English Comp II paper

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Zootopia

Disney’s most recent anamorphic animal movie hit theaters in March of 2016, with a powerful message heard around the world. No, really. Zootopia was a well-received movie in the United States, bringing in over 341 million dollars, but it did twice as well internationally, bringing in close to 700 million. This makes it the second animated movie after Frozen to bring in over a billion dollars (“Zootopia” Box Office Mojo). And no wonder. Directed by Byron Howard (Tangled) and Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph) and voiced by a powerful cast including Ginnifer Goodwin (Big Love), Jason Bateman (Horrible Bosses), and Idris Alba (Thor: The Dark World), Zootopia is full of big name talent and clever presentation that make a very appealing package (“Zootopia: IMDb ; Travers). But talent isn’t all it’s got. Both entertaining and meaningful, Zootopia is a movie that will satisfy moviegoers of all ages.

The movie is about a world populated by animals who have evolved past their predator/prey instincts, developing human-like characteristics, cities, technology, humor, and relationships. The central city is a place called Zootopia, a magical city where all animals live and work together in harmony. The protagonists of the story are Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) - Zootopia’s first bunny cop - and Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a slick con man fox. Together the two race to discover the reason that predators in Zootopia are reverting to their savage natures before everything remarkable about the city is destroyed (Zootopia).

Though the movie is obviously geared towards younger children, it has a powerful underlying message that appeals to adults as well. The addition of various cultural references to things like The Godfather or Kanye West and the clever use of humor are also hard to resist (Truitt). Beyond just the jokes, the script itself is excellent. The characters are well-developed and relatable, and the plot actually involves layers of depth and unexpected twists that could easily be repackaged into an adult mystery novel. The actors themselves did a fantastic job at bringing the characters to life; Ginnifer Goodwin actually cried as she recorded Judy’s tearful apology scene (“Zootopia” IMBd). And the incredible animation doesn’t hurt either: The animals look so realistic one could almost believe that Disney employed different animators for each individual hair (Truitt).

However, it’s the underlying moral theme that is perhaps the most remarkable thing about this movie. Throughout the movie, stereotypes are addressed through various means. Judy Hopps is the city’s first bunny cop, and faces many slights and assumptions that are typically associated with women (Travers). Despite her eagerness to dive into “real” police work she is assigned only to work distributing parking tickets, and often treated as an inferior by most of her larger species coworkers. Later, as the animals begin to panic over the danger of predators going savage, the city begins to divide into an “us versus them” mentality, the movie addresses the foolishness of typifying an entire group based on the actions of a few. Gazelle (Shakira), the city’s resident pop star, summarizes this, saying “Zootopia is a unique place. It's a crazy, beautiful, diverse city, where we celebrate our differences…. We don't just blindly assign blame. We don't know why these attacks keep happening. But it is irresponsible to label all predators as savages. We cannot let fear divide us (“Zootopia” IMDb).”

Of course, as a Disney movie, it’s not surprising that there is a moral element involved in the movie. But the cultural state in which the movie debuts is particularly in need of messages like this, messages which address the folly of racism, sectionalism, religious or political divisions - and all other forms of prejudice that divide people. This is a movie that packs a powerful moral punch without being preachy or in-your-face. Instead it manages to present an enjoyable story that can reach out to all ages of viewers with different levels of appeal. But in the end it nevertheless leaves us with an important lesson, as described by Officer Judy Hopps:

I thought this city would be a perfect place where everyone got along and anyone could be anything. Turns out, life's a little bit more complicated than a slogan on a bumper sticker. Real life is messy. We all have limitations. We all make mistakes. Which means, hey, glass half full, we all have a lot in common. And the more we try to understand one another, the more exceptional each of us will be. But we have to try. So no matter what kind of person you are, I implore you: Try. Try to make the world a better place. Look inside yourself and recognize that change starts with you (” Zootopia” IMDb).

Works Cited

Travers, Peter. “Zootopia: Disney’s New Animated Movie May be the Most Subversive Movie of the Year.” Review of Zootopia. Rolling Stone, 3 March 2016, http://www.rollingstone .com /movies/reviews/zootopia-20160303. Accessed 6 December 2016.

Truitt, Bret. “Review: You’ll Want to Visit Zootopia.” Review of Zootopia, USA Today, 5 March 2016, http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/03/02/zootopia-movie-review/81163544/. Accessed 6 November 2016.

”Zootopia.” Box Office Mojo, edited by the staff of IMDb, 2016, http://www.boxofficemojo.com /movies/?id=disney2016.htm. Accessed 6 November 2016.

Zootopia. Directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore. Walt Disney Studios, 2016.