During spring break, I spent a lot of time with my family. At one point, my father suggested that he and I go see a movie. I thought this sounded like a lot of fun. There wasn’t much out that I really cared to see, but he suggested Disney’s new animated film Zootopia. I didn’t know much about it, but I did know that it was getting insane reviews, so I said, "Why not?" Going into the film I was prepared to enjoy a simple children’s movie about fun and adventure and talking animals. But boy, did Disney take their influence to a whole new level. Well played, Disney… well played.
According to IMDb, Zootopia’s synopsis is simple. They wrote, “In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy.” Yes, this is true. However, Zootopia also exhibits two major themes, one of which, especially, is incredibly relevant today, even more so to be recognized during this political season. Such as the importance of self-determination and the acceptance of others in a corrupt societal system.
The film’s director, Byron Howard, originally got the idea for the world of Zootopia while on a research trip to Africa during the film’s five-year process. Howard and crew stayed at a camp near a watering hole where they could see lions and gazelles drinking water and behaving while close to each other. He said, “…human cities are kind of the same thing, you have the collective of different groups who don’t always see eye-to-eye but they have to find a way to get along for the essentials. 90 percent of animals are prey animals and the remaining 10 percent are predators — that's an automatic majority/minority.”
The majority/minority issue is a huge part of Zootopia’s story, just as it is in our world today. The fact that a popular film for kids can sneak in these relevant ideas makes it easy to understand why the Washington Post says “Zootopia might be the best political film so far this year.” While our modern human society separates us into many racial categories, Zootopia only has two, the predators and the prey. Characters in the film are judged just because of their label. The film’s male lead, a fox named Nick, is seen as a sneaky crook just because he’s a fox and a predator. Given, he is a con artist, but how he got there may surprise you. The film really goes deep, presenting throughout the film that if you’re told you’re worthless for so long, you might believe it yourself. Luckily for Nick, the film’s leading lady, Judy Hopps, looks beyond his past and trusts that he can be more than everyone else believes him to be.
Without giving away any spoilers, the unexpected villain in the film, who is actually a politician, bases their cruel motivations all around (racial) labels, and is afraid their classification will be wiped out if they do not overcome the other side of the population. They want to get rid of the competition for their own personal gain. Sound familiar?
However, the film is not solely about the negatives in society. The other major theme of self-determination is important for children, and adults even, who have ever been told that they aren’t good enough to do something. The film preaches that you should never give up, and that you should follow your dreams. The film’s protagonist, Judy, is a bunny from a small country farm who just wants to be a cop, in a police world full of bears, tigers, and wolves. Judy isn’t just faced with the obstacle of getting through the police academy, but the film even opens with a scene in her childhood, and she is stereotyped because of her size from the beginning. It’s clear that she’s been shot down with words since a very young age, but throughout her life she never quits. A great thing about this film is that is also teaches patience. You can achieve your dreams if you keep working towards them and doing your best. Your wish isn’t always granted overnight, but that doesn’t mean it won’t come true.
Overall, this film is incredibly creative, charming, and funny. The film appeals to all ages, from the fun animal humor for the kids and subtle nods to a Godfather-like character and “Breaking Bad” for the adults. It’s no surprise that “Zootopia” made over $75 million during its opening weekend. It even surpassed “Frozen!” Even now it has earned over $500 million worldwide since it’s debut on March 4. I highly recommend this film and I hope the movie’s message shines though. Don’t judge others based on what others say and where they come from, and never give up on your goals.
My review? 8.5 out of 10
