Whenever a new Disney movie comes out (or any animated movie for that matter), it is practically a given that I will be there on opening weekend, tissues in hand (I’m an unapologetic crier for kids' movies and kids' movies only). Long before the movie releases, I’ve typically watched every preview and absorbed every scrap of promotional material I can in my childish excitement. But for some reason, nothing about "Zootopia" initially caught my interest. Talking animals finally sort out their differences, get jobs and act as functioning members of society, creating a unique backdrop for what is essentially a buddy cop comedy. It’s a cute premise, sure, but I thought it would be little more than a funny, kid-friendly movie with lots of animal jokes.
Little did I know that I was in for the hare-raising experience of a lifetime.
Bad puns aside, "Zootopia" shocked and thrilled me in every way possible. Disney continues to astound with its beautiful animation and meticulous attention to detail, the soundtrack is catchy without being overbearing (Gazelle Shakira, anyone?), and both children and adults alike will appreciate the jokes. But overall, what makes "Zootopia" so great is that it is so much more than just cute talking animals. At its core, it is an allegory for racial tensions in modern day America, with an all too timely message about overcoming internal prejudices and embracing multiculturalism.
Judy Hopps is a young rabbit who grew up in a small town with the dream of becoming the first bunny police officer. She receives absolutely no support from her friends and family, and is told she’ll never succeed because no one around her did. Already, this puts her in the shoes of a minority, and reflects the struggles of women entering male-dominated spheres. Even when she overcomes all odds and works harder than anyone else and achieves her goal, it isn’t enough to earn her proper recognition. She is undermined, not viewed as a “real cop," and stationed as a meter maid in the heart of the city. This is an incredibly scalding, yet realistic depiction of what happens in real life. As “sly fox” Nick Wilde states himself upon his first spat with Judy: “Everyone comes to Zootopia thinking they could be anything they want. But you can't. You can only be what you are. Sly fox. Dumb bunny.”
Even Judy, despite her forward thinking and altruistic attitude, is guilty of holding onto these prejudices. She is naturally inclined to think ill of foxes, and when she first spots Nick, she assumes he is up to no good simply because of his species. Nevertheless, after she goes out of her way to help him, she proudly proclaims: “It burns me up to see folks with such backwards attitudes toward foxes!” But it’s important to note she still has that attitude, even if unintentionally. Does this make her a bad and horrible person (bunny)? No, it does not. She is trying to do the right thing while simultaneously harboring some of the prejudice ingrained into her from society. It’s an incredibly smart commentary on racism and gets the audience to rethink their own personal prejudices towards others.
What I found most interesting, though, is that despite Judy’s obvious role as underdog, (Underbunny? This is getting complicated) the prey aren’t the real victims in the movie. In fact, the true minority in "Zootopia" are the predators, who, we are told, only make up about 10 percent of the population. Despite the fact that the predators are shown in positions of power, (the mayor is a lion, after all) the prey are actually the ones pulling the strings and manipulating them behind the scenes. What this results in is a lot more than a children’s movie or even a buddy cop comedy, but more of a Noir movie, delivering the message that the people we think are in power are actually being bought by people with even more power. Honestly, the amount of heavy material this movie covers is bizarre to say the least, but it works, especially in a time when the election is so close.
"Zootopia" is a film with a lot to say. It’s chock-full of metaphors and messages, even in its humor. (A scene at the DMV run completely by sloths was actually one of the funniest scenes ever.) Kids will love it, and adults will be surprised at the incredibly well thought out and timely allegory to our own society. It’s obvious that Zootopia is meant to be America -- a place where everyone can come be equal and achieve anything they want. But the ability to do this is marred by racial tensions and a strife-filled history of the majority oppressing the minority, even in modern day society. Change won’t happen overnight. But as Judy Hopps herself says, “Life's a little bit messy. We all make mistakes. No matter what type of animal you are, change starts with you. It starts with me. It starts with all of us.”
