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Reviews
Zootopia (2016)
Like an adult movie with talking animals in it, Zootopia reminds audiences how mature and dark animation can be
First, let me say that this film does NOT preach social justice or feminism. This film is not an allegory for racism/sexism, but is however applicable to them. It is not preachy, nor is it liberal propaganda; far from it, and this is coming from a person who severely dislikes such films.
Now let's get to this film. Zootopia is, if you don't know, about a rabbit named Judy Hopps (voiced by Ginnifer Goodwin) who, despite her parents' and peers' opinions, becomes the first ever rabbit police officer in a city called Zootopia, where both predators and prey get along. On her first day, she is assigned a Missing Animal case, and her only lead is a sly fox named Nick Wilde (Jason Bateman).
Don't listen to the trailers and plot summaries that make this film seem like a cute talking animal film. This movie is one of the most darkest and mature animated films I have ever seen, and I have seen a lot. Mentioned before, this film deals with sexism (though not as much), drugs, trusting one another, bullying and believing in yourself regardless of the odds, as well as it's biggest moral which is racial profiling and prejudice. And it isn't lightly handled either; the "species-sm" (as the director called it) in this film is heartbreaking. A part of the movie was spoiled for me prior to the film, and yet said scene still made my heart malfunction in sorrow. This film is very timely-yet-timeless about how gray the topic of racism actually is in a modern society.
Even without making real-life connections, the movie is still amazingly entertaining. The world of Zootopia looks beautiful. The animation in this film is jaw-dropping, and the world is so well thought-out and interesting. You almost get angry when the film doesn't let you enjoy certain landscapes, and that's due to the film's very fast-paced plot that for some reason still finds time in giving us sweet and humble moments. Plus, the story is very well- done, you really feel invested in what's happening with the characters and city, and it's almost like you are experiencing the movie unfold at that moment; like everything that is happening is happening right at that second.
The characters of this movie are wonderful. It's supporting cast is very nice, with Idris Elba as a cliché Buffalo cop, J.K Simmons as Mayor of Zootopia, and more. But the spotlight shines on the main characters, Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde. Their relationship stays platonic, however they have better chemistry than most Disney couples. Both of them have their own flaws, and Nick and Judy know this about each other and accept it. They are by no means perfect, and that's why they are so relatable. Plus, they speak as if they are adults. Their is a scene where Judy calls Nick "very articulate for a fox" which is very applicable and is surprisingly articulate for an animated film. They speak to each other in a very mature way, which only helps make their bond even more enjoyable to see.
And who could forget the voice acting? Ginnifer Goodwin and Jason Bateman give absolutely extraordinary performances in this film. I was so shocked to see how they spoke to each other because the voices were so genuine and in the moment. All the characters were great, but the main two were simply amazing.
This film has great messages about racism, racial profiling, and prejudice. It captures it all in ways no animated film has ever done. Top it off with great animation, story, and astonishing characters, and you have a film that stands with the animated classics. I highly recommend seeing this film, it is truly amazing.
We Bare Bears (2014)
A phenomenal show with a great amount of potential.
Firstly, I would like to say that Cartoon Network is one of the best programs right now when it comes to children's entertainment. We Bare Bears, Steven Universe, and Over the Garden Wall (even if it is a mini-series) are prime examples of what this channel is capable of doing.
Regarding this particular show, this is probably the funniest cartoon show I've seen in a long while. And I mean LONG while. It revolves around three anthropomorphic bears who try to blend in with human society.
We have Grizz, the leader of the trio and the oldest, who is a loud and enthusiastic character who has a lot of heart. What I like about him is that he shows pure and genuine care for his friends, on top of his humorous love for everything. Sure, he is comical most of the time, but his character shines brightest when he asks questions in worry and concern ("Are they bullying you?" and "Are we in the way of you making friends?" are some examples of his sincere kindness, where he isn't loudly speaking).
Next we have Panda, who is the middle-sibling. Panda is very shy and to himself, and is in most cases the voice-of-reason. He often spends his time on his phone, for he is obsessed with social media. Panda is also very, very silly. He is the most childish out of the group, and is treated like the youngest a good portion of the time. He is the sweet one, and his innocent and shy nature toward things make him the most adorable. Plus, a lot of people can relate to his love of manga and online-dating. He is a surprisingly realistic character.
Finally we have Ice Bear, the youngest. Ice Bear is the odd one out of the bunch, speaking in a monotone voice, and exclusively in third person. Now, when it comes to shows like this, there is always the odd one. Most of the time, cartoon shows make this character outright random, or stupid. But with Ice Bear, as far as these characters go, got it out of the park. Ice Bear is silent, sure, but he is also very caring with his friends, much like Grizz. Also, while he doesn't show that much emotion in his words, he does feel emotions. There are scenes where he is downright angry, and scenes where he has a giant smile on his face. He isn't a weird funny statue. There is room for a lot of character development in him, as well as the two others.
What this show does right is combining humor and emotion into one. What's great about We Bare Bears is that it will never try and make you laugh, it just does it. The humor flows so smoothly, and it is clean of any bathroom-humor and jokes about bodily secretion. A lot of shows nowadays tend to think passing gas and obnoxiously stupid characters are funny, which is only correct if you're talking about toddlers. This show has none of that; it makes you laugh without it being in-your-face, and it has my utmost respect for that. The show can also be emotional, one episode making me verbally gasp as one character hit another. A particularly sad episode was "Burrito" which had a very emotional ending (which will not be spoiled here).
Finally, the animation. THEY. DID. EVERYTHING. RIGHT! The humans in this show aren't cookie-cutter designs, even if they are in the background. We see curvy women, people with freckles, foreigners and even women who wear Hijabs! Even the sub-character, Chloe, is Korean. I haven't seen a show this broad in characters in a while (besides Steven Universe, which also hit a home run with this).
To sum this review up, watch this show. Only 12 episodes are out so far, but they are great. Arguably the most polished show I've seen on Cartoon Network.