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Zootopia: A utopia or a dystopia?

Kaila Clover
SPCHS Student Journalist
22 April 2016
Zootopia is the highest grossing animated Disney film to date, receiving praise from critics and
moviegoers alike. The movies focus on unity and the effects of bias make Zootopia a film for
the whole family. Directed by Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush, Zootopia features
the voice talents of Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, and Idris Elba.
The film begins with a flash back to the days when animals were nothing more than savage
predators and helpless prey. The movie then transitions from this dark past to the new norm, a
world where predators and prey alike live in peace. The society is very much akin to our own:
with access to technology, entertainment, and a variety of diverse species living together in a
metropolitan setting. The main focus of the film is on a single member of the Hops family, the
inhabitants of Bunny Burrow. Judy Hops (Goodwin) is an aspiring police officer, but is often
looked down upon by other larger animals because shes a rabbit, and rabbits work on the carrot
farm. Her resilience and determination to be a real cop is what lands her a spot in the 1st
Precinct, Zootopias city center. Despite the enormous honor, being the newest member of
Zootopias police force isnt all its cracked up to be, which Judy learns first hand after she is
given the task of being a meter maid.
The thing that makes Zootopia different from other films in its genre is its attention to detail.
The obvious rift between the predators, Zootopias minority, and the prey, Zootopias majority, is
strikingly similar to the tension between races in the United States. The film plays on this theme

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quite well; at one point, an elephant refuses to serve Nick Wilde (Bateman) and his son ice cream
because they are foxes, much like the segregation laws in the south during the first half of the
20th century. Foreshadowing is a key element in the films plot, often subtle at first, but more
obvious later throughout the movie. The dialogue of certain characters foreshadows events in the
latter parts of the movie, which the viewer begins to understand once the overall plot is revealed.
Although the movie was primarily very good, there were some scenes that could have been left
out or shortened, such as the DMV scene, while other scenes could have been expanded upon to
enhance the films plot. The references to pop culture and historical events were well done, like
the reference to the hit TV show, Breaking Bad, and even events such as the Washington D.C.
drug problems during the 1980s. Overall, Zootopia was well thought out and delivered
memorable characters such as Nick, who has a charm and cunning similar to Alfred Hitchcocks
Sherlock Holmes.
To conclude, I recommend Zootopia to anyone who enjoys action, comedy, and mystery films. It
may be a movie about a bunch of animals, but at its core, Zootopia is a shout-out to all of
social issues facing our society today.