zootopia book review

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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.

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Zootopia (2016)

Rated G for some thematic elements, rude humor and action.

108 minutes

Ginnifer Goodwin as Lieutenant Judy Hopps (voice)

Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde (voice)

Shakira as Gazelle (voice)

Idris Elba as Chief Bogo (voice)

Octavia Spencer as Mrs. Otterson (voice)

J.K. Simmons as Mayor Lionheart (voice)

Alan Tudyk as Duke Weaselton (voice)

Jenny Slate as Bellwether (voice)

Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Hopps (voice)

Tommy Lister as Finnick (voice)

Tommy Chong as Yax (voice)

Kristen Bell as Priscilla (voice)

Katie Lowes as Dr. Madge Honey Badger (voice)

Josh Dallas as Frantic Pig (voice)

John DiMaggio as Jerry Jumbeaux Jr. (voice)

Nate Torrence as Officer Clawhauser (voice)

Maurice LaMarche as Mr. Big (voice)

Kath Soucie as Young Nick Wilde (voice)

Mark Smith as Officer McHorn (voice)

• Byron Howard

Co-Director

• Phil Johnston

Writer (story)

• Jennifer Lee
• Jim Reardon

Writer (head of story)

• Josie Trinidad

Writer (additional story material)

• Dan Fogelman

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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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Review: In ‘Zootopia,’ an Intrepid Bunny Chases Her Dreams

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By Neil Genzlinger

• March 3, 2016

Easter is still weeks away, but pet stores may find that the added demand for rabbits the holiday brings will come early this year thanks to the irresistible “ Zootopia ,” an animated movie with an intrepid bunny named Judy Hopps at its core. Her fox sidekick, Nick Wilde, is mighty enjoyable, too.

This film, action-packed and filled with enough savvy jokes that adults should consider slipping into the theater even if they don’t have an accompanying child, is set in a world where animals have transcended the carnivore-and-prey dichotomy and now live together more or less harmoniously.

Judy (the voice of Ginnifer Goodwin of “Once Upon a Time”), a country bunny, wants to become the first rabbit police officer in the bustling metropolis of Zootopia, but her parents are not exactly the follow-your-dreams type.

“If you don’t try anything new, you’ll never fail,” her father (Don Lake) tells her. It’s a gag that encapsulates one of the best things about this film: It trusts young viewers to recognize the clichés they’ve been fed by other animated movies over the years and to appreciate seeing them subverted.

Judy graduates from the police academy and ends up on the force in Zootopia, but her boss (Idris Elba) relegates her to parking-ticket duty while more experienced officers investigate 14 missing-mammal cases. While obsessively writing tickets, Judy meets Nick (Jason Bateman), a world-weary hustler who slowly becomes her friend and adviser as she pokes her nose into the missing-mammal epidemic despite her boss’s resistance.

If you’ve seen the trailer for this delightful movie you’ve already had a taste of what might be the greatest takedown of bureaucratic ineptitude ever filmed. It involves a trip by Judy and Nick to the Department of Motor Vehicles, with its all-sloth staff. In the context of children’s movies, it’s a fairly daring scene, since in an otherwise fast-moving story the joke takes a loooong time to roll out. But it sure is worth it.

Anyway, Judy learns some hard truths as she delves deeper into the mystery, and young viewers will, too. Chief among those is one adults know well: Being civilized doesn’t mean tension and ugly thoughts disappear. Also, bringing about positive change isn’t as easy as it seems.

“I came here to make the world a better place,” Judy laments after her good intentions backfire, “but I think I broke it.”

Funny, smart, thought-provoking — and musical, too. Shakira provides the voice of a pop star named Gazelle, and her vocals complete the package appealingly.

“Zootopia” is rated PG (Parental guidance suggested) for gently rude humor and occasional scariness. Running time: 1 hour 48 minutes.

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'zootopia': a nimble tale of animal instincts and smart bunnies.

Andrew Lapin

Zootopia's first bunny officer Judy Hopps finds herself face to face with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox in Zootopia . Featuring the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy and Jason Bateman as Nick. Courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios hide caption

Zootopia's first bunny officer Judy Hopps finds herself face to face with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox in Zootopia . Featuring the voices of Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy and Jason Bateman as Nick.

The wild and furry landscape of Zootopia , Disney's new self-contained world of talking animals, is a remarkable place. In this land, mammals have evolved beyond their traditional predator/prey relationship to form a fully functioning society. Their capital city, Zootropolis, is an intricate network of a dozen ecosystems, from a rainforest to a frozen tundra, and residents of all sizes and species are integrated into daily life. This, as our intrepid bunny hero Officer Judy Hopps constantly asserts, is a place "where anyone can be anything."

And Zootopia is a movie that can be anything, whether that's a succession of adorable rabbit jokes, a buddy-cop (bunny-cop?) flick for the tots, or—this is the big surprise—a remarkably prescient allegory of our time that comments on prejudice, urbanism, tokenism, politics and the role of the police in today's society. It's got the cuteness and childlike creativity you expect from Disney, while the story has some real bite for the adults. And if you needed more convincing, Shakira voices a Shakira-like pop star named "Gazelle," who is a gazelle, and whose backup dancers are shirtless tigers.

Even with three directors and more "screenplay" and "story" credits than you can shake a carrot at, the film doesn't feel cobbled together from spare parts. Instead, it tells a clear and engaging narrative about Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), an idealistic but naive newcomer to Zootropolis who fulfills a lifelong dream to become the first "bunny officer" on the police force. Leaving behind her mom, dad and 275 brothers and sisters in Bunny Borough, Hopps arrives in town with open arms, but receives only big-city dream busting: a bullheaded police chief (Idris Elba, as an actual bull) who has her write parking tickets all day; unconscious bigotry from co-workers who demean her as "cute"; and the run-around from a con artist fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), whose schemes remain one step ahead of the law.

But Hopps stamps her feet and declares, "I'm not just a token bunny," and suddenly we see the true promise of Zootopia . It may be approximately the 321st Disney movie about talking animals, but the film is exhilaratingly fresh: an irreverent product of our current era and an unmistakable satire of race relations. Dig the way Hopps condescends to her new fox friend by calling him "articulate," or the speculation that the mayor of Zootropolis (a lion voiced, naturally, by J.K. Simmons) hired a woolly assistant because he "needed the sheep vote." Over the course of investigating a missing otter, Hopps and Wilde—at first a reluctant partner, but later revealing a softer side—uncover a vast government conspiracy to pit predator against prey once more, by using the tried-and-true weapon of prejudice. Years of harmony between rival species are suddenly under threat, thanks to rushed assumptions about "biology."

This makes the film sound about as heavy as an elephant-sized popsicle, which couldn't be further from the truth. Zootopia nimbly turns its subject matter into a great deal of fun, with riffs about animal "nudists" and a goofy Godfather parody featuring a Marlon Brando shrew. The colors are bright, the animation is crisp and the design elements of Zootropolis itself are clever and future-perfect, everything we wanted from that other recent big-budget attempted Disney utopia, Tomorrowland .

It wasn't until late in Zootopia 's development that Disney elected to make Hopps the focus of the story over Wilde, but it was a wise decision: her spunky farm-girl personality is a throughline we readily identify with, as with Rey in the new Star Wars . Hopefully the merchandising team will make some toys featuring their heroine this time around. And with any luck, soon Hopps can get busy investigating the other great mysteries of Zootropolis, such as what happened to all the non-mammalians, and what the heck do predators eat if not their natural prey?

If Zootopia becomes fortunate enough to fall into Frozen -style heavy rotation for kids of a certain age, its messages of rejecting prejudice and embracing the complicated nature of multiculturalism could do some good for the world. Just be prepared for the invasion of a new "Let it Go"-style earworm, courtesy of Shak— er, Gazelle.

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‘zootopia’: film review.

The energetic voices of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman and Idris Elba lend life to Disney's amusing animated menagerie.

By Michael Rechtshaffen

Michael Rechtshaffen

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Just when it was looking like animated animal movies had run out of anything original to say, along comes the smartly amusing, crisply relevant Zootopia to handily demonstrate there’s still plenty of bite left in the anthropomorphic CG menagerie.

Boasting a pitch perfect voice cast led by a terrific Ginnifer Goodwin as a righteous rural rabbit who becomes the first cotton-tailed police recruit in the mammal-centric city of  Zootopia , the 3D caper expertly combines keen wit with a gentle, and very timely, message of inclusivity and empowerment.

Release date: Mar 04, 2016

The engaging result should easily appeal to all creatures great and small, giving this premium Walt Disney Animation Studios effort a paw up on spring break entertainment, not to mention the summer arrival of Universal’s animated The Secret Life of Pets .

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As the Zootopia Police Department’s sole bunny officer, idealistic Judy Hopps (Goodwin) discovers that breaking barriers can be an uphill climb, especially when the other cops in the force are mainly of the more imposing elephant/rhino/hippo ilk.

Although intrepid Judy can’t wait to collar her first perp , Bogo ( Idris Elba), Precinct 1’s gruff cape buffalo police chief, has other plans, assigning her to parking duty, where she proves her worth by writing 200 tickets before noon on her first day.

But when a number of Zootopia’s residents abruptly go missing, Bogo gives Judy the green light to do some big time police work and she finds herself partnering up with Nick Wilde ( Jason Bateman ), a sly, world-weary scam artist of a fox, in a 48-hour bid to crack the case.

Nimbly directed by Byron Howard ( Tangled , Bolt ) and Rich Moore ( Wreck-It Ralph ), along with co-director Jared Bush, who shares screenplay credit with Phil Johnston, the romp serves up plenty of sharply observed satire (a DMV manned entirely by sloths is played to hilariously protracted effect) wrapped up in judicious life lessons that never feel preachy or shoehorned-in.

'Zootopia' Sloth Trailer

While Goodwin and Bateman are a voice-casting dream team come true as a dysfunctional duo who learn to follow their instincts over preconceived notions, they’re joined by a nicely diverse supporting ensemble that also includes J.K. Simmons, Tommy Chong, Octavia Spencer and Shakira as a gazelle pop star who performs the film’s original song, “Try Everything,” co-written by hitmakers Sia and Stargate .

Also making their lines count are Jenny Slate as a not-so-sheepish sheep who serves as Zootopia’s predator-averse assistant mayor and Maurice LaMarsh as an arctic shrew version of Don Corleone named Mr. Big.

Visually, the Zootopia canvas pops — with or without the 3D glasses — thanks to a gorgeously vibrant color palette and whimsical architectural scales orchestrated by production designer David Goetz. His work is in keeping with an all-mammal parallel universe comprised of distinct microclimates like sunny Bunnyburrow , icy Tundratown and self-explanatory Little Rodentia .

Composer Michael Giacchino , meanwhile, in his first non-Pixar animated feature assignment, delivers a typically buoyant score, playfully tossing in music cues that pay affectionate homage to Bernard Herrmann and Nino Rota.

Distributor: Disney Production company: Walt Disney Animation Studios Cast : Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate, Tommy Chong, J.K. Simmons, Octavia Spencer, Shakira, Maurice LaMarsh . Directors: Byron Howard, Rich Moore Screenwriters: Jared Bush, Phil Johnston Producer: Clark Spencer Executive producer: John Lasseter Production designer: David Goetz Visual effects supervisor: Scott Kersavage Editors: Fabian Rawley , Jeremy Milton Music: Michael Giacchino Casting director: Jamie Sparer Roberts

Rated PG, 108 minutes

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Zootopia Little Golden Book (Disney Zootopia) Hardcover – Picture Book, January 19, 2016

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• Part of series Little Golden Book
• Print length 24 pages
• Language English
• Lexile measure 630L
• Dimensions 6.56 x 0.18 x 8.06 inches
• Publisher Golden/Disney
• Publication date January 19, 2016
• ISBN-10 0736433899
• ISBN-13 978-0736433891
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• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Golden/Disney; Illustrated edition (January 19, 2016)
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 24 pages
• ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0736433899
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0736433891
• Reading age ‏ : ‎ 2 - 5 years, from customers
• Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 630L
• Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7 ounces
• Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.56 x 0.18 x 8.06 inches
• #109 in Children's Mystery, Detective, & Spy
• #640 in Children's Action & Adventure Books (Books)
• #1,114 in Children's Animals Books

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Common sense media reviewers.

Charming buddy-animal story promotes teamwork, perseverance.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Kids learn about the difference between predator a

Follow your dreams; anyone can do/be anything if t

Judy is clever and determined, as well as an optim

Zootopia means well, and some representations, suc

Several scenes of danger, peril, and tension. Pred

Gazelle the singer wears glittery, "sexy" clothes;

Fairly frequent use of insults/rude words like "du

Real-world brand names get a Zootopia spin (like Z

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)…

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 ) 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 .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Community Reviews

• Parents say (187)
• Kids say (312)

Based on 187 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 , BAFTA , Common Sense Media Award , Common Sense Selection , Golden Globe
• Last updated : January 31, 2024

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

Our editors recommend.

Over the Hedge

Finding Nemo

Who Framed Roger Rabbit?

Best animal movies for kids, related topics.

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Zootopia Reviews

Disney’s Zootopia looks at the ‘otherization’ prevalent at every step of our social structure.

Full Review | Nov 1, 2023

“A well thought out and very witty movie… one for the whole family to enjoy”

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | May 16, 2022

With equal measures of animated beauty and socially responsible intelligence, Zootopia stands among Disney's very best.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/4 | Apr 18, 2022

It's got all the hallmarks of a great animated movie, and it doesn't fail to get laughs and give you that warm happy feeling that an inspiring film should.

Full Review | Oct 9, 2021

Builds a fully realized world, lands almost all its jokes and teaches valuable lessons.

Full Review | Original Score: B+ | Aug 29, 2021

I have to be honest and say that I actually liked Zootopia, despite its flaws, and laughed my head off at some parts.

Full Review | Aug 27, 2021

The message is an overt one, and they make sure to hammer it home, but it is not a false one.

Full Review | Original Score: 3.5/5 | Aug 10, 2021

...thought provoking and funny. With time, it may actually reveal itself to be genius.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 8, 2021

The abundance of humor and action help to mask all the underlying themes that can be construed as far too adult or mature for the family-friendly layout.

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Dec 5, 2020

Zootopia is the rare animated Disney film that feels like it was made for adults almost as much as children.

Full Review | Original Score: 5/5 | Sep 24, 2020

It's colorful, fun, and has a good message. Will I remember it tomorrow? Probably not, but that doesn't mean I didn't like it today.

Full Review | Original Score: B | Jul 13, 2020

Zootopia is a spectacular achievement on every level. It's a big, bold adventure in a remarkably rendered universe steeped in popular culture, a touching story of unlikely friendship, and a sharp critique of modern society.

Full Review | Original Score: A | Jul 3, 2020

The idea of multiculturalism is not acceptance but tolerance[.]

Full Review | Jul 1, 2020

Zootopia is your classic reluctant partners buddy cop flick transposed into family-friendly entertainment ... an intelligent animated film that will resonate with children well into their adulthood.

Full Review | Jun 30, 2020

As entertainment it is a very funny animated film with the fable of Judy, the new heroine of Disney. [Full review in Spanish]

Full Review | Original Score: 7/10 | Jun 26, 2020

It was complex in its message and yet clear.

Full Review | Apr 30, 2020

Totally adorable and cute.

If you only want to view Zootopia as a cheery little feature cartoon, full of the frolicking anthropomorphic critters Disney excels in creating, it works perfectly well on that level...

Full Review | Mar 11, 2020

Disney weaves in really important issues interlaced with humor, creativity and fun.

Full Review | Feb 4, 2020

Zootopia is one of Disney's best films to date and my favorite film of the year so far. It's family friendly and teaches kids so many great life lessons.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/4 | Jan 23, 2020

Zootopia books

• View history

Books based on the Zootopia franchise.

• 1 Disney Press
• 2 Golden Books
• 3 Random House
• 4 Step Into Reading
• 5 Miscellaneous

Disney Press [ ]

Golden books [ ], random house [ ], step into reading [ ], miscellaneous [ ].

• 2 Inside Out 2
• 3 Monsters at Work

Zootopia (2016) Review

Belittled outsider's journey.

Here’s something unsurprising: Disney has made a new animated film starring talking animals about the importance of acceptance. Now, here’s something surprising: that movie is actually quite funny, creative, and treats the subject matter with moral complexity. It would have been so easy for Zootopia to fall into variety of formulaic traps and feel like every single Disney movie that’s ever been made before. Yet the filmmakers decided to get creative with their concept.

Sure, there are countless sequences that crack jokes about how silly it would be for animals to act like humans. But there are also some rather inspired gags and an intriguingly complex look at the issue of prejudice and how it’s just as big of a social sickness when coming frem the perspective of the oppressed as it is coming from the oppressors. Bet you didn’t see that coming! Oh yeah and it all ends with a horrible Shakira music video…but hey! You can’t have everything.

Zootopia takes place in a world with anthropomorphized animals living together in one big glorious city. There are neighbourhoods of rain forests and arctic tundra. Some areas are oversized for elephants and some miniaturized for rodents. Long ago a truce was called between predator and prey that allows everyone to live together despite their natural instincts. Into this world wanders Ginnifer Goodwin’s bunny with dreams of becoming a cop. There’s long been discrimination against the tiniest and cutest of animals joining the police force, but thanks to a new inclusion program (as well as a remarkable amount of talent and hard work) she makes the team.

Unfortunately, her big bull boss ( Idris Elba ) doesn’t trust her to do anything more than traffic duty. Determined to prove herself as a cop, she starts independently tracking a mystery involving a variety of missing mammals throughout Zootopia. In fact, she even puts aside her natural prejudice towards foxes to team up with a particularly sly one (Jason Bateman) who knows the Zootopia underground well enough to be an ideal guide. Together their sleuthing uncovers a strange conspiracy that just might be causing predatory animals to revert to their basest instincts—something that causes the central partnership to fracture in obvious ways.

First up, Zootopia works wonderfully in all of the simple family fun ways that it’s been marketed. The animation is absolutely gorgeous and Zootopia itself is a beautifully realized world filled with opportunities for comedy, action, and insight that co-directors Bryon Howard ( Tangled ) and Rich Moore ( Wreck-It Ralph, The Simpsons ) milk for all they’re worth. The comedy is particularly sharp, with excellent voice performances from a variety of unexpected comedians and actors cast perfectly to type.

The humour varies from child friendly visual gags and wacky animal behaviour in a civilized context (the sloths/DMV sequences is destined to be remembered and replayed for many moons) as well as more adult friendly innuendo a pop culture references (I’ll bet you never thought there’d be a Breaking Bad joke in a Disney movie, right? Well, you were wrong). As pure pleasure mass entertainment, Zootopia delights just fine. Where it really shines is in its themes.

In the early going Zootopia feels like it will merely be a straightforward tale of a belittled outsider learning to believe in herself and prove the masses wrong. The predator/prey, tiny/large animal dynamic breaks down simply and the filmmakers have plenty of fun playing out their human themes in an animal world (one discussion involving how bunnies can call each other cute, but no other animal should is particularly on point). Then as the story wears on, things get more complicated.

“ Zootopia feels like it will merely be a straightforward tale of a belittled outsider learning to believe in herself and prove the masses wrong”

Without getting too much into spoiler territory, the filmmakers explore how prejudice isn’t limited to any larger social group oppressing a minority, it’s something that everyone can be guilty of. That’s a pretty complicated exploration of a social issue for a Disney film, but one that the filmmakers cover with surprising depth and sensitivity. It’s great to see a Disney movie suggest that merely believing in yourself isn’t enough and that everyone can be culpable of prejudice if they aren’t self-aware. There’s a surprising even-handedness in the discussion that almost feels like South Park without the satire.

Now all that being said, as fun and smart as Zootopia might be, it’s still a massive Disney product and beset by the usual limitations of that brand of crowd-pleasing family-friendly production. Many dusty jokes land with a thud (hey, did you know you can parody The Godfather ?!) , some of the CGI spectacle blurs into unnecessary noise, the detective plot gets a little too unnecessarily convoluted, and it all ends with an advertisement for a Shakira song that’s more than a little irritating. Still, you practically have to expect these limitations of a Disney animated blockbuster, almost like genre requirements. The fact that the movie works far more often than not and delivers such a complicated message is worth showering with praise. This is Disney animation at its best, for better or worse.

Given that Zootopia is coming out in a time when a US presidential candidate is running with a campaign based on hate and irrational internet outrage over cultural sensitivity makes rational debate nearly impossible, Zootopia feels oddly like a movie of the moment. It’s strange to say that about a Disney family feature and given the loooooong production schedule of any CGI feature, there’s no way the filmmakers intended to make a movie of the moment. Yet, somehow it happened and that’s worth celebrating. Even if you aren’t a child or have access to one to take to the theater, Zootopia is actually worth checking out. In fact, it’s even a rather special achievement.

Final Thoughts

Phil Brown is a film critic, comedy writer, and filmmaker who can be found haunting theaters and video stores throughout Toronto.

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'Zootopia': EW Review

If you’re the kind of moviegoer who approaches animated kiddie films searching for deep socio-political metaphors, Disney’s Zootopia will provide plenty of food for thought regarding prejudice and tolerance. If, on the other hand, it’s just some zany slapstick, zippy one-liners, and mild chuckles you’re after, you’ll walk out a much happier bunny. Written with caffeinated verve by Jared Bush and Phil Johnston, the ’toon is set in a modern animal-kingdom metropolis where predators like lions and tigers and bears live in harmony with their erstwhile prey like our rabbit heroine Judy, a bundle of ambitious cottontailed energy (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) who leaves her family’s rural carrot farm to pursue a career as a ­big-city police officer. Determined to prove herself in the eyes of her skeptical superior (Idris Elba’s water-buffalo police chief), Judy sets out to solve a rash of missing-­animals cases with the reluctant help of a sly, flimflamming fox (Jason Bateman).

Zootopia delivers the genre’s requisite barrage of quick-hit puns and pop culture riffs (a rat mobster modeled on Don Corleone), but the funniest moment comes when Judy goes to the Department of Motor Vehicles to run a license plate and gets her patience tested by a sleepy, slow-as-molasses sloth slumped behind the desk (Raymond S. Persi). Zootopia ’s message of tolerance is a noble one. But it’s loopy moments like that that give this modest film its magic. B

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The Zootopia Handbook – A Review

Hello everyone! Andy here with something new- a review of official merchandise! And to do that, we have a new member of the ZNN team to introduce. Meet Surrika , our first Appraisal Artist! Check out their review of The Official Zootopia Handbook after the break!

Hey guys! Surrika here, with a small look into one of the many books that have been released about Zootopia. Now, a lot of the official Zootopia books are a retelling of the movies done in various different formats but I will be shedding some light at the end of the tunnel!  These are the books that are in fact their own thing entirety!

The book I will be shining the light on today is called The Zootopia Handbook which is available to buy online via amazon, though I have yet to find it anywhere  but america. If you don’t mind shipping costs, then I suggest you give this book a once over!

This book is written like a dossier/Travel Guide about Zootopia as a city. It’s like one of those little brochures you would get if you were a tourist . It gives you the run downs of the best places to visit and shop, which is actually kind of interesting because this book implies there are definitely other cities out there besides Zootopia and that it has a rich history in tourism.

The world-building is superb in this book with tidbits of how they are able to keep such different environments so close together in a stable condition. There are even little notes about the devices they use to keep the biomes in their ‘natural’ states. The book also shows local events that happen in each area. such as Sahara Squares’ Meerkat market, where it’s established that Mr and Mrs Otterton met for the first time.

One thing that is a tad confusing with this book, though, is that a lot of things that were cut from the original film (where it was all about Nick) are in this book, such as the Wild Times theme park. Koslov is actually referenced heavily in this book as well. There’s even a poster of a Gazelle event where the dancing tigers have shock collars on. It’s like the writers of the book didn’t get the memo or something.

Still, It is full of fun little mock adverts for flea repellent, insurance, and restaurants.  One of my personal favorite parts of the book is actually the classified ads section, which is nothing but animal puns! One such pun actually made me laugh because I am surprised Disney let it slide.

I know they mean Cougar as in the big cat, but whoever wrote that joke…props to you my friend.  Props to you.

Personally, I think this book is a must own for any Zootopia fan, and if you can get your paws on it you definitely should!

This is your friendly neighborhood Meerkat Surrika, signing out!

Get the book for yourself over on Amazon !

11 Comments

My birthday is next month. I might get it as a small gift for myself.

I have it as well, and nearly everything is taken from the Art of Zootopia book, so I am guessing that Disney sent them it and said 'Have fun'. Which is why many of the characters have their old designs. The back flap, Zootopians to Watch, has the old Judy, Lionheart, and Gazelle art, and to be honest, the old Gazelle design makes her look a bit… snobby. I am glad they used all the ones they did for the actual movie.

Well let me give all of you a glimmer oh hope here. Zootopia handbook with NO SHIPPING: just check bookdepositroy.com I got mine from there like the dozens of other books i did. I'm not really sure if links are allowed in comments so if this ends up breaking a rule or two please don't ban me :'c

I'm just trying to save needless shipping costs! http://www.bookdepository.com/Zootopia–The-Official-Handbook–Disney-Zootopia-/9780736433952

screw grammar. I'm too tired to spell.

If it doesn't have any shipping, is it worth getting??? Sorry I had to XD

@Joseph I had to think for awhile before I figure it out…

Good play, sir! Good play 🙂

The original collar art is because a lot of the art used in the book is concept art, and since most of the movie's production happened when the collars were still a thing, the concept art features them. Other than that one incoherence in the book, I generally enjoyed it. It's a fun little piece to glimpse some of their world building.

Yeah, I figured it was something like that, but it's still funny to think that the publishers didn't get a memo or something haha.

It's actually "Special Effects" collars to project holographic costumes for the Tiger Dancers 😉

GAAAAH DO NEED FOR MY PNP

Well… this book is surprisingly found in Singapore… Who would have guessed? Anyways… I would have hoped for a thicker book considering it's price, but IT'S ZOOTOPIA SO I DON'T CARE

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Book Review: The Art of Zootopia

Submitted by Teoh Yi Chie on March 12, 2016 - 12:05pm

Zootopia is one of the best movies for me this year and it's only March. This companion artbook too is a gem.

This wonderful 160-page hardcover artbook features the concept art for the characters, environments and props that make up the world of Zootopia. If you thought that the city was busy with so many things going on, well, this book will delight you with additional environments and characters that weren't even included in the film.

The artworks are so beautiful. I love character designs and the variety. The artists really nailed the look and in the film, the animation is done so well, so believable. I've so many favourite characters, Judy, Nick, Sloth, Bogo, Clawhauser, Yax, Gazelle and the dancing tigers, and of course Mr Big and many more. LOL.

I can't praise all the artists enough. Some of the highlights to me are drawings from Matthias Lechner, Cory Loftis, David Goetz and even the co-director Bryon Howard is also a fantastic artist.

There are many environment artworks included, some presented with breathtaking details and oh so beautiful lighting. You get to read about the effort and thought that goes into the production and design of everything that's shown on screen. All the boroughs and locations are included, namely Downtown, Rainforest District, Savanna Central, Little Rodentia, Sahara Square, Tundratown and Cliffside. And there are several pages of discarded art for an amusement park and a stadium.

This book is just packed with wonderful art like how Zootopia is filled with so much life. This is definitely one of the best artbooks for this year.

Most highly recommended.

The Art of Zootopia is available at Amazon ( US | CA | UK | DE | FR | IT | ES | JP | CN )

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Here are direct links to the book: Amazon.com | Amazon.ca | Amazon.co.uk | Amazon.de | Amazon.fr | Amazon.it | Amazon.es | Amazon.co.jp | Amazon.cn

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• In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy.
• 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. — Jwelch5742
• From the biggest elephant to the tiniest shrew, the city of Zootopia is a beautiful metropolis where all animals live peacefully with one another. Determined to prove her worth, Judy Hopps becomes the first official bunny cop on the police force. When 14 predator animals go missing, Judy immediately takes the case. Partnering with a smooth talking fox named Nick Wilde, Judy must piece together all the clues as to where the predators are and who is behind it all. — Blazer346
• Being the first one is never easy, especially for Judy Hopps, the first bunny cop. When strange things happen in the city, Judy decides that she will try to solve the case, but she only has 48 hours to do so. To help her, she partners with a con artist fox named Nick Wilde, even though he makes the job harder. — Aken Purnomo
• In a world where animals have no intention of eating each other, a little bunny named Judy Hopps who grew up on a farm leaves her family to pursue her dreams of being the first bunny cop in Zootopia. While there, she runs into a con artist fox named Nick Wilde, and they have to work together after an incident threatens Zootopia.
• In the town of Bunnyburrow, 9 year old bunny, Judy Hopps ( Della Saba ) is performing in a school play. Her theme explains that animals, once primitive and wild, have now evolved to where predators and prey can live side by side in harmony. The founding mammal city, Zootopia, is hailed as a place where anyone can be anything. Judy then announces that she wants to be a police officer. A kid fox in the audience, Gideon Grey ( Phil Johnston ), sneers at the idea and even Judy's parents, Bonnie and Stu ( Bonnie Hunt and Don Lake ) tell her that there's never been a bunny officer. However, Judy is willing to try against all odds. When Judy sees Gideon bullying some kids by taking their fair tickets she boldly confronts him, but Gideon responds by taunting Judy's dreams and slashing her in the face. He leaves and, though she's hurt, Judy shows her friends the tickets she got back and declares that she doesn't know when to quit. Years later Judy attends the Zootopia Police Academy. Judy is tiny compared to the other recruits and faces difficulties managing the obstacle courses run by the drill sergeant ( Fuschia! ). But through sheer determination, and by using her wits, Judy makes it to graduation as valedictorian. Zootopia Mayor Lionheart ( J.K. Simmons ) oversees the ceremony and Assistant Mayor Bellwether ( Jenny Slate ), a sheep, formally congratulates Judy as the first bunny police officer, saying it's a big day for all small animals. She is assigned to Precinct 1 in the heart of Zootopia, much to the apprehension of her parents. A few days after, Judy, her parents, and many siblings head to the train station. Stu convinces Judy to take a can of fox repellent with her before she gets on the train to Zootopia. Judy listens to a hit by pop singer, Gazelle ( Shakira ), as she zooms through the diverse districts of the city, from the frozen tundra to the sultry rainforest. She finds her apartment, a run-down single room with a rickety bed, paper-thin walls, and two noisy neighbors, Bucky and Pronk Oryx-Antlerson ( Byron Howard and Jared Bush ). Despite this, she's all to excited for her first day. She gets up bright and early and makes it to the police station where she is directed to role call by the pudgy desk sergeant, a cheetah named Benjamin Clawhauser ( Nate Torrence ). All the other officers (elephants, rhinos, hippos, and bears) tower over Judy. Police Chief Bogo ( Idris Elba ) calls them to order and explains their first priority is handling the case of fourteen missing animals; all predators. Bogo divides everyone into teams but assigns Judy to parking duty. Judy is disappointed but sets her standards high and uses her sharp ears to help her write 200 tickets before noon. Around then, she notices a fox who appears to be up to something enter a local ice cream shop run by Jerry Jumbeaux Jr. ( John DiMaggio ). Though suspicious at first, Judy then sees the fox, Nick Wilde ( Jason Bateman ), is just trying to purchase a jumbo-pop for his son who is wearing an elephant costume. Jerry refuses service to the fox with sneering bigotry and this angers Judy who steps in and proposes a compromise; she'll let the elephants off with a warning for the health code violation of serving ice cream without gloves on their trunks if Nick can have a jumbo-pop. When Nick confesses he doesn't have his wallet, and apologizes to his son for the worst birthday, Judy goes further and pays for the treat. She tells Nick she can't stand it when people are mistreated for being predators or prey and walks away with a spring in her step, happy to have helped someone in need. Later that day, Judy is writing more tickets when she notices the little fox in his elephant suit. She approaches to say hello but then notices that he and Nick are melting the jumbo-pop from the roof of a building and letting the drippings collect in large jars. They drive away together, with the little fox at the wheel. Judy follows them into Tundratown and sees them making mini pops with the melted juice. They take them into the Savannah District and sell them to hamsters coming out of work. The hamsters chomp on the pops and leave the sticks in a recycling bin. The little fox collects the sticks and he and Nick take them to a construction zone in Little Rodentia where they're sold as lumber. Later, Nick and his 'son', a full-grown fennec fox named Finnick ( Tom Lister Jr. ), part ways and Judy confronts Nick. Nick doesn't deny that he's a hustler but provides Judy with all the paperwork he needs to make his endeavors technically legal and humbles her by saying that the city is not a magical land where dreams come true and a meter maid can never be a real cop. Judy returns to her apartment, sullen, and bears through an inadvertently insulting call from her parents who are thoughtlessly relieved to see she is not a "real cop" in their eyes and has instead the safest job on the force. The next day, Judy is writing more tickets and enduring unending verbal abuse from the citizenry for her duty when she is approached by a frantic pig ( Josh Dallas ) who tells her he's just been robbed. Judy springs into action and chases the thieving weasel ( Alan Tudyk ) through the city square and into Little Rodentia. During the chase, in which Judy has to take considerable pains to avoid accidental harm to the tiny citizenry and their property, Duke kicks a plastic doughnut from a shop toward Judy and it nearly crushes a lady shrew, but Judy stops it in the nick of time and uses the doughnut to apprehend the weasel. Judy rolls him into the station but is called to Bogo's office. He reprimands her for leaving her post and endangering the public to retrieve a bag of moldy onions. Judy objects, saying that the 'onions' are actually flower bulbs called Midnicampum holicithias and that she only wanted to serve as a real cop. However, Chief Bogo responds that she had her orders as a parking attendant and disobeyed them, making a political appointee like her intolerable to him. Just then, an otter named Mrs. Otterton ( Octavia Spencer ) barges in, begging Chief Bogo to find her husband, Emmitt, who has been missing for ten days. Bogo offers empty assurances until Judy steps up and promises to find him. Bogo escorts Mrs. Otterton out of the office before firing Judy for insubordination. However, when he opens the door again, he finds Mrs. Otterton speaking with Assistant Mayor Bellwether who promptly sends a notice to the mayor about Judy's willingness to take the case and tells Judy to come to her for any assistance. Bogo reluctantly allows Judy to take the case but gives her a 48 hour ultimatum; she finds the otter or resigns. Judy agrees. At the front desk, Clawhauser gives Judy the case file but there are no leads or witnesses and, since she's new, she has no technological resources. However, Judy notices in the lone photograph they have that Emmitt is eating a familiar looking popsicle. She locates Nick on the streets and demands his help but he refuses. When she says his ten dollars' worth of mini pops can wait, he claims to have made two hundred a day since he was twelve. Judy records Nick on her carrot pen recorder and puts his own words against his tax files which show he's claimed zero income. Judy says she'll report him for tax evasion, a federal offense, unless he helps her. Finnick, who was asleep in the stroller Nick was pushing, laughs at the reverse hustle and wishes Nick good luck working with the fuzz before walking off. Nick takes Judy to Mystic Springs Oasis, the last place he saw Otterton going. They're met by a yak named Yax ( Tommy Chong ), doing yoga behind a desk. He recognizes Mr. Otterton but says he hasn't seen him in a couple of weeks. He then takes them into the oasis to find Emmitt's yoga instructor, an elephant named Nangi ( Gita Reddy ), and Judy is shocked to find the oasis is a haven for naturalists; nude animals. Nangi has no memory of Otterton, but Yax unwittingly gives Judy all the information she needs, including the plate number for the car Otterton was picked up in the last time he was there. Nick says he has a friend at the DMV who can help them run the plate number. There, Judy is disheartened to see that the DMV is run solely by sloths. Nick's friend, Flash ( Raymond S. Persi ) is able to run the plate number for them but, naturally, takes forever to do so. This isn't helped when Nick, in an attempt to push Judy's buttons, delays them with a joke. By the time they exit, it's nighttime. Judy finds out the car in question is a limo in Tundratown but, by the time she and Nick arrive, the lot's closed. Without a warrant, Judy cannot get in. Defeated, she holds out her recording pen to Nick but flings it over the fence. Nick goes to retrieve it and Judy meets him on the other side, slyly saying that she doesn't need a warrant if she has probable cause - and a shifty-looking fox climbing over the gate qualifies. They locate the limo and search it, finding polar bear fur, claw marks all over the back seat, and Otterton's wallet. Then, Nick recognizes an insignia on a drinking glass and panics; he knows who's car this is. When they open the car door to leave they're confronted by a couple of polar bears who shove them into a car. Squeezed in the back seat between two polar bears, Nick explains that the car belongs to a thug boss named Mr. Big with whom he's not on good terms because Nick sold him an expensive rug made from the fur of a skunk's butt. Nick and Judy are brought into a study where Mr. Big ( Maurice LaMarche ), a shrew, is carried in by his polar bear guards. He berates Nick for tarnishing his trust and the hospitality of his grandmother who he recently buried in the skunk rug, and scolds him for returning on the day of his daughter's wedding. Unafraid, Judy steps forward and tells Mr. Big that she knows Emmitt Otterton was with him last and will find out what happened to him if it's the last thing she does. Unfazed, Mr. Big orders his bears to 'ice' Nick and Judy and they're held over a trap door in the floor that reveals icy water. Mr. Big's daughter, Fru Fru ( Leah Latham ), then walks in wearing her wedding dress and recognizes Judy as the bunny that saved her the previous day from being crushed by the doughnut. In gratitude, Mr. Big releases Judy and Nick and invites them to Fru Fru's wedding reception where he explains that Otterton was his florist but, before meeting with him to discuss something important, went crazy in the limo he sent, attacked his driver, and disappeared. Mr. Big directs them to speak with the driver, Manchas ( Jesse Corti ), in the Rainforest District for more information. Manchas, a melanistic jaguar, cracks open the door when Nick and Judy arrive, showing scratches all over his face and acting fearful. He tells them that Otterton kept talking about the 'night howlers' before he went wild and savagely attacked him. Nick says they're there to talk about the night howlers too and Manchas agrees to let them in but, just after he unlocks the chain, Judy and Nick hear him groan followed by a thud. They push the door open to see Manchas on all fours, growling viciously at them. Nick and Judy run for their lives, pursued closely by Manchas. Judy manages to call for backup as she and Nick tumble and fall through the slick canopy. Finally, Judy is able to cuff Manchas to a light pole near a gondola station and throws herself and Nick off it into some vines away from the jaguar's claws. They meet up with the responding police units and Judy explains to Chief Bogo that she believes Manchas, like Otterton, went 'savage'. However, when she takes them back to the gondola station, Manchas is gone. Bogo, irritated and not believing Judy's story demands her to hand over her badge for failing to complete her assignment, but Nick stands up for Judy. He says that Bogo gave them 48 hours, which means they have ten left to find Otterton. He takes Judy onto a gondola and they leave. Over the rainforest, Nick explains that he was idealistic like Judy once. As a kid, he wanted nothing more than to join the Junior Ranger Scouts. His mother bought him a new uniform and he was excited to become part of the group, despite the fact that he was the only predator to join. Upon arriving, however, the other animals bullied and muzzled him, saying that he was stupid for thinking they'd trust a fox. After that day he decided he would never let anyone see that they had gotten to him and if people only thought of foxes as shifty and untrustworthy, then that's what he would be. Judy consoles him but Nick deflects from her affections by looking at traffic below. He then realizes that there are traffic cameras all over the canopy and they can use them to find out where Manchas was taken. Judy recalls that Assistant Mayor Bellwether offered to help them. They meet her at City Hall and she takes them to her office which is nothing more than a janitor's closet. Despite her upbeat personality, it's no secret that she's woefully mistreated by the Mayor. She opens the database for the Rainforest District traffic cameras before being called away by Lionheart. Judy and Nick find the footage of Manchas and see that he was netted and hauled away by timber wolves. Judy realizes that the wolves must be the Night Howlers. They watch as the wolves' van drives through a tunnel but fails to come out the other side. Nick says that there's a maintenance tunnel and, if he were to do anything illegal, that's the route he'd take to avoid observation. They relocate the van and go to where it was headed - an old building outside of town called Cliffside Asylum. Nick and Judy make it past the guards by inciting a group howl; something the wolves can't resist. Inside, they find new equipment in an old hospital ward. Following claw marks on the floor, they find fifteen cells inhabited by various predators, all feral and savage, including Manchas and Mr. Otterton. Judy realizes she's just found all of the missing mammals but, just then, Mayor Lionheart enters with a badger doctor ( Katie Lowes ). Judy and Nick hide in an empty cell and Judy records Lionheart as he demands to know why predators are going savage. The doctor has no answer and says that they must come forward to Chief Bogo but the Mayor refuses, saying his reputation as a predator official is at stake. At that moment, Judy's phone rings with a call from her parents. Lionheart is startled and the doctor orders security to investigate before locking off the wing. Nick and Judy escape by flushing themselves down a toilet just before the guards arrive and they manage to get the evidence Judy recorded back to Bogo. The ZPD arrive at the asylum and place everyone, including the Mayor, under arrest. Lionheart protests that they still don't know why predators are going savage and he was trying to protect the public. Later, Chief Bogo, deeply impressed at Hopp's achievement, holds a press conference where Judy gives Nick her pen recorder and offers him the chance to sign up as her partner. Nick is flattered and watches as Judy is called to the stand to answer some questions. Judy starts simple, mentioning that all the savage mammals are predators, but when pressed as to why, she speculates that it could be something to do with their DNA. As predators, the inflicted may have reverted back to their primal origins. The reporters go into a frenzy before Bellwether shuts down the conference. Judy is relieved to be off the podium but Nick is angered by what she said. Judy says she was just stating facts but Nick asks her if a fox such as himself should indeed be trusted. When he raises his arms, asking if Judy is afraid of him, she instinctively puts her hand on her fox repellent. He hands her back the application, telling her that it's best she doesn't have a predator for a partner, before leaving. A wedge is driven between the predator and prey populations, with prey acting fearful against all predators. Gazelle hosts a peaceful protest against discrimination, despite backlash, and savage attacks continue in the city as more predators go primal. Judy feels responsible for the ensuing tensions between the animals and goes to see Mrs. Otterton where she's watching Emmitt meander mindlessly in his hospital room. At the police station, Judy is summoned by Bogo to see the new mayor, Bellwether. Bellwether explains that with the population in Zootopia being 90% prey, she wants Judy as the face of the ZPD to inspire hope. But Judy claims that she's no hero and says she's done the opposite of what she wanted; to make the world a better place. She says a good cop should help the city, not tear it apart, and hands over her badge before leaving. Judy returns to Bunnyburrow where she manages her parent's vegetable stand. She wonders aloud to them how she ever thought she could make a difference but they console her as a pie truck pulls up. As the driver, a grown Gideon Grey, gets out, Judy's parents explain that they've partnered up with him and never would have done so had Judy not opened their eyes. Gideon apologizes to Judy for what he did when he was younger, stating that his own insecurities manifested into unchecked rage, but Judy forgives him and says she knows a thing or two about being a jerk. Just then, some bunny children run through the field behind them and Judy's father warns them to stay away from the growing Midnicampum holicithias near the edge. Gideon laughs and says his family just called them night howlers. Judy perks up at this and her father explains that the flowers keep away pests but are toxic. His brother Terry ate one and went into a rage, biting Judy's mother. Judy realizes that the night howlers weren't the wolves - they were flowers. Not only that, but they make animals go savage. She grabs the keys to the truck and races back to Zootopia. She finds Finnick and he points her to Nick, sitting in the sun beside a small bridge. Judy runs up to him and reveals the truth about the night howlers but he walks away. Desperate, Judy apologizes to him and says she needs his help. She begins to cry and admits that she was a jerk to him and really is a dumb bunny as he once said. Nick doesn't seem to react until he replays a recording of her repentance and holds up her pen recorder enabling that and smiles, saying he'll erase it after 48 hours, before embracing a profoundly relieved Judy. They climb into the truck and Nick helps himself to some of Judy's blueberries while she shows him a picture of the weasel thief she caught stealing the Midnicampum holicithias; Duke Weaselton. They find him on a street corner selling bootleg DVDs such as 'Wrangled', 'Pig Hero 6', and 'Meowana'. Judy confronts him and demands to know what he was doing with the night howler flower bulbs, but he says he won't talk. Judy and Nick smile slyly and take the weasel to Mr. Big. Duke is incredulous as to why Mr. Big would help a cop, but Mr. Big smiles and says Judy is the godmother of his future grandchild. A very pregnant Fru Fru says she's going to name her daughter after Judy. On threat of being iced, Duke relents and confesses he sold bulbs to a ram named Doug who works out of an abandoned rail station. Nick and Judy follow the directions to a rusty subway car underground. They sneak inside and find Doug ( Rich Moore ) in a yellow jumpsuit preparing the blue flowers and harvesting them chemically to produce a serum which he puts into fragile pellets. He loads a pellet into a gun as his phone rings, telling him his next mark is a cheetah in Sahara Square. He assures the caller he can make the hit since he was able to get an otter in a moving car. He places the gun in a briefcase and goes to answer a knock at the back of the car, saying that Woolter and Jesse have come back with coffee. Judy takes the opportunity to knock Doug out of the car and locks the door before ordering Nick to get the car moving. With some finagling, they're able to start it and the car moves down the track, slowly gaining speed. Judy is intent on bringing the evidence to police headquarters but two rams jump onto the moving car. They manage to knock Jesse off the car inside the tunnel, grazing him as he hugs the wall and shaving his belly pink. Woolter head-butts his way into the front of the car as they make their way outside but they soon face another oncoming train. Judy tells Nick to speed up and kicks Woolter into a switch lever just in time, but they are traveling too fast around the next curve and the car derails into the next empty station. Judy and Nick jump from the car as the friction causes it to go up in flames and watch from the platform as it explodes. Judy thinks all the evidence is destroyed but Nick holds up the briefcase with the gun inside. They run upstairs out of the station and into the Natural History Museum, empty due to renovations. As they near the exit toward the police station they are called from behind by Mayor Bellwether, accompanied by two rams in police uniform. Bellwether thanks Judy for discovering the perpetrators behind the predator conspiracy and reaches for the briefcase but Judy wonders aloud how she knew where to find them. They edge toward the exit but are blocked by a disheveled Woolter. Realizing Bellwether was behind the plot all along, Judy and Nick run and attempt to hide down a corridor. Along the way Judy runs into a protruding mammoth tusk and cuts her leg. Nick pulls a handkerchief out of his pocket, blueberries spilling everywhere, and bandages Judy's leg but she tells him to leave her since she can't walk. They try to think of something as they are surrounded by the sheep. Bellwether calls out to Judy, saying that in the city prey outnumber predators 10 to 1. They need to band together to end their mistreatment against the more powerful and loud predators and, once united, will be unstoppable. Judy and Nick run for it but are knocked into a sunken diorama and Nick drops the briefcase. Bellwether retrieves it and looks down on Nick and Judy before taking aim with the gun and shooting Nick. The blue solution covers his neck and he trembles while Bellwether calls the police and feigns alarm, saying Officer Judy is down and being attacked by a savage fox. Judy tells Bellwether her plan won't work as Nick advances on her, growling. Bellwether says that fear always works and, with a predisposition to savagery, predators will be forced out of Zootopia and she'll dart every one to keep it that way. Nick then lunges at Judy and puts his jaws around her neck, but just as quickly releases her as Judy puts on a dramatic performance. Nick and Judy then reveal they switched out the serum in the gun with blueberries and have recorded everything Bellwether said on Judy's pen recorder. Horrified, Bellwether backs up to flee only to be stopped and arrested by the responding ZPD. On the news, an anchor reads that Bellwether was charged for masterminding the savage predator conspiracy. Former Mayor Lionheart gives an interview where he says he didn't know about Bellwether's plot and only caged the savage predators to protect the city, citing he did a wrong thing for the right reasons. It is announced that an antidote has been created with positive effects. Judy goes to the hospital where she sees Emmitt Otterton recovering and embracing his concerned wife. Months later, Judy, a police officer again and much wizened by her experience, addresses the new police academy graduates, one of them being Nick Wilde. She says, "When I was a kid, I thought Zootopia was this perfect place where everyone got along and anyone could be anything. Turns out, real 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. No matter what type of animal you are, from the biggest elephant to our first fox, I implore you: Try. Try to make a difference. Try to make the world a better place. Try to look inside yourself and recognize that change starts with you. It starts with me. It starts with all of us." Nick approaches the stage and Judy pins on his cop badge. The next day, Chief Bogo hands out assignments, giving Nick and Judy the task of catching a hot-rodder tearing up the roads downtown. Judy and Nick come across the speeder in their patrol car and pull him over, surprised to see Flash the sloth behind the wheel. Flash smiles slyly at Nick and the credits roll as Gazelle (Shakira) performs 'Try Everything' at a concert in Zootopia with everyone in attendance save for Bellwether who watches the show on TV from prison.

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