How Disney Animators Created an Animal Kingdom for 'Zootopia'

You’re familiar with the expression, “It’s a jungle out there?” Well, in the upcoming Disney animated feature, Zootopia, “out there” happens to be “right here.” Opening in March 2016, the movie imagines an alternate universe where humans never existed. In their place, animals evolved the ability to talk, walk on their hind legs, pay bills and live in big cities like New York. To depict a realistic animal civilization, directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore tell Yahoo Movies that they traveled to Africa to observe species in their real natural habitat. “It’s really interesting to see parallels in our own society with the parallels that we saw in the animal society.”

Among the many mammals who call Zootopia home is rabbit cop, Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin), who has to buddy up with a smooth-talking fox Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman) to solve a big case. The actress promises Disney’s usual mix of adventure and comedy, with a hefty dose of animal emotion as well. “I cry when I read the scripts and when I go to these recording sessions, because I think the friendship is really beautiful and moving.”