Want to know a secret? Tonight was the 6th viewing for me. I took the kids to see it and came away with a strong ... 'It was OK' feeling. I ended up going again with my nieces and the kids. I found it was growing on me. Saw it a few more times after that.

I saw The Force Awakens twice in theaters. Saw this five times.

._.

Stay away ... if it bites you ... you go feral!

Want to know a secret? Tonight was the 6th viewing for me. I took the kids to see it and came away with a strong ... 'It was OK' feeling. I ended up going again with my nieces and the kids. I found it was growing on me. Saw it a few more times after that.

 

I saw The Force Awakens twice in theaters. Saw this five times.

 

._.

 

Stay away ... if it bites you ... you go feral!

Like i said, this is not a blog about how i feel about Zootopia as a movie in general. This is more about Zootopia as a Disney Movie.

I think as a movie, it's good. But this is not what i want in a Disney Movie, because i don't feel any sort of wonder or magic with it. I may sound like an old man with that, but these are just my feelings.

I've watched Zootopia a few times and I suppose it's alright, though I have never had much of an attachment to Disney films. Honestly, the only 'classic' Disney films I enjoy are Mulan, Aladdin and Pocahontas. Apart from that, meh. Zootopia was very political though.

Is it really fair to say Disney films all have a type of feel when so many are tonally different. Having grown up with movies like The Black Cauldron, Fox and the Hound, Oliver and Company, and being a young adult when Hunchback and Pocahontas hit ... I always ignore the marketing statements since I know better. The truth is Disney often veers in weird directions ... often ... with mixed results.

Alice in Wonderland is a perfect example even though it is thought of as a classic.

Want to know a secret? Tonight was the 6th viewing for me. I took the kids to see it and came away with a strong ... 'It was OK' feeling. I ended up going again with my nieces and the kids. I found it was growing on me. Saw it a few more times after that.

 

I saw The Force Awakens twice in theaters. Saw this five times.

That's funny. It sounds just like a certain cartoon I watched in the past.

What was it about again? Something about ponies, and magic... and probably friendship?

Honestly though, I guess I'd agree with OP. Especially since 3d style does not appeal to me. (Seriously though, that Jafar voice acting... best dam' VA ever)

Is it really fair to say Disney films all have a type of feel when so many are tonally different. Having grown up with movies like The Black Cauldron, Fox and the Hound, Oliver and Company, and being a young adult when Hunchback and Pocahontas hit ... I always ignore the marketing statements since I know better. The truth is Disney often veers in weird directions ... often ... with mixed results.

 

Alice in Wonderland is a perfect example even though it is thought of as a classic.

I don't consider every disney movie good to be honest (seriously, i never liked Pocahontas to be honest) but with all the movies you have mentioned (except Oliver and company) they all have this fantasy feeling to me.

Disney was the first thing that got me into fantasy and everytime i think of Disney, i think of fantasy settings, or just settings that are extremly exotic, places where you as a human, can never live in.

Zootopia never has this, because it's our world, just with animals.

I never saw this movie and unfortunately I missed tonight's stream of it because I was on the mobile site all day and didn't see the ad until it was too late. But I can understand where you're coming from on the political messages. Most movies are not for everyone and not everyone wants to feel as if they're being sermonized or propagandized watching an otherwise fun movie. It can be strange seeing everyone and their dog praising this movie and being the odd guy out who doesn't like it, and especially distressing when some of the more hiveminded fans attack you for, God forbid, having an opinion (happens to contrarian critics on Rotten Tomatoes all the time).

I have theorized that politics are a huge influence on the critical perception of movies, especially with the Hollywood establishment's known liberal bias, since Mad Max: Fury Road swept 6 Oscars, at least a couple of which I think deserved to go to other films. That being a film that was hailed as "feminist" and "progressive" because it happened to have a badass, androgynous-looking female character in its lead and a sort of environmental message.

Zootopia still looks good to me, and I'm fine with movies having a message, all that matters is how good it is at portraying it (looks a bit on the ham-handed side from the trailers and clips IMO).

Also, I don't think any particular style is being supplanted here. Disney movies are still relatively diverse in style, especially compared to their closest rivals. That goes without saying that Disney is a highly diversified company with a lot of talent from different filmmaking disciplines. I think more films in the vein of the classics might be on the horizon, mixed with a little of their new age style.

Zootopia never has this, because it's our world, just with animals.

In all truth, from what I've seen of this world, it's been hailed as one of the more creative setups of this, visually speaking. Instead of grafting animal characters on the human world, our world has been substantially redesigned to accommodate animals of differing shapes, sizes, and characteristics. Concepts familiar to our cities have been applied to a city of anthropomorphic animals in a way that both makes perfect sense and is creative and fresh. Visually, the city takes a lot of cues from contemporary design, although the characters are very much the standard aesthetic for cartoon animals (some films, like Rango, did afford to be more creative on that aspect). If you want to see "animals in our world" by comparison, look at the trailer for Illumination's upcoming Sing, or watch an episode of Arthur if you're bored.

While I do agree that there are more creatively divergent setups that are possible, this is impressive for what Disney is giving us because of how well it's informed by contemporary culture and how nothing seems to have been lost in translation.

In the end, I'd hold my words before saying anything about Disney going forward. This is a very exciting time for them as no other entertainment company has ever had such a run of success as Disney is having right now. The best thing about it is that this company seems to eat, sleep, and breathe creativity right now; they have some of the best crews in the entire industry. No one seems to know for sure what to expect out of this company right now (besides more Marvel films and live-action remakes, but those just keep the money flowing in), but you can expect that a lot of people will be all over whatever they do next.

I hope you're anticipating Moana (or Vaiana or Oceania or whatever they're calling it in your region). Given your taste in Disney movies, you should give that one a shot when it comes out.

while i do agree on the notion that it was kinda creative, that all those animals got their own respective neighborhood, it still really dosen't leave to my imagination. It's just not really something that is leaving me in awe. It's just a modern day city, with animals. Sounds bitter probably, but i just can't get into it.

When it comes to Moana though, i am really excited for it. Polynesia is a wonderful scenary, adds alot of excitement and oceania has some very interesting folklore. Besides, The Rock will play the Demigod Maui. How awesome is that? It's also directed by John Musker and Ron Clements who did Aladdin, so they have alot of experience.

I thank you for your very insightful comment Wind Chaser.

I don't think your Disney died with Zootopia; I think it's been dead a good long while.  Nowadays, I don't call myself a Disney fan, and most of the Disney films and series that mean or meant anything to me (DuckTales, Gummi Bears, Chip 'N Dale: Rescue Rangers, The Jungle Book, The Rescuers, Alice in Wonderland, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, The Lion King) lie well in the past.  As an adult, I see Disney as more of an all-consuming amoeba than anything else; a company that just gobbles up properties left and right.

I haven't seen Zootopia, by the way.  Maybe I'll think it's great, or maybe I won't.  But the Disney I grew up with has been fading away for years now.  (And if I were a collector of Disney classics, that gawdamn VAULT-thing would annoy the hell outta me.)

Now that is a very interesting view, and I think I see where you are coming from.

Thinking back, most Disney films that I can remember (I'm not as into them as you are, but I remember a fair few from my youth and I still watch some on occasion) re-tell one story or another. Snow White. Cinderella. Hamlet. The Hundred and One Dalmatians. Robin Hood. Zootopia is, so far as I am aware, an entirely new story. That means it is going to be affected by the issues of the day more than a play from the early 1600s. And I, personally, like that - it's a light-hearted and optimistic take on serious issues of the day, and certainly one of my favourite films. But you're right - it is a shift, and as a highly successful shift I think we can anticipate more films like it.

How much do you like Lady and the Tramp? It's another of my favourite Disney films, and I at least saw a fair bit of if not direct politics then certainly moral values about social / economic class. If your theory about 'real world stuff' Disney Films being less appealing to you is consistent, then I would theorise that you are less fond of it. If you do like it, then maybe there is hope that you will enjoy future 'real-world stuff' Disney films more, even if they have changed.

Thinking about it, Frozen was also a success (one I was more lukewarm towards) and that seemed more traditional than contemporary (to my eyes at least), so I imagine they will try to exploit both types of film.

Your Disney?  Please! It's MY Disney.  I'm a shareholder!

Serious answer. I like that Disney has tried new styles while still retaining classic ones. Look at Tangled and to a smaller extent Frozen. There's a Jack & The Beanstalk film in the works, so that's a return to old tales and literature.

Your Disney?  Please! It's MY Disney.  I'm a shareholder!

 

 

Where'd you get that? I need some of that!

Where'd you get that? I need some of that!

Contact a stockbroker or google how to be a Disney investor. The current price is $97.34 per share. That means you own part of a trash can in Epcot or something.

Contact a stockbroker or google how to be a Disney investor. The current price is $97.34 per share. That means you own part of a trash can in Epcot or something.

That'll be a hallowed trash can.

Ok, I see where you're coming from. However, this is my opinion on it.

Classic Disney is great, but the one thing it can't do for me is be relatable. That's why Zootopia is my favorite movie, because I can relate. Classic Disney also was very fantasy or taking place in the past. When I finished Zootopia, I felt like I had just finished a good book. I'm a huge book reader, and my favorite books (discluding the Warrior Cats series) are just a spin on real life (Harry Potter and Percy Jackson). Zootopia was very much like this and so was something I could relate to and like. Judging from what you said about it, you seem to prefer having a new world to see people interact in. I like having real life twisted a bit and to see and relate to people as they interact with that. More evidence is that my third favorite movie is Big hero 6 (second is The Force Awakens). Big Hero 6 is just a spin on reality (Star Wars is Star Wars). It's just tastes, and people's tastes in movies have changed.

P.S. I also own a stock in Disney. 

Ok, I see where you're coming from. However, this is my opinion on it.

 

Classic Disney is great, but the one thing it can't do for me is be relatable. That's why Zootopia is my favorite movie, because I can relate. Classic Disney also was very fantasy or taking place in the past. When I finished Zootopia, I felt like I had just finished a good book. I'm a huge book reader, and my favorite books (discluding the Warrior Cats series) are just a spin on real life (Harry Potter and Percy Jackson). Zootopia was very much like this and so was something I could relate to and like. Judging from what you said about it, you seem to prefer having a new world to see people interact in. I like having real life twisted a bit and to see and relate to people as they interact with that. More evidence is that my third favorite movie is Big hero 6 (second is The Force Awakens). Big Hero 6 is just a spin on reality (Star Wars is Star Wars). It's just tastes, and people's tastes in movies have changed.

 

P.S. I also own a stock in Disney. 

And i can see your take on it and that's not a problem. However, there is still a big market out there for fantasy and i always thought that Disney, was a great way for kids to get into Fantasy. I like to watch fantasy movies, because i can let myself fall into them. Not that i don't like movies that have realism to them, but i don't particulary look for that in a disney movie.

But since the next one will be an animated musical, about an old oceanian legend, i can be positive and it seems like disney is balancing it out, so i can tolerate that.

Also, peoples tastes aren't different, that would be too generalizing and easy. I think people can like alot of things, be it fantasy, sci-fi, drama, action, etc.

But that's how i see it.