Zootopia (2016) ft. Ryan H.
- Thomas Duncan
- Mar 4
- 4 min read
Guest:
Ryan H.
GMOAT Superfan
Cast:
Byron Howard and Rich Moore, Directors
Jared Bush and Phil Johnston, Writers
Nathan Warner and Brian Leach, Cinematographers
Fabienne Rawley and Jeremy Milton, Editors
Michael Giacchino, Music
Ginnifer Goodwin as Judy Hopps
Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde
Idris Elba as Chief Bogo
Jenny Slate as Dawn Bellwether
Nate Torrence as Benjamin Clawhauser
Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Hopps
Don Lake as Stu Hopps
Tommy Chong as Yax
J. K. Simmons as Leodore Lionheart
Octavia Spencer as Mrs. Otterton
Alan Tudyk as Duke Weaselton
Shakira as Gazelle
Background:
Zootopia was released on March 4, 2016.
On a budget of roughly $150 million, Zootopia would gross over $1 billion at the worldwide box office for 2016 finishing at #4 for that year (1. Capt. America: Civil War, 2. Rogue One - Star Wars, 3. Finding Dory).
Critics were almost universally positive on the film at the time with most singling out its themes for praise.
Zootopia was included in the AFI Top 10 of the year in 2016, and it won the award for Best Animated Feature for 2016.
Since its release, Zootopia has had a streaming TV show spin-off and a overwhelmingly successful sequel in 2025.
Zootopia currently holds a 98% among critics on RT, a 78 score on Metacritic, and a 3.8/5 on Letterboxd.
Plot Summary: Zootopia is an animated comedy about a city where animals live and work just like humans. The story follows Judy Hopps, voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin, a small-town rabbit who becomes the first bunny police officer in the big city of Zootopia. Judy is excited to prove herself, but she quickly learns that the job is harder than she expected. When several predator animals go missing, she volunteers to solve the case, even though no one believes she can handle it. To crack the mystery, Judy teams up with a clever but untrustworthy fox named Nick Wilde, voiced by Jason Bateman. As they follow clues across the city, they uncover a conspiracy that threatens the peace between predators and prey.
Did You Know:
Originally, the film focused on Nick Wilde. Test audiences said they struggled to connect emotionally with him and felt more drawn to Judy Hopps, so the story was adjusted.
Nick Wilde's design is heavily based on the title character of Disney's Robin Hood (1973) (who is also a fox).
Chief Bogo's name is taken from the Swahili word "mbogo," meaning buffalo.
Duke Weaselton is voiced by Alan Tudyk, who also voiced the Duke of Weselton (often mispronounced Weaseltown) in Frozen (2013). In contrast to the character of the latter, Judy mispronounces Duke's last name as "Weselton" in this movie.
During her train ride to Zootopia, before Judy chooses Gazelle, she listens to various artists on her music device. These include The Beagles, Black Sable, Catty Perry, Destiny's Cub, Ewe 2, Fleetwood Yak, Fur Fighters, Gun N' Rodents, Hyena Gomez, Kanine West, and Mick Jaguar.
Best Performance: The Story/Jason Bateman (Nick)/JK Simmons (Lionheart)
Best Secondary Performance: Ginnifer Goodwin (Judy)
Most Charismatic Award: Raymond S. Persi (Flash)/Alan Tudyk (Duke)
Best Scene:
Childhood Bully
Popsicle Scam
DMV
Jaguar Chase
New Mayor
Reconciliation
Blueberries
Favorite Scene: Blueberries/DMV/Childhood Bully
Most Indelible Moment: DMV/Blueberries/Childhood Bully
In Memorium:
Eric Dane, 53, American actor (Grey's Anatomy, The Last Ship, Euphoria)
Billy Steinberg, 75, American songwriter ("Like a Virgin", "True Colors", "Eternal Flame")
Frederick Wiseman, 96, American documentarian (Titicut Follies, Ex Libris)
Tom Noonan, 74, American actor (Manhunter, Heat, Last Action Hero)
Best Lines/Funniest Lines:
Chief Bogo: Life isn't some cartoon musical where you sing a little song and all your insipid dreams magically come true.
Stu Hopps: Well, we gave up on our dreams and we settled, right, Bon?
Bonnie Hopps: Oh, yes, that's right, Stu. We settled hard.
Stu Hopps: See? That's the beauty of complacency, Jude. If you don't try anything new, you'll never fail!
Mr. Big: We may be evolved, but, deep down, we are still animals.
Nick Wilde: It's called a hustle, sweetheart.
Chief Bogo: The world has always been broken, that's why we need good cops.
Nick Wilde: What do you call a three-humped camel?
Flash: I don't... know. What... do... you... call... a... three-humped... camel?
Nick Wilde: Pregnant!
Young Hopps: [Referring to Gideon Grey, with determination] Well, he was right about one thing. I don't know when to quit!
Judy Hopps: Wait. They're all SLOTHS? You said this was going to be quick!
Nick Wilde: [in mock surprise] Are you saying that because he's a sloth he can't be fast? I thought in Zootopia, anyone could be anything.
Nick Wilde: Never let them see that they get to you.
Chief Bogo: There are some new recruits with us I should introduce. But I'm not going to, because I don't care.
The Stanley Rubric:
Legacy: 7.83
Impact/Significance: 9.17
Novelty: 8
Classic-ness: 8
Rewatchability: 7.67
Audience Score: 8.9 (86% Google, 92% RT)
Total: 49.57
Remaining Questions:
How was the predator target list determined?
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