The Tiny One with Sky-High Dreams: Judy Hopps in Zootopia

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Who says cartoons are only for kids? Cartoons aren't just for children or mere entertainment. While they often provide fun and laughter, they can also offer deeper insights. Instead of passively watching, we should pay attention to the story, the characters, the conflicts, and the plot development. Some cartoons, far from being just silly, actually present valuable life lessons. One such cartoon film that presents life lessons is Zootopia. This film tells the life story on Earth through animal characters, making it more appealing and accessible to children. The main character who is truly inspiring and worth discussing is Judy Hopps, the tiny rabbit with a big dream. Out of all the cartoons I've watched, this one is my absolute favourite. I feel fully represented by her character and her life story.

Since she was young, Judy Hopps lived in a small village with her simple family of carrot vendors, dreaming of becoming a police officer. Hopps insisted on pursuing her dream despite everyone around her dismissing it, even her parents, who thought it impossible: They urged her to follow in the family business. However, despite the many obstacles, she remained determined. The time eventually came for Hopps to take action and make her dream a reality. She enrolled in the police academy in her village, where she had to endure a series of challenging activities as part of her training. She often failed, falling behind her more prominent and more robust classmates. She felt exhausted and almost gave up, but she didn't stay in that mindset for long. Hopps rose again, kept practising, and when the final exam came, the moment of truth, she passed all the tests with the highest marks! Her success earned her a move to the bustling city of Zootopia.

On her first day at the office, Hopps attended a briefing with Chief Bogo and the other officers. She was the only one who was small and cute, while the others were much larger and not as adorable (like buffaloes, tigers, lions, rhinos, and bears). When assignments were given to track down missing animals, Hopps, who expected to be assigned this task, was given a different duty. Chief Bogo felt she wasn't fit for the task due to her trim, cute physique, despite Hopps being the best graduate in her academy. Instead, Hopps was tasked with traffic duties: issuing 100 traffic tickets! She was baffled and dissatisfied with the decision but remained motivated and did her best, even though it wasn't the job she had hoped for. Hopps believed this was just the beginning of her police career, so no matter the task, she had to face it with dedication!

Her bravery and self-confidence sometimes led her into difficult situations, but eventually, they helped her investigate the missing animal cases in Zootopia. With only 48 hours to solve the case, given by Chief Bogo, she worked diligently and confidently alongside her "partner-in-crime" Wilde, a fox. During those 48 hours, the small and nimble Hopps gathered information, met various animals, faced challenges, and more. It's important to note that Hopps needed recognition and fame for her abilities, which sometimes made her overconfident. This flaw brought her to disappointment and regret, where she lost Wilde, who had been her partner during the case. She even returned to her village, contemplating whether she should just help her parents sell carrots.

But Hopps wasn't a quitter. Her persistent nature made her think and regain her enthusiasm to solve the case of a missing animal that had gone viral. She met Wilde in Zootopia, apologized, and they became an even stronger team. Their unity and shared goal of saving the missing animal paid off. The animal was found, treated in the hospital, and reunited with its family. Hopps was then honoured as the best police officer in Zootopia, and Wilde was officially made a new member of the police force. 

The lesson from Judy Hopps' story in Zootopia is the importance of perseverance, courage, and never giving up on your dreams, even when facing obstacles and doubts from others. Despite her small size and being underestimated, Judy works hard to prove herself, learns from her failures, and rises again when things get tough. The story also teaches that change and making the world better starts with ourselves, and how teamwork and understanding can lead to success, no matter where we come from or what our circumstances are. It doesn’t always have to be with big steps; it can start with small, consistent actions and faith.

"Life is messy. We have limitations. We make mistakes. But the more we understand each other, the more special we become. We must keep trying, no matter what kind of animal you are. From the largest elephant to our first fox. I ask you... to strive... to make the world better. Look within yourself and realize that change starts with you, me, and all of us."

— Judy Hopps, Police

Sola Fide