Getting to speak with the creative minds behind an animated film is unreal because it gives you an inside look at how much goes into making it. What starts off as an idea, becomes a story that then needs to be brought to life and that’s where it gets interesting because there are so many moving parts (teams) working to make that happen. Although their job description is different, the goal is the same and attention to detail is key.
I’ve already shared 11 Wild Zootopia Facts from the Producer Clark Spencer and Directors Byron Howard and Rich Moore but there’s so much more to share. This time it’s with a focus on how the film makers brought the story and character designs to life.
but first, a selfie…
Zootopia’s Story
…bringing words on a page to life!
- There were 1770 drafts of Zootopia
- 30 story artists worked on this film
- The key to the process is being willing to not become attached to their work.
- As they work on the artwork, they take the best elements and incorporate it into the next one.
Zootopia’s Characters
…merging animal and human behaviors to create these character designs!
- John Lasseter created a mini cake and small spoon and then placed the cake on a nickel and had them video tape him trying to eat
- There are over 800 characters, 500 species in Zootopia.
- It was important that they stayed true to the cadence of the animal so they drew their characters from looking at live animals.In the movie, you’ll see that the characters revert back to animalistic motions/mechanics when stressed.
- The most difficult animal to animate was the sloth since they are slow moving.
- You’ll find nods to nature through animal behaviors throughout the film.
Examples: The buffalo stare at you, so the chief of police does that. The cheetah have their head locked when they move. Weasels move in a super specific and efficient way. The Fox has a big jaw.
- The sloth sequence was the one that was redone the most.
Zootopia opens in theaters everywhere on March 4th!
The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery.
*Thank you for the images Disney!
