Film Review

Zootropolis Review

Published

10 years ago

March 24, 2016

Admin

Animal Magnetism

♦ Tripwire gave editor-in-chief Joel Meadows the task of reviewing hit Disney animated movie Zootropolis

Zootropolis

Directors: Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Jared Bush

Stars (Voices): Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate

Big-budget animated movies have become rather formulaic and dull in recent years. Pixar still seems capable of the odd surprise but mostly they are twee, predictable and tedious affairs. Zootropolis aka Zootopia in the US doesn’t just break the mold, it drives a large tank through it. A Disney animated film, although Pixar head John Lasseter is executive producer here so it does feel more like a Pixar production than a regular Disney animated picture, Zootropolis gives us a world where predators and prey live seemingly in perfect harmony next to each other. Goodwin is bunny Judy Hopps, who grew up in the sticks but has aspirations of moving to the big city and becoming a police officer. Rabbits are seen as simple country folk and Hopps is mocked for her ambitions but she makes it to Zootropolis where she joins its police force to become embroiled in a case of disappearing animals and prey seemingly returning to their natural inclinations. Hopps partners up with fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman), a loveable rogue who soon becomes her sidekick.

Zootropolis, released as Zootopia in the US, has already had a very impressive box office so far and it isn’t hard to see why. The filmmakers have created a wonderfully rich, vibrant and well-conceived world with every little detail seemingly considered. The train ride that takes Hopps to Zootropolis shows off the multiple environments that exist in the city to facilitate the different animal species that live cheek by claw. Tundra, rainforest and desert all exist in its environs as well as the central district of the city where Hopps is stationed as a police officer, which is more of a traditional urban environment. The film really shows off the skills of its animation team, bringing this fictional world to life with style and vitality.

Zootropolis isn’t just a pretty-looking confection either: the script is a light noirish crime tale with nods to the likes of Breaking Bad and The Godfather, with enough depth to appeal to both adult and younger audiences. Goodwin and Bateman do have character chemistry here and other voices like Elba as the irascible Chief Bogo and JK Simmons as the arrogant mayor Lionheart lend extra weight and gravitas to the whole thing. Little touches like matching particular species of animal to jobs like Flash the sloth who works at the department of motor vehicles gives it another layer too. It feels very much like a film where every aspect has been honed and crafted to perfection. Attention to detail is everything here. Zootropolis is clever, witty, likeable and ingenious and likely to do great business in the UK as it has in the rest of the world. A sequel or followup is inevitable but with a fictional world that has such potential, if they can maintain the quality of this film, then it will be a very welcome addition to future film schedules. Disney has created the finest animated film in around a decade or so and co-directors Howard, Moore and Bush, with the signficant assistance of the rest of their team, should be applauded