Disney and Pixar have been the be-all end-all for animated films. Pixar has had a long standing reputation that holds itself to the highest quality of family-friendly animated film. It has breached said reputation only a few times. And, even still, it wasn't enough for movie goers to disqualify the Pixar name. Last year's Inside Out was spectacular and had way more emotionally thematic layers than any animated movie should. But, Pixar gives a shit about people and telling a story that actually means something. It's almost guaranteed with Pixar. Look at other production companies and the animated movies they put out the last two years: Minions, Hotel Transylvania 2, Alvin and the Chipmunks 4, Rio 2, Planes, The Nut Job. Yes, not all non-Disney/Pixar movies are bad. There's some hidden gems (like The Lego Movie), but it appears Pixar has the monopoly on well-rounded, fun, emotionally taut, fantastic family animated films. Then, a branch of Disney started making their own animated films separate from Pixar and they've been nothing less than stellar: Tangled, Frozen, Big Hero 6, Wreck-it Ralph, and now Zootopia. I say this with zero hyperbole: Zootopia may be the best animated film I've ever seen.
We begin with Judy Hopps, a teeny-tiny bunny rabbit with big dreams of leaving her podunk bunny town and moving to Zootopia to become a police officer. She's tiny (and don't call her cute), but she's got a ton of heart. She finishes top of her class and finds her way to Zootopia where she isn't taken seriously and is put on parking duty. There, she meets a con-artist fox, Nick, who winds up being an important ally in an on-going missing persons case within the city. Judy has to prove herself, not just to her gruff police chief, but to the entire city that thinks a tiny little bunny won't amount to anything more than a carrot farmer. And while the film follows Judy and Nick in their attempt to solve the case, it really isn't about that. The heart of the film is a beautiful message of racial equality. Judging one another based on stereotypes (a bunny could never be a cop, a fox can never be anything but a predator) and a serious commentary about said equality, especially now. Racial tensions in this country have always been high and it's forever going to be an embarrassing stain on our country's history, but it's films like Zootopia that has the opportunity to open ignorant eyes in 2016 which is something very powerful.
Racial inequality is not the only embarrassing aspect of being an American... especially right now with a few specific candidates running for President on a platform of nothing but mere hate. When Donald Trump wants to ban all Muslims or build a wall separating this country and Mexico, and he's still the favorite to be the Republican nominee... something is seriously wrong. Zootopia was released in the perfect time to be able to add the ongoing dialogue of the pervasive problems surrounding our American culture and society and the way we treat others who are different than us. The way we lump all Muslims together when it's a religion of peace and a few radical terrorist groups have been able to successfully exploit the religion's name is appalling, but not surprising in this country. We are a people who base our lives around what we fear. If that brown dude wearing that tarp thing on his head is sitting next to you on a plane-- do you immediately think he has a bomb? And yes, racism itself is never going to end, but when pieces of art like Zootopia can get ignorant brains to start working again... it may actually make a difference in the lives a few people.
This wasn't meant to be turned into some preachy rant... and that's what's great about the movie-- it's got a strong message without being preachy. It's not exactly subtle in its message, but if you're not looking for one, it might be easy to overlook. Whatever the case may be, it's a fun, fantastic, funny, and important film, especially now, that everyone should see. Whether you're a fan of animated films or not-- this is one to take anyone you know to. Especially kids. Let's cut the hate while they're young.
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