Communications in Humanities Research ISSN: 2753-7072
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Research Article

Strategic Regionalization in Global Animation: A Comparative Study of Disney’s Zootopia (2016) and Zootopia 2(2025)

Yufei ZhongHigh School Affiliated to Yunnan Normal University*

* Corresponding author: [email protected]

Abstract

Strategic regionalization, an art of balancing global scale with local relevance, is increasingly important for multinational cultural enterprises, especially in animation. Prior work on globalization, localization, and glocalization has examined universal storytelling, dubbing/casting, and market-specific marketing, but these approaches are often treated in isolation, under-theorize coordination across platforms, and rarely link tactics to outcomes with comparative evidence. This study addresses these limitations by conducting a comparative case analysis of Disney’s Zootopia (2016) and the ongoing Zootopia 2 (2025), and by articulating an integrated strategic regionalization framework that links narrative design, release timing, voice localization, social and streaming campaigns, and cross-media coordination with theme parks and consumer products. This study triangulates observations with box-office results and publicly observable engagement metrics, with special attention to China. The results reveal that a universal allegory paired with regionally differentiated tactics drives cross-cultural resonance and deep market penetration, converting into durable IP value via a derivative ecosystem; that the sequel upgrades the model from foundational localization to cross-platform synergy and multi-level coordination; and that strategic regionalization functions as an IP management system rather than a narrow marketing tool. The study also identifies risks in cultural interpretation, regulation, and audience fragmentation, and recommends cultural consultation, transmedia storytelling, and data-driven personalization to balance brand cohesion with local responsiveness.

Keywords: Strategic regionalization; Zootopia franchise; Animated film marketing; IP management; Cross-media synergy
Published: November 5, 2025
DOI: 10.54254/2753-7064/2025.NS29128
Volume: CHR Vol.91
pp. 156-164
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