Walt Disney Animation Studios' latest film is more than just a comedy aimed at elementary schoolers about a city full of animals and a bunny that's a cop. "Zootopia" presents current struggles throughout society in a lighthearted manner that is both entertaining and eye-opening, giving the film an appeal to younger and older audiences alike all while addressing the ever-so-important lesson of not judging a book by its cover.
With the leading character being a female bunny that is constantly put down by her peers and incredibly large family (rabbits, ya know), the tone of the movie is set within the first five minutes. Judy Hopps, a headstrong, hardworking and confident woman/bunny is much more of a role model to young girls than a sleeping princess that waits for her prince to kiss her awake and carry her off to a castle, far away from any of her problems.
As a stigma remains between genders associated with specific jobs and duties that have been deemed "feminine" or "masculine," and as inequality blatantly plays a significant part within multiple aspects of today's society, the choice in "Zootopia" to use a tiny, female rabbit-cop among the other large and predatory animal-cops could most definitely be taken as a reference to the unfair treatment between genders and people in the real world.
"Zootopia" also features supporting characters, two of which are foxes. Foxes, aside from being a main predator to rabbits, maintain a bad rap as being used to describe a person who is deceitful, e.g., a sly fox. The film introduces the fox persona as a bully and a reason for a rabbit to carry around "fox repellent."
However, as the film progresses, both foxes are seen as good-natured and hospitable characters that are there for their friends and play an important role within their community—qualities that are far from their initial representation.
Such an example can be equated to how people tend to assume things about others prior to getting to know who they really are. The lesson of not doing this is taught to children early on, but even as a college student, I still witness people judging others based on one look or statement—something I have been guilty of too at times. This rapid assumption of a person, whether it is based on skin color, attitude or clothing choice, is what has lead to horrific incidents, some resulting in death, that have occurred over the past couple of years. "Zootopia" skims the surface of this topic by advocating the lesson that people who might appear to be bad based on first impression, could actually be a good person.
Along with other issues and references "Zootopia" contained throughout the film, the movie was not only enjoyable for children, but also caused the older audience to leave the theater thinking about how if a child's animated film about a bunny with a passion can deliver a message of acceptance and perseverance flawlessly, why is it so hard for today's society to understand those concepts without any complications.
