Behind worlds such as the Oscar-nominated ‘Zootopia 2’ or the cultural phenomenon ‘Encanto’, producer Yvett Merino has established herself as the architect of stories in which the Latino community finds a mirror in which to reflect.
“The idea that differences are not what separates us, but what makes us stronger, is an important part of the film’s message,” says the Mexican-born producer in an interview with EFE.
Merino’s rise to one of Hollywood’s most important animation studios stems from the success of titles capable of transforming cultural representation into a box-office milestone.
Such is the case of ‘Zootopia 2’, a project that precedes a legacy of titles such as ‘Encanto’, the first film that made her the first Latina woman to win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature.
With its release on the Disney+ digital platform starting next March 11, the adventures of Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, has become the highest-grossing release of 2025 in the U.S., surpassing ‘A Minecraft Movie’ with $424.2 million at the U.S. box office and another $185 million in the rest of the world.
“This film really touches everyone and different people connect with these characters. It all comes down to the characters and how much we connect with them,” asserts the producer.
Zootopia 2 Producer : Latino mass drives online content
The support of this audience is strengthened by U.S. Hispanics, the largest mass of entertainment consumers in the world.
Latinos outperform any other demographic group in movie attendance and time spent using online streaming content platforms, according to Nielsen data.
“We love that the Latino community is so large and robust, and that they really immerse themselves in our films and connect with them,” says Merino.
“It’s always important to make films that reflect the world we live in, and so we always want to make sure that our worlds reflect that,” he adds.
Hence the importance of understanding a story and studying how to represent it: “Part of the reason I like to do what we do is not only cinema, but also education. And we educate ourselves every time we enter a new world,” the film’s director, Byron Howard, told EFE.
“It’s important for us to learn, and the curiosity that exists in the studio, not only on our part, but also on the part of the artists, who really want to delve into the research is something I love about the studio because it matters to us,” Merino insists.
A message beyond the animal kingdom
The same story of ‘Zootopia 2’ addresses issues such as the coexistence between species, as well as their differences, a reflection that can be transferred to the tensions and challenges of today’s world.
“Nick and Judy struggle with their own differences. The reptiles in the world of Zootopia have had a tough time over the past 100 years. And honestly, the idea that differences are not what separates us, but what makes us stronger, is an important part of the film’s message,” Howard points out.
“What I love about ‘Zootopia’ is that we never try to close the chapter with a nice little bow and say everything is going to be okay. It’s a very difficult journey, but I think the fact that we have each other to get through it and the fact that when things try to pull us apart, we can hold on to each other a little bit tighter, will make the journey easier,” she said, reported Agencia EFE.
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