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September 11, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Screen & Stage • Film

Zootopia

Zootopia is a 2016 American animated buddy-cop comedy film produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and released by Walt Disney Pictures.

Updated September 11, 20261 min readCited sources

Zootopia is a 2016 American animated buddy-cop comedy film from Walt Disney Animation Studios, set in a city of anthropomorphic animals. It follows rabbit police officer Judy Hopps and fox con artist Nick Wilde as they uncover a conspiracy.

What it is

Zootopia is the first installment in the Zootopia franchise, released in the United States on March 4, 2016. Directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore, and written by Jared Bush and Phil Johnston, the film features voices including Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, and Idris Elba. In some markets, it was released as Zootropolis.

Key details

The plot centers on Judy Hopps, the first rabbit on the Zootopia Police Department, who teams up with con artist Nick Wilde to investigate a missing-predator case. Their probe reveals a broader conspiracy affecting the city's social order. The film was produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios and distributed by Walt Disney Pictures.

Why it matters

Zootopia was widely discussed for its themes of prejudice, stereotypes, and cooperation within an animated adventure format. It launched a franchise that later expanded to a sequel announced as Zootopia 2. Canadian audiences know the film under its alternate title Zootropolis in some markets.

In short

  • Animated buddy-cop comedy set in a city of anthropomorphic animals.
  • Follows rabbit officer Judy Hopps and fox con artist Nick Wilde.
  • Released March 4, 2016; also known as Zootropolis in some markets.
  • First film in the Zootopia franchise, with a sequel announced.
Canadian angle

Canadian audiences know the film under its alternate title Zootropolis in some markets, and it was widely released in English-speaking markets including Canada through Disney distribution.[1][4]

Quick questions

What is Zootopia?
Zootopia is a 2016 Disney animated buddy-cop comedy film set in a city of anthropomorphic animals.
Who are the main characters?
The main characters are Judy Hopps, a rabbit police officer, and Nick Wilde, a fox con artist.
When was Zootopia released?
It was released in the United States on March 4, 2016.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zootopia
    Supports: Basic film facts, title variant, cast, plot, and franchise status.
  2. Walt Disney Animation Studios — https://disneyanimation.com/films/zootopia/
    Supports: Official studio description, release date, plot premise, and directors.
  3. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2948356/
    Supports: Plot summary and main-character descriptions.
  4. Rotten Tomatoes — https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/zootopia
    Supports: Release date, runtime, genre, and production/distributor details.
  5. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt26443597/
    Supports: Existence of the sequel Zootopia 2 and its franchise connection.