zootopia short movie review

Fantasy films aimed at kids don’t have to have political messages, but when they do, they should either be internally consistent, or work through the contradictions in terms that kids can apply to the real world. “Zootopia,” a fantasy set in a city where predators and prey live together in harmony, is a funny, beautifully designed kids’ film with a message that it restates at every turn. But if you think about that message for longer than five minutes, it doesn’t merely fall apart, it invites a reading that is almost surely contrary to the movie’s seemingly enlightened spirit: discrimination is wrong, but stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason, and it’s not easy for members of a despised class to overcome the reasons why the majority despises them, so you gotta be patient.

Ginnifer Goodwin (“Big Love”) voices Bunny Hops, a small town rabbit who’s told that she can’t be a police officer in Zootopia because there’s never been a rabbit police officer. (The job tends to be done by predators and large herbivores—like a water buffalo that’s become a police captain, voiced by Idris Elba.) Hops makes it through police training anyway and gets assigned to meter maid duty, to the relief of her carrot farmer parents ( Bonnie Hunt and Don Lake ), who gave her fox repellent as a going-away present. They had good reason to give her fox repellent: the fox is one of the rabbit’s mortal enemies, and when Judy was child, a fox cornered her at a county fair, insulted her for being a bunny, and slashed her face with his paw. (This is a slightly more intense kid-flick than you might expect, given how many adorable animals are in it.)

Of course Hops ends up partnered with a red fox named Nick Wilde ( Jason Bateman ), a small-time hustler who reluctantly helps her investigate the disappearances of a dozen predators. I won’t reveal exactly what the mystery is here (it’s a pretty good one) except to say that it invites kids and parents to talk about nature versus nurture, and the origins and debilitating effect of stereotypes.

But this turns out to be not such a great thing once you get deeper into the movie. Because people are not animals, I dread thinking about the “logical” conclusions to which such conversations will lead. The film isn’t wrong to say that carnivores are biologically inclined to want to eat herbivores, that bunnies reproduce prolifically, the sloths are slow-moving (they work at the DMV here), that you can take the fox out of the forest but you can’t take forest out of the fox, and so on. If you think about all this as an analogy for the world we live in (particularly if we live in a melting-pot big city like Zootopia) and and then ask yourself which racial or ethnic or societal groups (cops, businesspeople, city bureaucrats) are “predators” and which are “prey” (for purposes of metaphor translation), you see the problem. “Zootopia” pretty much rubber-stamps whatever worldview parents want to pass on to their kids, however embracing or malignant that may be. I can imagine an anti-racist and a racist coming out of this film, each thinking it validated their sense of how the world works.

“Zootopia” is constantly asking its characters to look past species stereotypes, and not use species-ist language or repeat hurtful assumptions. “Only a bunny can call another bunny ‘cute,’” Hops warns a colleague It’s filled with moments that are about overcoming or enduring discrimination. “Never let them see that they get to you,” Wilde advises Hops. And there are acknowledgments of the destructive self-hatred that discrimination can cause. Many of the animals make self-deprecating jokes at the expense of stereotypes about their species (such as Hops volunteering to do math for Wilde, telling him, “If there’s one thing we bunnies are good at, it’s multiplying”), and there’s a fairly intense flashback which reveals that Wilde became a hustler because other animals hazed him as a pup while repeating anti-fox stereotypes, and responded by embracing his species’ caricature and becoming the foxiest fox anyone had seen. This all seems clever and noble until you realize that all the stereotypes about various animals are to some extent true, in particular the most basic one: carnivores eat herbivores because it’s in their nature. (Yes, readers, I know, there are tigers who’ve been taught to snuggle with lambs, and I’ve seen the same memes with cats and dogs snuggling that you have; I mean in general.)

It might seem weird that I’m dwelling on this aspect of “Zootopia,” which is directed by Byron Howard & Rich Moore and co-directed by Jared Bush , because the movie is entertaining. The thriller plot, which borrows rather generously from “48 HRS” and every cop drama involving governmental conspiracy, is smartly shaped   It’s hard to imagine any child or adult failing to be amused and excited by parts of it. The compositions and lighting are more thoughtful than you tend to get in a 3-D animated film starring big-eyed animals who speak with the voices of celebrities. And there are a few sections that are transportingly lovely, in particular any sequence involving the pop star Gazelle (voiced by Shakira), and Hops’ high-speed train ride towards and through Zootopia, which introduces the city’s different terrains (including frozen tundra and misty rainforest) while leaving room for subsequent bits of spelunking (a foot chase through rodent town lets Hops know what it feels like to be a giant). Some of the biggest laughs come from obvious gags that you know the writers couldn’t resist, such as the bit where Idris’ water buffalo captain says they can’t start the morning briefing without acknowledging the elephant in the room. If you decide not to think about the metaphor that the film is built around, it’s an enjoyable diversion, made with great skill.

Still: is it too much to ask that a film that wears its noble intentions like a jangling neck collar be able to withstand scrutiny? If “Zootopia” were a bit vaguer, or perhaps dumber and less pleased with itself, it might have been a classic, albeit of a very different, less reputable sort. As-is, it’s a goodhearted, handsomely executed film that doesn’t add up in the way it wants to.

Matt Zoller Seitz

Matt Zoller Seitz is the Editor-at-Large of RogerEbert.com, TV critic for New York Magazine and Vulture.com, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism.

• Alan Tudyk as Duke Weaselton (voice)
• Tommy Chong as Yax (voice)
• Katie Lowes as Dr. Madge Honey Badger (voice)
• Mark Smith as Officer McHorn (voice)
• J.K. Simmons as Mayor Lionheart (voice)
• Jenny Slate as Bellwether (voice)
• Tommy Lister as Finnick (voice)
• John DiMaggio as Jerry Jumbeaux Jr. (voice)
• Maurice LaMarche as Mr. Big (voice)
• Kath Soucie as Young Nick Wilde (voice)
• Kristen Bell as Priscilla (voice)
• Nate Torrence as Officer Clawhauser (voice)
• Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Hopps (voice)
• Ginnifer Goodwin as Lieutenant Judy Hopps (voice)
• Shakira as Gazelle (voice)
• Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde (voice)
• Idris Elba as Chief Bogo (voice)
• Octavia Spencer as Mrs. Otterson (voice)
• Josh Dallas as Frantic Pig (voice)
• Byron Howard

Writer (story)

• Jennifer Lee
• Jim Reardon
• Phil Johnston

Writer (additional story material)

• Dan Fogelman

Co-Director

Writer (head of story).

• Josie Trinidad

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Film Review: ‘Zootopia’

Disney offers a decades-later correction to 'Song of the South,' in which rabbits and foxes have a chance to live together in relative harmony.

By Peter Debruge

Peter Debruge

Chief Film Critic

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From the company that brought you the utopian simplicity of “It’s a Small World” comes a place where mammals of all shapes, sizes and dietary preferences not only live in harmony, but also are encouraged to be whatever they want — a revisionist animal kingdom in which lions and lambs lay down the mayoral law together, and a cuddly-wuddly bunny can grow up to become the city’s top cop. Welcome to “ Zootopia ,” where differences of race and species serve no obstacle to either acceptance or achievement. It is, in short, a city that only the Mouse House could imagine, and one that lends itself surprisingly well to a classic L.A.-style detective story, a la “The Big Lebowski” or “Inherent Vice,” yielding an adult-friendly whodunit with a chipper “you can do it!” message for the cubs.

Opening in several European countries weeks ahead of its March 4 domestic release, “Zootopia” is full of motormouthed characters and American culture in-jokes — no surprise, considering it was directed by Byron Howard , whose girl-power “Tangled” kicked off the recent Disney revival, and “The Simpsons” vet Rich Moore , who previously helmed “Wreck-It Ralph.” But that should pose little obstacle to its worldwide appeal, boosted by some of the most huggable Disney characters since “Lilo & Stitch.”

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While her 225 bunny brothers and sisters are content to stay on the farm, aspirational rabbit Judy Hopps ( Ginnifer Goodwin ) shows an early aptitude for conflict management, stepping in when a schoolyard bully hassles her classmates. Not so surprisingly, the offender happens to be a fox, though Judy doesn’t give in to such species typing, insisting that jerks come in all shapes and sizes. So, too, do heroes, and despite the limitations of her tiny scale, Judy enlists in the Zootopia police academy, struggling at first before outwitting her larger rivals.

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Graduating at the top of her class, Judy packs her bags for a job in the big city — which is like a cross between one of those shiny 21st-century Dubai complexes featuring indoor skiing and surfing, and a new Disney theme-park adjunct, complete with climate-specific subdivisions like Tundratown and Sahara Square. “There’s far too much to take in here,” as the opening scene of “The Lion King” promises (a movie whose stunning African savannah was downright simplistic compared with the world “Zootopia” has to establish), and Howard and Moore struggle to make their introduction anywhere near as impressive, despite leaning heavily on an unremarkable “I want” song called “Try Everything,” performed by Gazelle (Shakira), the veld’s sveltest pop idol (well-meaning sample lyric: “I wanna try even though I could fail”).

Doing justice to an elaborate new environment poses a familiar problem, slightly improved from last year’s “Tomorrowland,” in the sense that Judy (who probably should have grown up in town, like everyone else in Zootopia) takes a long train ride into the city, ogling the various districts as she passes. It’s a sequence worth studying a dozen times down the road just to catch all the tiny details, from the hippo-drying stations to the plastic hamster tubes, although it’s an awkward way to acquaint ourselves with the city.

In theory, Zootopia’s residents have evolved past distinctions of predator and prey, which might explain the small matter of cartoon biology: Whether tiny mice or hulking rhinoceroses, all animals have front-facing eyes, upright postures and opposable thumbs — a throwback to the delightful character design featured in Disney’s “Robin Hood” (1973), which reimagined a human world populated entirely by animals, integrating characteristics of each species into the ways different creatures move.

In progressive-minded Zootopia, a moose can co-anchor the evening news with a snow leopard without it turning into an episode of “When Animals Attack!” That said, even the most basic social interactions remain tense, as the city’s caste system matches animals to the roles that suit them best (the DMV is all-too-accurately staffed by slow-moving sloths, for example), while still adhering closely to the hierarchy of the food chain (with a few amusing exceptions, including a cameo by “Pinky and the Brain” actor Maurice LaMarche as a Don Corleone-like arctic shrew).

As far as cops are concerned, it’s the big fellas — rhinos, tigers and Cape buffalo like Capt. Bogo (Idris Elba) — who are responsible for maintaining law and order. Judy may be the first to benefit from the new mammal-inclusion initiative devised by Mayor Lionheart (J.K. Simmons), but Bogo isn’t ready to trust her with a real investigation, placing the rookie on parking-meter duty while he assigns everyone else key roles in a major missing-persons case. If Bogo’s behavior smacks of species-ism, that’s no accident: The “Zootopia” screenplay (on which the directors share credit with Phil Johnston and co-helmer Jared Bush) actually turns real-world racial sensitivity issues into something of a talking point — as when Judy notes that a bunny can call another bunny “cute,” but it’s not OK when another animal does it.

While raising the subject should help encourage kids to look past surface differences in one another, it’s a bit misleading, since the movie is less about race than gender, dredging up equality issues that might have been fresher in the days of “9 to 5” and “Working Girl”: Judy is treated differently because she’s a woman, bonding most easily with Bellwether (baby-voiced comedienne Jenny Slate), the woolly assistant mayor who serves as Lionheart’s glorified secretary, and Clawhauser (Nate Torrence), the police force’s effeminate cheetah receptionist.

What, then, do we make of the tenuous alliance between Judy and trickster fox Nick Wilde ( Jason Bateman ), which — despite the obvious design similiarities — features none of the bloodthirsty tension shown between Brer Rabbit and Brer Fox in Disney’s half-forgotten/suppressed “Song of the South”? “Zootopia’s” relatively P.C. sensibility serves as a partial corrective to that shameful 1946 toon, offering a classic screwball-comedy relationship in which the natural rivals match wits, while she carries the added protection of a spray-based fox repellent. Getting no support from her police comrades, Judy enlists Nick in an investigation that leads her down the metaphorical rabbit hole and into the seedier side of “Zootopia,” from the Mystic Spring Oasis (a clothing-optional resort where animals frolic au naturel) to an ominous research facility housing predators that have “gone savage.”

The deeper they go, the more “Zootopia” comes to resemble such vintage noirs as “Chinatown” and “L.A. Confidential,” from its increasingly shadowy look to Michael Giacchino’s jazzy lounge-music score. Disney has been down this road before with “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” although this time, there’s not a single human character to be found, while the adult-skewing jokes (mostly references to other movies) aren’t nearly so inappropriate for kids. Genre-wise, the film couldn’t be farther from the terrain of “Frozen” and other Disney princess movies, though it plays directly to the studio’s strengths, behind the scenes (we may not see every corner of Zootopia, but we know it’s been mapped out and conceptualized) and on screen, where the endearingly designed ensemble gives the animators plenty to work with.

Judy Hopps’ bright-eyed, foot-thumping energy and Nick Wilde’s cool, half-lidded reluctance offer a perfect study in contrasts, crossing what both actors gave in the recording booth with characteristics of the two species in question. In Goodwin’s case, the actress’s guileless optimism comes through loud and clear, telegraphed through her two long bunny ears, which fold back in fear and shame, but otherwise stand expectantly tall in the face of each new challenge. As her wily fox foil, Nick models a fast-changing map of Bateman’s smirks and eye rolls, his slouchy posture a deceptive cover for his slippery potential.

While it doesn’t have quite the same breakout potential as the Mouse House’s past few hits, “Zootopia” has shrewdly established both an environment that could be further explored from countless other angles (in a spinoff TV series, perhaps) and an odd-couple chemistry between Nick and Judy that carries on even after Gazelle returns for her obligatory grand finale.

Reviewed at Disney Studios, Burbank, Calif., Feb. 1, 2016. MPAA Rating: PG. Running time: 108 MIN.

• Production: (Animated) A Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures release and presentation of a Walt Disney Animation Studios production. Produced by Clark Spencer. Executive producer, John Lasseter.
• Crew: Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore. Co-director, Jared Bush. Screenplay, Bush, Phil Johnston; story, Howard, Bush, Moore, Josie Trinidad, Jim Reardon, Phil Johnston, Jennifer Lee. Camera (color, widescreen, 3D), Brian Leach; editors, Fabienne Rawley, Jeremy Milton; music, Michael Giacchino; music supervisor, Tom MacDougall; production designer, David Goetz; art director, Matthias Lechner; heads of story, Trinidad, Reardon; head of animation, Renato Dos Anjos; animation supervisors, Nathan Engelhardt, Jennifer Hager, Robert Huth, Kira Lehtomaki, Chad Sellers; sound (Dolby Atmos), Addison Teague; supervising sound editor, Teague; re-recording mixer, David E. Fluhr, Gabriel Guy; visual effects supervisor, Scott Kersavage; stereoscopic supervisor, Katie A. Fico; associate producers, Nicole P. Hearon, Monica Lago-Kaytis; casting, Jamie Sparer Roberts.
• With: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Shakira, Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Nate Torrence, Jenny Slate, Tommy Chong, Octavia Spencer, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake,Alan Tudyk, Tommy “Tiny” Lister, Raymond Persi, Katie Lowes, Jesse Corti, John DiMaggio.

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Common Sense Media Review

Charming buddy-animal story promotes teamwork, perseverance.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Zootopia is a clever, fast-paced animated Disney film set in a world of walking, talking, clothed animals that live peacefully together, having supposedly evolved past nature's rules of predator versus prey. The story about eager young cop Judy Hopps' (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin)…

Why Age 8+?

Several scenes of danger, peril, and tension. Predators "go savage" and try to a

Fairly frequent use of insults/rude words like "dumb," "jerk," "crazy," "loser,"

Gazelle the singer wears glittery, "sexy" clothes; she and her tiger dancers dan

Real-world brand names get a Zootopia spin (like Zuber instead of Uber or ZNN in

Any Positive Content?

Follow your dreams; anyone can do/be anything if they work hard enough and belie

Judy is clever and determined, as well as an optimistic dreamer. At first her na

Kids learn about the difference between predator and prey animals and stereotype

Zootopia means well, and some representations, such as having Judy as a determin

Violence & Scariness

Several scenes of danger, peril, and tension. Predators "go savage" and try to attack other animals, including an intense chase scene involving the main characters and an out-of-control jaguar. Jump-scare moment when a "wild" animal being held captive leaps angrily in his cell, scaring Nick and Judy. Another upsetting scene when it seems a friend has turned on someone he cares about. Creepy moments in dark places (car lot, buildings) as characters investigate a missing mammal case. Chases and fighting (including on a moving train). Explosion/crash. Mobster has Nick and Judy kidnapped and threatens to "ice" them (drown them in frozen water), but he doesn't go through with it. Antagonists with dart guns get ready to shoot Nick and Judy. A young fox bullies a young bunny, shoving her and clawing her across the cheek; in another sad scene, a young fox is bullied by those he thought were friends. Some of the large animals/predators are intimidating.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Fairly frequent use of insults/rude words like "dumb," "jerk," "crazy," "loser," "stupid," "moron," "butt," "shut up," "oh my God," etc.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Gazelle the singer wears glittery, "sexy" clothes; she and her tiger dancers dance somewhat suggestively. A "naturalist" club is a place for animals who are "nudists" to commune together without clothes (Judy is shocked, but human viewers won't be, as that's how we see animals all the time).

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Real-world brand names get a Zootopia spin (like Zuber instead of Uber or ZNN instead of CNN). Many offline product tie-ins, from toys to books, games, and more.

Positive Messages

Follow your dreams; anyone can do/be anything if they work hard enough and believe in themselves. Individuals from different (even traditionally opposed) backgrounds can form powerful alliances if they look beyond those differences. Clearly urges viewers to look beyond stereotypes and assumptions to the individuals behind them, but when it tries to tackle racism using an animal metaphor, it sends conflicting messages (see Diverse Representations for more). Promotes empathy, courage, perseverance, and teamwork.

Positive Role Models

Judy is clever and determined, as well as an optimistic dreamer. At first her naivete causes harm to others, but through humility and perseverance, she becomes more well-rounded. Nick starts out as an unrepentant scam artist, but his friendship with Judy shows him that he can be more than the stereotypically shifty fox, just as Judy decided to be more than a carrot-growing bunny. Characters in positions of power turn out to be less than trustworthy, but they face consequences and learn lessons.

Educational Value

Kids learn about the difference between predator and prey animals and stereotypes about certain animals (e.g., that bunnies are dumb and foxes, wily). Kids also learn importance of seeing beyond the superficial to what an individual is really like.

Diverse Representations

Zootopia means well, and some representations, such as having Judy as a determined female lead or Shakira voicing the flawless diva Gazelle, generally succeed. Voice actors of color in supporting roles include Idris Elba, Octavia Spencer, and Tommy Chong. But when the film tries to tackle racism using an animal metaphor, it sends conflicting messages: It repeatedly says stereotypes are bad but then proceeds to show predators who live up to their stereotypes of being vicious -- a trait that's "based on biology," as Judy says. The movie then contorts itself trying to show how Judy was wrong, but reinforces ethnic stereotypes at the same time: An Indian elephant is a yoga instructor, Italian mice are mobsters, etc. References to Blackness are mishandled. In one scene, Nick digs his hand into a sheep's Afro-like hair as Judy says, "You can't just touch a sheep's wool. " The invasive act feels uncomfortable to watch because it's modeled by a main character and treated as a joke by the script. And one of the film's most frightening characters is a black jaguar that's "gone savage" -- he's large, muscled, violent. Fatphobic portrayal of Officer Clawhauser, who's always snacking and drinking soda. Commentary on policing and sexism, as Judy strives to be the best police officer she can be in a male-dominated workplace, only further cements that Zootopia bites off more than it (and its nearly all-White filmmakers and voice actors) could chew.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Parents need to know that Zootopia is a clever, fast-paced animated Disney film set in a world of walking, talking, clothed animals that live peacefully together, having supposedly evolved past nature's rules of predator versus prey. The story about eager young cop Judy Hopps' (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin ) investigation involves chase scenes (one is prolonged and particularly intense) and jump-scare predator attacks, as well as an explosive crash, sneaking around in dark rooms, allusions to mob activity, kidnapping, threatened torture (a crime boss wants to "ice" key characters -- i.e., throw them in frozen water to drown), and bullying. No one is seriously hurt, but there are times when it seems that they have been or will be. Expect regular use of insult language like "stupid," "jerk," "dumb," "butt," etc., humor related to "naturalist" animals who choose not to wear clothes, and some sexy, sparkly ensembles worn by pop star Gazelle ( Shakira ). There are a lot of jokes for adults that will go way over kids' heads (references to The Godfather , the DMV, and Breaking Bad , for instance), and the film's attempts to reference real-world prejudice and racism falter. But there's plenty for younger audiences to laugh at, and it all comes wrapped in positive (if imperfect) messages about courage, empathy, tolerance, and teamwork. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say (190)
• Kids say (316)

Based on 190 parent reviews

Not for little kids

I love this movie, what's the story.

ZOOTOPIA is set in a world where walking, talking, "civilized" animals live in general harmony with one another, regardless of whether they're predator or prey. When small-town rabbit Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin ) achieves her childhood dream of becoming the first rabbit to join the Zootopia Police Department, Chief of Police Bogo ( Idris Elba ) initially relegates her to a safe but boring parking-duty assignment. Meanwhile, the rest of the ZPD is busy investigating 14 missing-mammal cases -- all predators. One day on the job, Judy encounters sly fox Nick Wilde ( Jason Bateman ), who cheerfully hustles her. But she ends up hustling him right back after promising a worried otter that she'll find her missing husband: With only 48 hours to crack the case if she wants to keep her badge, Judy realizes her best bet is to enlist Nick -- who has plenty of connections -- to help her figure out who's behind the predator kidnappings that are threatening Zootopia's peace.

Is It Any Good?

Clever and heartwarming, this animated adventure is equal parts buddy-cop comedy, fish-out-of-water tale, and whodunit mystery. With its vibrant visuals and simple but evocative storyline, Zootopia is a talking-animal pic worth watching with the whole family. Judy and Nick's repartee is reminiscent of classic screwball comedies, and the plot's twists are a throwback to noir films in which the culprit is never who you think. Although the trailer gives away one of the movie's funniest scenes -- when Judy and Nick go into a DMV run entirely by sloths moving slower than molasses -- there are plenty more laughs and memorable bits to make both kids and grown-ups laugh.

And the voice casting is spot on: Goodwin is wonderful as the constantly energetic, optimistic Judy -- who may have gotten into the police academy thanks to the mayor's "mammal inclusion program" but who goes on to prove that even a cute bunny has what it takes to take down bad guys -- while Bateman has the ideal cynical voice to portray the hilariously jaded Nick, who's a fast-talking charmer with a knack for knowing everything he can about Zootopia's movers and shakers. Elba's robust baritone is perfectly paired with the brusque water buffalo police chief. Other supporting characters include veteran voice actor Maurice LaMarche doing an excellent Marlon Brando impression to play tuxedoed crime boss Mr. Big, and Tommy Chong as a "naturalist" life coach yak. And then there's Shakira 's pop star Gazelle, who sings a catchy theme song that captures the spirit of the movie: "Try Everything." In other words, be who you want to be, not who others expect you to be.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about Zootopia 's messages. How well does it deliver its commentary on stereotypes ? What characters defy them, and are there any characters that still fall into stereotypes?

Do you think Judy is a positive role model? How does she demonstrate courage , perseverance , and empathy ? Why are those important character strengths ? What about Nick? Why is their teamwork unique?

Do you agree with Nick when he says that "you can only be what you are -- sly fox, dumb bunny"? How does his opinion change over the course of the movie? How do he and Judy change the way the other thinks?

How does the movie address bullying ? How did being bullied when they were little affect both Judy and Nick? How did they react to it? What does Judy find out about her bully later on, and what can we learn from that?

Do you think it's OK for movies aimed at kids to include humor that only adults will understand? Does it matter if the jokes are racy rather than just referencing things kids aren't familiar with?

Movie Details

• In theaters : March 4, 2016
• On DVD or streaming : June 7, 2016
• Cast : Ginnifer Goodwin , Jason Bateman , Jenny Slate , Idris Elba
• Directors : Byron Howard , Rich Moore , Jared Bush
• Inclusion Information : Gay directors, Female actors, Black actors
• Studio : Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
• Genre : Family and Kids
• Topics : Friendship , Great Girl Role Models , Wild Animals
• Character Strengths : Courage , Empathy , Perseverance , Teamwork
• Run time : 108 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : some thematic elements, rude humor and action
• Awards : Academy Award , Common Sense Media Award , Common Sense Selection , BAFTA - BAFTA Winner , Golden Globe - Golden Globe Award Winner
• Last updated : June 20, 2024

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Review: ‘Zootopia’ is quite simply a beastly good time at the movies

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Bursting with a rich blend of timely themes, superb voice work, wonderful visuals and laugh-out-loud wit, Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia” is quite simply a great time at the movies.

At its heart, the film is a classic oil-and-water buddy comedy but set against a unique, animals-only fantasy world where predator and prey live in harmony. Still, this diverse array of anthropomorphic creatures — they walk, talk, dress and essentially think like humans — must work against their species’ inherent stereotypes and others’ expectations of them. That the animals largely have jobs that match their customary traits proves one of the narrative’s most fertile conceits.

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The movie’s endearing heroine is Judy Hopps (deftly voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin), an energized bunny with 275 siblings and a lifelong dream to become a cop, an ambition she fulfills when she leaves her devoted parents (Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake) and the family carrot farm to join the Zootopia Police Department.

Once in the big city, however, the diminutive Judy is overshadowed by her towering fellow cops — rhinos, elephants, hippos and so on — and summarily dismissed by Police Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), a surly cape buffalo who assigns Judy meter-maid duty instead of allowing her to assist in the investigation of a rash of missing mammals.

That is, until the resourceful Judy gets a lead in the case of a vanished otter whose worried wife (Octavia Spencer) is pleading for his safe return. Against his better judgment, the chief gives Judy 48 hours to solve the crime — or face being fired.

Then there’s Nick Wilde (a perfectly cast Jason Bateman), a con man of a fox (a con fox?) who infuriates Judy when she falls for one of his street scams. Judy, in turn, shrewdly hustles Nick, boxing him into helping her find the otter, setting these natural enemies in a race against time and each other.

What follows is an imaginative, well-plotted, fast-paced search for clues that takes Judy and Nick all over Zootopia, where they encounter a menagerie of vivid, at times intriguingly shady characters. These include the city’s blustery lion of a mayor (J.K. Simmons), his sheepish sheep of an assistant mayor (Jenny Slate), a Don Corleone-like Arctic shrew (Maurice LaMarche) with polar bear henchmen, a super-mellow yak (Tommy Chong) and a crooked weasel (Alan Tudyk).

A purposefully prolonged set piece that finds Judy and Nick at the local Department of Motor Vehicles is the picture’s highlight and a comic gem. In a genius lampoon of this government agency’s reputation for sluggish service, the office is run entirely by sloths, who move and talk so slowly the time’s-a-wastin’ Judy nearly jumps out of her bunny skin.

En route, Judy and Nick of course bond as they begin to respect each other’s stereotype-breaking strengths and emotional cores. This dynamic proves particularly instructive within Zootopia, where 90% of its population is considered “prey” and only 10% “predators.” In looking humorously — and also sensitively — at the pitfalls of bias and fear-mongering, the terrific script by Jared Bush and Phil Johnston offers a host of essential lessons for our fractious times. If the film’s messages occasionally lack subtext, so be it: perhaps better to sink in with younger viewers.

Visually, the movie, directed by Byron Howard (“Bolt,” “Tangled”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph”), is an inventive, eye-filling feast of color, design and detail. The rendering of the eclectic cast of animals, including mice, giraffes, jaguars, a particularly elastic cheetah (Nate Torrence) and a pop star named Gazelle (Shakira, performing the film’s memorable theme song, “Try Everything”), is delightfully vivid.

Perhaps even more impressive is the artistry employed to create the city of Zootopia itself, with its range of districts — habitats, really — scaled and climate-adjusted to accommodate each area’s distinct residents (Little Rodentia is a hoot). The downtown “hub” is a dazzling combo of Oz and the Las Vegas Strip. Big kudos go to production designer David Goetz for his gorgeous, whimsical, decidedly brainy feat of what-if urban planning.

It’s going to take a lot to beat “Zootopia” for this year’s animated film Oscar.

---------------------------

MPAA Rating: PG, for some thematic elements, rude humor and action

Running time: 1 hour, 48 minutes

Playing: In general release

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Zootopia review: This is the best animated kids movie about prejudice and police brutality ever

It’s also the only one — but it’s surprisingly deft in discussing the topic.

by Emily St. James

In this time of strain and terror, Zootopia is the movie you need.

It's goofy and joyful. It has an actual message that it's not shy about expressing directly, one that's filled with depth beyond "be nice to each other." And its screenplay is surprisingly clever on a structural level, reaching what feels like a conclusion and then blowing right past it to make a more nuanced point.

In many ways, Zootopia feels like the film Walt Disney Animation has been working toward for five or six movies now, since Bolt all the way back in 2008. It builds on the wild comedy of Wreck-It Ralph and the subtle, feminist positivity of Frozen in impressive ways — and it even finds a way to make its political message align with its crazy gags.

Okay, it doesn’t have any songs as earworm-y as “Let It Go” — but for beleaguered parents, that might be a blessing in disguise.

Here are five reasons you should check it out this weekend, maybe even if you don’t have kids.

1) It’s a surprisingly good police procedural

At its core, Zootopia is a crime story. It’s about 14 different animals who have gone missing in the film’s title city — and Judy Hopps, the optimistic young rabbit (the first of her species on the police force) who tries to find just one of them and ends up stumbling upon a conspiracy larger than she can imagine.

Yes, you have seen this story before — it’s basically the plot of the classic detective drama Chinatown , but it shares certain elements with many other films, too — and there are a few instances where the right clue too conveniently falls into Hopps’s lap.

But Zootopia still succeeds as a child’s first introduction to detective fiction. Hopps follows clue after clue, drawing little connections here and there, and when she’s truly stymied, she can turn to her best source — and eventual ad hoc partner — a con man fox named Nick Wilde.

2) The voice casting is spot-on

Ginnifer Goodwin has long been one of Hollywood’s most underappreciated actresses. She’s probably best known for the ABC drama Once Upon a Time , which only occasionally gives her material worthy of her talents; outside of that, she’s been fantastic in a wide variety of projects — most notably Big Love and Ed .

She’s terrific as Hopps, too, and it turns out that voice acting is something she’s well-suited to. When the rabbit has a couple of late-film revelations that force her to confront some deeply ugly things about herself, Goodwin makes those moments land with a ton of emotional force.

She’s joined by Jason Bateman as Wilde, and the dryly comic actor is a great match for a guy who will do anything to make a buck. J.K. Simmons , Jenny Slate , Octavia Spencer , and even pop star Shakira also contribute excellent work; the only bum note is Idris Elba as the police chief, who forces the gruffness a bit too much.

3) The world is filled with terrific details

The hallmark of productions from Disney Animation (as well as its sister studio, Pixar ) is the level of detail that goes into what ends up onscreen. Wreck-It Ralph bustled with video game in-jokes, while Big Hero 6 created a kind of urban, utopian setting for its action-packed story.

Zootopia hails from Wreck-It Ralph director Rich Moore and Tangled co-director Byron Howard , and together the two have come up with a world that surpasses the usual “animals doing people things” construct common to kids comedies about worlds filled with anthropomorphism.

Yes, some of it involves silly puns or pop culture references. But there’s also the way that all of Zootopia must find ways to accommodate giraffes’ long necks, and the tiny little doors on trains that let mice in and out, and the Habitrails running through a little hamster city. This is a fun movie to just look at.

4) The story’s structure is surprisingly unconventional

There’s a point in Zootopia where you’ll think to yourself, “Huh. Seems like things are wrapping up.” And for all intents and purposes, it’s the point where the story effectively concludes. It could be an ending — though it wouldn’t be a very good one.

Thankfully, viewers still have the entire third act to go. The screenplay (credited to Jared Bush and Phil Johnston , but with Moore, Howard, and Jennifer Lee receiving “story” credits) isn’t interested in when Zootopia ’s plot wraps up. It’s interested in when Hopps’s journey ends — when she finally learns the lessons she’s supposed to learn that will help her be a better rabbit. (Early on, the film takes a good long while setting up the character, so we know exactly why she is the way she is.)

This sort of thing — focus on when a character’s arc is done instead of when the plot itself is over; make sure we understand a character’s motivations — is supposed to be screenwriting 101, the basic blueprint for a typical blockbuster. But too many big-budget films forget all about that blueprint nowadays. Zootopia is a reminder of how refreshing and even surprising it can feel when it’s done well.

5) The movie’s message — about prejudice and police brutality — is layered and well-delivered

I’ll have more about this after the film is released, but Zootopia is the best animated kids comedy about prejudice and the roots of police brutality ever made. Granted, that description pretty much only fits Zootopia , but it’s still surprising to see how well the movie pulls it off.

Simply put, Zootopia is about what it means to be suspicious of somebody else, simply because of who they are. And by situating that story among animals — who already have natural, antagonistic predator-prey relationships — it can explore that dynamic without feeling preachy.

Not every aspect of Zootopia is successful. For one thing, many of the gags in a movie about how stereotypes aren’t great are based on the most clichéd animal jokes you can think of. (Weasels are sneaky, sloths are slow, etc.) But the film is surprisingly forthright about how everyone has prejudices they should make an effort to combat — and that’s particularly true of those in positions of authority.

Kids movies don’t always swing this hard, and when they do, they often miss. That Zootopia connects doesn’t just make it a good time at the movies — it makes the film feel utterly of the moment.

Zootopia airs early screenings on the evening of Thursday, March 3. It opens everywhere Friday, March 4.

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Zootopia+ Review: A Wonderful Step Back into Disney’s Animal Metropolis

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The most beloved characters from the land of Zootopia are back. The all-new series is the perfect extension of the original Zootopia film, with the same humor and visually superb animation. Zootopia+ is a hilarious and delightful series of shorts that’s easily enjoyable for both adults and children alike. Revolving around songs and spoofs , such as The Real Housewives and The Godfather , Zootopia+ leaves no story untold. Each episode directly connects to the 2016 film, showing what happened when the camera cuts away from certain characters, while also exploring different genres.

Spoiler Warning

Welcome Back to Zootopia

Zootopia+ heads back to the fast-paced mammal metropolis of Zootopia in a short-form series that dives deeper into the lives of some of the feature film’s most intriguing residents, including Fru Fru, the fashion-forward arctic shrew; ZPD dispatcher Clawhauser, the sweet-toothed cheetah; and Flash, the smiling sloth who’s full of surprises. In the first episode Hopp on Board , Bonnie (Bonnie Hunt) & Stu Hopps (Don Lake) say their goodbyes to their daughter Judy (Ginnifer Goodwin). She boards the train from Bunny Burrow to Zootopia to begin her life as the big city's first bunny cop. Meanwhile, their youngest daughter, Molly, hitches a ride atop the train. Now the carrot-farming country couple is forced into an action-packed rescue mission to save Molly.

In The Real Rodents of Little Rodentia , newly engaged Fru Fru (Leah Latham) kicks off her wedding planning with enthusiasm and flourish. Unexpectedly, her scene-stealing cousin Tru Tru (Michelle Buteau) arrives to assume the role of Shrew of Honor. A battle for the spotlight ensues until a close call with a giant donut reveals that for better or worse, no one knows you better than family.

Appearing as one of the original film’s antagonists, Duke finally hits the spotlight. After being wrangled and arrested in a giant donut (compliments of Officer Judy Hopps), clever criminal weasel Duke (Alan Tudyk) reevaluates his life. He ponders where he went wrong staged in his own mind in Duke the Musical . In a musical aptly staged in his own mind, Duke contemplates how to go from a small-time crook to the big-time.

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Making audiences an offer they can’t refuse, The Godfather of the Bride will tie in directly with the Fru Fru’s wedding. The episode is a touching tale about the powerful arctic shrew known as Mr. Big (Maurice LaMarche). Revisiting Fru Fru's big wedding day, he delivers a revelatory father-of-the-bride speech, taking guests back in time to his days as Mr. Small, a new immigrant to Zootopia alongside his beloved mother. He imparts the wisdom he gained then about the importance of friends, family, and community.

During the episode of So You Think You Can Prance , ZPD dispatcher Clawhauser (Nate Torrence) persuades his boss, Chief Bogo (Idris Elba), to audition for So You Think You Can Prance. Taking center stage and showing off his moves, both characters try to out-dance their competitors. The stakes are high as the ultimate prize is a dream-come-true opportunity to dance on stage with megastar pop sensation Gazelle (Allison Strong).

In Dinner Rush , viewers will meet Sam (Charlotte Nicdao), a super server who urgently tries to finish her restaurant shift to make a once-in-a-lifetime Gazelle concert. The final episode will reintroduce the slow-moving sloths, Flash (Raymond S. Persi) and Priscilla (Kristen Bell), as they hit the town for a late dinner. Much to the dismay of their server Sam, the duo shows up right before closing and move through their dining experience at a glacial pace.

Zootopia+ Needs More Love

When Zootopia was released back in March 2016, it proved to be a smash-hit film for Disney . Not only did Zootopia gross more than a $1 billion at the worldwide box office, but it earned rave reviews and even picked up the Best Animated Feature at the Oscars. Zootopia+ does show more of the world of Zootopia that viewers weren’t aware of before, following through on all the memorable characters introduced in the 2016 film. With each episode roughly having only an average of 7-minute runtimes, the series has so much more potential to be more entertaining for viewers with an increased number of episodes. While there hasn’t been much confirmation on a movie sequel , for now, fans can dive back into the gloriously colorful and eclectic world of Zootopia.

All six episodes of Zootopia+ will be available for streaming on November 9th exclusively on Disney+. The series will also be known as Zootropolis+ in some countries, such as the United Kingdom, due to a legal issue over the name “Zootopia”.

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The brilliantly well-rounded Zootopia offers a thoughtful, inclusive message that's as rich and timely as its sumptuously state-of-the-art animation -- all while remaining fast and funny enough to keep younger viewers entertained.

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