Zootopia 2 is set to come out on November 26th, 2025. At the moment we have been presented limited info on a major character: Gary the blue viper. From what we've been told, he is creepy, slithery, highly venomous, talkative, and extremely optimistic. We also got a short "Year of the Snake" clip of him trying to catch a sparkle while being harassed by his own tail, suggesting that he's a little dimwitted and goofy.
To help us wait these 11 months, I would like to present a few short stories intermittently featuring Gary. His personality will be based on what we know so far, and this might become non-canon based on future details, futures trailers, and the movie itself.
Enjoy.
1
The space under the bridge was quiet, the only sound the soft dripping of water echoing from some unseen corner. A shaft of sunlight pierced through a small crack, illuminating the spot where Gary the blue viper had coiled up. He had slept soundly, wrapped snugly in his own shimmering body, his dreams filled with whimsical adventures and exaggerated notions of discovery.
As the morning light gently warmed his scales, Gary stirred. With a deep, contented sigh, he lifted his head, blinking lazily as he took in the familiar surroundings. His wide yellow eyes gleamed with a refreshed sparkle, and a broad, goofy smile spread across his face.
"Ah, nothing like a good nap out of sight and out of mind of everyone else! And a bridge works when I can't get back to that apartment of mine," he murmured to himself, stretching his neck and wriggling the tip of his tail—or so he thought.
However, as he glanced down, his smile faltered. Something wasn't right. The rest of his long, serpentine body remained perfectly still, still coiled in the exact position he had left it the night before. He tried to give his body a little shake, but to his growing concern, he realized he couldn't feel anything beyond the first six inches from his head.
"Uh-oh," Gary said, his eyes widening with worry. "This is… not normal."
He wiggled his head from side to side, craning his neck to get a better view of his body. No matter how much he strained, the rest of him remained immobile, as if it had turned to stone overnight. The coils were pristine, layered neatly in an almost artistic spiral, each scale catching the light just right.
"Okay, okay, don't panic," he whispered to himself, though his voice betrayed a hint of unease. "Maybe it's just… temporary? Yeah, like, uh, snake sleep paralysis! That's a thing, right?"
Gary attempted to wriggle again, but the result was the same. His head bobbed about, but the rest of his body stayed firmly in place, a perfect picture of coiled tranquility. He furrowed his brow, contemplating his next move.
"Alright, let's think this through," he muttered. "Can't move, can't feel… but hey, look at how well-coiled I am! That's some expert-level coiling right there."
He paused, tilting his head to admire the seamless loops of his body. The scales shimmered in varying shades of blue, each curve and twist perfectly aligned. For a moment, pride swelled in his chest.
"Wow, I really outdid myself this time," he said with a chuckle, momentarily distracted from his predicament. "I mean, just look at that symmetry! Who needs a yoga instructor when you've got natural talent like this?"
But his admiration quickly gave way to worry once more. "No, no, focus, Gary! This is serious. What if I'm stuck like this forever? What if I can never slither again?"
His head drooped, the weight of his worry pressing down on him. Yet, even in situation, he couldn't help but steal another glance at his perfectly coiled form.
"Still… it is impressive," he mused, a small smile creeping back onto his face. "I could be the most decorative snake under a bridge! Maybe I could even charge an entry fee—'Come see the world's best-coiled viper!'"
He chuckled to himself, the absurdity of the idea lifting his spirits. But the humor was short-lived as the reality of his situation settled back in.
"Okay, back to problem-solving," he said, shaking his head. "Maybe if I just… focus really hard?"
He closed his eyes, concentrating with all his might. He imagined his body unfurling, each coil loosening and stretching out. He held the image in his mind, willing his muscles to respond.
But when he opened his eyes, nothing had changed. The rest of his body remained as still and coiled as before.
"Great," he sighed, his head flopping down onto the nearest coil. "Stuck. Completely and utterly stuck."
He lay there for a moment, letting the silence wash over him. Then, with a deep breath, he lifted his head once more, determination gleaming in his eyes.
"Well, if I'm going to be stuck, I might as well enjoy it," he declared. "And who knows? Maybe this is just my body's way of telling me to take it easy for a bit. Relax, enjoy the view… appreciate the art of a good coil."
And with that, Gary settled in, choosing to focus on the positive. Though he couldn't move, he could still appreciate the beauty of his own design, finding solace in the small things while he waited for whatever strange affliction had befallen him to pass.
After all, if there was one thing Gary knew how to do, it was to make the best of a peculiar situation—even if it involved being temporarily immobilized in the most perfect coil he had ever achieved.
Gary's mind churned with possibilities as he lay there, head propped on his perfect coil. His gaze darted around the area, catching sight of the rocky ground beneath him. A sudden spark of inspiration lit up his yellow eyes, and a goofy grin spread across his face.
"I've got it!" he exclaimed, his voice echoing through the cavern. "Time to put this fang to good use. Who needs muscles when you've got a trusty fang pick?"
He flicked his tongue out, savoring the brilliance of his plan. With great determination, he reared his head back, aiming his solitary fang at the ground like a miner preparing to strike gold.
"Alright, Gary, let's do this!" he encouraged himself, plunging the fang into the rocky ground with a triumphant thunk. The sensation was oddly satisfying, like sticking a flag into the earth to claim new territory.
Using the embedded fang as leverage, he began to drag his head forward, inch by painstaking inch. The rest of his body stayed immobile, but as he pulled, the tightly coiled loops began to unravel, one segment at a time.
"Here we go! Forward march, snake style!" Gary chirped, his tone filled with exaggerated enthusiasm. "One stab at a time, we're gonna get there!"
He yanked his head forward again, the fang scraping through the stone with a gritty sound. Another loop of his body loosened, sliding free and adding to the growing trail of uncoiled snake behind him.
"Oh, look at that! Progress!" he exclaimed, glancing back at the unraveling masterpiece. "Who needs legs when you've got grit and determination, right?"
Each stab and drag brought a new wave of excitement as he continued his slow journey across the ground. His tail remained lifeless, but the sight of his body stretching out filled him with renewed vigor.
"This is what persistence looks like, folks!" Gary announced, imagining an invisible audience cheering him on. "Step aside, hoofed marathon runners! The coil uncoiling champion is on the move!"
The process was slow and a bit awkward, but Gary was undeterred. His cheerful commentary filled the space, each statement punctuated by the rhythmic stab and drag of his fang.
"Stab, drag, uncoil! Stab, drag, uncoil! It's the Gary method!" he chanted, his voice brimming with goofy pride. "Patent pending, of course."
Finally, after what felt like an eternity of fang work, Gary's body lay fully uncoiled in a straight line across the ground. He lifted his head high, beaming with triumph.
"Success!" he cheered, his voice echoing with joy. "I did it! I'm straight as an arrow! Who's the best snake? I'm the best snake!"
He wriggled his head in celebration, feeling a rush of satisfaction at his accomplishment. But as the excitement began to settle, a troubling realization dawned on him.
His body, though now in a straight line, still refused to move. The familiar sensation of muscle control was absent, leaving him just as paralyzed as before—only now, he was stretched out like a limp noodle on the ground beneath the bridge.
"Oh," Gary said, his voice deflating slightly. "Well… this is awkward."
He wiggled his head, attempting to will some movement into his body, but it remained stubbornly unresponsive. The joy of his victory faded into a sheepish chuckle.
"Well, at least I'm not coiled up anymore," he muttered, trying to find the silver lining. "Straight lines are pretty cool too, right? I mean, it's a whole new look for me!"
He sighed, resting his chin on the cool stone. "I guess I'll just… wait it out. Maybe this is all part of the process. Or maybe I just need another nap, yeah, naps fix everything."
As Gary lay stretched out on the ground, his eyes caught a glimpse of a golden patch of sunlight out from underneath the bridge. The light danced invitingly, warming the stone where it touched.
"Ah-ha!" Gary exclaimed, his eyes lighting up with realization. "That's it! I just need to warm up! A little sunbathing and I'll be good as new!"
He wriggled his head enthusiastically, the idea of basking in the sun filling him with hope. However, the sunlight was a few feet away, just out of reach of his immobile body. Gary furrowed his brow, deep in thought.
"Okay, Gary, think. How do you get from here to there when you can't slither?" he said, an idea slowly forming. "Of course! I'll roll! Like a rolling pin!"
With renewed determination, he adjusted his head, positioning himself as best he could. "Alright, body, let's do this. Rolling pin mode: activate!"
He rocked his head to one side, using the momentum to tip himself over. Slowly but surely, his body began to roll, segment by segment, across the ground. The sensation was strange, like being a living rolling pin unfurling dough.
"Look at me go!" Gary cheered, his voice filled with glee. "Rolling to victory! Sunlight, here I come!"
Each roll brought him closer to the warm light, his vibrant blue scales glinting with every turn. Finally, with one last heave, Gary found himself basking in the golden glow. He sighed contentedly, letting the warmth seep into his body.
"Ah, yes," he murmured, closing his eyes. "This is the life. Just a little sun, and I'll be back to slithering in no time."
He lay there, soaking up the heat, occasionally giving himself little updates. "Hmm, I think I can feel a tingle… yep, definitely a tingle. That's progress!"
After a few minutes, Gary lifted his head, a hopeful glint in his eyes. He gave an experimental wiggle, and to his delight, he felt his body respond.
"Whoa! I can move!" he exclaimed, wriggling his entire length with joy. "I'm back, baby!"
He sprang into action, slithering in excited circles around in the sunlight. His body moved with smooth, graceful undulations, the shimmering blue scales catching the light as he twirled.
"Look at me!" he cried, his voice ringing with happiness. "I'm slithering! I'm free!"
Gary raised his tail high, curling it into elegant loops and spirals as he moved. With each twist and turn, he marveled at the fluidity of his motion, reveling in the sheer joy of movement.
He twirled his tail around, bringing it close to his head. With a delighted giggle, he planted a quick kiss on the tip of his tail.
"Mwah! You beautiful thing, you!" he cooed, twirling the tail once more. "You've been so patient through all this. You deserve all the kisses!"
He continued to slither in wide, looping patterns, occasionally pausing to give his tail another affectionate kiss. His movements were playful and exuberant, like a dance of pure happiness.
Gary coiled and uncoiled himself, weaving intricate shapes. His tail flicked and curled with finesse, each motion a celebration of his newfound freedom.
"Rolling, slithering, and dancing!" he declared, twirling his tail like a ribbon. "This is what being a snake is all about!"
As he moved, Gary's joy was infectious, his laughter echoing through the cave. He basked in the warmth of the sunlight, feeling truly alive and connected to his body once more. After all, for Gary, every day was an opportunity for discovery, laughter, and a little bit of sunshine.