'Zootopia' Review- Sometimes Called Zoomania
This movie was released in 2016.
Directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore, Zootopia is a new animated feature from Walt Disney Pictures. It’s been reported that it has received an Academy Award, Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Movie Award, and an Annie Award.
Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) is the first rabbit to ever graduate from the police academy. She transfers from her small, country town to the big city of Zootopia, where predators and prey live together in harmony. The police officers treat her, especially Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) treat her as a weakling and make her a meter-maid. However, while pursuing a con artist fox named Nick (Jason Bateman), she accidentally discovers a conspiracy that will shake the very foundations of Zootopia and the animal kingdom.
Besides who I mentioned above, this movie has an ensemble cast of voice actors including Jenny Slate, Nate Torrence, Bonnie Hunt, Don Lake, Tommy Chong, J. K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Alan Tudyk, and Shakira, just to name a few.
The talent is immense and it really helps to flesh out the story. Everyone does a fantastic job in their respective roles which helps the plot feel very real with how they perform.
As for the CGI animation, it is too-notch and the animals come to life. The scenery and the character designs are all exceptional, giving the viewer a very pleasant experience. A lot of CGI animation has become lazy, but it is pretty well done for this particular flick.
Now to the message. I did find it a bit lacking. While Judy is a very likable and enjoyable character, as a cop, she is the one you do not respect. She bends the rules to get her way and often comes across as balancing on a line. The movie also tries to present a world where, despite obvious differences, everyone is the same with nothing unique about them. This might go over a younger viewer’s head, but it was not lost on me.
Our individual lives, skills, or backgrounds make us who we are. I wish Disney would explore these themes as they used to and not just placate in favor of a quasi-collectivist message.
While it has some material that might go over kids’ heads, along with some dark scenes and violence, it is no worse than some earlier Disney films. The visual effects, the story, and the voice cast are all amazing.
Bottom line, Zootopia is one of the best non-princess animated films to come out of Disney in a long time. The message is a bit lacking, but it is still a solid kid’s movie.
FAVORITE QUOTE: Life’s a little bit messy. We all make mistakes. No matter what type of animal you are, change starts with you.
PARENTAL CONCERNS: Violence, Scary images
Check out the trailer below:
What do you think? Let me know in the comments below. Tell me if there is a comic book, anime, movie, or novel you would like me to review.