 |
| Cheers and Side-Eyes: Chinese Viewers Debate Celebrity Casting in Zootopia 2 |
The Mandarin dub for Zootopia 2 has just dropped its full voice cast, and Chinese social media has instantly turned into a lively debate pit. On one side, you’ve got fans cheering the return of two beloved pros; on the other, you’ve got viewers questioning whether the latest celebrity additions were the right call.
No surprises here: Ji Guanlin (Judy) and Zhang Zhen (Nick) were met with nothing but love. Their voices fit the characters so naturally that many viewers said it felt like stepping straight back into the first film.
Some netizens even crowned them the “national CP of the voice-acting scene,” which is pretty much the highest honour a dub team can get.
Celebrity Casting Sparks a Bit of Noise
The chatter turned less friendly once people moved on to the new voices.
-
Gina Jin Chen, playing Li Bao, was criticised for a tone described as too heavy and sharp for a character that’s meant to be more quick-witted and upbeat.
-
Wang Anyu, voicing Shan Mao the wildcat, didn’t escape scrutiny either—some viewers said the delivery felt a bit flat, like a student reading lines after an all-nighter.
-
Fei Xiang as Mayor Ma received comments about having a slightly formal, businesslike delivery, which some fear might weaken the immersive feel of the character.
None of this is new, of course.
 |
Big animated titles have been pulling in celebrities for years—Kung Fu Panda 4, Spider-Verse, Big Fish & Begonia, even The Secret Life of Pets.
Every time, the reactions are the same: part excitement, part doubt, and a whole lot of discussion online.
Why Celebs Keep Getting Cast Anyway
Studios aren’t being mysterious here.
Casting popular stars does half the marketing work for them.
Big names attract attention, cut down promo costs, and guarantee that at least a portion of the fanbase will show up in cinemas.
Plus, whenever a celebrity tries voice acting for the first time, it becomes a trending topic on its own.
But Quality Still Matters
For a franchise like Zootopia, which already has a solid reputation, audiences expect the voices to match the energy of the characters.
A misaligned performance can easily pull viewers out of the story, no matter how well-known the actor is.
That said, there are successful celebrity voice castings out there. Jackie Chan in Wish Dragon and Wan Qian in Blades of the Guardians both earned praise for bringing the right weight and personality to their roles.
Many fans agree the best formula is keeping the core characters in the hands of experienced voice actors, while bringing in celebrities for roles that truly suit them.
Source: Sohu/Weibo