ZooTopia Review

Following The Big Hero 6 of 2014, Disney's 55th animated feature ZooTopia brings the focus of anthropomorphic animals back to the big screen. Unlike other Disney films that focused on talking animals like the The Lion King (1994) for example, Disney only made two animated films where all the animals can walk and talk like humans. The first was Robin Hood (1973) where despite its lukewarm reception, is fondly remembered as a fun film that people still enjoy today. The other is Chicken Little (2005) which was a disastrous result for Disney's first CGI film without Pixar. Since then it would take 11 years before we saw another film that focused entirely on talking animals from Disney. So how does the film hold up?

ZooTopia is about a rabbit named Judy Hopps, played by Ginnifer Goodwin, who becomes the very first bunny cop and became appointed into the ZooTopia Police Department. Where in the said city that all animals, predator and prey live together in civilized harmony. Judy starts as a meter maid due to being smaller compared to the larger animals on the force despite graduating top class. While on the job she encounters a con artist fox named Nick Wilde, played by Jason Bateman. During one of her duties she learns there is a case going on with 15 animals missing, coincidentally they are all predators. Eager to prove herself as a cop, Judy takes one of the missing animal cases and recruits the reluctant Nick as a witness to the scene of the crime. They learn that there is a bigger conspiracy going on that not only threatens the lives of ZooTopia, but the very peaceful nature that the entire city as well.

At first glance one would think that the film would be riddled with pop culture references since ZooTopia takes place in a modern setting. Thankfully none of that is the case since the film tells its story efficiently with three strengths that makes this film delightful.

The first is the main characters being so likable. Judy is a wide-eyed optimistic with a never give up attitude, while Nick is laid back, slick and a wise cracker that the two work off each other well. Nick also has a sympathetic backstory that goes hand in hand with the theme of the film. 

The entire concept of an animal based world is the film's second strength. Given its concept the animators took full advantage of the possibilities of how a civilization where animals of all sorts live together. There are sections based on the climates that animals thrive in from deserts, jungles, tundras, there is even a small city for the smallest of animals to live in. The film could have made the entire location a generic industrial metropolis but it was a very smart decision to make the city diverse, colourful and pleasing to the eyes.

Finally, the last strength of the film without giving away too much is its theme of prejudice. The subject? Racism. The beginning of the film even pointed out how the animals used to go by the law of the jungle, the prey are helpless against the violent predators. In time they evolved and became civilized and live together in peace. However, that peace is not always present as a common element in the film is always shown of how foxes are the enemies of rabbits. While they live together, tensions can rise at times pending on a character's actions and beliefs in animal stereotypes. It is a lesson that has been repeated many times, but given the situation our world is in now, the film's message is vital given the constant hostility towards people of colour today. From corrupt cops violently killing innocent African Americans in the United States to the persecution of Muslims that have no connection to terrorist organizations that result in racial profiling. ZooTopia came out at the right time to not just teach kids but everyone about the dangers of prejudice and how intolerance affects EVERYONE.

If there are any flaws with the film there are just two points. A minor one is that given its concept, surprisingly there are no birds, amphibians, reptiles and insects. For a place called ZooTopia, one would think there would be more than just mammals there, but in actuality this is just a technicality that doesn't hurt the film's presentation. The other flaw is the plot twist of the mastermind behind the epidemic. Since Wreck-it-Ralph (2012), Disney has been on a streak with adding plot twists in their animated films to throw the audience off. While ZooTopia's twist isn't that bad, the pattern from the films before it makes it obvious to those who has seen the pattern recently. One can only imagine if Disney is trying to become M. Night Shaymalan who is famous for the term with his films; "What a twist!"

Overall, ZooTopia is a film that can surprise people with its concept that guarantees to make them feel like a kid again and presents a message that will not only become timeless, but important for days ahead when dealing with intolerance and prejudice. A must see for any Disney fan and casual movie goers!