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Nerdist Special Reports

ZOOTOPIA’s Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman on the Power of Disney’s Storytelling

In the world of Zootopia, anyone can be anything… or so the city’s slogan says. But when a talented, determined rabbit named Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) becomes the first bunny on the Zootopia police force, she quickly learns that all is not as it seems in the bustling animal metropolis. Walt Disney Animation’s latest feature, Zootopia, from co-directors Byron Howard (Tangled), Rich Moore (Wreck It Ralph), and Jared Bush, is a clever, inventive take on the Disney “talking animals” model. And while it is many things—a madcap buddy comedy, a noir mystery, and a story of a wonderfully platonic friendship between a plucky bunny cop and her two-talkin’, sweeter-than-he-seems fox foil, Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman)—it is also a movie about prejudice.

That’s why Disney is the best at what it does; there’s an important message nestled between a great story and wonderful characters. At at the global press day for Zootopia at the Walt Disney World Animal Lodge Resort, we sat down with Zootopia stars Ginnifer Goodwin (Once Upon a Time) and Jason Bateman (Arrested Development) to talk about the power of Disney, why they signed onto this project, and the important message in Zootopia.

Zootopia is in theaters now.

Rachel Heine is the Editor-in-Chief of Nerdist and a lover of all things Disney. Send her Beauty and the Beast gifs on Twitter @RachelHeine.

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