Zootopia+

I just finished watching the 2022 Disney+ animated series Zootopia+, a spin-off of the 2015 Disney hit movie Zootopia. This series consists of six episodes, each about 8 minutes long (most hover around 6 minutes). Each episode tells the story of a classic supporting character from the main movie, bridging the timeline of the original story and offering a new perspective on the bustling world of animals.

Of course, I know many people were hoping for more of the fox-rabbit couple moments, so here’s a little spoiler (for those who want to avoid it, beware):

Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde have less than 30 seconds of screen time combined... Judy appears more often than Nick, with both characters appearing in episodes 1, 2, 3, and 6. Apart from a few new shots, the rest are from the original movie. I hope they’ll hurry up with the second movie! It's been 7 years already! The lifespan of a rabbit is about that long too, and I’d love to see my cute bunny and handsome fox again!

Here are my brief thoughts on the series:

Episode 1: "The Jump-Start Job" Judy's little sister is too cute! Her expressions change between adorable and creepy (when her face suddenly shifts). Judy's parents are so in love, no wonder there are so many kids in the rabbit hole (hoping for Judy’s future kids... not really). A Frozen elephant sisters Easter egg. Some Judy and Nick moments.

Episode 2: "The High Society Life of the Little Rodent Town" This episode follows the story of the little mouse from the main movie who was saved by Judy (also the Godfather's daughter). It ties into the part where she almost gets hit by a donut (connecting to Judy capturing her in the main movie). The visual impact at the end is quite shocking. There were moments that made me think of Lazy King and a certain episode of Love, Death & Robots...

Episode 3: "Duke: The Musical" This episode has the typical Disney musical style and is consistent throughout the series. It tells a whimsical story about Duke, the weasel, after being caught by Judy. I really like the color aesthetic of this episode, and Duke’s outfit is cool. There’s a new, cute shot of Judy on a TV screen. The creative idea of money falling down a ladder is also good. Three of the movie discs featured are from other Disney works, with Big Hero 6 prominently featured.

Episode 4: "The Godfather of the Bride" This episode talks about the origin story of the mouse Godfather. It has the most serious tone and depth of all the episodes. After all, it's based on The Godfather. The retro color aesthetic matches the mood of the time period. The mother’s baked goods look delicious. The two henchmen are cool and tough! But I can’t shake the feeling that the mouse mom's look and red dress are like a cosplay of the Big Bad Wolf's grandmother...

Episode 5: "Jumping Miracle" This episode is about a fat leopard at the police station who teams up with Chief Bogo to compete in a stage talent show for a chance to dance with the "Antelope" star. The fun comes from the strange “match” between the two.

Episode 6: "Dinner’s a Little Late" This episode follows the otter server "Sam" trying to make it to a concert by Shakira but ends up having to serve a meal to the popular character "FLASH," the sloth, from the main movie. For Sam, it’s a race against time (since she’s the only server, which is strange). The ending ties perfectly with the conclusion of the main movie. The fox-rabbit duo in uniform makes a glorious return! I’m so satisfied and impressed!

"The Jump-Start Job" "Leaving the burrows was kind of exciting."

"The High Society Life of the Little Rodent Town" "The difficult thing about family is, they know you better than anyone. The best thing about family is, they know you better than anyone."

"Duke: The Musical" "Oh money, you complete me."

"The Godfather of the Bride" "Oh, darling, it's the size of your heart that matters." "It was that day that I decided what kind of mammal I wanted to be. It was time to make a change." "The family you have that makes you rich. The friends you choose, that makes them family. And with these things you never feel small."

"Jumping Miracle" "Who knew putting yourself out there could feel so good."

"Dinner’s a Little Late" "A true once-in-a-lifetime experience. Congratulations. Please take your time."

I have an absolute filter for Zootopia. Compared to this year’s Groot, I still prefer this one! I love every single episode, and what’s great is that almost all of them tie into scenes from the movie, making it feel like a collection of side stories. But each character's personality is so unique and charming that it's impossible not to love them—Judy’s bunny parents, the "Godfather" family, Officer Leopard and Chief Bogo, and how Flash became Flash... It makes me reminisce about the excitement and love I felt when I first watched the movie, especially since it was the first movie I watched with my husband, who was still my date back then, haha...

Such a short runtime, yet it still conveys the warmth and care of family, like a hot cup of coffee on a winter day. I just love every single one of them. Zootopia Forever!!!

Out of the six spin-off episodes, my favorite is definitely the fourth one, The Godfather of the Bride .

It not only pays tribute to Marlon Brando's The Godfather , but also further explains why these nine-foot-tall, muscular polar bear men are so devoted to the Shrew Godfather, always standing by his side.

First, through the spin-off, we learn that before meeting Big Mr., their lives were very difficult. The episode gives us a shot of them in shabby clothes, hiding in the shade, nearly suffocating from the heat.

Polar bears are strong, but they have a fatal weakness—they can’t survive in hot places. While they are powerful animals, their minds aren't sharp enough to build a suitable environment for their species.

This is where the Godfather helped them.

In Zootopia the movie, when Nick mentions Big Mr., he holds a pretty impressive title: the Mafia boss of the Iceberg Town.

And the Godfather’s personal car is parked right here.

The luxurious limousine service of Iceberg Town.

From the spin-off, it’s clear that the polar bears were struggling, and Iceberg Town wasn’t something they built themselves.

Though the spin-off doesn’t explicitly mention it, based on the movie, Big Mr. not only built the Rodent Town for his species, but also created Iceberg Town, a place suitable for polar bears to live. He even opened a company in Iceberg Town and hired some polar bears as bodyguards, solving their survival and employment problems.

In a way, the Godfather and the polar bears have a symbiotic relationship—one provides wisdom, the other strength.

And Big Mr. is not just a benefactor for the polar bears; he shows them the utmost respect.

He calls them friends, family—not like those bosses who claim employees are family but make you work 996.

The Godfather’s respect isn’t just lip service.

He takes care of their feelings in every detail.

In the movie, when Nick and others are captured and waiting in Big Mr.’s office, the entire office is shown.

The office is set up like a giant ice cave, all ice and snow, so cold that just looking at it makes you feel chilly.

As a warm-blooded animal, Big Mr. himself doesn’t need such a cold environment to work, but why would he set up his private office this way? Who would be comfortable in such a place?

Clearly, it’s for his bodyguards.

Especially the massive bodyguard who always keeps Big Mr. close and protected, like a personal guardian.

This towering polar bear, much larger than the others, is implied to have been with the Godfather since he was young.

He witnessed the Godfather’s rise, saw him create a suitable habitat for his people, and grew into the strongest polar bear to protect the Godfather.

This is an animal fairy tale, so there’s no betrayal or backstabbing like in the human world.

In Brando’s The Godfather , he gained respect and peace by balancing relationships with the government and mafia, as well as forming alliances. However, he couldn’t escape the treachery within his own family or from rival families.

But the animal world is much simpler.

The polar bear clan gives the Godfather the highest respect for providing them with dignity and a good living environment. They willingly let him be the leader, serving him and his family.

It’s a heartwarming story.

Except for the first and last episodes, the other four are more or less typical examples of the American Dream or American-style living. They include scenes like hanging out with the Kardashians, imagining wealth through selling in the musical (very much reminiscent of The Wolf of Wall Street), the old Godfather’s rise to power (we all know what The Godfather Part II is about), and America’s Got Talent. If you look back and compare, you'll find many elements that faithfully recreate the characters’ images.

The pace is fast, with each main episode only being 6 minutes long, yet it continues the original film’s focus on detail, packed with fun！