Zootopia is to 2016 what Inside Out was to 2015. 

Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) dreams of becoming the first ever bunny police officer. Having graduated at the top of her class at the police academy, she is sent to Zootopia, where her Chief, Bogo (Idris Elba), and fellow officers cannot take her seriously. There are 14 missing animal cases to work, but Hopps is placed on parking duty, merely because she is a bunny rabbit. Will Judy get the chance to prove herself?

Judy Hopps serves as a wonderful protagonist. Not only is she is driven to succeed, she believes in herself. Jason Bateman’s Nick the fox may be sly, but also has a big heart. The two make a powerful duo. The supporting voice cast is excellent too – from Idris Elba’s moody chief Bogo, to Nate Torrence’s cuddly Clawhauser, who provides endless humour with his Gazelle app and donut consumption. Shakira’s role in the film, though only small, was nonetheless effective in anchoring her song “Try Everything” to reinforce the positive message and themes. Together, this voice cast make for a humourous viewing experience. The characters aren’t the only significant element to this film, the narrative proves to be original and delivers a touching message regarding diversity, as well as following your dreams.

Humour is another key element to this artistic animation. The sloths at the DMV are hilarious! The intertextuality paying homage to the Godfather is very clever and is sure to put a smile on your face, particularly “Mr.Big” and company…Paying extra for 3D isn’t necessary to enjoy the adventure and magic. Visually, Zootopia is particularly inventive; the city is laid out in different habitats for each of the animals: The Burrows (where the population goes up by the minute), the Rainforest, Sahara Square, and Tundra Town. No form of detail has been overlooked, the city accommodates huge elephants to tiny hamsters. A fascinating aspect to Zootopia is how closely it resembles our generation; from face-timing on their iPhones’, to playing apps, and visiting coffee shops.

Zootopia makes for a delightful, clever animation, which is politically and culturally meaningful under the surface. This only emphasises further how Disney shouldn’t be churning out live actions one after the other in order for the cash to roll in. Their original content is simply their best, their most refreshing, and by far their most rewarding.