Oscars: Ranking Every Best Animated Feature Film

Energetic and surprisingly challenging, Zootopia is a buddy-cop mystery movie set in a world inhabited by animals that attempts to offer audiences an intriguing look at racism and prejudice in the real world.

Whilst this intention is pure and ambitious, the animal-world setting often conflicts with its overall message and even lessens the fun of its action by trying to make its metaphors work. Despite the messy execution, though, the lofty themes manage to push through, even if the film works much better as a zany action-adventure.

Benefitting from its packed cast - including Jason Bateman, Idris Elba, Jenny Slate and more - Zootopia doesn't quite reach its intended goals, but makes for good fun all the same. Though in a just world, the award would've gone to the silent drama The Red Turtle, which is gorgeous and as thoughtful as Zootopia clearly wants to be.