Chongqing - Disney’s new animated film “Zootopia 2” is not only filling cinemas – it is also igniting a wave of spending across Chongqing. From blind-box toys and gold jewelry to themed coffee cups and daily goods, the film’s characters are driving an IP boom that is reshaping how young people watch, share, and shop.
Chongqing UME Cinema in Shapingba District has launched film-themed merchandise, which audiences have warmly received. (Photo/Zhou Ying)
Cinemas Turn Into Pop-Up Shops
On November 29, UME Cinema in Shapingba District was packed with visitors. Plush Judy Hopps dolls, Nick Wilde backpacks, and carrot-shaped popcorn buckets were lined up at the entrance, drawing in customers who stopped for photos and queued to buy.
“I bought two tickets just to get the badge,” said university student Lin Xiaoyu, carrying several bags of merchandise. The Nick backpack she wanted had already sold out and could only be reserved online.
According to staff member Zhang Yue, the film-themed products went on sale three days before the premiere, and first-day sales were more than five times higher than usual. “The carrot popcorn bucket and the ‘Afternoon Tea’ blind boxes were sold out by the second day,” she said. Popular items such as Judy coin pouches and Flash keychains were quickly put under purchase limits.
The cinema’s coffee bar also launched themed food and drink sets. Many viewers posed in front of character standees holding popcorn buckets and cups printed with Judy and Nick, then posted the photos on social media. Zhang said this “watch–check-in–consume” cycle has generated strong word of mouth, and some customers now come mainly to buy merchandise.
Similar scenes are playing out across Chongqing. Some cinemas offer “ticket + merchandise” bundles that sell out as soon as they go online. Industry insiders say that compared with the first film, “Zootopia 2” has rolled out a denser network of offline products, covering both viewing accessories and daily goods.
Online Sales Explode
While cinemas are buzzing offline, online platforms are seeing an even bigger spike. On Dewu, a leading e-commerce platform in China, searches for “Zootopia” jumped 60 percent on opening day, pushing co-branded blind boxes and gold jewelry to the top of trending lists.
Pop Mart’s Molly × Zootopia 2 blind-box series is a runaway hit. The hidden figure has risen from 69 yuan (9.75 USD) to 399 yuan on resale platforms, while another hidden figure has climbed to 309 yuan. Collector Mr. Chen said he has already bought eight boxes, spending nearly 600 yuan. First-week sales of these blind boxes have surpassed 100,000 units, according to the platform.
Jewelry brand Chow Tai Fook has also benefited. Its Zootopia-themed “pain gold” collection—including a Judy carrot pendant priced at 3,280 yuan and a Nick-and-Judy bead at 2,380 yuan—sold more than 5,000 pieces in three days. Store staff say the products are popular both as collectibles and as gifts.
Chow Tai Fook’s “Zootopia” gold jewelry series. (Photo/Screenshot from the website)
The collaboration map extends well beyond toys and jewelry. Luckin Coffee has launched themed cups, sleeves, paper bags, and small gifts tied to drink purchases. Other brands have rolled out co-branded toothpaste, toothbrushes, plush toys, and bags, with some products reaching multi-million-yuan sales on major e-commerce platforms.
In total, more than 60 brands have now teamed up with “Zootopia 2,” spanning toys, trading cards, fashion, snacks, e-commerce, cars, and airlines, forming a broad IP consumption matrix.
The Emotional Economy Behind the Craze
Analysts say the reason young people are willing to spend heavily on a toy, a cup, or a co-branded lipstick lies in emotional value rather than simple utility. Judy stands for courage and persistence, while Nick is associated with humor and warmth. These traits resonate with many young adults, turning co-branded products into tangible “emotional currency”.
Luckin Coffee’s co-branded products with the film. (Photo/Zhou Ying)
A 2025 report by the Shanghai Youth & Children Research Center and SoulAPP found that the proportion of Gen Z consumers willing to “pay for emotions or interests” has risen by 16.2 percentage points in a year.
Disney has clearly seen the potential of this market. The scale of “Zootopia 2” collaborations in China is reportedly about three times that of the North American market. At its Greater China Consumer Products Showcase 2026, Disney executives described China as a key testing ground for global IP commercialization.
With the opening of the world’s first Zootopia-themed land at Shanghai Disney Resort, the IP is expected to form a loop of content, consumption, and on-site experience. From the social discussion sparked by the first film in 2016 to today’s wave of merchandise spending, “Zootopia” is once again demonstrating the enduring power of high-quality storytelling.