Zootopia (2016)

Development of the film that would come to be called Zootopia began when Byron Howard pitched six-story ideas to Disney Animation chief creative officer and executive producer John Lasseter, of which three involved animal characters: an all-animal adaptation of The Three Musketeers,^[1] a 1960s-themed story about a "mad doctor cat...who turned children into animals", and a "bounty hunter pug in space".^[2] The common thread running through these ideas was that Howard wanted to do a film similar to Disney's Robin Hood, which also featured animals in anthropomorphic roles.^[3] According to Howard, Zootopia emerged from his desire to create something different from other animal anthropomorphic films, where animals either live in the natural world or in the human world. His concept, in which animals live in a modern world designed by animals for animals, was well received by Lasseter, who responded by embracing and lifting Howard "in the air like a baby Simba".^[4] Lasseter suggested that Howard should try combining the 1960s theme with the animal characters, especially the space pug.^[2] This led Howard to develop and pitch Savage Seas, an international spy film centered on an arctic hare named "Jack Savage" who was somewhat like James Bond.^[2][5] It was around this time that screenwriter Jared Bush was hired to work on the film; he was excited to work on a spy film because his own father and grandfather had worked for the Central Intelligence Agency.^[2]

Howard and Bush continued to develop the film with the assistance of the Disney Story Trust, the studio's top creative personnel who meet regularly to review and discuss all projects in development.^[5] The most delightful part of the spy film turned out to be its first act, set in a city created by and for animals.^[2] To focus on the all-animal city, Howard eventually dropped the 1960s setting, along with the espionage and international aspects, and changed the film into a contemporary police procedural in which Nick Wilde was the lead role and Judy Hopps was essentially his sidekick.^[2][5][6] For a while, "the filmmakers were very committed" to that version of the story,^[5] but then in November 2014, the filmmakers realized the film's plot would be more engaging if they reversed the roles to instead focus on Hopps as opposed to Wilde.^[6] The change in perspective involved dropping several characters, including two characters known as "The Gerbil Jerks" who were described as "trust-fund gerbils that had nothing better to do than harass Nick."^[7]

In May 2013, The Hollywood Reporter initially reported that Howard was directing the film and that Jason Bateman had been cast, but little else about the film was known at the time.^[8] Zootopia was first officially announced on August 10, 2013, at the D23 Expo, with a March 2016 release date.^[3][9]

Research for the film took place in Disney's Animal Kingdom, as well as in Kenya and the San Diego Zoo Safari Park, where animators spent eight months studying various animals' walk cycles as well as fur color.^[10][11] Eight hundred thousand forms of mammals were created for and featured in the film.^[11] To make the characters' fur even more realistic, they also went to the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County to closely observe the appearance of fur with a microscope under a variety of lighting.^[12][11] The filmmakers drew inspiration for Zootopia's urban design from major cities including New York City, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Paris, Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Brasília.^[13] To develop a city that could actually be inhabited by talking mammals ranging in size from two inches (5.1 cm) to 27 feet (8.2 m) and from drastically different climates, the filmmakers consulted Americans with Disabilities Act specialists and HVAC system designers.^[14] For assistance with designing motor vehicles appropriate for so many different types and sizes of mammals, the filmmakers consulted with J Mays, former chief creative officer of the Ford Motor Company.^[15] During the development process, Walt Disney Studios chairman Alan F. Horn suggested that Nick should expressly state his disappointment ("Just when I thought someone actually believed in me...") after discovering that Judy still fears him as a predator.^[16] In March 2015, it was revealed that Rich Moore (Wreck-It Ralph) had been added as a director of the film, in addition to Jared Bush (Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero) as co-director.^[17]

Untitled Zootopia sequel (TBA)

In June 2016, Howard and Moore were in talks about the possibility of a Zootopia sequel.^{[18][19][20][21][22]} On February 8, 2023, Disney CEO Bob Iger announced that a sequel to Zootopia was in the works.^[23] Later that day, screenwriter Jared Bush confirmed that he was working on the film,^[24] while Josie Trinidad was confirmed as the film's co-director.^[25] Ginnifer Goodwin told CinemaBlend that she'd like to see a role reversal between Judy and Nick in the sequel, stating that she "would like to see Nick have to be the one to convince Judy that the world is worth fighting for." Jason Bateman also told CinemaBlend about his idea for the sequel: "The two of us [Nick and Judy] kicking ass out there. Cleaning up the streets. We're a couple of new cops out there. So, bad guys, be warned."^[26]

Zootopia+ (2022)

The anthology series features six stories that take place during the events of the original film.^[27] On December 10, 2020, Walt Disney Animation Studios chief creative officer Jennifer Lee announced that a spin-off series titled Zootopia+ and based on the 2016 film Zootopia is in development at the studio for Disney+.^[28] Trent Correy and Josie Trinidad, who worked as an animator and head of story for the film, respectively, were set to direct the series.^[28] The idea for the series was suggested by Correy during a pitch presentation in 2020, as one of three pitches for potential Disney+ series; he developed a pitch for a Zootopia series due to his interest in wanting to further explore the film's world and characters.^[29][30][31] Trinidad was originally set to direct only two episodes for the series, but her excitement to work on the project caused her to be ascended to co-director for the entire series alongside Cortney.^[30] The series was produced remotely due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which complicated the production process according to producer Nathan Curtis.^[32][30] Correy's pitch featured 10 stories, but four of them had to be discarded due to receiving a 6-episode order.^[33] Lee executive-produces the series alongside Zootopia co-directors and Encanto directors Byron Howard and Jared Bush.^[30]

Zootopia

Zootopia is a modern city and the main setting of the franchise. There are 12 unique ecosystems within the city limits between its different districts which include:

• Tundratown -
• Sahara Square -
• Rainforest District -
• Savanna Central -
• Little Rodentia -
• Meadowlands -
• Outback Island -
• Canal District -

Bunnyburrow

Bunnyburrow is a rural neighborhood and the birth place of the franchise's protagonist Judy Hopps.

Box office performance

Critical and public reception

Reviews

Awards

The film was chosen by the American Film Institute as one of the top ten films of 2016,^[39] and won the Academy Award,^[40] Golden Globe, Critics Choice Movie Award and Annie Award for Best Animated Feature Film. It also received a nomination for the BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film, which it lost to Kubo and the Two Strings.^[41][42]

Soundtracks

Singles