ZOOTOPIA (2016)

A Walt Disney animated film directed by Byron Howard and Rich Moore is an absolutely charming, sophisticated, well written, funny and very enjoyable animated film that I can't recommend enough. Though the intended audience is probably children and their families, I found it so appealing from an adult's point of view that I hope a more mature audience is made aware of this film's extraordinary charms. A beautiful screenplay by Jared Bush and Phil Johnston details the unlikely friendship/partnership of a novice rabbit police officer and a con artist red fox. Normally foes in the past they grow to admire and enrich each others lives while solving a crime of animals reverting back to their predatory states in an animal society that has evolved through the centuries. Obviously a type of parable told in allegorical terms, it confronts prejudicial viewpoints and racial profiling without robbing its story of any charactor or humor to placate political correctness. An exemplary voice cast lead by Ginnifer Goodwin, Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, J.K. Simmons, Tommy Chong, Otavia Spencer and Shakira among many others only add to this film's extraordinary charms. A fine musical score by Michael Giacchino and incredible visuals of a city divided into various landscapes that best suit its animal inhabitants, only add to the visual treat in store for the viewer.