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Zootopia: the 15 best quotes.

Disney's Zootopia is a beloved movie due to its rich lore and lovable animal characters, and they have a lot of interesting things to say.

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Zootopia' s highly-anticipated spin-off series, Zootopia+ , recently premiered on Disney+. Fans eagerly revisited their favorite talking animals and remembered why the first film was such a hit in the first place. Indeed, Zootopia is full of charming characters, but it's also among the funniest and most thought-provoking Disney movies, full of clever quotes that are as poignant as funny.

Disney's Zootopia was released in 2016 and became an instant hit not just with Disney fans, but with mainstream audiences worldwide. Set in a fictional world in which mammals have evolved into a more civilized society, the movie follows Officer Judy Hopps, a go-getter rabbit who teams up with con artist fox Nick Wilde to solve a case of missing predators.

Zootopia is a popular Disney movie partly due to its excellent characters, anthropomorphized animals with a slew of quotable lines. Whether it's a joke about animals or observations of Zootopia's politics, the best quotes from Zootopia are funny, thought-provoking, or full of heart.

Updated on December 1, 2022, by David Caballero:

"what do you call a three-humped camel", nick to flash.

"Pregnant!" Jokes are not unusual in Zootopia -- it is a Disney film, after all. However, few are as memorable or effective as this one, delivered by Nick to Flash, the sloth.

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The joke itself is not particularly funny to anyone over the age of ten. However, Flash's reaction and the extended sequence that follows is the film's highlight and a moment that has become iconic in Disney history. Nick's delivery of the joke is also quite good, although it should be no surprise considering veteran comedian Jason Bateman is the voice behind the fox.

"The More We Try To Understand One Another..."

Judy giving a speech.

"...the more exceptional each of us will be." Zootopia is all about understanding and seeing past others' superficial traits. It's about reconciling each other's differences and realizing that stereotypes are among the most harmful things in society.

Judy's speech at the end is the perfect and heartfelt summarization of the movie's themes and messages. It might be a tad heavy-handed for adults, but children will listen to the bunny's words and take something of real value from them. It's not an easy feat, but Zootopia manages to be thought-provoking without descending into sentimental schlock.

"We May Be Evolved..."

Mr. big to judy.

"...but deep down, we're still animals." Arguably the most thought-provoking quote in Zootopia , this line by Mr. Big cuts deeply. The mechanics of Zootopia aren't clear, but the animals are aware of their nature and evolution past their initial state.

More importantly, the quote is also a somewhat scathing reflection on humanity and how people behave toward each other. Although it could be easy to discard it as one more line in the film, this quote will stay with adult audiences, especially those seeing the movie as a thinly-veiled critique of race relations and class struggle.

"Tomorrow's Another Day!"

Judy's motto.

It wouldn't be a Disney film without a healthy dose of optimism. Judy starts the movie as an unabashed force for positive change; she wants to make the world a better place and always puts her heart, body, and soul into everything she does.

Her unwavering spirit is perfectly represented by her somewhat generic yet still inspiring motto, "Tomorrow's another day." Judy is a bunny who never backs down; if she falls, she gets back up again, stronger than before. Her can-do attitude takes her far and should inspire more than one fan in the audience.

"Never Let Them See That They Got To You."

Nick to judy.

Many Disney movies take unexpectedly dark turns throughout their story, and Zootopia is the perfect example. The film features many intense exchanges between characters who undermine others because of their status or appearance, mirroring the behaviors of many people in real life.

Nick's advice to Judy about never letting others see her cry will ring uncomfortably true for many fans in the audience. Words are powerful; they can cause genuine hurt to others, and Zootopia doesn't shy away from showing it. Advice like this one will help many people throughout their lives, especially when dealing with bullies and such.

"Gideon Grey Was A Jerk..."

Judy hopps to her parents.

"...that happened to be a fox. I know plenty of bunnies who are jerks." The beginning of the movie sees young Judy stand up to the vulpine bully Gideon Grey at a fair in her hometown of Bunnyburrow. Fifteen years later, Judy is heading off to Zootopia to join the police. Judy's parents are wary of predators, especially foxes, and insist Judy take various fox-repelling items with her, reminding her of the incident with Gideon.

RELATED: 10 Memes That Perfectly Sum Up Zootipia Younger and more open-minded, Judy tells them that Gideon was a jerk regardless of his species and that rabbits, and therefore other prey animals, are just as likely to be jerks. This moment hints at the politics and prejudice in the world of Zootopia and how animal stereotypes will not be traditional.

"Do You Think When She Goes To Sleep She Counts Herself?"

Nick to judy about bellweather.

Zootopia is one of the few Disney films that break away from the fairytale formula by featuring an all-animal cast very much aware that they are animals. Thus, Zootopia opens a universe and brilliant animal-related jokes. One example isn't relevant to the plot but is too amusing to ignore.

During their investigation, Nick and Judy seek the assistance of "Assistant Mayor" Bellweather, a sheep who is the personal assistant to Mayor Lionheart. When Bellweather has to leave at the behest of Lionheart, Nick asks Judy, "Do you think when she falls asleep, she counts herself?" It's a simple yet effective joke, the kind that works so well in the world of Zootopia .

"I Wish I Had A Memory Like An Elephant."

Jax to judy and nick.

Another notable supporting character is Yax, a laid back yak who works at the Mystic Spring Oasis, which is revealed to be a naturalist club. Yax may appear spaced out, but he proves to be even more helpful to the case than he realizes.

RELATED: 10 Fairytales That Would Make Great Disney Animated Movies To find out where Emmitt Otterton went, Yax takes Judy and Nick to speak to elephant yoga instructor Nangi, the idea being that elephants are known for their fantastic memories. However, Nangi doesn't have any idea what Yax is talking about. In trying to get her to remember, Yax unwittingly reveals every detail of Otterton's time at the Oasis and where he went after, right down to the license plate number. Yax tells Judy, "Told you Nangi has a mind like a steel trap. I wish I had a memory like an elephant." What makes this moment so funny is that not only did Nangi forget, but Yax remains oblivious to his own brilliance.

"Zootopia Is A Unique Place."

Gazelle giving an interview.

"It's a crazy, beautiful, diverse city where we celebrate our differences." Although a minor character, pop singer Gazelle, voiced by rock superstar Shakira , is one of the most notable in Zootopia . During the increased fear of predator attacks, Gazelle leads a peaceful rally to reunite the citizens of Zootopia. In her interview, she expresses why she loves Zootopia and her sadness at what it has become due to the predator attacks inciting fear.

Gazelle's screen time in Zootopia is brief, but her speech is one of the most powerful and thought-provoking moments in the entire movie. Based on her key moment in the story, she is a very strong and positive character.

"I Am Just A Dumb Bunny..."

Judy to nick.

"...but we are good at multiplying." With another clever animal-related joke, Judy outwitting Nick is a memorable quote in its own right. To get information from Nick, Judy blackmails him with knowledge of Nick's hefty tax evasion.

As she's calculating the incriminating evidence, she demurely says, "I am just a dumb bunny, but we are good at multiplying." It's a fun moment because she not only outwits a horrified Nick, throwing a previous insult back in his face as well as exposing his crimes, but it's also a slipped-in adult joke about rabbits that works perfectly in the context of the situation and the universe of Zootopia .

"If The World's Only Going To See A Fox..."

"... as shifty and untrustworthy, there's no point in trying to be anything else." Zootopia is one of Disney's all-time best animal movies , taking expected stereotypes and giving them refreshing twists. One prominent example is Nick Wilde, and one reason is that he goes beyond the sly fox stereotype and is given a rather heartbreaking backstory.

Nick confides in Judy that as a child, he was bullied by prey animals and muzzled simply because he was a fox. It's one of the movie's most emotional scenes and gives the cocky and wisecracking Nick a more in-depth character. Behind the con artist, there is a vulnerable heart of gold. Nick just wants to be accepted for who he is and not what he is.

"Fear Always Works!"

Bellweather to judy.

Another great example of deviating from animal stereotypes is making the sheep Bellweather the story's villain. This is not revealed until the movie's final climactic scene, but in those moments, the audience sees that Bellweather is a sinister force to be reckoned with and certainly not a typical Disney villain.

Judy insists that her plan won't work, but Bellweather replies, "Fear always works!" Bellweather is among Disney's cruelest villains because she uses fear, a primal emotion in all animals, to control and rule Zootopia as mayor while hiding behind an innocent facade of being a kindly sheep.

"Life Isn't Some Cartoon Musical..."

Bogo to judy.

"... where you sing a little song and all your insipid dreams magically come true. So let it go." One of Zootopia 's best jokes is not animal-related, but a dig at Disney itself. Chief Bogo furiously tells Judy that life isn't all perfect and magical, and most importantly, to "let it go."

RELATED: 10 Disney Characters Made Famous By A Song

A few years before Zootopia , Disney released one of its most popular animated movies, Frozen . Whether people love or hate it, the movie's signature song, "Let It Go." is one of Disney's most-played songs. Bogo's biting comment is a brilliant moment of Disney making fun of itself and its past fairytale movies, but it's the "Let It Go" reference that really makes the joke land perfectly.

"Ha... Ha... Ha..."

Flash laughing at nick's joke.

Perhaps the funniest scene in the movie is Judy and Nick's visit to the DMV, which is run by sloths. True to their biology, the sloths are slow to the point that it looks as though they're moving in slow-motion, much to the annoyance of the DMV customers, especially Judy.

Just as Flash the sloth is about to type in the last digit of the license plate, Nick slyly asks him if he wants to hear a joke, just to annoy Judy. Flash's reaction to the joke is a moment of comedy gold, and it gets even better when he leans over to tell his colleague the joke. The audience laughs at Flash's painfully slow laugh but also sympathizes with Judy's increasing frustration.

"It's Called A Hustle, Sweetheart."

This might be the most famous line in Zootopia. First spoken by Nick to Judy when she learns about their popsicle con, the tables are soon turned, and Judy uses the exact same line on Nick when she reveals that she can blackmail him with his tax felonies.

But the best use of the line is in the movie's final moments when Judy manages to record Bellweather confessing to organizing the predator attacks. It's a short and simple quote, but it's the perfect mic-drop line for busting a rather diabolical villain.

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The Ending Of Zootopia Explained

In 2022, we're headed back to Zootopia, the sprawling metropolis populated by talking mammals — from tiny, but vicious, shrews to naked, yoga-practicing yaks. That's because the Academy Award winning animated movie  "Zootopia" is getting a spin-off series on Disney+ , so this year is the perfect time to finally do a rewatch, and to revisit just what made this movie so lovable to kids and adults alike.

It all begins with a comedic noir tale set in the endlessly interesting Zootopia, where the consistently underestimated bunny cop Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) teams up with the fox con artist Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to find a missing otter. The case is far from straightforward, entangling them with the Tundratown mafia, before nearly getting them killed at the hands of a feral jaguar in the Rainforest District. Of course, finding the missing mammals only leads to more questions: They're all feral and kept in a lab, where Mayor Lionheart (J.K. Simmons) is hiding them and trying to understand why these predators have gone savage.

The city of Zootopia soon succumbs to fear, with animals afraid of their neighbors, but then Judy gets an unexpected break in the case. The action-packed third act reveals the conspiracy at the heart of the mystery and the key themes at work in what, in the end, proves to be more than just a typical Disney movie about talking animals.

Bellwether drugged the predators, then Mayor Lionheart kidnapped them

Although Mayor Lionheart was covering up the strange pattern of predators turning savage, the animal behind it all is actually his seemingly innocent assistant: the little sheep Bellwether (Jenny Slate). It all comes together once Judy discovers that "night howlers" — their main clue from earlier — is not referencing the wolves guarding Lionheart's lab, but is actually a name for a type of plant. If ingested, night howlers can make any mammal — predator or prey — turn into a teeth first, no questions kind of animal. Crucially, it's the same plant that Duke Weaselton (Alan Tudyk) stole on Judy's first day as a cop, which leads her to unravel how it was being used on the missing predators.

She and Nick discover that Bellwether orchestrated a nefarious plan: She enlisted a few rams to go full "Breaking Bad" and develop a drug from the night howlers, then covertly sniped various predators with it, turning them feral. She wanted to make the city's prey population believe predators were reverting to their carnivore ways, because she's got a chip on her shoulder about being small and overlooked. 

"Our villain is using fear to stoke division," director Byron Howard told Variety . He pointed out the third act taps into real world concerns about governing with fear, showing its harmful effects in scenes that hit close to home: At a peace rally, a pig shouts at a cheetah to go back to the forest.

In the end, though, Nick and Judy outsmart Bellwether by swapping the night howler darts with blueberries. Then Nick pretends to be feral, Judy reenacts her death scene from the opening school play, and they record Bellwether's villain monologue on Judy's carrot pen — exposing her plot to the public.

Zootopia's theme of bias takes many shapes

At the center of "Zootopia" is the theme of discrimination and prejudice, but there's no perfect one-to-one comparison to our own world. As Zootopia's first bunny cop, Judy faces bias reminiscent of sexism: Chief Bogo (Idris Elba) makes assumptions about her capabilities based on her small size, relegating her to the job of a traffic cop despite her demonstrated skills at the academy. Meanwhile, the predator and prey dynamic speaks of racism, with the majority group scared of a minority that are stereotyped for being violent. It's a good exploration of the themes, as long as you don't try to make it perfectly fit our social dynamics or question what predators eat now, if they don't hunt prey.

The idea for the movie was rooted in animal dynamics first: On a research trip to Africa, director Byron Howard watched lions drink water side by side with gazelles and zebras. He thought it was an "interesting social dynamic," and likened it to human cities, where different groups of people clash over ideas, but still work together for the basics of survival. That's where the premise came from, he told Slashfilm : "Even though these animals [in 'Zootopia'] have evolved and created this incredible civilization, what if they still held on to some of those sublimated fears and mistrust that have been around for thousands of years?"

For the film, the creators consulted an expert on bias and discrimination, Dr. Shakti Butler, who told them that subtle biases can be the most harmful. Making the movie tackle "subtle bias and the dangers that it presents for people who think that bias is a thing of the past," felt relevant to our own world, Howard told Zootopia News Network .

Judy faces her own prejudice

The core of the story is Judy's journey from naiveté to realizing the widespread prejudice against predators isn't a thing of the past, and exists within herself. After Judy and Nick recover all the missing mammals, she asks him to be her partner, giving him the carrot pen-slash-recorder she'd used as leverage to make him work on the case. It's a sweet moment, but quickly turns sour when Judy says during the press conference that the predators' evolutionary history is making them turn savage. In that moment, Nick is faced with the same prejudice he's been living with all his life, only it's now coming from his friend. She's been carrying fox repellent this whole time, but her words prove that she still harbors bias against him.

"We wanted Judy to see how discrimination was occurring and then fall prey to it herself," one of the film's directors, Rich Moore, told Creative Screenwriting . After her quick judgment at the press conference, the city becomes increasingly hostile against predators, making Judy realize her mistake is hurting mammals. 

"Judy Hopps is this wonderful, good-hearted character, director Byron Howard told Slashfilm . "She wants to help people but she has a flaw that she doesn't realize ... It's a maturity story, she gets to grow in the story — she sees stuff in herself that she didn't realize was there before."

Judy's key moment of growth comes when she acknowledges her ignorance and apologizes to Nick. The end of "Zootopia" doesn't try to pretend that exposing Bellwether's plot fixed everything, but it's hopeful: "We all make mistakes," Judy says at Nick's graduation. "No matter what type of animal you are ... try to make the world a better place. Look inside yourself and recognize that change starts with you."

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• Chief Bogo : Life isn't some cartoon musical where you sing a little song and all your insipid dreams magically come true. So let it go.
• Nick Wilde : Everyone comes to Zootopia thinking they can be anything they want. Well, you can't. You can only be what you are. Sly fox. Dumb bunny.
• Judy Hopps : I am not a dumb bunny.
• Nick Wilde : Right. And that's not wet cement. You'll never be a real cop. You're a cute meter maid, though.
• Nick Wilde : You know you love me.
• Judy Hopps : [ Sarcastically ] Do I know that?
• Judy Hopps : Yes, yes I do!
• Judy Hopps : [ searching for Nick on a small stone bridge over a ditch ] Nick? Nick?
• [ leans over the edge, finding him sitting on a lawn chair below ]
• Judy Hopps : Oh Nick! Night howlers aren't wolves! They're toxic flowers. I think someone is targeting predators on purpose and making them go savage.
• Nick Wilde : [ Deadpan ] Wow. Isn't that interesting.
• [ Nick gets up and walks under the bridge, while Judy follows him ]
• Judy Hopps : Wait, uh, wait - listen! I - I know you'll never forgive me! And I don't blame you. I wouldn't forgive me either. I was ignorant, and... irresponsible... and small-minded. But predators shouldn't suffer because of my mistakes. I have to fix this.
• [ Her voice shakes ]
• Judy Hopps : But I can't do it without you.
• [ Nick still refuses to turn around ]
• Judy Hopps : [ Judy begins to cry ] And... and after we're done, you can hate me, and that'll be fine, because I was a horrible friend, and I hurt you. And you... and you can walk away knowing you were right all along. I really am just a dumb bunny.
• [ Everything becomes silent, until Nick replays Judy's words with her carrot pen ]
• Judy Hopps : [ through carrot pen, unseen ] "I really am just a dumb bunny."
• Judy Hopps : [ Nick holds up the pen ] "I really am just a dumb bunny."
• Nick Wilde : [ Nick turns around ] Don't worry, Carrots. I'll let you erase it... in forty-eight hours.
• [ Judy smiles at Nick, laughing and wiping away tears ]
• Nick Wilde : All right, get in here.
• [ Judy trods, exhausted by her emotional outpouring, toward Nick. She leans her head against him, and they hug ]
• Nick Wilde : Okay. Oh, you bunnies, you're so emotional. There we go, deep breath... Are you... Are you just trying to steal the pen? Is that what this is?
• [ Judy, laughing, playfully tries to take the pen away from Nick ]
• Nick Wilde : You ARE standing on my tail, though... Off... Off... Off... Off... Off...
• Judy Hopps : Oh, I'm sorry...
• Nick Wilde : It's called a hustle, sweetheart.
• Nick Wilde : Flash is the fastest guy in there. If you need something done, he's on it.
• Judy Hopps : I hope so. We are really fighting the clock and every minute counts.
• [ sees the inside of the DMV ]
• Judy Hopps : Wait. They're all SLOTHS? You said this was going to be quick!
• Nick Wilde : [ in mock surprise ] Are you saying that because he's a sloth he can't be fast? I thought in Zootopia, anyone could be anything.
• Nick Wilde : Hey, Flash, wanna hear a joke?
• Judy Hopps : NO!
• Flash : Sure.
• [ Judy growls in annoyance ]
• Nick Wilde : OK. What do you call a three-humped camel?
• Flash : I don't... know. What... do... you... call... a... three-humped... camel?
• Nick Wilde : Pregnant!
• [ Nick laughs and elbows an irritated Judy. Flash's face lights up as the joke dawns on him and he slowly laughs ]
• Judy Hopps : [ sarcastically ] Ha ha! Yes, very funny, very funny. Can we please just focus on the task?
• Nick Wilde : [ about Bellwether ] Do you think when she goes to sleep, she counts herself?
• Judy Hopps : Shush!
• Judy Hopps : [ driving up next to Nick pushing a stroller ] Hi! Hello? It's me again.
• Nick Wilde : Hey, it's Officer Toot-toot!
• Judy Hopps : [ sarcastically ] Ha-ha-ho, no. Actually, It's Officer Hopps and I'm here to ask you some questions about a case.
• Nick Wilde : What happened, meter maid? Did someone steal a traffic cone? It wasn't me.
• [ annoyed, Judy rides up and pulls up in front of Nick, blaring her siren ]
• Nick Wilde : Hey, Carrots, you're gonna wake the baby. I gotta get to work.
• Judy Hopps : [ gets out of her car with the folder, a notepad, and a carrot pen ] This is important, sir. I think your ten dollars worth of pawpsicles can wait.
• Nick Wilde : Ha! I make 200 bucks a day, Fluff. 365 days a year since I was 12. And time is money. Hop along.
• Judy Hopps : Please, just look at the picture.
• [ shows a picture of Emmitt Otterton ]
• Judy Hopps : You sold Mr. Otterton that pawpsicle, right? Do you know him?
• Nick Wilde : I know everybody. And I also know that somewhere there's a toy store missing its stuffed animal. So why don't you get back to your box?
• Judy Hopps : [ smile drops, then becomes serious ] Fine. Then we'll have to do this the hard way.
• [ In a split second, there's a parking boot attached to Nick's stroller ]
• Nick Wilde : Did you just boot my stroller?
• Judy Hopps : Nicholas Wilde, you are under arrest!
• Nick Wilde : [ scoffs ] For what?
• [ in a patronizing tone ]
• Nick Wilde : Hurting your feewings?
• Judy Hopps : Felony tax evasion.
• [ Nick's eyes widen ]
• Judy Hopps : Yeeaah... 200 dollars a day, 365 days a year since you were twelve, that's two decades, so times twenty which is... one million four hundred sixty thousand- I think, I mean I am just a dumb bunny, but we are good at multiplying. Anyway, according to your tax forms, you reported, let me see here, *zero*! Unfortunately, lying on a federal form is a punishable offense. Five years jail time.
• Nick Wilde : Well it's my word against yours.
• [ Judy pulls out her pen and plays back Nick's confession ]
• Nick Wilde : [ through carrot pen ] "... 200 bucks a day, Fluff. 365 days a year since I was 12."
• Judy Hopps : Actually, it's your word against yours. And if you want this pen, you're going to help me find this poor missing otter, or the only place you'll be selling pawpsicles is the prison cafeteria.
• Judy Hopps : It's called a hustle, sweetheart.
• Finnick : She hustled you!
• [ hysterical laughter erupts from within the stroller and Finnick crawls out ]
• Finnick : She hustled you *good*! You a cop now, Nick! You're gonna need one of these!
• [ slaps his police sticker on Nick ]
• Finnick : Have fun working with the fuzz!
• [ continues laughing hysterically as he walk away ]
• Judy Hopps : When I was a kid, I thought Zootopia was this perfect place where everyone got along and anyone could be anything. Turns out, real life's a little bit more complicated than a slogan on a bumper sticker. Real life is messy. We all have limitations. We all make mistakes. Which means, hey, glass half full, we all have a lot in common. And the more we try to understand one another, the more exceptional each of us will be. But we have to try. So no matter what kind of animal you are, from the biggest elephant, to our first fox,
• [ Nick pulls down his shades and winks at Judy ]
• Judy Hopps : I implore you: Try. Try to make the world a better place. Look inside yourself and recognize that change starts with you. It starts with me. It starts with all of us.
• [ all the cadet animals cheer ]
• Judy Hopps : I came here to make the world a better place, but I think I broke it.
• Chief Bogo : Don't give yourself so much credit, Hopps. The world has always been broken, that's why we need good cops. Like you.
• Nick Wilde : [ Counting his accomplice's take for the day's hustle ] 39, 40, there you go! Way to work that diaper, Big Guy!
• [ Finnick boards his van ]
• Nick Wilde : No kiss bye-bye for Daddy?
• Finnick : [ In the driver's seat, Finnick spits out his pacifier and glares at Nick ]
• [ In a gruff adult voice ]
• Finnick : You kiss me tomorrow, I bite your face off!
• [ Puts on sunglasses with a sullen flick ]
• Finnick : Ciao.
• Mr. Big : We may be evolved, but deep down we are still animals.
• Nick Wilde : I think you said plenty.
• Judy Hopps : What do you mean?
• Nick Wilde : [ saddened ] Clearly there's a biological component? That these predators may be reverting back to their primitive savage ways? Are you serious?
• Judy Hopps : I just stated the facts of the case! I mean, its not like a bunny can go savage.
• Nick Wilde : Right. But a fox could, huh?
• Judy Hopps : Nick stop it! You're not like them.
• Nick Wilde : [ getting angered ] Oh, so there's a them now?
• Judy Hopps : You know what I mean! You're not that kind of predator.
• Nick Wilde : The kind that needs to be muzzled? The kind that makes you believe that you need to carry around fox repellent? Yeah, don't think I didn't notice that little item on the first time we met. So l-let me ask you a question; Are you afraid of me? You think I might-I might go savage? You think that I might try to...
• [ jumps forward ]
• Nick Wilde : EAT YOU?
• [ Judy jumps back and puts hand over Fox Spray ]
• Nick Wilde : I knew it. Just when I thought someone actually believed in me, huh?
• [ hands Judy back his application and starts to leave ]
• Nick Wilde : Probably best if you don't have a predator as a partner.
• Judy Hopps : Hurry! We gotta beat the rush hour, and...
• [ shocked ]
• Judy Hopps : IT'S NIGHT?
• Judy Hopps : Tomorrow's another day.
• Pronk Oryx-Antlerson : Yeah, but it might be worse!
• Judy Hopps : Oh! You are naked!
• Yax : For sure. We're a naturalist club.
• Judy Hopps : [ Approaches reception desk where Clawhauser is munching on cereal ] Excuse me... Down here... Hi.
• Clawhauser : O. M. Goodness, they really did hire a bunny. Ho-whop! I gotta tell you, you're even cuter than I thought you'd be.
• Judy Hopps : Ooh, ah, you probably didn't know, but a bunny can call another bunny 'cute', but when other animals do it, that's a little...
• Clawhauser : [ Mortified ] Hoo, I'm so sorry! Me, Benjamin Clawhauser, the guy everyone thinks is just a flabby donut-loving cop stereotyping you.
• Judy Hopps : Well, he was a key witness, and I...
• Chief Bogo : Two days to find the otter, or you quit. That was the deal.
• [ Holding out hand ]
• Chief Bogo : Badge.
• Judy Hopps : But sir, we...
• Chief Bogo : Badge!
• Nick Wilde : [ as Judy starts to turn in her badge ] Uh... no.
• Chief Bogo : What did you say, fox?
• Nick Wilde : Sorry, what I said was... NO! She will not be giving you that badge.
• [ Bogo flinches ]
• Nick Wilde : Look, you gave her a... a... a clown vest and a three wheel joke mobile and two days to solve a case you guys haven't cracked in two weeks? Yeah, no wonder she needed to get help from a fox. None of you guys were gonna help her, were you?
• [ Bogo starts to speak but Nick cuts him off ]
• Nick Wilde : Here's the thing, chief. You gave her the 48 hours, so technically we still have... 10 left, to find our Mr. Otterton. And that's exactly what we're gonna do. So, if you'll excuse us, we have a very big lead to follow and a case to crack. Good day.
• Judy Hopps : [ in a limo with Nick, between two polar bear thugs, whispering ] What did you do that made Mr. Big so mad at you?
• Nick Wilde : [ nervously ] I, um... I may have sold him a very expensive wool rug that was made from the fur of a skunk... 's butt.
• Judy Hopps : Oh, sweet cheese and crackers.
• Nick Wilde : Flash, Flash, Hundred-Yard Dash!
• Nick Wilde : Never let them see that they get to you.
• Chief Bogo : We need to address the elephant in the room. Francine?
• [ Cuts to an elephant police officer, looking nervous ]
• Chief Bogo : Happy birthday.
• [ the room erupts in celebration ]
• Chief Bogo : [ after giving everyone else their assignments ] Wilde... Hopps... parking duty. Dismissed.
• [ sees at their incredulous reactions, then smiles ]
• Chief Bogo : Just kidding!
• Nick Wilde : Whatever you do, do not let go!
• Judy Hopps : I'm gonna let go!
• Nick Wilde : WHAT?
• Nick Wilde : Tell me if this story sounds familiar: naive little hick with good grades and big ideas decides, "Hey look at me, I'm gonna move to Zootopia, where predators and prey live in harmony and sing Kumbaya!" Only to find, whoopsie: we don't all get along. And that dream of becoming a big city cop? Double whoopsie: she's a meter maid. And whoopsie number three-sie: no one cares about her or her dreams. And soon enough, those dreams die, and our bunny sinks into an emotional and literal squalor living in a box under a bridge, until finally, she has no choice but to go back home with that cute, fuzzy-wuzzy little tail between her legs to become... you're from Bunnyburrow, is that what you said? So how about a carrot farmer?
• [ smirks, then walks away ]
• Nick Wilde : That sound about right?
• Chief Bogo : [ from trailer ] It's not about how badly you WANT something. It's about what you are capable of!
• Nick Wilde : [ after Nick relates his story to Judy ] I learned two things that day: one, that I was never going to let anyone see that they got to me.
• Judy Hopps : And... two?
• Nick Wilde : That if the world's only going to see a fox as shifty and untrustworthy, there's no point in being anything else.
• Judy Hopps : [ places her paw on Nick's arm ] Nick, you are so much more than that.
• Nick Wilde : [ shrinks away ] Boy, we've got some traffic down there, we should check the jam-cams!
• [ holds up cell and asks someone to check the jam-cams ]
• Judy Hopps : Nick, I'm glad you told me.
• Nick Wilde : Jam-cams...
• Judy Hopps : Seriously.
• Nick Wilde : No, no, wait.
• [ grabs Judy's arm and turns her around ]
• Nick Wilde : There are traffic cameras located all around the city...
• Gazelle : Zootopia is a unique place. It's a crazy, beautiful, diverse city, where we celebrate our differences. This is not the Zootopia I know. The Zootopia I know is better than this. We don't just blindly assign blame. We don't know why these attacks keep happening. But it is irresponsible to label all predators as savages. We cannot let fear divide us. Please, give me back the Zootopia I love.
• [ from trailer ]
• Judy Hopps : We are in a REALLY big hurry!
• Flash : I am... on...
• Judy Hopps : [ hopefully ] It?
• Flash : Break.
• Judy Hopps : [ growls irritably ]
• Young Hopps : [ Referring to Gideon Grey, with determination ] Well, he was right about one thing. I don't know when to quit!
• Bellwether : [ On her guilt ] It's my word against yours
• Judy Hopps : Oooh, actually,
• [ holds up her carrot recorder pen, revealing Bellwether's confession ]
• Judy Hopps : "... and I'll dart every predator in Zootopia to keep it that way!" it's your word against yours.
• Bellwether : Huh?
• Judy Hopps : It's called a hustle, sweetheart. Boom.
• [ flashes a triumphant grin as Chief Bogo shows up with handcuffs behind Bellwether ]
• Chief Bogo : There are some new recruits with us I should introduce. But I'm not going to because, I don't care.
• Nick Wilde : [ Wilde, now a cop pulls over a speeding motorist ] Flash?, Flash, Hundred-Yard Dash?
• Flash : [ Flash slowly rolls down the window and smiles sheepishly ] Niiiiick.
• Judy Hopps : Hello! I'm here to ask you some questions about a case.
• Nick Wilde : Then they should've gotta a real cop to solve it.
• Judy Hopps : You are under arrest!
• Nick Wilde : [ mockingly ] For what? Hwurting your fweelings?
• Judy Hopps : YOU are a key witness!
• Nick Wilde : No, HE is.
• [ Judy looks where Nick is pointing but sees no one there. She turns back and sees Nick running away ]
• Judy Hopps : [ annoyed ] Hey!
• [ She chases after him ]
• [ Nick starts stroking Assistant Mayor Bellwether's hair ]
• Nick Wilde : [ whispers ] So... fluffy
• Judy Hopps : [ whispers ] Hey, stop that!
• Nick Wilde : Sheep never let me get this close.
• Judy Hopps : You can't just touch a sheep's wool.
• Nick Wilde : [ continuing to stroke Bellwether's hair ] It's like cotton candy.
• Gazelle : [ Bogo is in his office, using the Dancing with Gazelle app ] Wow, you are one hot dancer, Chief Bogo.
• Clawhauser : [ Clawhauser storms in ] Chief Bogo!
• Chief Bogo : Not now!
• Clawhauser : Wait, is that Gazelle?
• Chief Bogo : [ dismissing ] No!
• Gazelle : [ from the app ] I'm Gazelle, and you are one hot dancer.
• Clawhauser : You have the app too?
• [ excited ]
• Clawhauser : Aww, Chief!
• Chief Bogo : Clawhauser! Can't you see I'm working on the missing mammal cases?
• Clawhauser : Oh, oh, oh, yes, of course, about that sir. Officer Hopps just called - she found all of them.
• Gazelle : Wow, I'm impressed!
• Judy Hopps : Is that Mr. Big?
• Nick Wilde : Stop talking, stop talking!
• [ One polar bear turns Mr. Big's chair to reveal that he is an arctic shrew ]
• Judy Hopps : Huh.
• Mr. Big : Ice 'em.
• [ the polar bears are about to ice Judy and Nick ]
• Fru Fru : Daddy!
• [ sees the polar bears about to ice Judy and Nick ]
• Fru Fru : What did we say? No icing anyone at my wedding!
• Mr. Big : I have to, baby, Daddy has to.
• Bonnie Hopps : Of course, it is okay to have dreams.
• Stu Hopps : Just as long as you don't believe too much in them.
• Chief Bogo : This is priority one. Hopps: parking duty.
• [ the other police officers laugh ]
• Judy Hopps : Sir, I'm not just some token bunny.
• Chief Bogo : You strike out, you resign.
• Judy Hopps : Deal.
• Clawhauser : [ while Judy is trying to radio for reinforcements to the ZPD, Clawhauser is showing his Dancing with Gazelle app to a wolf convict ] Are you familiar with Gazelle, greatest singer of our lifetime, angel with horns? Huh. Okay, hold on, keep watching.
• [ shows his phone with a tiger dancer with Clawhauser's face ]
• Clawhauser : Who's that beside her? Who is it?
• Gazelle : [ from the app ] Wow, you are one hot dancer, Benjamin Clawhauser.
• Clawhauser : [ laughs ] It's me!
• [ chuckles again ]
• Clawhauser : Do you think it was real? It looks so real! It's not, it's just a new app.
• [ Turns to his radio ]
• Clawhauser : Hold on a second.
• Bellwether : [ Cornering Judy and Nick in a pit-like exhibit in the Natural History Museum ] Well, you should've just stayed on the carrot farm, huh. It really is too bad, I... I did like you!
• Judy Hopps : What're you going to do, kill me?
• Bellwether : Oh ho ho ho, no, of course not.
• [ Aims the Night Howler gun at Nick ]
• Bellwether : He is!
• Judy Hopps : [ a pellet hits Nick ] No! Oh, Nick!
• Bellwether : [ calling the ZPD ] Yes, police! There's a savage fox in the National History Museum! Officer Hopps is down! Please hurry!
• Judy Hopps : No! Nick! Don't do this! Fight it!
• Bellwether : Oh, but, he can't help it! Can he? Since preds are just biologically predisposed to be savages.
• [ Nick growls and chases Judy ]
• Bellwether : Gosh, think of the headline: "Hero cop killed by savage fox!"
• Judy Hopps : So that's it. Prey fears predator and you stay in power?
• Bellwether : Yeah. Pretty much.
• Judy Hopps : It won't work!
• Bellwether : Fear always works, and I'll dart every predator in Zootopia, to keep it that way.
• Young Nick : [ Undergoing Junior Ranger Scout initiation by flashlight ] I - Nicholas Wilde - promise to be brave, loyal, helpful, and trustworthy!
• Junior Ranger Scout 1 : Even though... you're a fox?
• Young Nick : [ his smile fades ] What?
• [ Flashlight goes out and Nick is tackled to the ground ]
• Young Nick : No! NO! What did I do wrong, you guys? Help! Please, what did I do wrong? What did I do?
• [ a muzzle is forced onto him ]
• Young Nick : NO!
• Junior Ranger Scout 1 : You thought we could ever trust a fox without a muzzle? You're even dumber than you look!
• [ Nick rushes outside and hides behind the steps of the building ]
• Junior Ranger Scout 2 : [ from inside ] Aww, is he gonna cry?
• [ Nick struggles to remove the muzzle, finally succeeding and throwing it away from him, struggling to hold back his tears ]
• Bellwether : There! Traffic cams for the whole city. Well this is so exciting, actually. I mean, you know, I never get to do anything this important.
• Judy Hopps : But you're the assistant mayor of Zootopia.
• Bellwether : Oh, I'm more of a glorified secretary. I think Mayor Lionheart just wanted the sheep vote. But he did give me that nice mug.
• [ the mug, which has pens and pencils in it, says "World's Greatest Dad", but the word Dad is crossed out with "Assistant Mayor" written above it ]
• Bellwether : Feels good to be appreciated.
• Flash : Hey...
• Judy Hopps : Wait, wait, wait!
• Flash : ...Priscilla!
• Judy Hopps : Oh, no!
• Priscilla : Yes... Flash?
• Flash : What... do...
• Judy Hopps : No!
• Flash : ...You call... a...
• Judy Hopps : A three humped camel? Pregnant! Okay, great, we got it!
• Flash : Three... humped...
• Judy Hopps : Please, just...
• [ Rolls her eyes in exasperation ]
• Judy Hopps : Ughhh...
• Stu Hopps : Judy, you ever wonder how your mom and me got to be so darn happy?
• Young Hopps : Nope.
• Stu Hopps : Well, we gave up on our dreams, and we settled. Right, Bon?
• Bonnie Hopps : Oh, yes. That's right, Stu, we settled hard.
• Bellwether : I framed Lionheart; I can frame you too!
• Gideon Grey : Give me your tickets right now, or I'm gonna kick your meek little sheep butt!
• [ shoves a lamb and takes her tickets ]
• Sharla : Ow! Cut it out, Gideon!
• Gideon Grey : Baa-Baa! What are you gonna do, cry?
• Young Hopps : [ Young Hopps approaches in her police costume ] Hey! You heard her, cut it out!
• Gideon Grey : Nice costume, loser! What crazy world are you living in where you think a bunny could be a cop?
• Young Hopps : [ unphased ] Kindly return my friend's tickets!
• Gideon Grey : Come get 'em! But watch out, 'cause I'm a fox! And like you said in your dumb little stage play, us predators used to eat prey, and that killer instinct is still in our duh'nuh!
• Travis : Uh, I'm pretty sure it's pronounced D-N-A.
• Gideon Grey : Don't tell me what I already know, Travis!
• Bellwether : Think of it. 90% of the population united against a common enemy. We'll be unstoppable!
• Young Hopps : It may seem impossible to small minds
• [ she briefly directs her attention away from the audience and right at Gideon ]
• Young Hopps : I'm looking at you, Gideon Grey - but just 211 miles away stands the great city of Zootopia where our ancestors first joined together in peace and declared that anyone can be ANYTHING!

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Script Analysis: “Zootopia” — Part 1: Scene By Scene Breakdown

Scott Myers

Go Into The Story

Reading scripts. Absolutely critical to learn the craft of screenwriting. The focus of this weekly series is a deep structural and thematic analysis of each script we read. Our daily schedule:

Monday: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown Tuesday: Plot Wednesday: Characters Thursday: Themes Friday: Dialogue Saturday: Takeaways

Today: Scene-By-Scene Breakdown. Here is my take on this exercise from a previous series of posts — How To Read A Screenplay :

After a first pass, it’s time to crack open the script for a deeper analysis and you can do that by creating a scene-by-scene breakdown. It is precisely what it sounds like: A list of all the scenes in the script accompanied by a brief description of the events that transpire. For purposes of this exercise, I have a slightly different take on scene. Here I am looking not just for individual scenes per se, but a scene or set of scenes that comprise one event or a continuous piece of action. Admittedly this is subjective and there is no right or wrong, the point is simply to break down the script into a series of parts which you then can use dig into the script’s structure and themes.

The value of this exercise:

• We pare down the story to its most constituent parts: Scenes.
• By doing this, we consciously explore the structure of the narrative.
• A scene-by-scene breakdown creates a foundation for even deeper analysis of the story.

This week: Zootopia. You can download a PDF of the script here .

Screenplay by Jared Bush & Phil Johnston, story by Byron Howard & Rich Moore & Jared Bush & Jim Reardon & Josie Trinidad & Phil Johnston and Jennifer Lee.

IMDb plot summary: In a city of anthropomorphic animals, a rookie bunny cop and a cynical con artist fox must work together to uncover a conspiracy.

Zootopia Scene by Scene Breakdown By Will King GoIntoTheStory.blcklst.com P. 1: Night in a jungle. A young bunny creeps through the undergrowth as young JUDY HOPPS describes the primeval living conditions. The bunny is attacked by a jaguar. P. 1–3: We find we are watching an amateur stage play by children inside a barn. Judy gives some background about how animals evolved from savage to civilized. She says that in the big city of Zootopia anyone can grow up to be anything. She’s going to grow up to be a police officer. P. 3–5: Judy and her parents STU and BONNIE leave the theater barn and walk out into the Carrot Days Festival. Her parents try to talk Judy out of her dream, but Judy isn’t dissuaded. P. 5–7: Judy notices GIDEON GREY, a fox, and another young predator follow some younger children. Gideon robs the children of their tickets. Judy confronts him and demands he return what he took. Gideon knocks Judy down, scratches her face and mocks her before walking away. The children go to Judy and she returns the tickets she pick-pocketed from Gideon. They praise her and say Gideon doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Judy says he was right about one thing: she doesn’t know when to quit. P. 8–10: Judy, now an adult, is at the police training academy, but her diminutive size seems to be her greatest weakness. In every test or situation, she fails. The drill sergeant is unrelenting that she is going to flunk out. Time outside of class is haunted by inner voices telling her to give up, but she won’t. She works extra hard and learns to use her strengths (speed, agility, determination, creativity) to overcome each shortcoming. Her drill instructor is impressed. P. 10–11: Judy graduates from the police academy. MAYOR LIONHEART assigns her to Precinct 1 in the heart of Zootopia. ASSISTANT MAYOR BELLWETHER, a sheep, congratulates her and pins on her police badge. “It’s a proud day for us little guys.” P. 11–14: Judy’s farewell at the train station in Bunnyburrow. Her parents are proud but fearful. They remind her Zootopia is “full of predators.” Her father lists all the kinds to watch out for, especially foxes (“they’re the worst .”) They bring up Gideon, but Judy reminds them that was many years ago. Gideon was a jerk who happened to be a fox, and she knows bunnies who are jerks, too. Her father offers various protection devices. She relents and takes a can of fox repellent to appease her parents. After a tearful final hug, she boards the train for Zootopia. P. 14–15: Montage as Judy travels by train to Zootopia. It passes through various boroughs (desert, tundra, rain forest) and eventually arrives at the city center. P. 15–16: Judy takes possession of a one-room apartment and meets her two noisy, inconsiderate neighbors. She enters the apartment and cites what might be its worst features (“Greasy walls…rickety bed…crazy neighbors”), then flops onto the bed ecstatic to be in the big city (“I love it!”). P. 16: The first day. Judy dons her uniform and checks herself in the mirror. As she heads out the door, she notices the can of fox repellent sitting on the table, shrugs and heads to work. A moment later she returns, takes the can, and leaves. P. 16–17: Judy arrives at police HQ and meets CLAWHAUSER (a leopard) at the front desk. He remarks how cute she looks and she uncomfortably points out he’s socially out of line. Embarrassed, Clawhauser apologizes and points Judy to the bullpen for the morning briefing. P. 18–20: At the morning briefing, Judy is the smallest animal in the room. POLICE CHIEF BOGO enters and makes a point to ignore Judy (“There are some new recruits with us I should introduce. But I’m not going to, because I don’t care”). He hands out assignments to the other officers to find 14 missing mammals that the Mayor is worried about. He assigns Judy to parking duty and dismisses the group. Judy protests and reminds him she graduated at the top of her class. Bogo responds, “Well, then writing a hundred tickets a day should be easy.” Judy decides to outdo Bogo’s expectations (“I’m not gonna write 100 tickets… I’m gonna write 200 tickets! Before noon!”). P. 20: Montage of Judy ticketing cars, her highly-developed sense of hearing detecting meters going off. She achieves her goal of 200 parking tickets before noon, then has to issue number 201 to herself when her own meter runs out. As she prepares to do the afternoon’s workload, she notices a fox going into an ice cream parlor and follows. From the window she can’t see him, so she goes inside. P. 20–23: The elephant proprietor doesn’t want to serve the fox, and Judy pops the safety strap on her fox repellent anticipating trouble. She hears the fox explain he wants to buy a popsicle for his tiny son’s birthday. His son wants to grow up to be an elephant and wears an elephant costume. Judy’s heart melts, and she chides herself for being prejudiced just because he is a fox. When the proprietor refuses to sell to the fox and makes a stereotypic remark, Judy points out the store is committing health code violations, but she’d be willing to overlook them if he’d sell the nice fox a popsicle. When the fox realizes he forgot his wallet, Judy foots the bill. P. 23–24: Outside the ice cream shop, Judy introduces herself to the fox, NICK WILDE. They exchange mutual admiration and Judy goes on her way, convinced she’s making the world a better place. P. 24: As Judy continues her parking duties, she again comes across Nick and his son, but they’re acting suspiciously. Nick melts the popsicle and they save the resulting syrup in jars. They load the jars into a fancy airbrushed van and drive off, Nick’s tiny son at the wheel. P. 24: Judy follows into Tundratown where, in a snow-covered field, Nick and his son, FINNICK, make dozens of smaller popsicles. P. 25: Nick and Finnick return to Savannah Central and sell the small “pawpsicles” to lemmings as they leave work at the end of the day. P. 25: Nick and Finnick capture the thrown-away pawpsicle sticks and sell them to mouse construction workers in Little Rodentia. P. 25–28: Fresh off the sale, Nick and Finnick divide the profits, then Finnick drives off. Turns out Finnick is a diminutive adult helping Nick with his cons. As Finnick leaves, he reveals Judy to Nick, and Judy is pissed. She accuses Nick of lying, but Nick says, “It’s called a hustle, sweetheart.” Judy tries to corner Nick for law violations, but he has every base covered — she can’t touch him. As they walk, he reads her like a book — outlook, personal history — and then pronounces her unpleasant future (“…Til finally she has no choice but to go back home with that cute, fuzzy wuzzy little tail between her legs…”). Adding insult to injury, he points out she’s unaware she’s standing in wet cement, then leaves. P. 28–30: Judy returns home defeated. Dinner is unappetizing. The radio plays nothing but disheartening songs about loss and failure. Her parents call and she tries to put on positive face. They notice her meter maid jacket. They’re relieved — she’s not a real cop and she’s doing something safe! Judy bids them good night, then the loud neighbors next door (who heard everything through the paper-thin walls) tell her to turn down the depressing music. She whispers to herself “Tomorrow’s another day,” and the neighbor replies, “Yeah, but it might be worse!” P. 30–31: The next day begins with Judy facing the ire of those who receive her tickets (“My mommy says she wishes you were dead”). P. 31–33: Then, a frantic shop owner reports a robbery. Suddenly stoked to be a real cop, Judy sheds her meter maid jacket and pursues the thief. The chase continues into Little Rodentia where she saves a lady shrew about to be crushed by a giant donut the thief kicked down the street. She uses the donut to body-cuff the thief and returns him to police HQ. P. 33–34: The donut-restrained thief rolls into police HQ and stops in front of Clawhauser’s desk. Judy pronounces the thief caught (“I popped the weasel!”), but Bogo calls her to his office, furious. P. 34–38: Bogo reads Judy the riot act, then adds sarcastically, “…but to be fair, you did stop a master criminal from stealing two dozen… moldy onions.” MRS. OTTERTON barges in on their meeting to plead for help finding her missing husband. While Bogo tries to kindly push off Mrs. Otterton, Judy volunteers to take the case. Bogo excuses Mrs. Otterton, then fires Judy and demands she apologize to Mrs. Otterton. As he opens his office door, Bellwether is talking with Mrs. Otterton. She informs the mayor that Judy will take the case, then wishes her best of luck and that she has a friend at City Hall. As Bellwether and Otterton leave, Bogo gives Judy 48 hours to solve the case or she will be fired. Judy reluctantly agrees and leaves. P. 38–39: At Clawhauser’s desk she looks at the paltry case file. However, there is a photograph that shows Emmitt eating a pawpsicle and Nick’s tail disappearing around a corner. She has a lead. P. 39–42: Hopps tracks down Nick pushing a baby stroller and requests his help, but he refuses, mocking her. He brags about how much money he makes. She threatens to arrest him for tax evasion but Nick is fearless (“It’s your word against mine”). Judy produces a carrot-shaped pen that also records audio and plays back Nick’s confession. Judy uses Nick’s own phrase against him (“It’s called a hustle, sweetheart”). Nick knows he’s trapped. Finnick climbs from the stroller and leaves with a laugh (“Have fun working with the fuzz!”). Nick reluctantly agrees to help in return for the pen. P. 42–43: Nick leads Judy to the Mystic Spring Oasis which turns out to be a naturalist club. Naked animals are everywhere. Although uncomfortable, Judy refuses to give in. P. 43–45: They interrogate Emmitt’s yoga instructor NANGI, an elephant who remembers nothing, but YAX, the proprietor, remembers him in great detail. P. 45–46: Back on the street, Nick asks for the pen, but Judy can’t run a plate. Still blackmailing Nick for help, she promises to give him the pen in 36 hours if he continues to help. Reluctantly, Nick offers that he knows someone at the DMV. P. 46–50: At the DMV, Nick introduces Judy to FLASH, a sloth employee (the DMV is staffed by nothing but sloths) who moves and talks excruciatingly slowly. After a long day trying to get the info she needs, and Nick delaying her through idle chatter with Flash, they emerge only to discover it’s now after dark. P. 50–52: Judy and Nick arrive at the limousine lot, but it’s locked. Nick assumes the game is over, since she doesn’t have a warrant, and asks for the pen. Judy says fine and tosses it over the fence. Nick climbs into the storage yard, but Judy burrows under the fence and gets the pen first, claiming she doesn’t need a warrant because she saw a suspicious character breaking into the yard. Again on the hook, Nick continues to help. P. 52–54: They find the car with the proper license plate, and inside discover Mr. Otterton’s driver’s license. The interior of the car has been shredded. As they investigate further, Nick realizes who owns the car and panics. Before they can leave, they are captured by two large polar bear enforcers. P. 54: During the ride to the home of Mr. Big, Judy asks why Nick is so fearful. “I uh, I may have sold him a very expensive wool rug… that was made from the fur of a… skunk’s butt.” P. 54–57: Judy and Nick are taken to the estate of Mr. Big, a diminutive shrew with a Godfather accent. Mr. Big wants to kill Nick for selling him a skunk butt rug, but it turns out Mr. Big’s daughter is the lady Judy saved from being crushed by the giant donut in Little Rodentia. Mr. Big forgives them and offers to help find Otterton. P. 58: At his daughter’s wedding reception, Mr. Big explains that Otterton attacked his limo driver. Both Nick and Judy are surprised an otter could act so aggressively. He gives them directions to the Rain Forest District to interview the driver, Mr. Manchas. P. 58–61: Judy and Nick find the residence of Mr. Manchas and ask about Otterton. Manchas is scarred from Otterton’s attack and says Otterton kept talking about the “night howlers” when he turned savage. Manchas agrees to let them in to talk more, but before he can unlatch the door there’s a commotion inside. Judy and Nick investigate, but Manchas suddenly turns savage and attacks them. They dive into the jungle to escape and Judy calls for help on her radio. P. 61: Clawhauser shows off an app to a perp that makes it appear he’s dancing with superstar Gazelle. He finally answers Judy’s frantic call. P. 62–63: Judy reports their location, then loses her radio. She saves Nick by handcuffing Manchas to a light pole, but they are forced off the high bridge. Judy grabs a vine with one hand, holds Nick with the other, and swings them both into a net of vines. Safe for the moment, Nick is stunned that Judy would save his life. The branch supporting them snaps and they plummet toward the ground, saved at the last second when the vines they’re still tangled in go taut. The police back-up arrives and Chief Bogo steps out. “Well, this should be good.” P. 63–65: Judy leads them back up to the bridge, but Manchas is gone. At his wit’s end, Chief Bogo demands Judy’s badge. Nick steps in and chastises Bogo for refusing to give Judy the resources she needs and so little time to solve the case. He excuses himself and Judy, and they leave to pursue the case with ten hours left. They take a sky tram. P. 66: Judy and Nick ride over the forest in the tram. Nick recalls his childhood. P. 66–68: In a flashback, we learn Nick was traumatized as a child and learned to keep his real feelings hidden (“Never let them know they get to you”). He also decided that since others would only see him as a shifty fox, he would live down to their expectations. P. 68–69: He and Judy begin to bond, but it’s too much for Nick, so he begins to joke as if he’s a traffic reporter. The joke reminds him about all the traffic cams across the forest canopy which they could use to trace Manchas. Judy knows someone at City Hall who could get them access to the traffic cam feeds. P. 69–70: At City Hall, Bellwether is trying to keep up with Mayor Lionheart. She spills an armload of notebooks. Judy and Nick help her pick them up and ask for help. P. 70–73: Bellwether gives them access to the traffic cams, then leaves. Judy and Nick watch Manchas be abducted by wolves. Judy realizes that “night howlers” refers to the wolves. With Nick’s geographic knowledge, they trace the van to an asylum outside of town. Judy comments how good Nick’s research abilities are and suggests he’d make a good cop. Nick is insulted. P. 73–74: At the asylum, the entrance is guarded by wolves. When Nick is almost discovered by a wolf guard, Judy howls, which starts all the wolves howling. Making use of the distraction, they sneak inside the asylum. Nick admires Judy’s quick thinking. P. 74–77: Inside, Judy and Nick discover a medical facility where all of the missing savage predators are caged, including Manchas and Otterton. Mayor Lionheart arrives, along with a medical doctor. Judy and Nick hide in an open cage just in time to avoid discovery. Judy records the conversation between Lionheart and the doctor using her mobile phone. Lionheart has caged all the animals while seeking a cure, but kept Chief Bogo in the dark. Suddenly Judy’s phone rings. Lionheart and the Doctor panic and leave. Alarms go off, the cell door closes and locks, and guards approach. Judy and Nick escape by flushing themselves down the toilet. P. 77–78: They end up in the river. Judy wants to get the evidence back to Chief Bogo. P. 78: At police HQ, Chief Bogo enjoys watching himself dance with Gazelle on the app when Clawhauser bursts in and announces that Hopps has found all the missing mammals. P. 79: Sometime later, the police, including Chief Bogo, arrive at the asylum, arrest Lionheart, and take the savage animals into custody. P. 79–80: At a news conference, Chief Bogo announces the missing mammals case has been solved. Off to the side, Nick gives Judy a lesson about how to handle a news conference. Thankful for Nick’s help, Judy offers Nick a chance to change his life by applying to become a police officer. She then hands him her carrot recording pen, “In case you need something to write with.” Nick is free! P. 80–82: Before the press, Judy tries to answer questions, but her inexperience leads to misstatements that make all predators out to be dangerous (“For whatever reason, they seem to be reverting back to their primitive, savage ways”). Nick is taken aback by what he hears, and relives his childhood trauma. Before Judy can cause any more damage, Bellwether cuts the news conference short. P. 82–84: When Judy returns to Nick, she’s surprised by his angry reaction. He confronts her about the fox repellent she carries. He feigns an attack and Judy instinctively reaches for the repellent canister on her hip. It’s the confirmation Nick needs. He returns the application (“Probably best if you don’t have a predator as a partner”) and leaves. Judy tries to stop him, but is cut off by the press corps. Her answers to their questions only make the situation worse. P. 85–86: A newscast reports more attacks and notes they have happened since Judy’s press conference. Scenes of Judy trying to keep belligerent protesters apart. Singer Gazelle pleads for an end to the violence and distrust (“…give me back the Zootopia I love”). P. 86: Judy looks on helplessly as Mrs. Otterton watches her savage husband, who is oblivious to her, in a safe room at the hospital. P. 86: Chief Bogo calls Judy to a meeting with newly-appointed mayor Bellwether. P. 86–87: On the way, she learns Clawhauser is moving from the public desk to the boiler room downstairs because a predator shouldn’t be the first face the public meets at police HQ. P. 87–88: In the meeting, Bogo and Bellwether try to convince Judy to become a media hero, the public face of ZPD, but Judy feels she has failed because of her comments at the news conference. Tensions between predators and prey have increased. She resigns her commission and leaves the city. P. 88–91: Judy is back at her family’s farm in Bunnyburrow. She learns that her parents have partnered with Gideon Grey who has become an accomplished pastry chef. They say Judy was responsible for opening their minds. Judy is impressed. Judy and Gideon mend their relationship. Judy learns that her parents use a certain flower to keep bugs out of their produce, but it acts like a drug when eaten and can cause animals to become aggressive. Gideon calls the flowers night howlers. Judy realizes she was mistaken about the identity of the night howlers — it’s not wolves, it’s flowers. She takes the family truck and races back to Zootopia. P. 91–92: Judy locates Finnick and asks for his help finding Nick. P. 92–93: Judy locates Nick and tells him about the flowers, but he’s unimpressed, still resentful. Judy confesses she was wrong to say what she did at the news conference, that she hurt Nick. Nick records her admission on the recording carrot pen and says she can have that recording back in 48 hours. All is forgiven. P. 93: They set out to find the weasel Judy had originally captured using the giant donut. Nick comments on the taste of the blueberries he finds in the truck. P. 94: Judy and Nick find DUKE WEASELTON, but he won’t reveal who he was selling the night howlers (moldy onions) to. P. 94–95: Mr. Big threatens to ice Duke. Duke breaks down and tells Judy and Nick he sold the night howlers to a ram named DOUG who has an underground lab. P. 95–98: Judy and Nick find the subway car being used as a drug lab. They break in, see the flowers, and watch Doug prepare the serum. They overhear Doug on a call about another hit. They see pictures of the reverted predators, including Otterton and Manchas. Doug mentions in the call how he hit Otterton in a moving car. Judy decides to capture the subway car lab and take it to the police. Nick panics. P. 98–101: Judy and Nick fight off Doug and his minions, and move the decrepit subway car down the tracks. Doug and his henchmen try to stop them. The car emerges into daylight and faces an on-coming train. Judy knocks the last of Doug’s henchmen from the car and he lands on the switch that shifts their car onto a side track, avoiding a collision, but it’s moving too quickly for the turn and crashes. Judy and Nick jump to safety but the car and all the evidence are destroyed. Fortunately, Nick still has the dart gun. They head for the natural history museum as a shortcut to the ZPD HQ. P. 101–105: Inside the museum they come across Mayor Bellwether who turns out to be the mastermind behind the night howlers drug attacks. While trying to escape, Judy is injured. She tells Nick to take the gun to the police, but Nick won’t leave her. He takes out his handkerchief to bandage her leg, spilling blueberries on the floor. As they try to make their escape, a ram policeman pushes them into a below-floor-level diorama. Nick loses the gun. Bellwether takes the gun and shoots Nick with the dart, which turns him savage, and he turns on Judy. Bellwether then outlines her plan to control Zootopia. Nick attacks Judy, but it’s a ruse. Bellwether isn’t worried. She says she framed Lionheart and she can frame them as well. Judy produces her recording pen and plays back Bellwether’s confession. (“It’s called a hustle, sweetheart. Boom!”). Bellwether is taken into custody as Bogo and other police arrive. P. 106: A news report covers the arrest of Mayor Bellwether. It also says that an antidote for the night howlers toxin seems to be successful. P. 106: At the hospital, Judy watches as Mr. Otterton recovers and hugs his wife. P. 107: (Voice-over) We hear Judy express how she has grown from her innocent belief that anyone could be whatever they wanted to be in Zootopia. She now understands life is more complex than a slogan. P. 107–108: As she continues, we discover this is a graduation ceremony speech at the police academy at which Nick is inducted into the police force. P. 108: In the police bullpen, Chief Bogo recognizes the presence of Nick the fox as a new cadet. After handing out all the other assignments, he assigns Judy and Nick to parking duty as a prank. After a moment, he gives them their real assignment: find a street racer in Savannah Central and shut him down. P. 108–109: On the streets of Savannah Central, Judy and Nick catch the street racer, festooned with the license plate FST NML . When they confront the driver, it turns out to be Flash, the sloth from the DMV. End.

Writing Exercise: I encourage you to read the script, but short of that, if you’ve seen the movie, go through this scene-by-scene breakdown. What stands out to you about it from a structural standpoint?

Major kudos to Will King for doing this week’s scene-by-scene breakdown.

To download a PDF of the breakdown for Zootopia , go here .

I am looking for volunteers to read a script and provide a scene-by-scene breakdown for it to be used as part of our weekly series. What do you get out from it? Beyond your name being noted here, my personal thanks, and some creative juju sent your way, hopefully you will learn something about story structure and develop another skill set which is super helpful in learning and practicing the craft.

The latest volunteers:

A Monster Calls / Andrew Turner Anthropoid / Marija Nielsen Captain Fantastic / Despina Karintis Denial / Gina Gomez Eye in the Sky / Abhinav Tiwari Hail, Caesar! / Brianne VanTuyle Kubo and the Two Strings / Nikki Syreeta Maggie’s Plan / Monique Mata Manchester by the Sea / Ashley Lara Miles Ahead / Alecia Hodges The Secret Life of Pets / Paul Huffman Victor Frankenstein / Lisa Gomez Zootopia / Will King

Thanks, all!

Go here to see the current set of 2016 movie scripts available for download and reading. I expect another 20–30 movie scripts from 2016 to be released to the public over the next 2 months. As you know, I post those download links as soon as the scripts go public. If you see a one of these scripts go online and you’d like to volunteer to do a scene-by-scene breakdown, email me. First come, first serve.

Even if you do not participate in the analysis, discussion, or write up a scene-by-scene breakdown, I strongly encourage you to read these scripts.

So seize this opportunity and join in the conversation!

I hope to see you in comments about this week’s script: Zootopia .

Written by Scott Myers

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Zootopia (known as Zootropolis in some European countries) is a 2016 animated comedy-adventure film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures . It is the 55th Disney animated feature film. Set in a world of talking anthropomorphic animals, that follows a rabbit with big dreams to be a cop, who deals with a con artist fox to uncover a conspiracy.

Dialogue [ edit ]

[Judy takes off her badge]

Judy: [putting her badge on the desk] Thank you for the opportunity. [Judy walks out, downcast]

Cast [ edit ]

• Jason Bateman as Nicholas P. "Nick" Wilde
• Ginnifer Goodwin as Officer Judy Hopps
• Idris Elba as Chief Bogo
• Jenny Slate as Dawn Bellwether
• Nate Torrence as Officer Benjamin Clawhauser
• Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Hopps
• Don Lake as Stu Hopps
• Tommy Chong as Yax
• J. K. Simmons as Mayor Leodore Lionheart
• Octavia Spencer as Mrs. Otterton
• Alan Tudyk as Duke Weaselton
• Shakira as Gazelle
• Tom Lister Jr. as Finnick
• Raymond S. Persi as Flash, Officer Higgins
• Kristen Bell as Priscilla
• Jesse Corti as Manchas
• Maurice LaMarche as Mr. Big
• John DiMaggio as Jerry Jumbeaux Jr., Moose given parking ticket, Woolter, Jesse, Pig Reporter
• Josh Dallas as Frantic pig
• Fuschia! as Drill Sergeant
• Katie Lowes as Badger Doctor
• Mark "Rhino" Smith as Officer McHorn
• Bryon Howard as Bucky Oryx-Antlerson, Travis
• Jared Bush as Pronk Oryx-Antlerson
• Gita Reddy as Nangi
• Leah Latham as Fru Fru
• Rich Moore as Doug, Larry
• Phil Johnston as Gideon Grey, Angry Driver
• David Thibodeau as Gary (Uncredited)
• Zach King as Arrested Wolf (Uncredited)
• Melissa Goodwin Shepherd as Angry Mouse (Uncredited)
• John Lavelle as Mouse Foreman
• Madeleine Curry as Sharla, Gareth, Hippo kid (Uncredited)
• Jackston Stein as Jaguar Pretend Actuary, Jr. Ranger Scout Bully 1 (Uncredited)
• Pace Paulsen as Jr. Ranger Scout Bully 2 (Uncredited)
• Fabienne Rawley as Fabienne Growly, Jumbeaux Elephant Patron (Uncredited)
• Peter Mansbridge as Peter Moosebridge
• Josie Trindad as Armadillo Landlady

External links [ edit ]

• 2010s American animated films
• American computer-animated films
• Animated buddy films
• American children's animated adventure films
• American children's animated comedy films
• Conspiracy films
• Best Animated Feature Academy Award winners
• Animated films about rabbits and hares
• Animated films about foxes
• Animated films about lions
• Films about sheep
• Films about otters
• Films directed by Rich Moore
• Films directed by Byron Howard

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Quotes / Zootopia

Edit locked.

Nick's " Break Them by Talking " speech to Judy:

Nick Wilde : Tell me if this story sounds familiar. Naive little hick with good grades and big ideas decides "Hey look at me, I'm gonna move to Zootopia! Where predators and prey live in harmony and sing Kumbaya!" Only to find, whoopsie: we don't all get along. And that dream of becoming a big city cop: double whoopsie; she's a meter maid. And whoopsie number three-sy: no one cares about her or her dreams. And soon enough those dreams die and our bunny sinks into an emotional and literal squalor living in a box under a bridge until finally she has no choice but to go back home with that cute fuzzy-wuzzy little tail between her legs to become... You're from Bunnyburrow, is that what you said? So how about a carrot farmer. That sound about right?

Nick's " What the Hell, Hero? " speech to Chief Bogo :

Chief Bogo : Two days to find the otter, or you quit. That was the deal . [Holding out hand.] Badge. Judy Hopps : But sir, we... Chief Bogo : Badge! Nick Wilde : [As Judy starts to turn in her badge.] Uh... no. Chief Bogo : What did you say, fox? Nick Wilde : Sorry, what I said was... NO! She will not be giving you that badge. Look, you gave her a... a... a clown vest and a three wheel joke mobile and two days to solve a case you guys haven't cracked in two weeks ? Yeah, no wonder she needed to get help from a fox . None of you guys were gonna help her, were you? Here's the thing, chief. You gave her the 48 hours, so technically we still have... 10 left , to find our Mr. Otterton. And that's exactly what we're gonna do. So, if you'll excuse us, we have a very big lead to follow and a case to crack. Good day.

Gazelle's impassioned speech during her peaceful protest:

Gazelle : Zootopia is a unique place. It's a crazy, beautiful, diverse city where we celebrate our differences. This is not the Zootopia I know. The Zootopia I know is better than this. We don't just blindly assign blame. We don't know why these attacks keep happening, but it is irresponsible to label all predators as savages. We cannot let fear divide us. Please... give me back the Zootopia I love.

Judy's tearful apology:

Judy Hopps : Wait, listen! I know you'll never forgive me. And I don't blame you. I wouldn't forgive me either. [Nick stops, keeping his back to her.] I was ignorant and irresponsible and small-minded. But predators shouldn't suffer because of my mistakes. I have to fix this . But I can't do it without you . [Beginning to cry] And after we're done, you can hate me, and that'll be fine, because I was a horrible friend, and I hurt you. And you can walk away knowing you were right all along. I really am just a dumb bunny.

The Reveal that Bellweather is the Big Bad :

Bellwether : Judy! Judy! Judy Hopps : Mayor Bellwether! We found out what's happening. Someone's darting predators with a serum. That's what's making them go savage! Bellwether : I'm so proud of you, Judy. You did just a super job. Judy Hopps : Thank you, ma'am. [Starts to hand over the briefcase, then stops, realizing something] Judy Hopps : How did you know where to find us? Bellwether : I'll go ahead and take that case, now. Judy Hopps : Uh, you know what? I think Nick and I will just take this to the ZPD...! [Starts to leave with Nick, but ram guards block them] Judy and Nick : Run. [run away] Bellwether : [angrily] Get them.

The Big Bad 's Evil Gloating :

Bellwether : Well, you should've just stayed on the carrot farm, huh. It really is too bad, I... I did like you! Judy Hopps : What're you going to do, kill me? Bellwether : Oh ho ho ho, no, of course not. [Aims the Night Howler gun at Nick] He is! Judy Hopps : [A pellet hits Nick] No ! Oh, Nick! Bellwether : [calling the ZPD] Yes, police! There's a savage fox in the National History Museum! Officer Hopps is down! Please hurry! Judy Hopps : No! Nick! Don't do this! Fight it! Bellwether : Oh, but, he can't help it! Can he? Since preds are just biologically predisposed to be savages. [Nick growls and chases Judy.] Gosh, think of the headline: "Hero cop killed by savage fox!" Judy Hopps : So that's it. Prey fears predator and you stay in power? Bellwether : Yeah. Pretty much. Judy Hopps : It won't work! Bellwether : Fear always works, and I'll dart every predator in Zootopia to keep it that way.

The reveal that Judy and Nick pulled a Batman Gambit : Judy Hopps : Blehhhh...blood! Blood! Blood! And...death. Nick Wilde : All right, you know, you're milking it. Besides, I think we got it. I think we got it! We got it up there, thank you, Yakety-Yak! You've laid it all out beautifully! Bellwether : [looks at the dart gun, shocked] What? Nick Wilde : Yeah, oh, are, are you looking for the serum? [shows the pellet] Well, it's right here. Judy Hopps : What you've got in the weapon there? Those are blueberries. From my family's farm. Nick Wilde : [tastes the blueberry and blows a kiss] Mwah! They are delicious. You should try some. Bellwether : [growls furiously, closing the gun] I framed Lionheart, I can frame you, too. It's my word against yours. Judy Hopps : Oooh, actually... [pulls out her carrot pen and plays back Bellwether's confession] Bellwether : [recording] And I'll dart every predator in Zootopia to keep it that way. Judy Hopps : It's your word against yours! Bellwether : Huh? Judy Hopps : It's called a hustle, sweetheart. Boom.

Judy's Rousing Speech at the end:

Judy Hopps : When I was a kid, I thought Zootopia was this perfect place, where everyone got along and anyone could be anything. Turns out, real life is a little bit more complicated than a slogan on a bumper sticker. Real life is messy. We all have limitations, we all make mistakes, which means, hey, glass half full, we all have a lot in common. And the more we try to understand one another, the more exceptional each of us will be. But we have to try. So no matter what type of animal you are; from the biggest elephant, to our first fox, I implore you: Try. Try to make the world a better place. Look inside yourself and recognize that change starts with you. It starts with me. It starts with all of us.

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D isney is well known for its charming, witty and emotional animated stories, and the Zootopia script is no different. Writers Jared Bush and Phil Johnston provide a thought-provoking screenplay that is, in fact, a thinly veiled commentary on prejudice and stereotypes. As we break down the script and provide a Zootopia summary, we will show why this story is even more relevant now than it was in 2016.

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WHO WROTE zootopia SCRIPT?

Written by jared bush and phil johnston.

Jared Bush is an American screenwriter born in Maryland. His most famous works include Zootopia (2016) and Moana (2016). He also worked on Zootopia as both a co-director and a voice actor.

Phil Johnston is an American screenwriter born in Minnesota. He wrote both Zootopia and   Wreck it Ralph (2012). He also wrote and directed Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018). Phil provided voice acting for all three films.

STORY BREAKDOWN

Structure of zootopia screenplay.

Here is the story structure for Zootopia screenplay:

The script opens with a school play where Judy establishes the rules of this world; predator and prey live in harmony. Afterwards, Judy’s parents “encourage” her to give up on her dreams of becoming a cop. Instead, she helps a sheep who was being bullied by foxes and realizes that she must become a cop.

Judy trains hard at the police academy and graduates. Just before she boards a train heading to Zootopia, Judy’s parents remind her of how dangerous foxes are. When she arrives at Zootopia, Judy is amazed by the lavish city. She arrives at her apartment, only to discover that it is a dump.

Inciting Incident

Judy arrives at the police department and discovers that there is a major investigation going on. Several mammals have gone missing throughout the city, including an otter. Unfortunately, due the fact that she is a bunny, Judy is relegated to meter maid duty.

Plot Point One

After issuing parking tickets, Judy sees Nick walk into a store. Suspicious because he is a fox, Judy follows him. She discovers that he is just trying to buy a popsicle for his son. She helps them out and buys them a jumbo pop.

Plot Point Two

Judy bumps into Nick and his “son” again and discovers that they are, in fact, hustlers. They melt down the jumbo pop and re-sell it for profit. She confronts Nick, a heated argument ensues about ethics, stereotyping and crushed dreams. Judy goes home, defeated.

Rising Action One

After issuing a few more parking tickets, Judy is informed that there has been a robbery. Eager to prove herself, Judy chases a weasel across Zootopia. She catches him and saves the life of a shrew named Fru Fru.

Rising Action Two

Judy’s boss, Chief Bogo, reprimands her for abandoning her post. Suddenly, Mrs. Otterton walks in, begging for help in finding her husband. Judy volunteers her services. Judy is on the verge of being fired, but Assistant Mayor Bellwether barges in, saving Judy’s job.

Plot Point Three

Judy realizes that Nick is connected to the missing Otter. She blackmails him into helping with the investigation by recording their conversation about his tax evasion. Cornered, Nick reluctantly agrees to help Judy.

Plot Point Four

Judy and Nick begin their investigation. They acquire a license plate number from a yak, which leads them to the DMV. After running the plate, they discover that the plate belongs to a limo.

Upon investigating the limo, Judy and Nick discover claw marks inside the vehicle. They also realize that the limo belongs to Mr. Big, a crime boss. Before he can kill them, Fru Fru, the shrew Judy saved, saves them. Grateful, Mr. Big reveals that Mr. Otterton went feral.

Judy and Mick meet with Manchas, the jaguar driver that was attacked by Mr. Otterton. He recalls the incident mentions something about “night howlers.” Shortly after, Manchas goes feral and attacks Judy and Nick. They barely manage to escape.

Judy tries to explain what happened to Chief Bogo, but he doesn’t believe her. Nick stands up for Judy, protecting her job. They have ten hours to find Mr. Otterton before Judy is fired. While tracking their next lead, Nick recalls how, as a child, he was bullied for being a fox/predator.

Judy and Nick recruit Ms. Bellwether so they can hack into the city’s security cameras. The footage they find reveals wolves may be behind everything.

Judy and Nick infiltrate and asylum. There they find all of the missing animals that went feral, including Mr. Otterton. They also discover that Mayor Lionheart has been keeping this a secret from the police. They escape the wolves and inform Chief Bogo.

Mayor Lionheart is arrested. During a press conference, Judy infers that all of the feral animals were predators. This creates concern in public as well as fractures the relationship between Judy and Nick. 

Animals are being hospitalized, predators are being arrested and protesters are in the streets. Full of guilt, Judy relinquishes her badge and leaves the force. Back at the carrot farm, Judy discovers that “night howlers” are actually flowers that can make animals go crazy. Judy returns to Nick and apologizes for everything she did.

Judy and Nick conduct an investigation where they discover that ‘night howlers’ are being farmed in the city. A chase ensues, which leads them to the museum. Ms. Bellwether reveals herself as the true Zootopia antagonist, asking for the imprisonment of all predators. Her confession is recorded and she is arrested.

Predators and prey are working together. An antidote is created that cures the madness caused by the night howlers. Judy is working side-by-side with her new police partner, Nick.

Zootopia   Script Takeaway #1

Zootopia and its take on prejudice.

When writing the Zootopia script, Bush and Johnston took a clear stance against prejudice and stereotypes. A recurring theme throughout Zootopia ’s plot is how predators and prey view each other and why those misconceptions do more harm than good. Zootopia’ s characters are constantly having to reassess how they perceive each other.

After seemingly solving the case of the missing animals, Judy is asked to speak at a press conference. Despite her good intentions, her commentary had disastrous results. We added the Zootopia script to the StudioBinder screenwriting software so we could examine this scene. 

Zootopia Press Conference  •   Read Full Scene

Judy was simply stating the facts. She did not consider how harmful her words could be, both to her friend Nick and the city of Zootopia. Her actions would lead to unlawful arrests, protests and fear mongering. Judy is not a bad person, but even she had prejudices that she was not fully aware of.

This scene is also the beginning of Judy’s darkest hour. In storytelling, this is the moment when the protagonist is seemingly defeated. They come to a crossroads that will ultimately determine the outcome. 

After this scene, Judy quits the force and returns to the farm, giving up on her dreams. She eventually discovers the truth and takes a stand for her friend, for Zootopia, and for herself.

Zootopia Press Conference

The Zootopia script is not a perfect allegory for contemporary human relations and issues. However, the message it is delivering is important: we all have our prejudices that affect how we view and treat others.

Zootopia ’s characters learn to love and live in harmony with one another, and so should we. Diversity is what makes us humanity so great. We should cherish what makes us unique.

Zootopia Script Takeaway #2

Zootopia ’s characters have arcs.

A common mistake in scripts these days to make things too simple for the protagonist. Easy wins and minimal struggles not only undermine any dramatic tension, but make the victory feel cheap and unearned. The Zootopia script doesn’t do this. Judy Hopps is a dynamic character that constantly has to fight for what she wants. 

Even when she wins, she still loses. For example, Judy finally realizes her dream of becoming a police officer in the city of Zootopia. Unfortunately, her first day doesn’t go as planned.

Zootopia ZPD Bullpen  •   Read Full Script

It would be too easy for Judy to get a case to solve on her first day. Police Chief Bogo and the other officers view her as a “token bunny.” The fact is, they do not trust her to handle big cases because she is so small. A prejudice Judy has been dealing with her whole life. Despite everything she has accomplished, she still has to earn the respect of her peers.

Judy has to break the rules in order to get some semblance of recognition. In this scene, Judy undermines Chief Bogo so she can do the right thing and help Mrs. Otterton.

Judy’s Insubordination

Judy also grows as a character. She knows she has her own prejudices. She has to learn from her mistakes and deal with the consequences. This comes together in her apology to Nick.

Judy Apology  •   Read Full Scene

A story is only as good as its protagonist, and the Zootopia script has a strong one. Characters need to struggle and grow throughout their stories. That is what makes them likable, relatable and memorable.

Zootopia Script Takeaway #3

Inspirational  zootopia  quotes.

Great characters often have important things to say. Judy is an advocate for change and personal growth. She did a lot of growing herself. In Zootopia ’s ending, she says: “Look inside yourself, and recognize that change starts with you. It starts with me. It starts with all of us.”

Judy Monologue  •   Read Full Scene

Judy is emphasizing the importance of personal change. She sought out to change others, when she herself needed to grow as a person. The hypocrisy of telling others what’s wrong with them while not addressing your own flaws is a timeless lesson for us all.

Another great Zootopia quote comes from Nick. It happens rather quickly, but there is an important lesson to be learned when he says: “Never let ‘em see that they get to you.”

Nick's Line  •   Read Full Scene

This was a pivotal moment for Nick, as this is the point in the story when he actually started liking Judy. It’s also an important lesson in obtaining self-confidence.

Judy is constantly being mistreated because she is a bunny. Nick wants to encourage her to be who she is and not let others define her. Here are some other memorable lines from Zootopia :

• But just 211 miles away stands the great city of Zootopia! Where our ancestors first joined together in peace, and declared that anyone can be anything! Thank you and good night!
• I’ve got three items on the docket. First... we need to acknowledge the elephant in the room. Francine, happy birthday.
• Sir, I’m not just some “token” bunny.
• It’s called a hustle, sweetheart. And I’m not the liar, he is.
• Actually, it’s your word against yours. And if you want this pen, you’re going to help me find this poor missing otter or the only place you’ll be selling popsicles is the prison cafeteria. It’s called a hustle, sweetheart.
• What? Are you saying that because he’s a sloth, he can’t be fast? I thought in Zootopia anyone could be anything.
• I uh, I may have sold him a very expensive wool rug... that was made from the fur of a... skunk’s butt.

Zootopia Script Takeaway #4

How humor softens tone in zootopia.

It would not be a Disney story unless it had charming and humorous characters, and the Zootopia script is no exception. Judy, Nick, and the others use humor in clever ways to help make adult themes a bit easier to understand for kids.

Criminals, corruption, the Mafia — ideal subjects for any children's movie, right? Those topics are certainly beyond the purview on animated movies aimed at kids. But that doesn't mean they must be avoided either. What the  Zootopia script does really well is make "adult themes" accessible and appropriate for the younger demographic.

For example, in this scene, Nick is pulling a hustle that Judy interrupts. This introduces her to the criminal element of the city, without making Zootopia’ s plot too dark and not family-friendly. Like any protagonist bound by a strong moral compass, Judy confronts him in this scene.

Nick’s Hustle  •   Read Full Scene

The uses of jumbo popsicles and cute costumes ironically pairs up well with the hustle. Rather than coming off as a complete jerk, Nick is portrayed as cunning and charming.

Nick’s Hustle

Later on, Judy and Nick have to deal with the Zootopia equivalent of the Mafia. In reality, this should be a terrifying experience, but any fear of the polar bear bodyguards is undercut by a shrew named Mr. Big.

Mafia Parody  •   Read Full Scene

Zootopia’ s clever writing and humor makes the characters fun, memorable and likable. Even the more unscrupulous characters have positive attributes to them. A story with great characters makes for a much more entertaining read.

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Fantasy films aimed at kids don’t have to have political messages, but when they do, they should either be internally consistent, or work through the contradictions in terms that kids can apply to the real world. “Zootopia,” a fantasy set in a city where predators and prey live together in harmony, is a funny, beautifully designed kids’ film with a message that it restates at every turn. But if you think about that message for longer than five minutes, it doesn’t merely fall apart, it invites a reading that is almost surely contrary to the movie’s seemingly enlightened spirit: discrimination is wrong, but stereotypes are stereotypes for a reason, and it’s not easy for members of a despised class to overcome the reasons why the majority despises them, so you gotta be patient.

Ginnifer Goodwin (“Big Love”) voices Bunny Hops, a small town rabbit who’s told that she can’t be a police officer in Zootopia because there’s never been a rabbit police officer. (The job tends to be done by predators and large herbivores—like a water buffalo that’s become a police captain, voiced by Idris Elba.) Hops makes it through police training anyway and gets assigned to meter maid duty, to the relief of her carrot farmer parents ( Bonnie Hunt and Don Lake ), who gave her fox repellent as a going-away present. They had good reason to give her fox repellent: the fox is one of the rabbit’s mortal enemies, and when Judy was child, a fox cornered her at a county fair, insulted her for being a bunny, and slashed her face with his paw. (This is a slightly more intense kid-flick than you might expect, given how many adorable animals are in it.)

Of course Hops ends up partnered with a red fox named Nick Wilde ( Jason Bateman ), a small-time hustler who reluctantly helps her investigate the disappearances of a dozen predators. I won’t reveal exactly what the mystery is here (it’s a pretty good one) except to say that it invites kids and parents to talk about nature versus nurture, and the origins and debilitating effect of stereotypes.

But this turns out to be not such a great thing once you get deeper into the movie. Because people are not animals, I dread thinking about the “logical” conclusions to which such conversations will lead. The film isn’t wrong to say that carnivores are biologically inclined to want to eat herbivores, that bunnies reproduce prolifically, the sloths are slow-moving (they work at the DMV here), that you can take the fox out of the forest but you can’t take forest out of the fox, and so on. If you think about all this as an analogy for the world we live in (particularly if we live in a melting-pot big city like Zootopia) and and then ask yourself which racial or ethnic or societal groups (cops, businesspeople, city bureaucrats) are “predators” and which are “prey” (for purposes of metaphor translation), you see the problem. "Zootopia" pretty much rubber-stamps whatever worldview parents want to pass on to their kids, however embracing or malignant that may be. I can imagine an anti-racist and a racist coming out of this film, each thinking it validated their sense of how the world works.

“Zootopia” is constantly asking its characters to look past species stereotypes, and not use species-ist language or repeat hurtful assumptions. “Only a bunny can call another bunny ‘cute,’” Hops warns a colleague It’s filled with moments that are about overcoming or enduring discrimination. “Never let them see that they get to you,” Wilde advises Hops. And there are acknowledgments of the destructive self-hatred that discrimination can cause. Many of the animals make self-deprecating jokes at the expense of stereotypes about their species (such as Hops volunteering to do math for Wilde, telling him, "If there's one thing we bunnies are good at, it's multiplying"), and there's a fairly intense flashback which reveals that Wilde became a hustler because other animals hazed him as a pup while repeating anti-fox stereotypes, and responded by embracing his species' caricature and becoming the foxiest fox anyone had seen. This all seems clever and noble until you realize that all the stereotypes about various animals are to some extent true, in particular the most basic one: carnivores eat herbivores because it's in their nature. (Yes, readers, I know, there are tigers who've been taught to snuggle with lambs, and I've seen the same memes with cats and dogs snuggling that you have; I mean in general.)

It might seem weird that I’m dwelling on this aspect of “Zootopia,” which is directed by Byron Howard & Rich Moore and co-directed by Jared Bush , because the movie is entertaining. The thriller plot, which borrows rather generously from “48 HRS” and every cop drama involving governmental conspiracy, is smartly shaped   It’s hard to imagine any child or adult failing to be amused and excited by parts of it. The compositions and lighting are more thoughtful than you tend to get in a 3-D animated film starring big-eyed animals who speak with the voices of celebrities. And there are a few sections that are transportingly lovely, in particular any sequence involving the pop star Gazelle (voiced by Shakira), and Hops' high-speed train ride towards and through Zootopia, which introduces the city's different terrains (including frozen tundra and misty rainforest) while leaving room for subsequent bits of spelunking (a foot chase through rodent town lets Hops know what it feels like to be a giant). Some of the biggest laughs come from obvious gags that you know the writers couldn't resist, such as the bit where Idris' water buffalo captain says they can't start the morning briefing without acknowledging the elephant in the room. If you decide not to think about the metaphor that the film is built around, it's an enjoyable diversion, made with great skill.

Still: is it too much to ask that a film that wears its noble intentions like a jangling neck collar be able to withstand scrutiny? If "Zootopia" were a bit vaguer, or perhaps dumber and less pleased with itself, it might have been a classic, albeit of a very different, less reputable sort. As-is, it's a goodhearted, handsomely executed film that doesn't add up in the way it wants to.

Matt Zoller Seitz

Matt Zoller Seitz is the Editor at Large of RogerEbert.com, TV critic for New York Magazine and Vulture.com, and a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in criticism.

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Zootopia (2016)

Rated G for some thematic elements, rude humor and action.

108 minutes

Ginnifer Goodwin as Lieutenant Judy Hopps (voice)

Jason Bateman as Nick Wilde (voice)

Shakira as Gazelle (voice)

Idris Elba as Chief Bogo (voice)

Octavia Spencer as Mrs. Otterson (voice)

J.K. Simmons as Mayor Lionheart (voice)

Alan Tudyk as Duke Weaselton (voice)

Jenny Slate as Bellwether (voice)

Bonnie Hunt as Bonnie Hopps (voice)

Tommy Lister as Finnick (voice)

Tommy Chong as Yax (voice)

Kristen Bell as Priscilla (voice)

Katie Lowes as Dr. Madge Honey Badger (voice)

Josh Dallas as Frantic Pig (voice)

John DiMaggio as Jerry Jumbeaux Jr. (voice)

Nate Torrence as Officer Clawhauser (voice)

Maurice LaMarche as Mr. Big (voice)

Kath Soucie as Young Nick Wilde (voice)

Mark Smith as Officer McHorn (voice)

• Byron Howard

Co-Director

• Phil Johnston

Writer (story)

• Jennifer Lee
• Jim Reardon

Writer (head of story)

• Josie Trinidad

Writer (additional story material)

• Dan Fogelman

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Mr. Big/Quotes

• View history

This is a list of memorable quotes spoken by Mr. Big in Zootopia and other media.

Zootopia [ ]

• "You come here unannounced on the day my daughter is to be married."
• "I trusted you, Nicky . I welcomed you into my home . We broke bread together. Gram-mama made you a cannoli. And how did you repay my generosity? With a rug. Made from the butt of a skunk. A skunk butt rug. You disrespected me. You disrespected my Gram-mama, whom I buried in that skunk butt rug."
• "What are you , a performer? What's with the costume?"
• "Then I have only one request. Say hello to Gram-mama! Ice 'em!
• [ "Whoa, whoa, whoa! I-I-I-I-I-I-I didn't see nothing! I'm not saying nothing!" - Nick Wilde] "And you never will."
• [ "What did we say? No icing anyone at my wedding !" - Fru Fru] "I have to, baby . Daddy has to."
• "You have done me a great service. I will help you find the otter . I will take your kindness... and pay it forward."
• "My child. We may be evolved, but deep down, we are still animals."
• "You want to find Otterton, talk to the driver of the car. His name is Manchas . Lives in the Rainforest District . Only he can tell you more."
• '[ "You dirty rat! Why are you helping her? She's a cop!" - Duke Weaselton ] '"And the godmother to my future granddaughter ."
• "Ice this weasel ."

Literature [ ]

The official zootopia handbook [ ].

• "Gram-mama taught me respect, determination, and above all else, the importance of family. She was the whole cannoli."
• (about Fru Fru) "She's the light of my life. When she's happy, I'm happy. When she's unhappy... I do what I have to do."
• 1 Judy Hopps
• 2 Nick Wilde

The 22 Best Inspirational and Motivational Zootopia Quotes

Table of Contents

You must have heard the name of Zootopia animation, or maybe you have at least seen its funny posters. This animation was released in 2016 by Walt Disney Pictures and added to the list of the best Disney animations. Before reviewing the best Zootopia quotes, it is better to recall the story somewhat.

The story is about a rabbit named Judy Hops who passed the entrance exam of the police department. Due to its small size, the brave rabbit had been sent to the city only for a simple mission. With her braveness, she realized a suspicious problem in the city. In the continuation of his story, he meets a fox named Nick . Finally, with his help, they were able to solve the problem of the city.

One of the reasons for the attractiveness of this animation is its memorable characterization . The community of different animals in the city is very similar to the community of humans. Very interesting dialogues are exchanged in this animation.

Here are some of the best Nick and Judy moments:

At first glance, the Conversations may seem very simple, but more accurately, we can understand the importance of these inspirational and motivational discussions.

I am a fan of this animation. If you have seen it, you will agree with me. But for those who have not seen it yet, the first thing to do after reading this text will be to watch Zootopia. So what are we waiting for? Let’s get a little motivated by the words of these funny characters.

Let’s go from Mindsetopia to Zootopia!

1- Are you looking for a change? Look in the mirror!

Judy Hoops: Life’s a little bit messy. We all make mistakes. No matter what type of animal you are, change starts with you.

This is one of the best Zootopia quotes that you should remember. Judy has always been looking for a way to make the world a better place. This is why she precisely entered the police department exam. It can be said that she agreed with Albert Einstein in this way. As Einstein said: “The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”

Change is not something that starts from the outside environment but starts from within each person. It reminds me of a famous quote from Tolstoy : “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”

We will have more Zootopia quotes the following. But we can say that this is the most inspiring sentence of this cartoon. Many people, including  Oprah Winfrey , Jason Lambkin, Elizabeth Galbut, and …  have also mentioned this sentence.

2- Are you scared? This is the end of the road

Nick Wilde: Never let them see that they get to you.

Sometimes all we need is a little courage , no matter how chaotic the environment. Of course, most of us have less courage to continue in the face of difficult circumstances. But as Vincent Van Gogh said: “What would life be if we had no courage to attempt anything?”

What was life really look like? Certainly, without any courage to progress, there would be no change in the world. This is another one of the best Zootopia quotes, which completes the first case.

Also, we suggest reading the best David Goggins Quotes after this quote.

3- Some more courage, please!

Judy Hoops: Sir, I’m not just some token bunny. Chief Bogo: You strike out, you resign. Judy Hoops: Deal.

Do whatever you have to do. If you do not take risks, success will not come to you. Opportunities are everywhere. All you need is a little more courage!

Richard Branson said an interesting thing about this: “ If somebody offers you an amazing opportunity but you are not sure you can do it, say yes – then learn how to do it later!”

We all have to remember that a little courage can make us a big change! But don’t forget, success doesn’t happen overnight , it needs practice.

4- The mistake? Don’t worry, Everyone Makes Mistakes.

Judy Hoops: I came here to make the world a better place, but I think I broke it. Chief Bogo: The world has always been broken. That’s why we need good cops.

Zootopia quotes give a lot of courage . They remind you from a container that if you try very hard and fail, do not be disappointed. We all make mistakes because no one is perfect.

Just like Allen Iverson said: “I’m not perfect. But I am trying every day to concentrate on being better.”

5- There are no restrictions. You can be whoever you want.

Nick Wilde: [in mock surprise] Are you saying that because he’s a sloth he can’t be fast? I thought in Zootopia, anyone could be anything.

There are no restrictions. You can be whoever you want.

In parts of the Zootopia cartoon, the fox reminds Judy of some significant things. One of these inspirational Zootopia quotes is given above.

We all have different abilities . Some may go slowly, but that does not mean that person will never succeed. We can all become who we want to be.

6- Not enough! Work harder!

Chief Bogo: Life isn’t some cartoon musical where you sing a little song and all your insipid dreams magically come true.

We have all heard many beautiful success stories . We think successful people are lucky ones because we don’t see their 7/24 effort . Ralph Lauren has an inspirational sentence about it: “A lot of hard work is hidden behind nice things.”

7- Begin again! Every day is a new day.

Judy Hoops: Tomorrow’s another day.

We start doing things . Sometimes we get success, but sometimes we fail. All that matters is to try again and again and stay still motivated. Did you fail an exam? Did you mess up a job interview? Now they don’t matter. Just don’t get stuck in the past.

Zootopia’s quotes remind me of Seneca’s advice: “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”

I really recommend reading Uncle Iroh Quotes to go to the next level.

8- Desire and effort. The greatest combination!

Chief Bogo: It’s not about how badly you WANT something. It’s about what you are capable of!

We all love to read motivational texts. These texts give us a lot of energy to achieve the goal. Reading such things is a good step, but it is not enough.

The next step to success depends solely on ourselves. To what extent we can maintain this motivation and do the necessary work to achieve our goal?

For this quote, I really recommend reading Why Is It Important To Aim High To Success blog too.

9- Being realistic does not mean being a pessimist.

Judy Hoops: I mean, I am just a dumb bunny, but, we are good at multiplying.

It’s one of the funniest Zootopia quotes, but you know, Judy is right. She looks at the issue very realistically and considers both its positive and negative aspects.

To succeed in any field, we need to consider the different dimensions of our abilities. Without despair, it is better to focus on the bright parts of every situation.

Let’s see what Samuel Johnson has to say about this: “ The habit of looking on the bright side of every event is worth more than a thousand pounds a year. ”

10- Don’t let go! A key factor

Nick Wilde: Rabbit, whatever you do, do not let go!

Sometimes in life, we need to let go of things to be successful. At the same time, we must not give up our constant effort. Of course, Nick knew the difference between the two before saying this dialogue.

For example, to be independent, we must leave the words of others and not listen to them. At the same time, we must stick to trying hard and leave the field before achieving success.

11- Do not judge anyone by their appearance!

Judy Hoops: The more we try to understand one another, The more exceptional each of us will be.

At first glance, humans judge each other by their appearance and do not spend time getting to know each other. We all know this is wrong, but we may continue to do so as usual. There is a great quote from Abraham Lincoln about this: “I don’t like that man. I must get to know him better.”

12- Small steps create big successes.

Stu Hoops: You want to talk about making the world a better place, no better way to do it than becoming a carrot farmer. Bonnie Hoops: Yes! Your dad, me, your 275 brothers and sisters, we’re changing the world. Stu Hoops: Yeah. Bonnie Hoops: One carrot at a time. Stu Hoops: Amen to that.

Among Zootopia quotes, this is my favorite. It’s what I did and got the result.

For example, if you read nine pages a day, you will finish about 12-15 medium-volume books a year. All you have to do is spend 20-30 minutes a day. There are many examples of small steps that lead us to great success.

Also, I recommend reading Success Is The Sum Of Small Efforts .

13- Little cute rabbits can’t do anything.

Nick Wilde: It’s not exactly a place for a cute little bunny.

Judy Hoops: Don’t call me cute. Get in the car.

This has something to do with apparent judgment. Some people accept opinions and give up everything because they do not have strong physical characteristics.

This quote reminded me of those who say that girls cannot become soccer players.

14- Doing your best is the important part.

Gazelle: Sometimes we come last, but we did our best.

No matter who you are and what you do. Don’t look around, own your business, and do your best.

15- Do not leave the game, have a rest!

Gazelle: Look how far you’ve come

You filled your heart with love

Baby, you’ve done enough

Take a deep breath.

On the very long road to success, somewhere we all fall short. The most important point is that Banksy says: “If you get tired, learn to rest, not to quit!”

16. “In Zootopia, anyone can be anything.” – Judy Hopps

The movie’s main idea is summed up in this phrase by Judy Hopps, the tenacious and upbeat bunny, which she says early on.

It is a potent reminder that everyone has the freedom to pursue their goals in a varied and accepting society, regardless of their race or ethnicity.

This comment supports the movie’s thesis that obstacles and prejudices may be dispelled and encourages viewers to believe in their capacity to become whatever it is they desire.

17. “You can only be what you are. Sly fox, dumb bunny.” – Nick Wilde

In answer to Judy Hopps’ ambitions, the clever fox Nick Wilde says thus, demonstrating the skepticism he has met in a society where stereotypes frequently influence judgments.

It draws attention to societal preconceptions and the difficulties associated with shedding those labels.

This quotation serves as a reminder of the value of seeing past first impressions and letting people identify themselves without interference from society.

18. “I want to try everything.” – Judy Hopps

This remark reflects Judy’s zest for life and her willingness to seize every opportunity. It demonstrates her limitless optimism and her enthusiasm to try new things.

By reminding us that our horizons broaden when we have the fortitude to leave our comfort zones, this saying inspires us to approach life with an open mind and a readiness to try new things.

19. “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” – Judy Hopps

This phrase, an homage to Franklin D. Roosevelt’s famous line, symbolizes the idea that fear may be one of the most restricting elements in our lives.

Judy Hopps’ use of this remark in the setting of Zootopia encourages us to face our concerns and not let them immobilize us.

It underlines the significance of courage and persistence in overcoming hardship.

20. “We may be evolved, but deep down, we are still animals.” – Chief Bogo

Chief Bogo’s quote emphasizes the idea that despite human characteristics and advancement, our instincts and primitive nature still play an important role in our lives.

This reminds us that we must know and understand our essential instincts, whether or not they are related to survival, behavior, or social motivation.

This reputation can help us navigate the complexities of our own nature as well as our interactions with others and remind us that, beneath our subtleties, our essence, we are animals.

21. “I came here to make the world a better place. But I think I broke it.” – Judy Hopps

Her sincere revelation will appeal to everyone who has ever had good intentions yet ran into unforeseen obstacles and disappointments while pursuing a worthy objective.

The complexity of change and the understanding that even well-intentioned activities can have unexpected repercussions are both reflected in Judy’s discovery.

It serves as a reminder that the road to improving the world can be difficult and admitting our mistakes is an important step toward development and real positive change.

In the end, this quotation highlights the value of resilience and flexibility in the face of difficulty, motivating us to stick with our goals and keep striving for a better future even when the road ahead seems difficult.

22. “You know you love me.” – Nick Wilde

Nick Wilde’s lighthearted but insightful statement perfectly captures his endearing and intelligent personality.

It appeals to the audience with its charm and sense of humor. Nick utilizes comedy in this situation to distract from his feelings and make things more fun.

The quotation serves as a reminder that humor and a light-hearted attitude can be helpful resources for getting through difficult or delicate situations.

It’s also a fun call for us to enjoy life’s simpler pleasures and recognize our connections to others.

In summary, Nick’s joke serves as a reminder that humor and lightheartedness can enhance our connections with others and help us find joy in the ordinary.

If you love Zootopia, listen to this podcast:

In the text above, we reviewed the best inspirational Zootopia quotes. We may all have read the above over and over again, but it is very interesting to review these valuable words in the language of funny cartoon characters.

Well, I’m sure those who have not seen this animation are now looking for it to watch.

Written by Saeed Ahmadi

Who am I? A blogger, mindset mentor, personal development coach, content creator, SEO Specialist, digital marketer, entrepreneur, reader by night, and writer by day.

Mindsetopia, my brainchild, is more than a platform, its my vision of a world where everyone has access to the tools and knowledge necessary for personal growth and self-growing.

What really makes me excited is helping people to unlock their true potential. So,I am here to give you the kick you need to change your mind and then your life :)

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Three lessons from zootopia to discuss with kids, the new disney film raises tough questions about prejudice for parents and teachers to explore with children..

I braved opening day of Zootopia with four kids. I had seen the previews and thought it would be a sweet, funny Disney movie about “becoming who we want to be no matter what” or “following our dreams.”

It did meet those expectations, but there was actually more. As I watched, I wondered: Was this Disney movie actually making a political commentary about bias, sexism, racism, and xenophobia? Did they really do that?

Yes, they did. My first hint was a subtle joke in the beginning when the hero—a determined, hard-working bunny named Judy Hopps—shows up for her first day at work as a police officer. She’s called “cute” by the dispatcher—a cheetah named Clawhauser—and Judy replies, “Ooh, you probably didn’t know it, but a bunny can call another bunny cute, but when other animals do it, it’s a little….”

I looked around the theater. Did other folks catch that? Was that actually a line just for me, a black woman, about what can be said within a group but not without? Surely that was a blip?

But it wasn’t. The movie turned out to be explicitly about bias of all types, from unconscious prejudice to a “we don’t serve your kind” attitude to the deliberate cultivation of fear to achieve political power. It speaks directly to our heated political climate, however imperfectly. It did this with compelling characters and by echoing words we often use in conversations about race and bias: “well I didn’t mean to,” “don’t be sensitive,” “they shouldn’t be here.” Now, I’m not saying that the movie is perfect. There is something really disturbing about the way the animals are sorted according to their biology, with some reverting back to their inherent “savagery.” Also, the relationship between prejudice in the movie and real-world racism is not entirely clear; Zootopia does not have much to say about power or exploitation.

Perhaps as a result, much of the writing about Zootopia has run the gamut from “this is the best racial commentary ever” to “this is the worst.” It is neither, in my view. If you want a Disney movie to do all the work of explaining bias to your kids for you, then this isn’t it. Zootopia isn’t a perfect movie about bias, but it is the perfect opportunity for you to talk about these issues with your children. 

In fact, you absolutely need to see Zootopia with them—and you need to talk about it afterward. Teachers can do the same in the classroom.

Many children over the age of nine will easily be able to grasp the descriptions of prejudice and bias, and they’ll understand the parallels. But research indicates that even children as young as five will be able to understand the concepts of bias and prejudice. The majority of the kids who see this movie will understand the “unfairness” and the lack of justice in it. Then we as adults can help them make the direct connections to the world around us. In my dissertation research, I found that children who were better able to identify prejudice when they saw it in movie clips had parents who were helping them make sense of bias. Those children, in turn, had more cross-race peers and lower overall rates of bias.

You can start with language like this: “I wonder what you noticed. Have you ever been treated that way? Have you ever treated others that way?” From there, you can use Zootopia to impart at least three lessons to kids about prejudice. (Warning: Some spoilers below!)

1. Stereotypes hurt everyone

The language of stereotyping is explicitly used in the movie, as when Officer Clawhauser apologizes for calling Judy “cute.” So we can ask children if they know what a stereotype is, encouraging them to come up with examples. The five year old in our group said, “Yeah, like when kids think that I can’t do the monkey bars fast because I’m a girl or because I’m little.” That’s exactly it. We can help them understand that stereotypes are sometimes true about some people, but certainly not always true about all people.

The movie quite cleverly shows how stereotypes can harm both the people doing the stereotyping and the people being stereotyped. Judy is stereotyped—but she also stereotypes other characters. She is initially deceived by a kindly, meek lamb, who (spoiler alert!) later turns out to be the movie’s villain.

In the typical children’s movie, the dark, ferocious creatures are pretty much always the bad guys and the small fuzzy ones are the good guys. Not so in Zootopia , where the animals are seldom what they seem—and the lesson gets driven home over and over again that thinking in terms of stereotypes can lead you to bad conclusions or even put you in danger.

2. Prejudice is unfair

This is the next step: Prejudice is when stereotypes are used to differentially treat people. This is where kids often go to the “it’s not fair” portion of their understanding. There are many scenes in the movie where prejudice happens. Prejudice forces Judy to do meter-maid work instead of the job she trained for.

There is a particularly sad flashback scene when one of the main characters, the con artist fox Nick Wilde, is getting ready to join an animal “cub scouts.” He is excited because foxes usually aren’t allowed in this activity, and he has worked hard to join the group. He is lured downstairs by the other animals to be initiated—but instead they tease him and tell him that he’s never allowed to join. In fact, they go so far as to muzzle him.

It’s a cruel depiction of exclusion—and will certainly resonate with children’s experiences of not being included. It’s a great scene to ask: “Do you remember when they wouldn’t let Nick in their group? What did you think about that? Have you ever felt that way? Did anyone not let you into a group because they held a stereotype about you—thought that you were something you weren’t? Yes, well that’s prejudice.”

By talking about these scenes and using kids’ language about fair treatment, we can actually help our children better identify prejudice when it is happening. We can help them to connect empathically with those who are the targets of bias. We can ask them how it feels to be treated that way and encourage them to think about times when maybe they treated others in prejudiced ways. The idea here isn’t to make kids feel guilty, but rather to help them put themselves in another person’s shoes and begin to identify behavior that they might want to change.

3. We can fight prejudice—and people can change

More on bias & kids.

Allison Briscoe-Smith explains how to talk about race with children .

Jeremy Adam Smith on how to read racist books to your kids .

Discover five ways to foster interracial friendship in schools .

Susan Fiske explores what prejudice reveals about humanity .

The characters in Zootopia don’t just see discrimination—they also fight against it. You can highlight the strategies that they use, which include connecting with family and talking about what is going on with friends. The movie definitely conveys how members of a stereotyped group must often “work twice as hard” to achieve the same result as others. This idea is taken for granted in many families—that members will encounter barriers that force them to defy stereotypes or convince others that they are worthy. But for some kids (and some adults), this will be an entirely new idea. It also shows how “working twice as hard” isn’t a perfect strategy—despite her hard work, Judy is still discriminated against.

Can people grow and change? Zootopia ‘s answer is yes, but change isn’t easy. The movie shows a lot of conflict, even between friends. Through these conflicts it explores the difficult idea of “allyship”—the process of supporting people who face prejudice and building relationships beyond those who share our social identities. We can use the term “ally” with our children, using Judy and Nick as examples.

In Zootopia , Judy and Nick become allies. They hurt each other and make mistakes, but they also forgive and decide to work together to overcome bias. Of course, one of the best ways we can illustrate this ability to evolve and support each other is by embracing it ourselves—thus modeling for our kids. How often do your children see you connect to those who are different from you in race, sexuality, or class, to name a few? Do they see you cooperating, having fun?

This might be the most valuable lesson contained in Zootopia : By connecting across our differences, we can make the world a better place. This is what Judy the bunny and Nick the fox learn to do—and your children can learn to do it, too, with your help.

About the Author

Allison Briscoe-Smith

Allison Briscoe-Smith, Ph.D., is a senior fellow of the Greater Good Science Center and the co-instructor of the GGSC's Bridging Differences online course .

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The Godfather of the Bride

• View history
• 3.1 Additional voices

Synopsis [ ]

A touching tale about the powerful arctic shrew known as Mr. Big revisits Fru Fru’s big day when he delivers a revelatory father-of-the-bride speech. Taking guests back in time to his days as Mr. Small, a new immigrant to Zootopia, he imparts the wisdom he gained then about the importance of friends, family, and community.

During the wedding reception of Fru Fru and her husband, Mr. Big gives a wedding speech about his youth. He and Grandmama left the old country (which was simply across a ravine) in 19?? and entered Zootopia to start work in a bakery. Mr. Big found it difficult to make deliveries, so Grandmama got him a bike and their trustworthiness grew within the community. Mr. Big soon noticed that some Polar Bear neighbors needed some cooling down, so he buys them ice cream. In return, they proceeded to make his deliveries easier and he gains allies.

A Rhino gangster soon begins to trash the neighborhood and when the Polar Bears are threatened, Mr. Big stands up to them and the residents literally ice the rhino by having him fall into an ice factory. Soon, Mr. Big takes over the neighborhood, appointing one particular Polar Bear as his right hand and improve the community by founding the Little Rodentia area of Zootopia. Mr. Big finishes his story by telling Fru Fru that "the family you have makes you rich, the friends you choose makes them family, and with these things you will never feel small and no matter how small you are, you can still make a difference", before threatening her husband to treat her right.

• Maurice LaMarche as Mr. Big
• Imari Williams as Rhino Boss

Additional voices [ ]

• John Lavelle
• Joey Lawrence
• Katie Lowes
• Angel Parker
• Rose Portillo
• The short seems inspired by the origin story of Vito Corleone from the original novel of The Godfather by Mario Puzo; also depicted in the 1974 Francis Ford Coppola film, The Godfather Part II .
• This short first premiered at D23 Expo 2022.
• This episode reveals how Little Rodentia was founded in Zootopia.

Gallery [ ]

• 2 Inside Out 2