the friendship of Judy and Nick. On the flipside, the makers try to force stuff like therapy sessions, which is unnecessary. A few characters, who were memorable in the first part, get a raw deal and are there just for the heck of it. Ginnifer Goodwin is perfect as the chirpy Judy Hopps. Jason Bateman (Nick Wilde) yet again gets his suave act right. Idris Elba (Chief Bogo) is great. However, he doesn't have much screen time, sadly. Others like Patrick Warburton (Mayor Brian Winddancer), Fortune Feimster (Nibbles Maplestick) and David Strathairn (Milton Lynxley), Danny Trejo (Jesús), Ke Huy Quan (Gary De'Snake) and Andy Samberg (Pawbert Lynxley) are good. Maurice LaMarche's (Mr Big) mere presence leads to laughter. Shakira (Gazelle) adds to the star value. All in all, Zootopia 2 is a paisa-vasool entertainer and the best film this week.
My rating - **** out of 5!
My rating - **** out of 5!
There is room for at least 150 IMAX theatres in India. We have 34-Giovanni Dolci
9:04 AM
Market in a high-growth phase, co to deepen ties with filmmakers and take theatre count to 150
Javed Farooqui (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; November 20, 2025)
IMAX sees India entering a high-growth phase over the next two to three years, with momentum expected to build through 2025 as the company rolls out a larger slate and expands its national footprint amid rising demand for premium moviegoing. Despite being IMAX’s seventh-largest market worldwide, India remains significantly underpenetrated, a senior company official said.
Giovanni Dolci, Chief Commercial Officer at IMAX Corporation, said the company’s growth in India is being driven by structural improvements and scale. “We have actually increased our footprint by almost 60% since 2020,” he said, adding that IMAX has entered what he described as a “multiplier effect” in the country. “Once you reach a critical scale, things can only get better and better. And we feel we are at that point in India.”
Dolci told ET that IMAX’s year-to-date box office in India has reached 21.9 million dollars, driven by a mix of Hollywood and local-language releases. He said IMAX posted just over 9 million dollars in India box office in the September quarter, making it the company’s second-best quarter ever in the market after Q3 2023, which delivered 9.5 million dollars.
The rest of the year includes several high-visibility titles such as Avatar: Fire And Ash, Wicked: For Good, Zootopia 2, The Running Man and Predator: Badlands.
Audience appetite remains strong. “To the end of October, in local currency, considering only the same-store locations, the IMAX box office in India was up 78%, which is absolutely striking. It tells us there is a really strong appetite out there.”
Dolci said IMAX’s growth is supported by a more varied slate. “India is a country with such a diverse cinematic taste. The content mix has been extraordinary,” he said. The company’s top three titles ever in India are F1: The Movie, Oppenheimer and Avatar: The Way Of Water. “These are very different titles, but audiences acknowledge the added value that the IMAX format and the IMAX canvas can add.”
Anime has also become a dependable contributor. “There is a growing demand for anime and it is a universal trend,” he said, pointing to the performance of Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle, which exceeded internal expectations across several territories.
Local-language content now represents a significant share of the company’s worldwide performance. “A third of our Q3 box office was coming from local-language content,” Dolci said. He expects this trend to strengthen in India. “Local language will continue to grow in significance and will continue to grow its share of our box office.”
IMAX is deepening its collaboration with Indian filmmakers. Dolci highlighted the upcoming S S Rajamouli film Varanasi, which will be shot with IMAX-certified cameras. “We want to craft relationships with the world’s best filmmakers to make sure that we can give them the tools and the canvas to put their vision on screen.”
Even as India rises within IMAX’s global rankings, Dolci sees substantial headroom. “There is room for at least 150 IMAX theatres in India. We have 34,” he said.
The company has nine contracted theatres awaiting installation, with a sizable portion expected to go live in 2026. While PVR INOX is the primary partner, IMAX has expanded into circuits such as Broadway Cinemas, Miraj Cinemas and Rajhans Cinemas.
Dolci said demand is increasingly visible in non-metro markets. “There are places where audiences are having to travel, sometimes even for hours, to get to the next available IMAX theatre,” he said. This is shaping the next phase of expansion.
Indian exhibitors have scaled up their own premium offerings, but Dolci said IMAX’s differentiation stems from the way content is created for the format. “You can put a powerful projector and a great seat and a great sound system in a theatre, and there is nothing wrong with that. But in IMAX, it is a completely different experience altogether because of the work that we do with the content.”
He added, “IMAX is a different version of the movie and it is something that none of the other formats can have or can show.”
Dolci said he does not forecast specific numbers but believes the next phase will be driven by a stronger slate, deeper filmmaker relationships and broader geographic distribution. “The opportunity for growth is extraordinary.”
Mufasa, Moana or Captain America are resonating in India, reinforcing Disney brand-Asad Ayaz
8:13 AM
Local films operating at a very high level, Disney exploring fan events: Chief brand officer
Yogima Seth (THE ECONOMIC TIMES; August 12, 2024)
California: Media and entertainment conglomerate The Walt Disney Co will be “very thoughtful” in using artificial intelligence (AI) while continuing to rely heavily on its movies and sequels to expand its market share in India, a top executive said. Many companies are trying out AI and it will absolutely be a factor for Disney going forward, said Asad Ayaz, chief brand officer, The Walt Disney Company, and president-marketing, The Walt Disney Studios and Disney+.
“I think Disney has to be very thoughtful, obviously, as we are in all things we do and how we engage with AI. I think it’s a tremendous efficiency opportunity, but we have to be thoughtful with how we utilize that,” Ayaz told Indian media on the sidelines of the D23 Ultimate Disney Fan Event in California. Talking about the Disney brand, Ayaz said it is the strength of the Disney movies and shows along with its theme parks and the cruise line that defines its brand globally.
“But in India it is movies like Mufasa: The Lion King, Moana or Captain America which are resonating and further reinforcing our brands,” he said, adding Indians are engaging big time with Disney characters across multiple touch points, whether it is social, toys, merchandise or movies, and that's really what drives their brands.
“I think there are certain movies that resonate in a bigger way, which are the ones that have a more cinematic appeal, more scope, certain types of production value, they lend themselves to the big screen,” Ayaz said.
Some of the sequels lined up by Disney for a global launch include Moana 2 in November 2024, Zootopia 2 in November 2025, Frozen 3 in 2027, Avatar: Fire And Ash in 2025 and Captain America: Brave New World in 2025.
Acknowledging the fact that no one can surpass the quality of the Indian film industry, Ayaz said Disney sees an incredible opportunity to engage with Indian audiences in a way. “Obviously, the local film industry is operating at a very high level and also authentically engaged with Indian fans. Nevertheless, India gives us a huge, huge opportunity from purely an entertainment standpoint and it’s an exciting market,” he said.
The Walt Disney Company is exploring the possibility of holding a fan event in India following a full D23 event in Brazil, first time outside of the US, later this year and a Star Wars event in Tokyo, Japan next year.
“There are certain brands that are more popular in one country versus another. So absolutely, there's an opportunity for us to do something in India and work with our team in India to explore what is the right opportunity,” Ayaz said.
“I think by doing these large-scale events in Brazil and Japan in the next few months, we are going to learn a lot from that. It's important that those fan events be developed with the local team and local taste and culture in mind,” he said, adding the company would love to explore something bigger in the future in India.
(The journalist is in the US at the invitation of The Walt Disney Company)
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