Whenever Disney releases a new animated film, my friends and I take a trip to the cloud-like reclining chairs of Mann Plymouth Grand 15, and rave about the amazing animation, characters, and storylines that the studio has produced, (we also get frozen yogurt at Cherry Berry afterwards, which I’ll just throw in a recommendation for–5/5 stars).
This tradition was upheld on March 4th, when Disney released its latest animated film, Zootopia, that did not disappoint. People of all ages have been captivated with the latest PG box office success, many claiming it to be the best movie Disney has produced in years. Already, Zootopia has become the third highest grossing Walt Disney Animation Studios film, after The Lion King and Frozen, and with good reason.
Zootopia is written and directed by Jared Bush, and with the help of fellow directors Byron Howard (Tangled) and Rich Moore (Wreck-it Ralph). The movie centers around Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), a cheerful and determined bunny, and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a cunning fox in the modern city of Zootopia, a society of civilized animals, and a place where “anyone can be anything.”
The basic plot follows Judy Hopps, a character as charming as her name, leaving her farm home to pursue a career in the city as the first rabbit police officer, despite the common opinion that she is not capable of doing so. Once she reaches the city, she finds out that most animals have a difficult time overseeing their prejudices against her, and that getting on the police force alone is not enough to prove herself.
Thus, a fantastic adventure begins in which Judy has two days to find a missing otter through the help of Nick Wilde, a con artist with more sides to him than meets the eye. Over the course of the movie, Nick and Judy journey across the various breathtaking places in Zootopia, and discover that the missing otter only plays a small role in an even darker, and more complex crime that involves the entire city.
The movie starts out seeming like your typical, magical Disney movie, then takes an unexpected turn and starts spooning out societal criticism, not shying away from topics that could be considered taboo. Rather than being the fluffy comedy that most people expected, Zootopia manages to delve deep into issues of racial profiling and stereotyping in a way that people of all ages will benefit from.
I walked into the ridiculously comfortable theater with high hopes, and came out incapable of forming sentences, because all of my expectations had been blown out the window. Zootopia is not your average children’s movie. It’s 108 minutes of real-talk, disguised in bright colors and adorable characters.
Amazingly, Disney keeps in touch with its normal fantastic style while addressing these serious topics, and still manages to incorporate a generous amount of humor and witty banter. Not to mention that the animation is a work of art that tops any previously cartoon world. Walt Disney would be proud.
