Final answer:
The themes of 'Animal Farm' and 'Zootopia' contrast significantly, with 'Animal Farm' offering a grim allegory of power and corruption, while 'Zootopia' is a positive tale of overcoming prejudice and embracing diversity. 'Animal Farm' subverts the hero archetype, while 'Zootopia' celebrates it.
Step-by-step explanation:
To compare and contrast the themes of Animal Farm by George Orwell and Disney's Zootopia, we examine the deeper meaning behind these animal-centric stories. Both narratives use animals to portray significant lessons about society.
Animal Farm presents a dark, allegorical tale about the dangers of totalitarianism and the corrupting nature of power. The animals on the farm overthrow their human oppressor, only to eventually emulate the tyranny they despised. The theme suggests a cycle of revolution and tyranny, and commentary on the Soviet Union's communist regime. The idea of a hero is subverted as the pigs who lead the revolt become indistinguishable from the humans in their abuse of power.
In contrast, Zootopia is an animated film with a more optimistic view of society, portraying a bustling city where predators and prey live together in harmony. Here, the theme revolves around challenging prejudice and overcoming societal stereotypes. The film's hero, Judy Hopps, challenges the notion of what is expected of her as a small rabbit and triumphantly serves a mighty purpose. Zootopia embodies a positive representation of diversity and unity.
Although the themes are similar, each story uses different settings and characters to convey their message. Animal Farm uses allegorical animals on a farm to represent the Russian Revolution and the subsequent rise of communism. Zootopia, on the other hand, takes place in a modern city inhabited by anthropomorphic animals, using this diverse animal society as a metaphor for real-world issues.