Zootropolis

Talking animals? Check. Cute art style? Check. Tale about the fight between good and evil? Check. At first glance Zootropolis (2016) seems to be your typical piece of animated cinema – cutesy, offering platitudes of being nice and trying to find your way. But once you wander inside the cinema and actually see the film, let me tell you, I had no idea what a ride I was signing up myself for!

The main protagonist is the first delightful surprise. I have been following the film news ever since it got announced back in 2015 and first storyboards got released online, where it was focused on Nick, the fox. In the end however, it is Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), an aspiring policewoman whose rise and life we witness in the film.

Judy, the protagonist, has all the little quirks and moments typically used to characterise male characters in animation

Image: Disney

And this is a wonder beyond comparison to every girl in her twenties (not unlike me). I have always found the lack of well-developed female characters in cinema, and animation in particular quite striking. Judy, the protagonist, has all the little quirks and moments typically used to characterise male characters in animation – the routine, the doubt, the wonderful feeling of freedom when she migrates from her small village made up nearly exclusively of bunnies, into the big, wondrous (at first glance titular) city of Zootropolis. The place is the proverbial Eden – made up of prey and predators living peacefully beside each other, pursuing careers, and living in varied segments dedicated to different climates and animal needs.

The film brings up bullying and vengeance as we witness brief interludes to leads’ childhoods, showcasing their true motivations.

Here comes the next surprise – the apparent happiness is only a cover, as a mysterious illness seems to shake the ingrained belief that peace between different species can be preserved. Along comes the fox, Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a (foxy) con-artist who serves as the yang to Judy’s optimistic ying, showing her and therefore the viewers the underbelly of the wondrous establishment, and that nothing is as it seems at first.

This film too is much more than what it seems at first glance. There is a strong social critique about stereotypes, sexism and typecasting people/animals as we witness Judy’s struggles in a very masculinised world of the police force and expectations shutting out opportunities. The film brings up bullying and vengeance as we witness brief interludes to leads’ childhoods, showcasing their true motivations. The story bends and turns in ways not easily anticipated from the start, being dynamic and exciting both in visuals, as well as voice acting, bringing very believable and vulnerable characters to life with cameos of Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons and Shakira to name a few.

With many more mature themes,well-developed, independent female characters, and a  lack of princesses, this may well mark the beginning of a new era of animation

Image: Disney

An arguable, and at the same time fascinating motif is also the female/male dynamic between Judy and Nick, who even though posed at first as a duo of contrasts, mature into actual partners, and even develop a ‘bromance’, reserved previously only for male cop-action, on-screen relationships. This is very interesting, especially given the underlying predator vs. prey conflict, the key twist scene in the screenplay, and constant hinting that ‘maybe they are, maybe they’re not’. It is refreshing to see such a partnership however, given how very few female heroes in the past have been on actual equal footing with their male counterparts.

I cannot recommend this film enough and given its box office success, it may well present a final switch in Disney’s portfolio, as new screenwriters mature and finally start working on productions that are miles away compared to the films that the entertainment giant made their name with in the 90s and 00s. Perhaps this is the new golden age of animation for Disney, following the success of Tangled, Wreck-it Ralph and Inside Out. With many more mature themes, well-developed, independent female characters, and lack of princesses, this may well mark the beginning of a new era of animation meant not only for children, but also for adults brought up on Disney’s old tales as well. And a huge comeback to anthropomorphised animals too!

Director: Byron Howard, Rich Moore

Starring: Voices: Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, J K Simmons, Octavia Spencer

Running Time: 108 minutes