Zootopia 2 isn’t just smashing box office records globally (especially in China, where it’s the highest-grossing foreign animated film ever). The film has also sparked a major cultural moment with its newest character, Gary De’Snake. This blue-scaled pit viper, voiced with surprising tenderness by Oscar-winner Ke Huy Quan, is flipping tired reptilian stereotypes on their head and proving that even a snake can be a fan favorite.

In a world often quick to villainize snakes—from ancient myths to modern cinema—Gary emerges as a soft-spoken, deeply intuitive, and chronically misunderstood hero. His journey to clear his family’s name resonates as a powerful allegory for real-world discrimination, making him incredibly relatable to a Gen Z audience hungry for authentic representation.

What makes Gary’s rise even more potent? His debut couldn’t be better timed for the Year of the Snake. In Chinese culture, the snake symbolizes wisdom, intuition, elegance, and renewal, a stark contrast to Western portrayals of deceit and danger. Zootopia 2 subtly (and beautifully) weaves in these Eastern perspectives, offering nods like the “snake coiled with rabbit” motif for good fortune and Gary’s auspicious red scarf. This thoughtful integration of Chinese cultural symbolism highlights a significant shift: Hollywood is evolving into a truly cross-cultural creative space, fostering mutual understanding and celebrating diverse narratives on a global scale. While whimsical in animation, Gary De’Snake is more than just a character—he’s a symbol of this exciting new era in filmmaking.

Cover image via Yardbarker.