onsdag 31. mars 2021

"Zootopia" - The Metropolitan and Anthropomorphist Revival Animal Movie That Became a Surprising Success

Hi folks! Welcome to my My Own Personal Nerdy Disney and Animation Scrutinizing Analysis blog. A blog where I'm analyzing several Disney films, Disney or Animation in general! These entries are just meant to be my analyses. Not reviews or statements. Just fun analyses! Though I'll make some personal remarks now and then, the content of these entries are meant to be depicted objectively. They're made for entertainment purpose only and the pictures/clips are copyright Disney or other companies. 

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And finally; If you haven't seen the films, beware of spoilers! And the funny lines aren't meant to be nothing than funny. So I hope you won't find them offensive. If so, I apologize

 
 
 
I`m leaning on Judy to show who`s on top of the food chain :)

 
 
Don`t worry, they`re not
poisonous, despite coming from
a fox :)
In the Revival era came a little movie which not only became a critical success, but an unexpected pivotal hit. Which was Zootopia. Being released in March 2016, Zootopia was a movie that took everyone by surprise. It was a part of Disney`s winning streak of successes from the Revival era. It was the first of two releases from 2016 (preceeding the more traditional Moana). Yet Zootopia`s success was nothing but unexpected (gaining $341,268,248 Domestically and $1,023,784,195 Worldwide).
We`re all the part of the same
family :)
It`s interesting to examinate the non-Princess movies from the Revival era. While the movies that`s been traditionally Disney have been the Princess movies, the other ones have managed to be distinctive in their own way. The Wreck-It-Ralph movies explored the video game venture, while Big Hero 6 was the Marvel mashup and Disney`s own take of a superhero movie.
Don`t worry, the 3D are not
for those who are allergic :)
This makes Zootopia a departure from both of them. Despite that Zootopia is overflown with trademarks of the Revival era (trademarks that people have been sick of, as the sparring dynamic between a duo of each gender). Yet regarding Zootopia`s success, Bob Iger thought it would just be a sleeper hit. Yet Zootopia received a name change with Zootropolis in some regions (in order to have a unique title which worked for UK audiences). Being helmed by half of the crew of Wreck-It-Ralph (Rich Moore, Clark Spencer, Phil Johnston) and Tangled (Byron Howard), Zootopia is Disney`s 55th full-length feature. Zootopia was released in IMAX 3D, being the first Disney animated film shown in domestic IMAX theatres since Treasure Planet. Zootopia also won the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature Film.
 
 
 








Another Anthrophormized Animal Movie From Disney

Even a fox can be busted :)
Yeah, we`re trying to
outshine each other :)
That`s what narcissism
does to ya :)
In reality, Zootopia pretty much does something that Disney have done priorly: Portraying a world of anthrophormized animals. While that being said, Zootopia was somewhat destined to fall into the same trap of Disney`s previous, anthrophomorized animal movie in CGI, Chicken Little. Since Chicken Little was percevied for being a failure creatively by both critics and audiences, Zootopia had much to live up to. After all, the comparisons between Zootopia and Chicken Little are fair enough.
This is our family tree :)
It`s huge, huh? :)
For the lone reason of them both being anthrophomorized animal movies. But forutnately Zootopia turned out to be critically superior than Little (and while I`ll confess that there were parts of Little that I enjoyed, it was overall a lackluster movie in every single way). But since Disney loves to harken back to their hand drawn past, another relevant comparison would`ve been Robin Hood. After all, both of them have rabbits and foxes, and Nick happpens to be a proof of how Disney does male foxes well. Unsurprsingly, the ruler of this kingdom is a lion (which was a deliberate choice, for how the lion being a ruler. Another nod to Robin Hood). Yet remarkably enough, monkeys aren`t shown in the film. For resembling humans too much.









 
Zootopia `s Social Commentary & Lead Characters

Yeah, I`m a con artist
in a cop suit :)
What`s remarkable about Zootopia is it`s social commentary. How it manages to portray it`s subject with such intriguing scrutiny (which is the reason why there`s only mammals in the story). Which is culminated in how Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) has to face the stigma of being a bunny who wants to be a cop (which makes Zootopia the first Disney feature since Who Framed Roger Rabbit to have a bunny as the lead character). It also has the achetypical trope of Judy being a country girl who travels to the city. And how her counterpart Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) also faces a similar hurdle.
This hat makes me
seem more rodent
neutral :)
The social commentary is Zootopia`s biggest strength and something the movie deserves kudos for. Which was the reason why Moore was attracted by the project. And while Zootopia  received some backlash for it (for being a kids' version of Crash and being an allegory of American racism), it has mostly received positive feedback (and for acknowledging culpability of systemic racism and white supremacy behind the controversial War on Drugs). But that`s why a fox and rabbit were chosen, for being natural enemies. And the fox was chosen for being what it represents hustler, rogue and the trickster. Yet Howard professed that animation is an amazing medium because you can address complicated issues without targeting them head-on. Yet despite this, the directors didn`t want to make a political movie with a message. Bateman`s involvement was announced in May 2013. Bateman marked his first voice-over work for a feature (who was the only actor in mind for Nick). Chosen for his snarky skills, Batman also brought a heartfelt side (while he asked the directors to how to do the role). Goodwin brought sweetness, tremendous heart and a great sense of humor to Judy. But also a spitfire too. Moore describes Judy as "a little Pollyanna mixed with Furiosa". Referring to Charlize Theron's no-nonsense Mad Max: Fury Road character.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Zootopia `s Modern Approach and Pop Culture References
 
Yes, this suit makes me feel
great, even though I`m small :)
Either way, Zootopia was clearly made for an modern audience in mind. With a lot of pop culture references (the songs which Judy plas on the radio and modern gagets, like iPhones. And even with a snarky comment about the past of CD uses and a reference to Disney`s Princess tropes by Chief Bogo. And yeah, there`s a mockery on sloths as well (which earned big laughs from the Cannes crowd). As well as a reference to The Godfather and to Disney`s bootleg copies (even for the deleted Gigantic). While this would be another thing it has in common to Chicken Little, at least it`s done most tastefuly in Zootopia. Since Chicken Little was clearly done in a way to emulate the DreamWorks mold, anyways.












 Zootopia `s Plotline

I`m trying to be appealing
as well as being smug at
the same time. Quite a task,
but hey, it`s possible :)
Otherwise, the story in Zootopia is conventional and traditional. As it`s basically a story about trust. So it`s needless to say that both Judy and Nick learns to trust each other after distrusting each other at first. The snarky Nick even gets a backstory to provide sympathy for him. And while the social commentary may be a little overt and obvious, it`s still executed skillfully and cleverly. And it gives most of the characters some genuine arcs (especially Judy`s parents). And yes, it also has the Revival trope of a surprise villain (who doesn`t even get to develop to be a villain). Otherwise, regarding it`s genre, Zootopia may be part cop movie and part thriller. But first and foremost a comedy. Yet the creative team wanted to make a thriller. And were inspired from 80's buddy movies, like Lethal Weapon, 48 hours, Trading Places. Yet Byron Howard confirmed that despite Nick and Judy weren't romantically involved, they share a very strong emotional connection.
 
 
 
 
 





Voice Casting & Shakira`s Gazelle

Yes, even a gazelle
can dress sexy :)
Just accept it :)
As for the voice casting, there`s been a couple of famous roles in the parts. As Idris Elba, Bonnie Hunt and even Kristen Bell. YouTube Personality Zach King plays the criminal wolf character Zach. And yes, once again Alan Tudyk voiced a character, who`s name is Duke Weaselton (an in-joke which Tudyk loved). Yet the biggest star of Zootopia is actually Shakira, as the role as Gazelle (as well as singing the song Try Everything, written by Sia and Stargate). Shakira`s involvement was announced seven months before Zootopia`s release). Despite that Gazelle isn`t even a major character. It`s remarkable that it`s taken so long for Shakira to actually lend her voice to an animated movie. While her inclusion has caused mixed reactions, at least it`s nice that she`s finally made it. Shakira wanted Gazelle to have have more curves and got more excited about doing more animation. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
Behind the Scenes
 
We have even pictures of us
each :) For obvious reasons :)
We`ll soon be our own
franchise :) The
Zootopia babies :)
I wanted to play with that
pun so badly :) So that`s why
I have that name :)
This picture was taken when
Nick was injected, so that`s
why he didn`t eat me :)
A bunny can`t use a phone :)
So take it :)
Yes, I know that you think it`s
weird to drive a baby stroller,
but just pretend that you do,
ok? :)
Either way, regarding Zootopia`s success, it was successful enough to warrant a sequel. And while it`s taken a while to confirm it, a sequel will finally arrive in November 2025. However, in November 2022, the limited spinoff series was finally released on Disney Plus. Called Zootopia+, the mini-series is a short collection of shorts which takes the place during the events of the first movie (remarkably enough).










Epilogue
 
Yeah, we`re having a jogging
contest :) But a rodent
shouldn`t win over a fox ;)
Since Zootopia was such a success in every single way, there`s nothing left than to congratulate it for it`s success. While that said, Zootopia is my least favorite film from the Revival era (sorry to those who likes it). It`s not a bad film by any means. I just personally I thought that it didn`t lived up to the hype. Frankly, I thought that both Wreck-it-Ralph and Big Hero 6 were better movies. Nonetheless, Zootopia still deserves credit for what it is. For being a smartly written and cleverly told. But at the end, as this entry was written to it`s Fifth Anniversary, there`s nothing left for me than wish Zootopia Happy Past 5th Anniversary and may you continue to have many more.  
 
 


Yes, this is a certification of our interspecies friendship :)

 
  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iwHXNs64Chk (Academy Conversations: Zootopia)
https://variety.com/2013/film/news/d23-expo-disney-reveals-animated-zootopia-for-2016-1200576434/
https://io9.gizmodo.com/how-disney-fixed-a-huge-mistake-with-zootopia-just-one-1753845684
https://io9.gizmodo.com/inside-secrets-of-zootopia-the-new-film-from-the-maker-1748640504
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/06/05/zootopia-lost-characters-gerbil-jerks-old-goat/85242786/ 
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/06/05/zootopia-mayor-originally-female-pig/85243742/
https://eu.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2016/06/05/zootopia-directors-passing-1-billion-we-hope-theres-cake/85447434/
https://www.cartoonbrew.com/events/annecy-will-host-genndy-tartakovsky-masaaki-yuasa-zootopia-directors-richard-williams-112497.html
https://insidethemagic.net/2015/12/with-next-years-zootopia-walt-disney-animation-studios-promises-a-different-kind-of-talking-animal-movie/  
https://www.engadget.com/2016-03-04-fur-technology-makes-zootopias-bunnies-believable.html?guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly9lbi53aWtpcGVkaWEub3JnLw&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAFN2L_zen0tAo5XUKtb_j_ucM3E9P9tmG7C8OdKmQHAIz2o897Aszl7FLqVOCxm2JyfP0q8-huR8vHZ0SGajrbcN2fj_NPgHKGe0ahb5BbYXmsBnV89IS-AxDhwx8NNdhICFBH03-I7-vQDgymLvuMRZpW9J3PXIqa1rNykU0jyX
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JztLMrNuzO0 (Zootopia: Shakira "Gazelle" Official Movie Interview | ScreenSlam)
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1 kommentar:

  1. jeangreyforever2. april 2021 kl. 12:28

    A very insightful post!

    I didn't know people called this the kids' version of Crash. I know Crash gets a bad reputation for winning the Oscar over Brokeback Mountain (which I have always found overhyped and not as great as it's made out to be) but I'm actually a fan of Crash. That might explain why I love this movie so much as well.

    I had no idea Zootopia started off as an amalgamation of so many different ideas. Very happy the final product wasn't what was originally pitched. I do agree with test audiences that Zootopia feels more Pixar than classic Disney.

    I didn't realize you weren't a big fan of Zootopia. I used to prefer WIR over it (although not anymore after that abysmal sequel) but I've always been lukewarm on Big Hero 6.

    SvarSlett

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