Protagonist Judy Hopps, a bunny who fights her way past every odd, obstacle, and stereotype that gets in the way of her dream of becoming a cop, is more of a powerful female lead than Anna or Elsa or Merida ever had the capacity to be—and she didn’t need her movie to be paraded as a revolutionary feminist innovation to do it. She is lovable, badass, kindhearted, naïve, unprecedentedly strong and unapologetically sweet. She is, in short, incontestably admirable. And she’s a girl!

Nick Wilde, meanwhile, is a conman of a fox whose jaded persona seems so carefully cultivated that it is automatically suspect, and his true, softer nature is delightful to watch unfold. His sly tricks and dry wit, paired with the perfect casting choice that is Jason Bateman, make him instantly likable.

The relationship between Nick and Judy is the strongest facet of a consistently strong, multifaceted movie. It evolves fluidly, progressing from one of enmity to adoration without any glaringly obvious turning points; their bond is pure, platonic, and capable of conveying love with endearing rather than overbearing sincerity.

Zootopia’s plot is fast-paced, engaging, well-organised, and fully embraces the presence of contemporary social controversy. Set in a world dominated by mammals of all sizes, the film is unapologetically addresses the systemic racism that persists in the world we call civilized through its own universe’s existing prejudices between predators and prey. Each component of the story works to accomplish two important things: first, to acknowledge that racism (specieism, in this case) is a real, dangerous problem; second, to condemn that problem. In a society which is increasingly intent on pursuing colour-blindness, the idea that people are capable of simply “not seeing race,” this is a vital message—for to deny that people possess inherent biases toward different races is to deny the existence of racism, which is very real, very dangerous, and very, very devastating.

Zootopia accepts that racism endures to this day but drives home the point that it shouldn’t, and makes it clear that undoing centuries of prejudice is a process which at its core is reliant on individuals. It is individuals who need to make the decision not to judge other individuals, and it is up to people on both sides of the racial divide to bring unity to society as a whole.

Tactfully, tastefully, and without compromise, Zootopia pairs thoughtful exploration of a pertinent contemporary issue with timeless storytelling. The characters are complex, coherent, and brilliantly memorable; the visuals, as ever, successfully seek to express the full bounds of human imagination. This movie is an instant classic, and a joyous, explosive redemption of four long years of halfhearted endeavour.