Zootopia: The Sophisticated Disney Flick?

While it’s always irked me somewhat that animation is perpetually perceived to be universally for children, I’m actually rather surprised that this assumption prevails despite the evident expansion of the animated genre in recent years, and its evolution into a more lucid representation of our (at times hypocritical) political landscape. Disney’s latest feature film release Zootopia tackles the subject of politics more astutely and boldly than any other movie in their canon, and touches upon some surprisingly mature and ‘human’ themes. Having now seen the film more than once, I feel comfortable in proclaiming that I believe Zootopia succeeds in epitomising the anthropomorphic genre, with a sophisticated societal commentary that is of such profundity that we’re left without any choice but to expect only greater things from what is already a powerfully successful and world-renowned company.

That said, the growing relevance of the animated movie also anticipates some detrimental qualities. A film as sharp as Zootopia is only so meaningful to an audience in the sense that it delineates an unequivocally 21^st-century landscape; which is fine – only it precipitates an inevitable decline in relevance over an unfixed amount of time. Sure, the film will always bear meaning to an extent, but the fact remains that this movie arrived at just the right time, when prejudice and stereotypes are unfortunately rife (particularly where race and gender are concerned) and the western political environment remains unsettling at best. Indeed, much of Zootopia’s humour derives from a surprisingly cynical (yet light-hearted) take on 21^st century lives, attitudes and technologies. As with many other Disney movies, it’s highly moralistic – a fable, if you will – but manages to conduct its hilariously truthful commentary without becoming too preachy.

Judy Hopps - a 'bunny cop'; Disney, 2016

Again, this raises the question ‘who is this film aimed at?’ which, typically, is a difficult question to answer, perhaps more so than usual. Much of the humour is very adult-oriented. Sure, kids will laugh at sloths – they’re hilariously slow and the comic timing is perfect. But the funniest aspect of that scene is that they’re employees of the DMV – a joke that is more likely to resonate with older audiences than younger ones. The same goes for the ‘Naturalist Club’ scenes, and a surprisingly well-executed Godfather parody. It’s incredibly sophisticated for such a bright and colourful movie whose protagonist is a bunny rabbit. Ultimately, this rather makes me question what age range appreciates this masterpiece more. It almost feels as though the animated flick has grown alongside me, and finally reached a peak that is more than a challenge to equal.

While there are few animated Disney features that I would consider ‘bad’, I’ve noticed a definite evolution in their sophistication and originality – ironically at a time when Pixar, a company once renowned for its original efforts, has plummeted to the depths of mediocrity. Since 2009, the Disney flick (with the exception of Frozen (2013)) has arguably improved with its every release. Wreck-It Ralph (2012) proved that a heartfelt, solid narrative could be dictated in the world of a video-game arcade, while Big Hero 6 (2014), though predictable, managed to maintain a touching, hilarious and ultimately gripping story. Zootopia not only continues this winning streak, but transcends it with its sharp commentary on contemporary culture. However, while one can often easily identify the period in which a movie was released, either by its soundtrack or artistic style, the majority of animated flicks remain timeless. Whether Zootopia’s very modern setting bears the same deep-rooted transparency remains to be seen.

Disney, 2016