Zootropolis: Disney's Animated Allegory for Trump's America
The 2017 Academy Awards ceremony sent strong signals opposing Donald Trump's isolationist policies, with the Best Animated Feature prize going to Disney's Zootropolis (Zootopia). Directed by Byron Howard, Richard Moore, and Jared Bush, with John Lasseter as executive producer, the film presents a multi-ethnic metropolis where anthropomorphic animals coexist harmoniously, embodying the American Dream. The story follows Judy Hopps, a determined rabbit who becomes a police officer and investigates the disappearance of mammals with the help of Nick Wilde, a fox. The narrative critiques political manipulation through fear-mongering and discrimination, reflecting the transition from Obama's America to Trump's era, as well as Europe's rise of populism and xenophobia. The film combines sophisticated computer graphics with a linear plot, memorable gags (like the sloth bureaucrat), and a deeper political message. Beatrice Fiorentino's review emphasizes that the film's lesson—'fear always works'—is relevant for voters everywhere.
Key facts
- Zootropolis won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature at the 2017 Academy Awards.
- The film is a Disney production with Pixar influence under John Lasseter's executive production.
- Directors: Byron Howard, Richard Moore, and Jared Bush (co-director).
- The film's setting is a multi-ethnic metropolis called Zootropolis (Zootopia in original).
- Protagonist Judy Hopps is a rabbit who becomes a police officer.
- Nick Wilde is a fox who assists in the investigation.
- The plot involves the mysterious disappearance of mammals and political corruption.
- The film critiques fear-mongering and discrimination, paralleling Trump's policies and European populism.
Entities
Artists
- Byron Howard
- Richard Moore
- Jared Bush
- John Lasseter
- Beatrice Fiorentino
Institutions
- Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences
- Disney
- Pixar
- Artribune
Locations
- United States
- Europe