Zootopia

Zootopia is known to many as one of the most anticipated Disney movies to have released in 2016. 3D animated with two gorgeous characters forced to work together past their conflicting personalities, the film was a box office hit. Topped with great humor and an interesting plot, there's no doubting how great of a family and friend movie Zootopia truly is.

Plot

Judy Hopps is a bunny with quite a large dream. From the rural area of Bunnybarrow, she hopes to rise against the norm of becoming a carrot farmer much like her mother and father. From a young age, she's always dreamt of becoming a police officer serving the vast streets of Zootopia.

As years pass, she reaches her dream after graduating from police academy as valedictorian, but Judy soon realizes that the stereotypes are placed heavily here in this Utopian city as she's placed on parking duty while the other more culturally acceptable creatures are investigating the case of missing animals.

Regardless of such a disappointment, Judy tries hard to impress Chief Bogo and excels at her job of being a "meter maid", handing out one hundred tickets before noon.

During her shift, Judy stops to find a fox acting as shady as the stereotypes condone them. After falling for Nick Wilde's antics, it's not until later that she realizes she's been hustled.

Outraged by his pessimistic ways, Judy continues her work before thrusting herself onto the case of Emmett Otterson—a missing otter that has yet to be found by the authorities. Infuriating Chief Bogo in the process and forced to investigate without proper tools or the equal opportunity as her peers, Judy has to confide in Nick once more for questioning and help.

Soon, the two are thrown together in this pristine investigation that leads to a very dark, demented ending where no predator nor prey is safe.

Overall

I'm honestly very critical of Disney these days, especially since they're nothing as beautiful as the ones released back in the 90's or early 2000's. This is the first year I've decided to go in and watch a few Disney movies in theaters though I'm thoroughly opposed to it, and the only reason why I went was purely against my own will. My two close friends are suckers for these types of things, so there's no doubting they'd drag me along. I had no expectation for this movie to say the least, but my goodness did Zootopia surprise even me.

The movie in itself is possibly the cutest thing I've ever seen with comedic action after comedic action. I almost lost it at the opening scene where little bunny Judy with her peers were hosting a play. From the tax evading cub lawyer to his musical friend, I along with the audience (a full one almost a month after its release) nearly lost it.

This is a perfect combination of everything I've ever wanted to see. It's clear that Judy—a bunny—has to play against the stereotypes that are placed upon her because she's a rabbit with two carrot farmers for parents. Then there's other characters who are put up to their standards such as the "shady fox" for Nick or the aggressive personality prey's put on the predator's though they've lived in harmony for centuries on end.

There's so much of this movie that we could relate to real life.

We have people labeling others in a fearful manner without realizing that inside, we're all the same. The actions of one don't label all and I think that's something many people need to understand. Hate breeds hate and brings no justice in the end and gosh, if an ending so sweet like Zootopia could happen in real life, we could possibly end prejudice against race and culture.

Now, with all that said, I can happily discuss my love for Nick Wilde. Oh my goodness because I didn't know he was voiced by Jason Bateman! The minute I saw this sly yet vulnerably adorable fox and then heard his voice, I fell completely in love (and may have been slightly conflicted because he's animated and a fox). Then Chief Bogo voiced by Idris Elba took me off guard much like when I found out he voiced Shere Khan in The Jungle Book.

Disney, why are you doing this to me?

But I will say on a parting note how much I absolutely love the fact that Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde were the farthest thing from lovers. I thought for sure they'd pair up as some sort of romantic duo halfway through the movie, but their relationship was fully platonic and it just brought me immense joy.

From Breaking Bad references to well developed characters, Zootopia is bound to grant you as much joy as it granted me with a cast of amazing voice actors and actresses.