What if a human existed in Zootopia? How would the mammal citizens react? And what would be the outcome of the situation involving this rather strange species? These are questions that been brought up by many fans of this recent masterpiece from Disney. To better understand this, let us take a moment to examine the film as a whole.
ZOOTOPIA is a film unlike any other that Disney has conceived, not in the idea per say (cause anthropomorphic universes have been done since the dawn of entertainment), but in story, logic and format. As an epitome in cartoon musicals and happy dancing creatures, Disney has been known to stray away from anything relating to real life problems. But now with ZOOTOPIA, the big mouse has finally broken it's silence over social-political issues that plague our society today. In this case, the overall theme and relationship between the mammals (predators and prey), is a direct metaphor of racial prejudice and discrimination, which is still a huge problem in the U.S. Come to think of it, it's like you're not even watching a Disney movie, but a film that really tackles a relatable issue to all audiences, rather than just giving us a plain story involving a princess and a castle. In short, it is the most radical, liberal, and thought provoking film Disney has ever made.
Now that we got that out of the way, let us move to subject at hand (or paw in this case). What about humans? Well, as is stated in the trailer, it is made loud and clear that: HUMANS NEVER HAPPENED.
However, this does not cancel out the idea that the Homo/Hominid genus could have possibly existed. This is a category of mammals that includes Gorillas, Chimps, Baboons, Orangutans, Neanderthals, Erectus, and of course, us. Now, if that were the case, this one and other primate genus's, would have long gone extinct, just before the other mammals started to evolve from their savage ways. The most intelligent Hominid creatures would have to have been the Homo Neanderthalis and Homo Erectus. These two worked like a team as to how they survived the savage world. They made fire, Hunted animals, tied together clothes, built themselves hunting weapons, learning and evolving at the faster rate than their mammal successors. They were just starting to learn the art of agriculture and were nearly on the cusp of becoming the dominant species, until some cataclysmic event (whether it be geological or astronomical) occurred that nearly wiped out their kind to near extinction. Perhaps erectus and neanderthals are to this timeline what the Dinosaurs were up until about 65 million years ago. Maybe, just maybe, these and other primates are the Dinosaurs of Zootopia. They thrived throughout the planet until an asteroid or something nearly killed them all with only fragmented bones, preserved fossils and a mammals imagination as to clues of what they really looked like.
Now remember, I did say 'nearly,' because just like the dinosaurs, not all Erectus and Neanderthals died out. Some possibly managed to survive. But like birds are to humans, they would decrease in dominance and become a less intellectual species then the other terrestrial mammals. By secluding themselves in the back woods between future Bunny Burrow and Zootopia, these mysterious creatures would remain a mystery, even an unknown to the intellectual citizens, hence why other mammals rarely venture in the woodlands. Also, it's important to remember that it only took about a few dozen thousand years for the mammals to evolve from their savage ways. So, although they changed intellectually, there isn't much change in their physical structure, with the exception being walking on two legs.
This goes the same for the Hominid counterparts. Though not much would happen in physical form, they would devolve in intelligence and become the quadrupeds of Zootopia. They would reduce themselves to a foraging/scavenging species, living off plants, carcasses, and other scraps of edibles the residents would throw away in the dump. In addition, just like dinosaurs shrunk in size when becoming birds, the Hominid genus would also decrease in height, becoming the size of a HOBBIT. However, they would still maintain some of the intellectual qualities their ancestors held: Clothing, Huts, Paintings, Tools etc. But they would not have a language, nor an understanding of what is beyond their woodland sanctuary. Due to their enigmatic presence, they would be described as also a legendary, unidentifiable, yet frightening species, somewhere in same realm as "Bigfoot" or "Yetis" or "Chupacabras" or "The Loch Ness Monster."
Now we finally move onto Humans. Just because they "Never Happened" doesn't mean they "Never WILL Happen." Let me explain. As the thousands of years went by, from when mammals first started to evolve, to what they are now in the movie, the Neanderthals and Erectus's would breed with one another bringing forth mixed offsprings of human prototypes. This cycle of inheritance and Genetics would continue on and on until a completely different species is born. Finally, by the time the movie takes place, the sub neanderthalic/erectal species would conceive a group of children that would be classified by our standards as "Homo Sapiens" or humans. But, since this is a different world and the roles have been reversed, these Sapient children, much like their prototype parents, would walk on four legs, make grunting sounds to communicate, eat off of raw food and sleep on the ground. As is the best to my theoretical knowledge, and to keep the family friendly disney spirit, they would look something like this:
Now, before you accuse me of copywriting or not having any original ideas, let me assure you I've used Spot on purpose. This is because if there were to be a relationship between Zootopia's mammals and these strange creatures, it would start of as something similar to the underrated Pixar film "The Good Dinosaur."
The human children would start off as pests, eating away at Bunny Burrow and Zootopia's farms and alleyways, much to the annoyance of the residents. But eventually, as they got to know the human creatures and study more of their behavior, they would see humans the way we see pets: Faithful companions who always stick by their owners. Then, something miraculous would occur, due to the children's overdeveloped brains and capacity to store memory, these humans would learn at a rate faster than other mammals. Some would see it as a scientific breakthrough, while most would see it as a posing threat. Thus, the story would change into a plot more similar to "The Iron Giant."
There would even be those mammals who would attempt to exterminate them, since they would look at our species the way we would look at an extraterrestrial being: Menacing and Uncertain. The situation would probably even escalate to a Godzilla like battle between the children and some mammal cops with military personnel. Perhaps this would be justified after Zootopia learns what their Neanderthal and Eructus counterparts did to them, sparking a slight environmental theme to the story. However, after a moment of heroic bravery, they would see us as allies and teach us to evolve from our savage ways, which would not be so hard due to our rapid intelligence and memory.
So, there you have it. If we human species ever came in contact with Zootopia, the situation would be similar to our relationship with dogs, evolving into a scientific investigation, and ending with an "Iron Giant" esque situation, which I personally would like to pay a ticket to see. I don't know. maybe Pixar and Walt Disney Animation would collaborate on it, and if so, I sure hope Judy and Nick are the main protagonists.
Perhaps Judy and the police force would find a human child. It would be washed up on the shores of Zootopia after a disaster nearly killed his clan. Then, after a few days in the lab, they start to learn it's intelligence (Repeating Words, Drawing pics etc). But soon, the human escapes and is thrust into the main center Zootopia, overwhelmed by it's sights and sounds. Judy, who only happens to be patrolling a near area, finds the creature and calms it down. She decides to take it in and treat it like a pet. But she soon learns how fast of a rate it progresses, speaking and counting sentences and numbers by two weeks.
Now some animals (most likely city hall and and the media) would of course see this as a groundbreaking achievement in scientific history. But others, (Including Nick, who would be funny if he reluctantly had to babysit the human for a few days), Would see this as a threat. However, special personnel would eventually come into contact with more human children, as well as their surviving neanderthal cousins. After careful research with DNA and artifacts, as well as a bond between Nick/Judy and the child, a press conference is held, in which they announce that mammals were once hunted by Hominids during their savage days. Shocked by what his people used to do, the now intelligent human child would run away, ashamed of who he is.
Judy and Nick would round up a search party, where they eventually find him underneath wherever he is. Meanwhile, Bellwether, who was released from prison, puts together a cell group of mammals to destroy the woodlands and kill off every Hominid. This somehow sparks a small battle between Mammal Cops and the Neanderthal/Humans. After a fierce confrontation and words of encouragement from Judy, the first human commits a heroic act of sacrifice (Hopefully involving the top of a building) where it thwarts Bellwether and busts the entire operation.
After a few tense moments, the human child is found miraculously alive, and is declared an honorary citizen in Zootopia. Eventually orphaned human children are raised by several mammal couples, thus beginning a new chapter in that world's history. The last scene would be of a human girl raised by a wolf family (Referencing Miyazaki and the Jungle Book), going over a few things before her first day of school.
Of course, this is all just a theory, but I can dream can I? And besides, Brad Bird, who worked on many disney projects, would probably be more than happy to pitch in and help. That or maybe not.
But who am I to know, I'm just a guy who likes to watch movies.
