"Zootopia" was a box-office hit when it premiered back in March, dethroning "Frozen" and raking in $67.4 million its first weekend. Good. It should dethrone "Frozen." "Frozen" had important messages about sibling and self-love. The moral of "Zooptia," however, is much more relevant.
Like many, I didn't see "Zootopia" in theaters. Just because a film is rumored to be excellent isn't reason enough for me to spend the money on a movie ticket, apparently. No, I took the cheap way out and waited for it to come out on DVD, which it did around this time last month. So I just watched it this past weekend with a friend who owns the DVD. But even a month after its DVD release date and four months after its premier, "Zootopia" is still creating a stir.
Much of the attention is coming from a recently released deleted scene that reveals a much darker version of the hit children's movie. Personally, I'm glad Disney decided to cut the "Bear-Mitzvah" scene. The movie is perfect the way it is. However, I am glad they decided to release the sketch.
The "taming party" draws attention back to the important issue "Zootopia" tackled head on: Stereotypes and prejudice.
Even though "Zootopia" was fictional, what really stood out to me was how accurately it captured the reality of being the object of prejudice. The scene in which this stood out most was the press conference.
In the scene, one of the main characters, Judy Hopps, is answering reporters' questions about a missing mammals case she recently cracked wide open. While speaking, she labels predators as naturally savage without even realizing it. For her, the effects turn out to be detrimental, but how many of us have stereotyped with less severe results? I know I have.
When coming from a place of relative privilege, as both Judy and I do, it is easy to say something offensive and harmful without meaning it to be that way or realizing how it will come across. I'm so thankful to have had friends like Judy's friend, Nick, who were able to kindly but firmly call me out for being offensive.
But it's always hard to hear. To this day I still automatically go on the defensive. As I think about what they say, though, I always realize they were right to call me out. Even if you don't understand why something is offensive, if someone tells you it is, you have to listen.
Just because you haven't experienced some form of discrimination doesn't make it any less real. If you haven't experienced it, you are not in the position to label whether or not something you say is harmful.
So air on the side of caution, and if you do offend someone, apologize, and work to overcome the tendency to stereotype.
Another scene in "Zootopia" that really stood out was the scene in which Judy apologizes to Nick. First, because this is always exactly what you need to do when you hurt someone. Don't try to be right to preserve your dignity. Admit you were wrong to preserve your integrity. What really caught my attention, though, was her use of the word "ignorant." Because that's where Judy's stereotyping came from, and where all stereotyping comes from: Ignorance.
Unfortunately in this society we are still taught prejudice. And, speaking from experience, unlearning it is one of the hardest things to do. But also one of the most important.
That's why "Zootopia" is such an important movie. It aims to teach kids, and everyone else, to be on the lookout for their own prejudice. It shows them how harmful that prejudice can be, giving them a reason to overcome it. And it does so in a safe and approachable way.
By choosing animals for main characters and using the predator/prey division, no specific real life group is called out, making the message easier to hear. By using a fictional division, the message against prejudice and stereotyping also becomes applicable to all real life groups. The movie even deals with levels of privilege! Judy, as a bunny, is expected to be a cute carrot farmer, so is told she can't be a police officer. Nick, a fox, is also told he can't be anything he wants, but because he is expected to be a sly criminal, which is arguably worse.
And all this is wrapped up in an animated kids movie!
So hats off to you, "Zootopia." You challenge us all to take a good look at our privilege. No matter if you're black or white, straight or queer, even predator or prey, we all deserve to be judged as individuals and not by some category ignorance has placed us in.
