I knew a bit about this from when the movie originally came up, but there's an extra on the Blu-ray that goes into a lot more detail (with some of it also captured in the Deleted Scenes extra).
In the early drafts of Zootopia, the focus was on Nick, and the utopia of the city where the lion rides the subway with the lamb was not due to evolution / civilization, but by forcing all predators to wear "tame collars" that shock them if they got too agitated. The exploration of how Prey oppressed the Preds in this and so many other ways looked to have been fascinatingly dark, provocative, and depressing, including a moving "manhood" party where a polar bear cub proudly becomes a "big bear" by donning his first shock collar — and learns first-hand what he'll be feeling the rest of his life.
A lot of work actually was done on this Zoodystopia version before the Disney creative team realized that having kids (and adults) cry all through a Disney movie didn't quite match the mission statement of making people happy, and shifted over to a lot more benign and perky perspective. Good call. I do love what Zootopia became, but I'm also fascinated by what it was for so long.
Zootopia Was Originally Going to Be WAY More Messed Up
All the predators were forced to wear shock collars? That’s pretty dark.
weird
It was a good movie.
I've seen the movie not the deleted scenes
I would actually like to see that
My sis actually read something like that.
The movie was still emotional and powerful
What's funny is that they are letting little five year Old girls see in frozen two that you can like other girls, and knowing it is a Disney movie, it will be very influential and they will think that's how they are supposed to be. Not saying being lesbian or gay is a bad thing but should they be letting that be part of a kids life at such a young age???!!! I understand where they were going with the zootopia thing. They were explain Hitler ideas in a more kid friendly way. In stead they have to change it to involving drugs, disobeying orders and worst of all, to associate with bad people???!!! Now is it just me or is it more fucked up to teach kids about that than Hitler's tactics to be supreme ruler…. I mean yes, both are bad but, do u want kids learning about drugs at like… idk, 7?
+Sans Skeleton The idea of "magic drugs that make you bad" is not that outre of a plot device. The actual messages in the final version of Zootopia — the power of trust, of striving after goals, and the dangers of prejudice — are all ones that 7yos can appreciate and learn from (adults, too).
Rumors about Frozen 2 remain, at this point, largely rumors. But if the movie involves Elsa coming out, I fail to see any reason for panic. Not only is this something they can see in the media (and in real life) every day, but I would expect any Disney same-sex relationship to be just as chaste as their opposite-sex relationships.
+Dave Hill I agree in a way, but, the kind of things they denied were way better than same sex things though. There was a multitude of people who were suggesting a princess with cancer, but Inyead, they choos, why not teach kids what their sexual preference is at seven? I mean seriously, if that does happen, and my niece were.to see that and think, "is that how I am supposed to be?" Because that's how I thought when I saw straight couples on Disney movies.
+Sans Skeleton I would not be in favor of teaching kids that they "should" be attracted to the same sex, any more than I would be in favor of teaching kids that they "should" be attracted to the opposite sex.
I would prefer they were taught to be not be as hung up on the externals of who they are attracted to, as much as they seek to have a relationship that is fulfilling and positive (for all involved).
+Dave Hill right.