Zootopia vs. Moana

I think Moana is the better film by far, don't get all the hype for Zootopia, yes I know it has a nice message but other than that it's just another boring buddy cop movie and most of the jokes fall flat for me. I hated the twitter joke in Moana but without that it's a perfect movie, probably the most beautiful film Disney has ever produced

All I gotta say, is Disney hit two home-runs out of the park in one year. Both Zootopia and Moana are absolutely incredible films that boast new directions for Disney animation.

Zootopia by a mile. I just got back from taking my 4-year-old to see Moana and it was... OK. Nothing special in my opinion. The pacing was weird, the songs were bizarre and unmemorable, and despite the cool setting at the end of the day it was just another rote, by-the-numbers princess movie. Zootopia had a better story, a cooler setting, a hell of a lot more on it's mind, and was much more emotionally impacting.

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For me Zootopia is ever so slightly better than Moana. But both are good in different ways.

"Think of it. 90% of the population united against a common enemy. We'll be unstoppable!"

Moana is the best mainstream animated film I've seen this year. It's songs are wonderful, the characters are great, and the adventure comedy is the best since Tangled. I don't think this film is as good as Tangled or even Frozen but it doesn't have to be. It's messages and execution are simple, but there's great beauty and enjoyment from films like that. I had a smile on my face the whole time and it was a wonderful and even uplifting experience. I love when movies can do that.

Zootopia on the other hand, well, I've had my issues with it. The characters are good and likable, the buddy cop story is fun, and the world building is pretty neat. However, it's decision to be somewhat of a message movie kind of hurts it. I admire the film for it's broad take and attempt to play both sides, but there's some execution flaws. At least a couple of scenes come off as so contrived that it really takes you out of the film. Despite being more allegorical than metaphorical, it still manages to botch up and not take the subtle road it should have. A lot of people are calling this one of the most original animated film in years, but I just don't see it. Anthropomorphic animal worlds have been done before, detective stories have been done before, and even the film's take on prejudice has really been done before. I still liked it, but wow does the film's constant conveniences and those two or three contrived scenes really take me out of it.

"If life is getting you down and needs uplifting, then please come dance with me!"

In the end, I prefer Moana.
It has more emotional settings that resonate with me.
Zootopia's final reveal and ending just feels cliche too, while Moana final fight feels original and twisting the whole genre on its head.

Zootopia has best world building though, but I almost cry in joy when the ancient voyagers scene in Moana playing, and when the villain's true form revelation.

Hm... I don't think I can rank them; I adored them both in equal but totally different ways :)

With Zootopia, I thought the animation was absolutely adorable, the dialogue and humor were some of the best in any Disney movie (I swear, the Flash scene at the DMV makes me die laughing every. single. time. with the slow motion reaction to Nick's joke  ), and I loved that they introduced very important, serious current issues to a young audience in such a clever way. The issue of racism is a lot more complex than Disney could ever reeeally fully delve into, but as a starting point for younger kids I think it was hugely successful. Basically, Zootopia was the Disney movie of this year that really took the brand to new and exciting places.

Moana, as has been mentioned in almost every review, isn't exactly something hugely new- it's pretty much your standard Disney princess plot setup. That said, imo it take the very best of that formula, updates it with a lot of beautiful cultural sensitivity that hadn't so much been there previously, and I for one LOVE that it draws on all the best princess movies from the Renaissance era! Zootopia has me laughing and was super clever, but Moana just straight up made me feel. It gave me such goosebumps at certain moments (the whole We Know the Way scene and Know Who You Are in particular), and was absolutely stunning visually. So was it as original as Zootopia? Nah. Do I adore the heck out of it anyway for exactly what it is, and how much it harkens back to the Disney of my childhood? Heck yes! And lest that sound like it's just pure nostagia that makes me love it, it's not... if I'd never seen any of the Renaissance Disney movies, I'd still find this one stunning. It just makes me really happy that the little kids today will have Moana to grow up on like I had Little Mermaid, The Lion King, Mulan, etc. :)

Oh Bambi, I cried so hard when those hunters shot your mommy. - Kurt Hummel

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