• Home
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Nav Social Menu

    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Twitter
    • YouTube

White Glove World

  • Travel
  • Dining
  • Entertainment
  • Spa Life

February 29, 2016 · Leave a Comment

The Making of Disney’s Zootopia with Animator Darrin Butters

Blog· Entertainment· MOVE

Walt was the original pioneer of technology in entertainment. For a time, John Lasseter and his team at Walt Disney Animation Studios kept that dream alive for fans young and old.  After spending an afternoon discussing the making of Disney’s Zootopia with one of these animators, Darrin Butters, I am reminded that the Disney level of excellence is not an accident. Hence, it should never be taken for granted.  I have been absolutely enchanted by the Disney spell since the 1965 release of Cinderella. I should not have been surprised.  Fifty-four Disney animated feature films later, the legacy continues.  Shame on me!

The Making of Disney's Zootopia with Animator Darrin Butters

The Making of Disney’s Zootopia with Animator Darrin Butters

Laughter is timeless,
Imagination has no age,
And dreams are forever.   ~Walt Disney

Case in point: The making of the upcoming film Zootopia.  While we may have heard that each of these “cartoon” features takes 4- 6 years of development, I personally was struck by the intensity, the research, and the mileage that fed the finished product.  Knowing this, the release date of Friday, March 4th couldn’t come soon enough!

Making Disney's Zootopia Darrin Butters
© Disney

Walt Disney Animation Studios

Humankind has long examined itself through the creatures of nature.  From hieroglyphics, to fables of old, to literary classics such as Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, life lessons have been universally shared in the most loveable and non-threatening of ways.  So where does the Zootopia conception begin?  If you are creating a metropolis of walking, talking animals, you go to the Walt Disney Animation Studios vault; 1973’s Robin Hood provided a solid base for their anthropomorphic characteristics.  (How would a fox smile??)

© Disney

If you are part of the Disney family and need to study a working zoo, you take a safari to Disney’s Animal Kingdom park!!  To complete the Disney attention to detail, you travel the planet in search of creatures big and small living in their natural habitat; Jambo Kenya.  There, the creative team explored animal relationships, movement, and unique species traits; bears in the wild scratch their backs on trees, and so do the bears in this utopia- clothes and all.  The observed African Cape buffalo is naturally a large, unforgiving animal, who locks eyes with its prey; enter tough and muscular Chief Bogo.

© Disney

Next, it was time to study humans, and the Zootopia actors in particular.  Voice talent Ginnifer Goodwin, the voice of protagonist Judy Hopps, is naturally perky and optimistic- the perfect embodiment of the pure-hearted bunny cop.  In part, her personality and physical personality informs the animation.

© Disney

Disney’s Animator Darrin Butters

Lastly, the animators get into the act.  Literally!  As an example, Darrin Butters shared that before the production of Frozen even began, animators interviewed Idina Menzel to gain insight into how her breathing and body mechanics create Elsa’s famous notes.  Remember the research done to discover how a fox would smile?  In the film, fox Nick Wilde tries to eat a tiny, weenie piece of cake.  Animators wondered how would this wide-mouthed animal approach this.  Enter John Lasseter!

Butters played a clip of the master himself acting this scene out, and that is exactly what referenced what we see in the film.   Darrin himself uses his own acting and improv chops in the formation of his animation.  We were treated to a video of this artist twirling, whirling, and sashaying through his living room.  A moment later, it suddenly made sense.  We saw this same “happy dance” played out as Olaf frolicked through the meadow “In Summer!”  Genius at work!

© Disney

Darrin also animates what I believe is my favorite character in Zootopia; the loveable sloth and Department of Mammal Vehicles worker FLASH.  It is a work of complete irony and elicits the biggest smiles of the film.  Can’t you just imagine him “attacking” his computer screen during this scene at the DMV?

This Cinderella-girl is in awe of the Walt Disney Animation Studios creative process.  Still.  And if uber-talented Darrin Butters is just one of the large team that brought the Zootopia characters to life, I am chomping at the bit to see it.  I’m betting you’ll go wild for it too!! Animator Darrin Butters making of Disney’s Zootopia with …

 Disney's Zootopia Animator Darrin Butters

Darrin Butters

Thank you Darrin!
LUV

Don’t miss out!

Previous Post: « P!nk Serenades the White Rabbit in Alice Through the Looking Glass
Next Post: A Special Needs Mom Applauds the Message of Disney’s Zootopia »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Donna Kay Anderson says

    March 1, 2016 at 12:55 am

    Oh Donna, I want to go see Zootopia even more now!! I felt like I was in the room with you. Thanks so much for sharing your fabulous experience with us!!

    Reply
    • blogging says

      November 21, 2016 at 2:26 am

      Thank you Donna- I am pretty "wild" with anticipation myself! 😀

      Reply

Trackbacks

  1. Three Wild Surprises From Disneynature's Born in China says:
    December 15, 2019 at 6:07 pm

    […] the world. Put Disneynature’s Born in China on your calendar. Or add it to your library of Disney movie […]

    Reply
  2. The Finest Hours | A Disney Movie Review - Post 50 RX says:
    January 1, 2020 at 3:43 pm

    […] Disney Animation Studios) #Zootopia You can read of my day with Disney animator Darrin Butler and The Making of Zootopia, as well as the what its special needs messaging means to special […]

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

Categories

Stay up to date

Footer

Finding a Silver Spoon in the Everyday.

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Looking for must-do family projects during the hol Looking for must-do family projects during the holidays? @ColonialWmsburg is an outdoor venue full of evolving history and detail. 

Visit their newest archeological dig- uncovering the site of one of the oldest Black churches in America. Here free and enslaved Christians came to worship during Revolutionary times at the First Baptist Church. 

A step back into Christmastide- 18th Century style- might be particularly appropriate this year. #ColonialWilliamsburg #Virginia #Christmastide #Americanhistory 
.
.
.
#EastCoast #EastCoasttravel #I95travel #outdoors #outdooractivities #tourism #outdoortourism #holidays #Christmas #familytravel #safetravel
My last NY to FL road trip was in 1975. At that ti My last NY to FL road trip was in 1975. At that time, between Philadelphia and this destination there were miles and miles of billboards along I-95 (believe it or not, there are far fewer today- in the 70s, they numbered 250!!). Naturally, we were COMPELLED to stop here. Early social media at its best...

South of the Border was originally built on the North Carolina/South Carolina border in 1949 as a Beer Depot (NC was at that time a dry state). They capitalized on their location once again in 1962, when they started selling their now- “famous” fireworks (also then illegal in NC). Which is why this memory is such a standout for my family.

My brother NEEDED a stash of fireworks. Just what a kid from Queens craves? In the middle of August, and though we were not yet close to our destination, my parents caved. Those fireworks sat in the trunk of the family Impala (no air conditioning, mind you), and we proceeded to drive to Walt Disney World. Where the car sat, in the parking lot, on the blacktop, in near 100 degree temps, for over a week. How we didn’t cause a massive explosion at Disney’s Polynesian Village is a miracle that can’t be explained. Pixie Dust, perhaps?

Here’s to nostalgia folks. #I95 #SouthoftheBorder #fireworks #familymemories #itwasmybrother
.
.
.
#SouthCarolina #NorthCarolina #I95ers #I95corridor #travel #roadtrip #seeAmerica #cartravel #roadsideattraction #billboards #familytravel #safetravel
And which way to NYC? TTFN Florida! #Florida #Ame And which way to NYC?

TTFN Florida! #Florida #AmeliaIsland #I95roadtrip #NYorbust 
.
.
.
#travel #safetravel #instaFlorida #loveFL #Floridabeaches #beachcombing #surfsup #travelgram #welcometothebeach
My favorite part of owning the Marriott Bonvoy car My favorite part of owning the Marriott Bonvoy card? That annual free night. We strategically saved it for the @RitzCarltonAmeliaIsland. Located just 30 miles from Jacksonville, this barrier island was well worth the detour. And the Ritz? This property lives up to the name.

Though we just this once broke our “no elevators “ rule (we held our masked breath 😆) the Ritz-Carlton brand is one I trust for safety. #businesstravel #RitzCarlton #MarriottBonvoy #MarriottCleanlinessCouncil 
.
.
.
#Floridaroadtrip #roadtrip #Marriott #elite #puttinontheRitz #AmeliaIsland #EastCoast #AtlanticOcean #bluffs #Floridabeach #sandunes  #postcardplaces #USA #WhiteGloveWorld
In the 1970s, my family was one of the final check In the 1970s, my family was one of the final check-ins at this landmark resort built by Standard Oil’s Henry Flagler. Though the Hotel Ponce de León had long lost its luster, the memory is still a nostalgic gem to us. 

Thankfully, the structure (and its Tiffany-stained glass windows) survived as @FlaglerCollege. Unfortunately, tours have been suspended due to COVID-19. I won’t wait another 50 years to return. 😉 #USNationalRegisterofHistoricPlaces #HistoricStAugustine #Florida 
.
.
.
#Floridaroadtrip #seeFlorida #safetravels #familytrravel #memorylane #businesstrip #seetheUSAfromyourcar #StAugustine #LoveFL #postcardplaces #travellog #travellogger
I haven’t stepped foot inside a church since @St I haven’t stepped foot inside a church since @StLouisCathedral on Ash Wednesday, but I masked up to say a quick prayer inside this oratory.

Built as the centerpiece of Ave Maria University and planned community,  this Gothic steel and stone structure was designed by one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s students. Minimalist with the exception of the exquisite 30-foot sculpture depicting the Annunciation on its facade. 

Inspiration. #AveMaria #oratory #Florida #middleofnowhere
Serenity’s path. At least for today. Grab those Serenity’s path. At least for today. Grab those moments when you can, tomorrow is a world away. #Naples #Floridaroadtrip #beach 
.
.
.
#Florida #beachlife #Floridalove #FloridaSouthWest #GulfCoast #GulfofMexico #beachcomber #sand #dunes #sunrays #BoomerTravel #outdoortravel
This error message is only visible to WordPress admins
There has been a problem with your Instagram Feed.

Copyright © 2021 · ·Beloved Theme by Restored 316