Sunday, August 14, 2016

Summer of Magic- "Zootopia"

This is it, folks: the final Disney film in the Summer of Magic. We began this journey of revisiting and reviewing all of the Disney animated films in the official canon over three months ago, travelling all the way back in time to 1937 with Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs. Today, to borrow a quote from Dame Judi Dench in her narration on Spaceship Earth, we come to the present. Fifty-five films in their canon and Disney is still churning out classic after classic. While we have surely experienced some missteps over the years, one thing is certain: there really is nothing like a classic Disney animated film. The timeless logic of saving the best for last is rather applicable for today's film. Continuing the theme from the third Golden Age of proclaiming bold messages while not sacrificing the entertaining magic, Zootopia is one of the studio's modern day crowning achievements. Utilizing legendary characters to create unparalleled comedy and teach invaluable lessons, Zootopia is a film that accomplishes all of the essential goals of becoming a Disney classic: it entertains, inspires, and challenges. We may have only lived with this film for a few months now, but it without a doubt a genuine masterpiece and one of Disney's finest films to date.

(We've reached a point in the summer where it is possible that you may not have seen some these films, so potential spoilers are present from here on)

Can we first talk about how great the characters in Zootopia are? Not only has Disney brought to life one instant icon in this film; they brought to life two instant icons in Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, two of my new favorite characters in the canon (Nick Wilde is actually my character choice on My Disney Experience). Judy Hopps is just an incredible character filled with complexity and classic Disney elements. From the beginning, we understand that Judy is not your typical carrot-growing bunny (much to the dismay of her parents). As her father explains to her the importance of settling and not striving to achieve her dreams in one of the many hilarious sequences to be found in this film, Judy simply shakes it off and boldly continues to dream about becoming Zootopia's first bunny police officer. Her optimism and positive attitude are absolutely infectious, allowing us to fully invest into the life of this legendary character from the moment she first graces the screen with her presence. Disney could not have found a more perfect actress to voice Judy as Ginnifer Goodwin turns in a career-best performance here, effortlessly blending the hilarity of the film's brilliant script with the seriousness of its intended themes. Judy Hopps is one of those characters for the ages, and undoubtedly one of Disney's finest creations in the studio's illustrious history of creating characters for the ages. You could probably tell from the fact that Nick Wilde is the character for My Disney Experience that I love this sly, charming fox. He is simply awesome, to put it plainly. Insanely complex and relentlessly funny, Nick Wilde is yet another character for the ages to be found in Zootopia (you guessed it: more on Nick below). Whenever Judy and Nick are onscreen together (and thankfully, that happens often in this film), it may just be the greatest duo dynamic Disney or Pixar has ever created, rivaling such iconic friendships as Buzz and Woody or Timon and Pumbaa.

Whenever you have two legends leading the way, it is imperative that the supporting ensemble follows suit, and they most certainly do as Zootopia is filled with exuberant characters that make this film feel so rich and unprecedented in terms of character. The Zootopia Police Department contains some excellent characters, especially Clawhauser and Chief Bogo (exquisitely voiced by Nate Torrence and Idris Elba, respectively). Mayor Lionheart and Assistant Mayor Bellwether are obviously very integral to the conflict that arises in the film, and JK Simmons and Jenny Slate are downright superb in these roles. The film also contains a number of straight scene-stealers, such as everyone's favorite sloth Flash, Shakira's Gazelle (who flawlessly performs the terrific "Try Everything"), and Mr. Big. Also,  I would like to take this opportunity to wholeheartedly applaud Disney for their creative naming of these characters. This may sound like a simple task to complete, but I assure you it most definitely is not, and Disney makes it look super easy with these amazing names. Furthermore, Don Lake and Bonnie Hunt expertly voice the sheltered, but well intentioned parents of Judy, and yes, Alan Tudyk does appear in this film in all of his glory as Duke Weaselton (I mean, come on! He voiced the Duke of Weselton in Frozen! How can a group of people be so creative?!). This cast is perfect, and the film's characters are perfect. The cornerstone to Disney's success in its third Golden Age has been its concerted focus on creating great characters; in fact, if you track Disney's most successful times throughout its cinematic history, it is all because of their characters. In Zootopia, the studio has not only created this ridiculously beautiful and inventive world, but they have also brought to life ridiculously beautiful and inventive characters to inhabit this world. This film does not only boast the greatest ensemble of characters from the third Golden Age; this is one of Disney's best ensembles ever period, worthy to be mentioned in the same breath as the ensembles from Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King.

We have grown to expect greatness with Disney's animation throughout its history; even when the film fails from a character or story standpoint, usually the animation is an unquestioned highlight. It would be quite difficult to think of more breathtaking sequence then the one when Judy first arrives in Zootopia. With "Try Everything" accompanying the masterclass of artistry on display, Disney builds this awe-inspiring world with immense detail and precision, giving life to this city before we even meet its citizens. From there, they only continue to raise the bar in such scenes as Judy's chase of Duke and the final climatic sequence. Now, it is time for my obligatory praise of a Michael Giacchino score. I have said it before, and I will say it again: the man is simply a genius. His score for Zootopia is stunning, audacious, epic, and downright gorgeous. I must give it up to directors Byron Howard, Rich Moore, and Jared Bush also. They successfully lead production of one of Disney's most thoroughly entertaining and thought-provoking films to date, and that is not an easy balance to achieve. Their vision was well defined and therefore well executed. Speaking of the thought-provoking nature of the film, one cannot finish watching Zootopia without soon igniting a conversation about its profound messages and challenging themes. Confronting such a major social issue as racism is an extremely bold move on Disney's part, but with the director's steady hand and the perfect script, Zootopia begins a dialogue that few films have ever generated so effectively. This all works, though, because of those characters. If the characters are weak, we could not care less about these messages. However, because we do care for these characters, we hear their proclamations loud and clear, and what a powerful plea it is. Only Disney could pull off such a feat.

Zootopia is simply a classic and a masterpiece. If you disagree with that assessment, I guess you have every right to be wrong, but I just don't understand how someone could hate on this glorious piece of filmmaking. Years from now, when someone else does a Summer of Magic and they come to Zootopia, I believe they will be ringing the very same praises. Its characters are unrivaled, its story unprecedented, its themes unending, and its timelessness unquestioned. Zootopia is a film Walt would have been extremely proud of.

Rating: 10/10

Historical Significance: Initially, Nick Wilde was intended to be the main character with Judy Hopps taking more of a secondary role. However, when the studio began test screening the film, the audience had a difficult time emotionally connecting with Nick as the leading character, but they loved Judy Hopps instantly. The character roles were swapped, and that is when Rich Moore was brought in to direct alongside Byron Howard with Jared Bush becoming a co-director (it seems as if audiences were able to perfectly connect with Nick emotionally as a "secondary" character, so the change worked out in the end). Additionally, this is the fourth film from the third Golden Age which kept the identity of the villain a secret. It is revealed late in the film that Bellwether is the mastermind behind the night howlers plot, following in the footsteps of King Candy from Wreck-It Ralph, Hans from Frozen, and Callaghan from Big Hero 6. This is not a modern trend though. In fact, some of Walt's films even instituted this plot device. Remember Winkie from The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad and Madam Mim from The Sword in the Stone? Their villainy is not revealed until well into the film as well. Also, this is Michael Giacchino's ninth score composed for Disney, but it is his first for Walt Disney Animation Studios. He previously worked on The Incredibles, Sky High, Ratatouille, Up, Cars 2, John Carter, Tomorrowland, and Inside Out.

Behind the Scenes: In the US version of the film, a moose (brilliantly named Moosebridge) acts as the news anchor throughout the film. However, if you were to watch Zootopia in another country, a different animal would appear. In Australia, a koala is used; Japan would feature a tanuki (apparently something like a raccoon dog...not sure what that means, but we'll go with it); China would star a giant panda; and Brazil utilizes a jaguar. Moreover, a number of high profile celebrities make voice cameos in this film. Flash's co-worker, Priscilla, is voiced by none other than Kristen Bell, the voice of Anna from Frozen (sloths are apparently Bell's favorite animal). Josh Dallas, star of  ABC's Once Upon a Time and husband of Ginnifer Goodwin, voices one line for a character called Frantic Pig that appears at the Gazelle protest in opposition. I also must make mention of the superb voice acting from director Rich Moore. Moore previously voiced Sour Bill and Zangief from Wreck-It Ralph, and in Zootopia, he voices Doug and Larry. The voice of Mrs. Otterton may sound familiar too. That is because she is voiced by Academy Award winner Octavia Spencer.

Favorite Character: I truly could have chosen either Judy Hopps or Nick Wilde for this section and I would have been totally fine with either selection. However, I simply find myself gravitating to Nick as my favorite. The credit for creating this exceptional character is really twofold. First, the film's amazing script deserves a lion's share of the credit. When we first meet Nick, he is straight hustler (leading to one of the greatest one-liners in Disney history: "It's called a hustle, sweetheart"). He talks fast and steals faster, but throughout the film, Nick evolves from a motor-mouthed thief to a motor-mouthed legend. With the devastatingly beautiful flashback sequence revealing Nick's motivation to become a hustler, all of a sudden, Nick becomes a character we all genuinely care for. When his heart is broken by Judy's apparent betrayal of him, our hearts break too. When he becomes the ZPD's first fox police officer, we wholeheartedly rejoice. The script does an incredible job giving Nick so many layers and dimensions while never stifling his charm and hilarity. Secondly, Jason Bateman is absolutely sensational in this role. He has legitimately never been better, impeccably delivering hilarious line after hilarious line while also showcasing his emotional range too. Nick is a special character with specific traits, and Bateman is the picture perfect choice to bring this character with these traits to life. In the pantheon of Disney icons, Nick Wilde firmly asserts himself into the very heart of the conversation regarding the greatest character in Disney history.

Favorite Scene/Song: I have wrestled with this decision all day. I almost continued my adoration for Nick Wilde by selecting his flashback scene and subsequent conversation with Judy as my favorite scene, but the more I thought about it, the more I kept returning to Judy's arrival in Zootopia with "Try Everything" playing in the background. This is my favorite because of the sheer artistry of display during this sequence from the animators and storytellers. We have been anxiously awaiting the reveal of Zootopia and all of its intricacies, and when we are finally ushered into that glorious city, it is an absolute spectacle to behold. Travelling through the city's various districts such as Tundratown, Sahara Square, and Little Rodentia is an awe-inspiring and breathtaking experience. It is in the midst of a scene like this that I simply stand amazed at the mastery of these Disney animators. The way they have created this phenomenal city from scratch is really unrivaled in creativity and cleverness. Every district is expertly imagined, and Judy's facial expressions throughout this sequence perfectly represent our thoughts as viewers as well. Plus, Shakira's "Try Everything" is the perfect theme song for Zootopia and for Judy herself. This song is the lifeblood for this entire film, entertaining us all while setting the foundation for those bold messages to be proclaimed later on. It is simple, yet highly effective number that exquisitely compliments this masterpiece-making sequence.

FINAL Disney Ranking: For the first time in my Disney obsessed life, I finally have a definitive ranking of the animated films. I have often done this in my head, but I have never done so as I watched the films. I am really proud of these rankings, and I hope this has inspired you to do the same with your own rankings as well. Now, without further ado, my final rankings of the fifty-five Disney animated films in the official canon.
  1. Beauty and the Beast
  2. The Lion King
  3. Aladdin
  4. Tangled
  5. The Little Mermaid
  6. Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs
  7. The Hunchback of Notre Dame
  8. Zootopia
  9. Peter Pan
  10. Cinderella
  11. Frozen
  12. The Jungle Book
  13. Sleeping Beauty
  14. Lilo & Stitch
  15. The Princess and the Frog
  16. Hercules
  17. Mulan
  18. The Emperor's New Groove
  19. Tarzan
  20. Pinocchio
  21. Lady and the Tramp
  22. Wreck-It Ralph
  23. The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh
  24. Alice in Wonderland
  25. Dumbo
  26. Bambi
  27. 101 Dalmatians
  28. Big Hero 6
  29. Pocahontas
  30. Treasure Planet
  31. The Great Mouse Detective
  32. Fantasia
  33. Winnie the Pooh
  34. The Adventures of Ichabod and Mr. Toad
  35. The AristoCats
  36. Fantasia 2000
  37. Meet the Robinsons
  38. The Rescuers Down Under
  39. Fun and Fancy Free
  40. The Fox and the Hound
  41. Robin Hood
  42. Bolt
  43. Dinosaur
  44. Melody Time
  45. The Three Caballeros
  46. Saludos Amigos
  47. Brother Bear
  48. Oliver & Company
  49. The Rescuers
  50. Atlantis: The Lost Empire
  51. The Sword in the Stone
  52. Make Mine Music
  53. The Black Cauldron
  54. Chicken Little
  55. Home on the Range
Here's to the bright future of Disney animation! Tomorrow, the Summer of Magic will come to an official end with Pixar's latest outing, Finding Dory!

-Cody Fleenor

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