Zootopia 2 Features Unexpected Moana Crossover with a Nod to a Key Character’s Feather

It turns out Zootopia 2 and Moana share a surprising connection, as an animator for the sequel has revealed that they “borrowed” an element from the Disney princess film.

In a post-credits scene of Zootopia 2, a feather drops next to Judy Hopps’ carrot-shaped pen, hinting that birds might exist in the Zootopia universe. Interestingly, this feather was a last-minute addition, sourced from another Disney movie.

“A little trivia about this image. For this moment, we didn’t have time to build a bird, so the shadow that passes and this feather was borrowed from Moana,” shared Jared Bush, Chief Creative Officer of Walt Disney Animation Studios and co-director of Zootopia 2, on Twitter. “What character from Moana cast that shadow? Hawk Maui.”

Indeed, the feather in Zootopia 2 is linked to Hawk Maui, the giant bird that the demi-God Maui transforms into after regaining his powers at the end of Moana. However, this doesn’t mean that Hawk Maui exists in the Zootopia universe or that he’ll appear in future films. It’s amusing to think about the mythological bird potentially causing a stir in the mammal metropolis.

Beyond the feather’s origin, the post-credits scene raised numerous questions among fans. Birds have never been part of the Zootopia world, leading many to believe they simply don’t exist there. Additionally, a post-it note on the ZPD’s Wi-Fi box reads, “P@Rt3izFr&BrdZr2.” When decoded, it suggests: “Part 3 is for real, and birds are too.” This hints that Zootopia 3 might introduce birds into the mix, just as the sequel did with reptiles.