Zootopia has been going animals all over the box office records, hopping on previous records and is now holding the third biggest original movie debut in history (behind only Inside Out and Avatar). It is the most successful opening for a non-Pixar Disney movie, and is sneaking like a fox past more records as its theatrical run continues to meet success. But is Zootopia as (Zoo)topical as people are saying?

Long story short, yes. Zootopia, Disney’s first original anthropomorphic animal movie since 2008’s Bolt, is a fantastic movie whose success is completely warranted as the Disney Revival era continues to accrue hit after hit.

The story follows Judy Hopps,

a confident, cute, and naive young country girl who moves into the bustling city of Zootopia in order to fulfill her dream of becoming a police officer. Unfortunately for Hopps, the harsh reality of city life strikes her as she is ostracized and ignored for being a bunny in a majority predator dominated industry. Hopps urges to prove her worth to the police department by enlisting in a missing animal case. Hopps enlists the help of a fox con artist Nick Wilde, who reluctantly joins to help the case. This unlikely partnership works together to solve the case, only to find that the missing animals may just be the beginning of a larger conspiracy.

The story is rather simple and similar to many buddy-cop movies. However, Zootopia executes this plot in a masterful way to not only intrigue children with its twists and turns, but also to reach the adult audience with many metaphors to modern society. Zootopia weaves in positive messages on feminism, anti-racism, and following your dreams in a way that remains inspiring to all viewers, yet avoids being excessively preachy.

The main characters are incredibly realistic and well fleshed out. Hopps is similar to many of the bright young adults coming out of high school and college today that are hopeful of the future and her career, yet faces the harsh realities of the world. She comes to terms with reality, but remains hopeful and wishes to make a change. Wilde is deeper than what his cunning, stereotypical surface shows, as he looks to recover from the past and find his identity. The relationship between the two is unique, as together both are trying to rewrite the stereotypes that accompany their respective animals. All of the characters bring the setting of Zootopia alive.

Speaking of which, the setting of Zootopia is awe inspiring. Different boroughs representing different animal kingdoms and climates meshed with a futuristic city is one of the most creative environments Disney has come up with recently. The setting is explored quite well as Hopps goes on a Blue’s Clues-esque journey through places such as Tundratown, Savanna Central, Little Rodentia, Rainforest District, and the Sahara Square.

The animation and sound are nothing less of stunning. Work on the animation began in 2013, and it shows as all the motions are extremely fluid and the design is very intricate. The soundtrack features the works of Michael Giacchino, whose work was also used on the two biggest blockbusters of last summer – Jurassic World and Inside Out. The music fits all of the ups and downs of the story, and remains a treat to listen to outside of the film as well. In addition, the title song for the film, “Try Everything” by Shakira (a gazelle in the film) is a catchy fitting song to the themes of the film.

It is hard to find any major flaws, if any, with this movie. There are really only minor flaws that can be found. For example, the well fleshed out relationship and dynamic that is developed throughout the film between Hopps and Wilde comes at the cost of no development amongst the side characters. There are numerous other characters that come along to aid Hopps and Wilde, yet many of them are seen once or twice, disappear, and then conveniently reappear when they are needed again in aiding the case. Also, a couple of the comedic gags occasionally detract from the film and become quite repetitive and predictable.

Overall, this film is a treat for all viewers, and I can not recommend this movie enough. It is a memorable rollercoaster of emotions that hits home because of how much it mirrors modern society. On a scale of 1 – 10, where 8 is the worst, 6 is average, and 5 is decent, I give this film a certified A+, a  Kingshuk seal of approval. Go watch this movie as soon as you can!