Does Zootopia have vegan animals? Directors explain

Since Zootopia arrived in cinemas in 2016, presenting a society where prey and predators live in harmony, a biological doubt haunts fans: whether the Lion Mayor and the Fox Nick Wilde They don’t eat other mammals, what exactly do they put on their plate? Would they all be forced vegans?

The answer will come clearly in Zootopia 2. In an interview with Rolling Stone Brasil, the directors Jared Bush e Byron Howard end the discussion, confirming that animal utopia it is not vegan.

“Fish and insects got the worst of it”

When asked about the logic of the food chain in the film, the directors revealed that they consulted animal experts to maintain biological realism, even in a Disney animation.

“There are certain animals, like wolves and foxes, that are called ‘obligate carnivores’ and need protein”explained Byron Howard. The solution found by the screenwriters was to go down a few steps on the evolutionary scale.

“Fish and insects have had it the worst in the world of Zootopia. They are, unfortunately, food”sentence Howard. To support this logic within the film, the directors created specific brands and establishments that will appear in the sequel.

The “Bugburga” and the joke with Finding Nemo

Byron Howard added that the most attentive spectators will see fast food adapted for this protein diet. “You will see the ‘Bugburga’ (pun on ‘Bug’/Insect and Burger), which is a place of insect protein”reveals the director.

Furthermore, the team inserted an internal joke that dialogues with another of the company’s successes. Disney/Pixar. Second Bushthere is a sign in the film that references Finding Nemo and the motto “Fish are friends, not food.” However, in Zootopiathe rule is ignored: fish are definitely food.

Evolutionary logic: “We will no longer eat each other”

The most fascinating aspect of the directors’ response, however, is not the biology but the sociology. Jared Bush explained that the change in the diet of predators in Zootopia it was thought of as a direct parallel to human evolution.

“In our research, we look at human development. If you go back 50 to 60 thousand years, we humans had some ‘interesting’ eating habits.”it says Bushalluding to cannibalism in primitive times.

“There was a moment in time when we said, ‘We’re not going to eat another human.’ The same logic applies to the animals in our world. If you look at the history of Zootopia, there was a point where they just said, ‘We’re not going to do this (eat other mammals) anymore'”complete.

In addition to solving the mystery, the introduction of these new foods allowed the design team to create new visual dishes for the film. “We’ve created a lot of new foods…not just to gross people out (with bugs), but we’ve created things that will hopefully one day end up in a Disney Park.”jokes Bush.

What is the story of Zootopia 2?

Zootopia 2 follows the new phase of detectives Judy Hopps and Nick Wilde, who now officially work as partners in the police force. The plot puts the duo on the trail of a mysterious reptile that arrives in the city and turns the metropolis upside down. Together, they must infiltrate new biomes and unravel a complex conspiracy, testing the loyalty and friendship they built in the first film. The sequel promises to expand the previously presented universe, introducing new species and unprecedented challenges for the rabbit and the fox.

Who is in the cast?

To the delight of fans, the original voices return to the main roles: Ginnifer Goodwin come back as the optimist Judy Hopps e Jason Bateman reprises his role as the cunning fox Nick Wilde. The big news announced is the entry of the Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan (Everything Everywhere at the Same Time), who will voice Gary, a sinister snake pursued by the protagonists. Besides them, the star Shakira confirmed her return as pop star Gazelle, promising new musical hits for the animation. Watch the new trailer: