Zootopia 2's Latest Addition: Bringing an Empathetic Viper to Life

In the upcoming "Zootopia 2", a new character, Gary De’Snake, is introduced. Voiced by Ke Huy Quan, the character's home and community are destroyed by the antagonistic lynx family. His heroic actions, supported by the iconic Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), help things pull through.

The real question was how to humanise a pit viper. Production designer Cory Loftis details that it began with a pivot in Gary’s design. Originally, his character was planned to be ambiguous, arousing doubt about his trustworthiness. However, the narrative quickly developed to favour an immediate emotional connection with Gary. Loftis explained that adjusting the placement and shape of his eyes to the front of his head allowed him to engage directly with the audience.

Snakes do not have eyelids, presenting another hurdle for the design team. Loftis' solution was for Gary’s eyes to protrude from the top of his head in a frog-like manner. To mimic the function of eyelids, a thick brow was crafted that could be pushed down onto his eyes.

The snake village where Gary’s severed community once resided was illustrated as an interconnected hub of low-rise houses, symbolising a close-knit society. This visualisation amplified the devastation brought about by its destruction. Everything, from furniture to door handles, were designed keeping in mind the snakes' sliding movement. Among other snake-friendly features, ramps were created in place of stairs for seamless sliding, contributing to the overall immersive experience of the setting.

In essence, Loftis and his inventive art team went above and beyond to bring this empathetic snake character to life and reflect his unique world in "Zootopia 2".