Zootopia is the latest in a line of 3D computer-animated hits by Walt Disney Animation Studios, following Tangled, Wreck-It Ralph, and Frozen, which continues their resurgence in popularity and box office success after being long seen as playing second fiddle to its sister studio, Pixar Animation. The film was directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush, and stars Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, and Jenny Slate.
The film is a buddy-cop adventure set in the titular metropolis of Zootopia, where mammals have evolved to live in a society similar to our own, and predator and prey live in relative harmony. Rookie cop Judy Hopps (Goodwin), the first bunny cop in Zootopia, finds herself in need of aid when she must solve a mystery of disappearing predators, and enlists the help of shady and streetwise fox, Nick Wilde (Bateman). Rounding out the supporting characters are Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), the wildebeest police chief who is skeptical of a bunny's abilities as a cop, Dawn Bellweather (Slate), a mousy sheep who is deputy assistant to Zootopia's Mayor Lionheart (J. K. Simmons), and Benjamin Clawhauser (Nate Torrence), a chubby cheetah that works the police desk and is a super-fan of pop-star Gazelle (Shakira.)
Goodwin leads the film naturally and as Judy Hopps, despite few voice credits to her name, conveying Judy's spunk and determination through a deft and exuberant performance. The same can be said of Bateman, who just manages to disappear into his character despite a fairly recognizable voice, a problem not always avoided by well-known celebrities new to voice acting (see: Jesse Eisenberg in Rio) tossing in a believable mix of sarcasm and heavily disguised self-doubt. Each actor, in tandem with the talented animators at Walt Disney Animation Studios, expertly breathes in humanity to the otherwise animal cast. Elba, Simmons, Slate, and Torrence and the rest all support the film with their own solid voice work. Elba and Slate's performances show a strong potential future in voice acting if they are so inclined (although it would be a crying shame for Idris Elba to disappear from live-action films), and Simmons longtime experience as a voice actor shows despite his comparatively low screen time.
Directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore, who were in the director's chairs for Tangled and Wreck-It-Ralph respectively, bring an excellent vision for animated filmmaking here, doubtlessly sharpened by their prior laudable work on Disney's other 3D-animated hits. Jared Bush, also a co-director, and co-writer Phil Johnston crafted a superior screenplay that acts the foundation for the film's wonderful alchemy of timely social commentary, engaging story, and wryly intelligent humor that young minds can still process.
There are two things I appreciate about this movie the most. The first is what most people mention after seeing Zootopia, which is the presence of and its approach to relevant social issues. The film serves up an array of allegorical explorations of prejudice, including workplace discrimination; the stigmatization, scapegoating, and profiling of entire social groups; and the role of law enforcement and government in fanning the flames of prejudice. It does so without being sanctimonious or preachy, and without sacrificing the film's fun and positive atmosphere, letting valuable lessons reach engaged children (and adults, no less) without lecturing them about how discrimination is wrong.
The second thing that really struck me is far more subtle but no less important, I think, and that is the film's attention to detail. In the background of every lushly animated scene, the city of Zootopia is alive with activity, from the various mammalian inhabitants to the buildings lining the streets. Different parts and aspects of the city are tailored both to the types of animals but also to their various sizes. The various signage and advertising around the city contain an array of animal puns on our own products and companies. This attention to detail, both in the cities visuals and its structure and makeup, make Zootopia feel like a living and breathing society. This only helps to sell the film's themes and story, as it is far easier to process the idea of societally driven prejudices if they are given a society to inhabit.
Lastly, I would be remiss to not remark on the animation itself. 3D computer animation has come a long way since the first Toy Story and it shows. Each frame a filled with beautiful renders, with vibrant wide shots of the city environments, to meticulous details such as the individual hairs on each character's face. While one may lament the general dearth of 2D animation, one cannot deny that 3D animation is more visually appealing than ever.
As it stands, Zootopia is one of the better animated films to debut in the past few years, if not the twenty-first century so far, and should be a fun and thoughtful delight for children and adults alike.
Zootopia premiered on March 4, 2016, and is out on Blu-Ray/DVD and applicable streaming services.
