Underlined message in Zootopia

Zootopia is a classic tale of an unlikely hero who gets an unlikely job as a cop and has to team up with an unlikely partner (a fox) to take down an unlikely villain. Sounds exactly like a typical Disney movie but just like most Disney movies, this one has hidden messages. Instead of having subtle jokes only adults can understand, in this movie the filmmakers decided to tackle a big topic; race.

The animals in Zootopia live in harmony where the prey and predators get along. It is the kind of harmony that we as humans live in where we put up with similar social stigmas and social issues. In the film, small bunny rabbit Judy Hopps, dreams about being a police officer. This dream was looked at as embarrassing or plain hilarious by adult animals in the film. If she was to become a cop, she would be the first rabbit cop in Zootopia. She finally gets her chance as authority (parking warden) but is constantly put down and patronised for her efforts to becoming something more until she is down to her last chance at becoming a real officer. Harmony is broken in the town and animals suddenly turn savage. It is up to Judy Hopps and her new partner Nick Wilde (the fox) to solve the mystery.

Disney has made this animation very carefully, unlike other Disney animals, Zootopians walk on two legs which make us connect to them more, however; they still have their animal characteristics. What I liked about this film is that although it had many references to human society and relationships, it didn’t connect certain species to specific racial groups. To express human and racial stereotypes the filmmakers used animal stereotypes (e.g. the fox was not trustworthy, predators were savages). The film showed how unhelpful and rude it can be to base an animal or person on their entire species or race.

Throughout the film, many racial references and stereotypes can be picked up. When the officer at the desk says to Judy that she is way cuter than he thought she was going to be; Judy replies with; “you probably didn’t know but; a bunny can call another bunny cute but when other animals do it, that’s a little...” The officer apologises as he realised his behaviour was inappropriate. This scene instantly reminds viewers about the use of “N-word” and who may and may not use it.

At first, the fox in the film does live up to his stereotypes but later in the film it is explained that the reason he acts the way he does is because of how society treats him. The whole idea of ‘if the whole world is going to see a fox as untrustworthy then there’s no point being anything more’. Using animals as a metaphor for social issues is an interesting approach as it softens the harshness or reality and yet makes the older viewers think about the topic while it may subconsciously teach children positive values.

Judy has been raised to fear foxes, she was bullied as a kid and she does not have a trust for Nick’s kind. This is easily connected to human life as people are often brought up to prefer one group of people and fear people with certain characteristics. As rabbits and foxes are natural enemies it was interesting to see them put together as partners. They learnt to like each other and Judy even says “but you’re not like them!” which strengthens the idea that there is a “them” and an “us” the ‘my’ kind and ‘your’ kind. There is a differentiation between species and/or races and people often have a bias towards one.

Racism has become so universalised that we sometimes don’t even realise how much our actions can affect others. The film shows how even good people can resort to stereotyping but happily at the end, they both overcome society’s views on species and become friends and brilliant partners just like we as humans should.