Zootopia

Geeks! Salutations from the Big Boss! Here at FTBD we strive to provide you with the geeky excellence that your hearts so eagerly desires. From comics to classics and from Marvel to Disney, our goal is to geek out unabashedly about the things we love. Today is no different. I got a chance to let out my inner 5-year-old the other day in all his paper-plane-making, lunchbox-hustling, trouble-making glory by watching Disney’s latest animation effort, Zootopia, starring Jennifer Goodwin & Jason Bateman.

From the largest elephant to the smallest shrew, the city of Zootopia is a mammal metropolis where various animals live and thrive. When Judy Hopps becomes the first rabbit to join the police force, she quickly learns how tough it is to enforce the law. Determined to prove herself, Judy jumps at the opportunity to solve a mysterious case. Unfortunately, that means working with Nick Wilde, a wily fox who makes her job even harder. (IMDB.com)

What makes Zootopia such a spectacular film is its poignant relevance to the day and age we live in. In an hour and a half, the film manages to keep you entertained and intrigued while also diving into a diverse array of topics that really snag the audiences’ attention. Bullying, Police Brutality/Negligence, racism/prejudice, and racial/gender equality are all fundamentally explored in this movie that shows audiences a world that on the surface may seem fine but underneath needs and deserves change.

Using the backdrop of a kid friendly buddy cop film, Disney explores the racial and gender hurdles still in place in what’s supposed to be a more civilized world. Judy Hopps, being the first Rabbit Cop beautifully showcase a breaking of barriers through her determination that I think is so important for children to see. It’s an optimistic tenacity that isn’t blindly placed in the place she lives but instead is invested in her own ability to get better at her own abilities. Her moving to the big city opens her eyes to some of the things she never realized was a problem. Being in this new world she works twice as hard to prove her value to her fellow officers. Even though there’s still so much to learn, Judy still develops into an amazing character in the film and gives way to some really hard-hitting “aha!” moments.

Judy Hopps: Wait, listen! I know you’ll never forgive me. And I don’t blame you. I wouldn’t forgive me either. I was ignorant and irresponsible and small-minded. But predators shouldn’t suffer because of my mistakes.

It’s always great watching a film and seeing real character development. Watching a character pierce the veil on a greater truth is rewarding in the fact that you as an audience member can witness and absorb the insight being showcased. There are moments like that in Zootopia where we witness the bright-eyed optimism of Judy mature into something that is ultimately rewarding both her and audiences with a wisdom that makes change.

Judy Hopps: I came here to make the world a better place, but I think I broke it.

Chief Bogo: The world has always been broken. That’s why we need good cops.

Nick Wilde is a character that has to grow from the defensive loaner that believes in the inevitable prejudices of all people to understanding that He can be anything that he wants to be in the world that he lives in despite the haters. It’s a beautiful process of self-awareness and elevation against all odds that makes him my favorite character in the movie. His struggle is really just a matter of opening up to someone who he can trust to not look at him as “just another predator”

Nick Wilde: Are you afraid of me? You think I might go nuts? That I’ll go savage? That I might

[jumps forward]

Nick Wilde: eat you!

Judy Hopps: [Judy jumps back and puts hand over Fox Spray]

Nick Wilde: Just when I thought someone actually believed in me…

It’s interesting journey that Nick takes trying first to get the evidence on him removed but then to seeing the commonalities that he and Judy share, to finally going to back to fulfill his original aspirations.

The symbolism in this film is beautifully crafted and there’s just as much in it for adults as there is for kids. The way the villains are depicted in this film is nothing short of brilliant. This is something you have to see to understand. So for this film, I highly recommend that you go see it and view as a family. Disney has really outdone their previous works with this animation, and have proven that they are the force to be reckoned with.