"Permission to hug?"
- When reprimanding Judy and Nick for their destructive chase at the start of the movie, after everyone leaves the room, Bogo talks calmly to Judy, saying that despite his efforts to be gruff, he likes her. He expresses concern that she goes too far in any job, and fears for her reputation and safety, as well as any other rabbit who wants to follow in her footsteps. He has overcome his intolerance from the first movie, where he viewed her as a nuisance. Now he believes in her because of her good heart.
- Bogo would have likely not ordered the ZPD to go after Judy and Nick after the Lynxleys accused them of helping Gary, who the world thinks is a villain. He trusts Judy and knows she would never break the law (as revealed in the first movie, even when working fast, she always uses the crosswalk, following the rules perfectly!) or aid anybody suspicious unless she had good reason. If he hadn't been accidentally incapacitated by Gary, he would more than likely have called off the manhunt, taken Judy for questioning, helped with the case alongside her, and protected her and Nick from any possible aggression from the Lynxleys. Because he was out of action, though, Mayor Winddancer became the temporary leader and was coerced by the Lynxleys to do their bidding.
- Even though the result was bumpy, it's cute as hell that Nick and Judy pretend to be Finnick's parents to fool Antony. Nick calls Judy "babe" and even glances at her slyly and possessively when he says OUR child. He's clearly delighted with the arrangement, whether because he finds it funny or because it gives him a rare chance to flirt with Judy in public.
- On that same note, the fact that they were able to get away with passing as a married couple is cute on its own, especially Antony’s reaction towards it. While he’s caught off guard, he still congratulates the two of them, implying inter-species couples CAN exist within Zootopia, and Antony might be one of the few who at least supports the notion.
- There’s also the fact that he doesn’t have the heart to turn down the “couple’s” request for him to sign their “baby’s” casts, which he “received in an accident.” You can even see his tough facade crack and break altogether the moment Nick and Finnick start laying out the “details”. While it’s an obviously fake sob story, it’s pretty sweet that a crook like Antony is capable of showing genuine kindness to a perceived family.
- During the subsequent car chase, Nick calls Judy "darling."
- And as if all that wasn't enough, please feast your eyes on the deleted scene
in which Judy calls Nick her husband and his fake nickname is "sugar carrot" (and Nick even explains it's because he's "tall, sweet, and orange"). Nick calls her "honey buns" and the two of them nuzzle each other lovingly in front of their target. The writers have always played with the line between romantic and platonic with Nick and Judy in both movies; This deleted scene is a goldmine for the Wilde Hopps shippers as it doesn't use the canon ambiguity about their relationship and instead "lets" them act romantically without restrictions. Many folks in the comments lament that they toned it down in the final cut, but understand why they toned it down. That said, releasing this footage absolutely sent the Wilde Hopps shippers into hysterics.
- While also a Funny Moment, when Nick and Judy's fellow officers are making fun of them, what gets Judy to start angrily marching towards them is them mocking Nick. She clearly doesn't like anyone messing with her fox. Nick gently holds her back and calms her down, telling her that they don't have to prove anything to anyone.Nick: [fondly] Easy, partner.
- Judy gave Nick her carrot pen from the first movie, complete with a commemorative plinth. Nick treasures this, to the point where a rogue vibration would've knocked the pen off the plinth; he still makes sure to catch it and put it back. It would've fallen an inch or two at the most, but Nick still doesn't want anything to happen to it.
- Nick trusts Judy's intuition even though he warns her that getting caught snooping at the gala will result in Bogo splitting them up. He clearly values her police work and knows that if she thinks something is there, then it's worth investigating. What's also awesome is, despite his reservations, he doesn't hesitate to say he'll go with her, as he could've told her to go it alone since he didn't think they'd find anything. It's such a great show of faith between the two of them.
- Nick and Judy's reaction to each other in formal wear. They both are shown giving each other an appreciative look, and Judy very sweetly puts a little flower on his lapel to complete the look (and consequently, it makes them a matching couple, to the delight of those that ship them).
- Plus, there's the moment when Nick sees Judy talking to Pawbert and it very much looks as if he's jealous. It's further implied because he snarks that Pawbert stole his joke, but Judy laughed when Pawbert said it, not when Nick said it. It might also be a leftover line from the first draft, in which Word of God states they conceptualized Pawbert as a Romantic False Lead for Judy, but scrapped it for many reasons during the drafting process. However, this line and Nick's very protective and jealous glare, coupled with him bumping into the pig because he's too busy staring at Judy and Pawbert, is still in the final cut.
- As soon as Gary has his first speaking role, it becomes clear to both Judy and the audience that he is not the sinister snake every mammal makes him out to be.
- Mr. Big and Fru Fru arrange new identities for Judy and Nick and safe passage out of Zootopia before the duo even ask for their help purely because they like Judy so much, even though it was a misunderstanding caused by the Lynxleys' frame-job; it got Judy and Nick out of the ZPD's eye long enough to investigate in relative safety.
- Little Judy (Fru Fru's daughter) is seen hugging her grandfather, who has decided to step back from the "family business" so he can spend more time with her, and doesn't bat an eye at Little Judy climbing all over him.
- The "romantic" boat ride is hilarious. But it's also very cute that Judy keeps saying "happy anniversary" and is clearly fine with other people misinterpreting it to mean their partnership or relationship is what has the anniversary. And it's cute the walrus was trying to be nice and brighten up their ride too.
- Judy and Nick eat live worms in order not to offend reptiles, only for Jesús to reveal it was all just a prank, which ends with him and the other patrons laughing at Judy's and Nick's misfortune. The heartwarming part comes from the fact that this scene shows that reptiles are ultimately good folks who don't wish mammals any harm, and even if Judy and Nick didn't like it, the prank was ultimately harmless and not mean-spirited.
- Reptiles were revealed to be friendly folk the moment they were introduced, having a good time with each other and welcoming three mammals into their hidden establishment (one of whom, Nibbles, was already acquainted with them). Special mention goes to a red tegu who not only forgives Nick for accidentally breaking her tail off, but is amused that he tried to put it back on and tells him to keep it.
- Nick saving Judy in the water tunnel. It's clear that if he hadn't been so sharp-eyed to see the emergency hatch, they'd have both drowned. Also, take a look at their faces right when they get out; they're both looking to make sure the other person's okay and are worried.
- Gary also looks very distressed while Judy is chasing him, and it's possible if he hadn't been so far ahead, he may have turned around to try and help her. It's also possible he saw Nick grab her in time and therefore didn't turn back for them, but either way, he does look quite worried about them.
- When Pawbert and Gary take Judy with them to help clear the latter's family name (and save her from the ZPD), she's shot with a tranquilizer dart. When she later wakes up, she looks at the spot where she was shot and finds two Band-Aids covering the injury. Given how the bandages have snakes on them and how happy Gary was to see that she was okay, it's highly implied that Gary was the one who patched Judy up. He's already forgiven her for chasing him... If he was ever mad in the first place.
- Gary using his thermal sense to look past the fake cover that Ebenezer attached to the diary. Like many things about snakes, a viper's thermal sense is often used to emphasize how creepy they are. Gary uses it to uncover the truth and locate his great-grandmother's patent, showing his "alien" senses as something beautiful.
- The Reveal that Agnes De'Snake, Gary's great-grandmother, was the TRUE inventor of Zootopia's climate walls because she wanted to make the city a better place for all animals after seeing them living in discomfort from being out of their elements. In some ways, Agnes could be considered the Judy Hopps of her day.
- Nick not giving up a single thing about Judy nor the investigation even while facing his own arrest, jail time, and a literal death threat from Milton. The fact that he didn't care and only wanted to get back to Judy to help her says everything about his character. Hell, it qualifies for the badass awesome moments too.
- Nick's confession that he Cannot Spit It Out after he's been arrested and is in a cell across from Nibbles, who immediately sees he's troubled and asks if he wants to talk about it. He admits that he told Judy the case was not worth dying for, but what he MEANT was that it wasn't worth JUDY dying over it, and that he wants to protect her, but doesn't know how to say that to her. It's genuinely both sweet and sad that he can openly say it to Nibbles, but he takes one look at that bunny and can't spit it out despite being a very assertive fox.Nick: I said the case isn't worth dying for. Like, uh...like, you know, as in it's...it isn't worth her dying for...because...because solitary animals like me don't have real friends and I...I don't wanna lose her. (sighs as his ears droop) I just...I don't know how to say that.
Nibbles: (hugging Nick) You know what, bud? I think you just did. - Nick warms up to Nibbles, whom he had previously dismissed as a loon, throughout the film. He doesn't object to her hugging him when she helps them escape their cells and even embraces her himself after they initially get swarmed by the prisoners they accidentally released. As they prepare to hitch a ride with Flash, Nick takes the time to sincerely tell Nibbles he's glad she's with him.
- To reach Judy as fast as possible, Nick calls Flash to get him and Nibbles a ride across town even though they're running from the law. Flash's answer? "No... problem."
- Nick calls Clawhauser to help him find Judy by tracking Hoggbottom and the other ZPD officers chasing her. Despite knowing he will get fired for helping a fugitive like Nick, Clawhauser obliges. His willingness to do so also shows that he didn't believe that Nick and Judy would have purposely hurt Chief Bogo, even if the rest of the force did. What really gets through to Clawhauser is when Nick desperately screams that they're gonna put her to sleep if he doesn't do something, and thankfully, Clawhauser is successful, and Judy isn't shot with the deadly dart.
- When Milton Lynxley flips out at the ZPD and orders Captain Hoggbottom to use deadly force on Judy, Pawbert, and Gary, she can't bring herself to do it. It just proves that, although the ZPD may have been after them throughout the whole movie, they are not murderers like the Lynxleys and have a moral code. Sure, they still think Gary is dangerous, and Judy looked like she tried to murder their boss, but they intend to detain all three and give them a fair trial. The Lynxleys want the system to execute them, but the court would likely not have imposed that sentence at all. The only reason Judy and Nick ran was that they knew if they were in jail, the Lynxleys would find some way to murder them in their cells eventually. The ZPD does not kill, and this is the moment they realize that the Lynxleys may not be as benevolent as they make themselves out to be.
- When Judy accidentally stumbles upon a tent housing Gazelle and her dancers at Burning Mammal, the latter tells her, "We are with you, Judy Hopps." How cool is it that a celebrity knows Judy's name?! Then she and her dancers fight off the cops so Judy can get to the climate wall.
- More than just Judy's favorite pop star knowing her name, Gazelle reminds Judy that there are people who remember what she did for Zootopia, and trust that the officer who solved the Nighthowler crisis is not going to immediately turn around and try to kill the chief of police. After everything Judy has gone through on the climate wall patent case, she desperately needed to hear that.
- Not only that, but she doesn't question the fact that she's helping a snake. She's definitely heard about her case with Bellwether. She KNOWS that someone like Judy Hopps will always do the right thing, so she doesn't doubt her for a second.
- Gazelle once again shows why the tigers are so devoted to her when, instead of standing back and letting them do the dirty work, she immediately starts throwing hands alongside them, and very effectively at that. She has clearly earned their loyalty by not asking them to do anything she is not willing to do herself.
- Not to mention, she was throwing hands with the Zebros out of beef caused by them accidentally hitting one of her dancers earlier in the movie.
- Judy's elation when she sees Nick over the security camera, realizing he managed to escape custody and has come back for her. For a moment, it looks like she wants to run out of the room to give him a huge hug and apologize for their earlier argument. Too bad the moment is ruined by Pawbert, who literally stabs her in the back, injecting her with snake venom.
- Despite Pawbert's betrayal in leaving both Judy and Gary behind, they both cared about him. They fully understood that he was bullied by his own family his whole life and wanted nothing more than to belong. Judy, in particular, sympathized with him, saying that he didn't have to be like his family. Pawbert has none of it, but it's the thought that counts.
- After being betrayed by Pawbert, a poisoned and immobilized Judy watches helplessly over the security monitor as he attacks Nick and tells him that she's dead. She begins crying, saying how she failed Gary and now Nick is going to die with nothing she can do to stop it. But Gary says she didn't fail, and that it was because of her good heart that he got a second chance. And he tells her it isn't over. They can still succeed, even in the face of hopelessness. He calls Judy the best warm-blooded friend he's ever met. Gary then asks if it's okay to hug her, to which she weakly nods "yes." He's not only doing it to comfort her, but to warm himself up so he has enough strength to put his plan in motion.Gary: Judy, the world was never meant to be on one animal's shoulders. That's why my great-grandma wanted Zootopia to be for everyone, so we could all help each other.
Judy: (crying, losing strength) I didn't help...
Gary: You did. You chose to help me, and became my best warm-blooded friend. - Nick's choice is just as heartwarming as Judy using the very last bit of her strength to try and crawl for the door to save her best friend. Nick could have chosen safety, but he chooses Judy instead and throws down the antidote pen at the exact right second, but here's the crusher: Nick knew that was basically signing his own death warrant. He knew throwing that pen would cost him his life... and he still threw it. Thank God, Judy's instantly revived and makes a true Heroic Sacrifice leap for her partner, and Gary catches them both and they just saved each other's lives again just like the first movie. Mega props to Gary for catching them, but also being polite enough to give them a second to recover and chat, leading to the next amazingly heartwarming scene...
- After nearly escaping doom, Judy and Nick look at each other for a second, realizing what they nearly just lost. They both sprint at each other and embrace, both weeping at how they thought they had lost the other one. Not only is Judy crying, but Nick is too. There are visible tears in his eyes. For someone as emotionally closed off as he is, to see him be so vulnerable is so satisfying to the soul. After that, it leads to the most emotional moment in the movie. Realizing that he almost lost the chance to say it, Nick finally drops the charismatic act and allows himself to be vulnerable for the first time.Nick: Okay. I- I don’t- I don't care that we're different... You know? I- What I care about...is you. I care about you. Okay? And I didn't say it. I should've said it, but I didn't... because... (shrugs) Uh... Well, (chuckles) 'cause I am an emotionally insecure source of your discomfort... who's not good at expressing his feelings. Probably because I've been on my own my whole life, it's not an excuse; It's just...It's why instead of telling you that you're the best thing that ever happened to me, I-I make jokes about your ears and-and I tell you that you try too hard, when, you know, the truth is: I just don't want you...to get hurt because...because no one else in the world matters more to me than you do.
(There's silence for a second, before the shot cuts to reveal Judy's reaction to Nick's words. Her eyes are flooded with tears, touched beyond words. She looks as if she's about to bawl like a baby bunny. Instead, she explodes into words.)
Judy: (talking fast, amidst sobs) I...I do try too hard because deep down I'm afraid I am what everyone thinks I am, and I suppress my discomfort because I'm worried it makes me look weak and I wanna be strong, and I think I'm failing all the time and I only take what you say personally because you're the only one in my life who ever believed in me, even when I don't even believe in myself! And I should have told you that ... (her lip quivers, tears pouring down her face) ...No one else in the world matters to me more than you do, either.
(Nick is so moved, it seems something inside him snaps. He can't hold back his thoughts anymore)
Nick: (almost in a trance) I have unresolved childhood trauma that I refuse to discuss because being vulnerable scares me.
Judy: I make dangerous choices because I have an unhealthy bunny hero complex.
Nick: And I didn't join the ZPD because I wanted to be a cop; I joined because I always wanted to be part of a pack... and the thought of losing you scares me because...because you're my pack.
Judy: (moved, Judy cries harder) I should never have left you. And I do need a herd of therapy animals, and I should've told you that you're the only partner I would ever want because...you're my fluffle.
(Nick is confused, not knowing what that means)
Nick: Um...?
Judy: (practically wailing) That's a bunch of rabbits!!! (sniffles)
(Both giggle, wiping away their tears.)- Just the look on Judy's face when Nick tells her that nobody else matters to him more than she does. It's only seen for a second, but this one look alone has to be the most powerful shot in the sequel. Beyond touched by his words, her eyes grow huge as tennis balls, almost completely flooded with tears. Her reaction is a combination of unbridled happiness, sadness of what she nearly lost, and love. If she weren't so strong, she would likely be bawling her ears off. It's literally her heart melting.
- Also, Judy smiles when Nick tells her she's the best thing that ever happened to him. Although she may not have made a big difference to everyone, she feels happy to know that his own partner and closest friend is the one whom she made the biggest change.
- Despite his aversion to reptiles, Nick is quick to accept Gary as a friend upon acknowledging his part in saving Judy's life, even giving him a scarf (swiped from a polar bear) to keep him warm.
- While chasing Pawbert in a snow plow, Judy tells Nick, "You are a HORRIBLE driver!" but in a tone of absolute glee and with a huge smile, as if that's the greatest compliment she could give someone and she's having the time of her life!
- Nick taking Judy's paw before they jump off the snow plow. It's very quick, but look at Judy's face. She's absolutely surprised and looks as if she were about to swoon had they not jumped a second later after Nick's little joke.
- When Pawbert pins down Nick and Judy while calling them a "Dirtbag Fox" and a "Dumb Bunny", Nick is FURIOUS at him for insulting Judy.Nick: She's not a dumb bunny and you're forgetting one thing...! (smirks)
Pawbert: What's that?
Nick: We're friends with a snake!
(cue Gary coming to the two's rescue and giving Pawbert a well-deserved beating with help from Nibbles) - The whole sequence where our heroes find Reptile Ravine, with expressions of wonder on their faces as they find the secret district that has been perfectly preserved for a hundred years. Gary is in awe at finding his great-grandmother's house and seeing traces of his ancestors' lives, including a horizontal height chart with the children's names.
- The box containing the real patent shows a female rabbit and a male snake cutely bowing at each other.
- At the dolphin's bar in Marsh Market, everyone is delighted to see on TV that the Lynxleys have been arrested since it means the community has been saved from their plans to freeze it over.
- Nick's speech on how to be the "Dream Team" at partner therapy, by courtesy of Judy letting him do the talking instead of her for a change.Nick: Well, there's a lot of different animals out there, and sometimes we start to look at all of the little reasons that we're not the same. And it makes us worry. But maybe if we just talk to each other, if we just try to understand one another, we would see that our differences don't really make any difference at all. Maybe we even see that what makes me, me, and you, you, can make us even stronger. And with hard work, you're gonna get to that by Year 2!
- Judy, Nick, Gary, and Clawhauser visiting Chief Bogo, who is recovering at the hospital, with the snake offering him a drawing as an Apology Gift and the cheetah a box of donuts (with Paul still stuck). Showing his appreciation, Bogo takes a donut.
- Reptile Ravine gets thawed out and has a grand reopening, with Gary cutting the ribbon in honor of his great-grandmother, who has been given a commemorative statue at the town's entrance. Making it sweeter is that reptiles and mammals are both attending the ceremony side-by-side, the bridge between them repaired after a century of segregation.
- As a first sign of the reptiles reintegrating with mammals, Jesús is seen walking out of a sheep's beauty salon, with one sheep passerby sharing a friendly greeting with him.
- The heroes throwing a party at the De'Snakes residence, with almost every supporting character attending.
- Gary reuniting with his family at the end. They then give Judy a big group hug, thanking her for taking on the case.
- Gary's love for his family, and vice versa, is obvious throughout the film. When he first sees Judy, he all but says that his main motivation is to help his family return home. Later, when Pawbert's betrayed them and left them both to die, he tells Judy that his parents, despite knowing that Gary's mission would decide their future, never wanted to put a ton of pressure on him. In his words, they "never wanted to put the weight of the world on [his] shoulders." And that love/trust completely paid off.
- Nick gifting Judy her repaired carrot pen at the end after he accidentally broke it earlier, and what he wholesomely says afterwards, which marks them as an Official Couple.Love you, partner.
- Judy actually records Nick's words on the pen. The Stinger shows her replaying them while smiling adorably and looking around as if someone will catch her, not unlike a Smitten Teenage Girl replaying an audio from her crush. She knows Nick is still too shy and charismatic to be vulnerable all the time. Now, she can listen to him be vulnerable at any time she wants. She'll NEVER erase that tape. Even better? Nick knew his "I love you" was recorded on the pen and didn't actually ask for it back to erase it; he lets Judy keep it, as we see in the scene. He's consciously aware that she can listen to it whenever she wants and reaffirm their love. He's comfortable with the idea of not only loving Judy, but telling her and then letting her enjoy that knowledge with proof whenever she wants. It shows he's matured a ton since the first movie and that both their partnership therapy and being more open with each other have truly made such an impact on him.
- There is also the fact that Nick says, "Love you partner. But I am still me, so I'm only saying it once a decade," which implies that this fox, who has only known this bunny for less than a year, openly admits he intends to spend the rest of his life with Judy. Cue the celebration music!
- The Dance Party Ending returns, with everyone, mammals and reptiles alike, dancing along to Gazelle's song.
- Nick and Bogo are noticeably enjoying themselves more than the first film's ending, where they needed to be convinced to dance by their partners. Nick gladly joins Judy in a hip-bump and selfie, while Bogo is seen singing along with Gazelle.
- In The Stinger, Judy's neighbors, while as obnoxious and noisy as ever, are clearly invested in her story, asking her what's next for her and Nick.
- How The Stinger ends. After Judy leaves for her job, a shadow flies over the carrot pen, and then a feather comes down landing near it. Birds are coming to Zootopia.
- Fridge Brilliance: Birds are directly descended from a lineage of dinosaurs, which were reptiles, and their closest living relatives are crocodilians. So when reptiles come to Zootopia, it's inevitable that birds follow.