On the eve of the grand opening of Zootopia, the latest addition to Shanghai Disneyland, Jared Bush, co-director and writer of the beloved animated feature "Zootopia," ventured into the whimsical landscape he helped create.

Disney executives greet guests on the opening day of Zootopia in Shanghai Disneyland, Dec. 20, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort]

"I found it very emotional," Bush confessed, reflecting on the journey from animated fantasy to tangible reality. "These are details that you can walk up, you can touch. So the level of care that must be taken in a land like that is extraordinary."

The iconic Zootopia skyline, described by Bush as "beyond my wildest imagination," sprawled before him. Officer Clawhauser, a much-loved character from the movie who has been brought to life via audio-animatronics technology, invoked an unexpected surge of emotion in the director. "I think the beautiful thing is you could probably go back to that park and find a hundred new things that are your favorite things every single time you go," Bush said. "I was just honestly utterly blown away by what the teams were able to do. It's spectacular."

On the morning of Dec. 20, Shanghai Disneyland was poised to welcome guests to the first-ever Zootopia-themed land. Guests and Disney enthusiasts, bedecked in Zootopia-inspired accessories, waited eagerly to discover what the mammalian metropolis had in store for them.

Guests arrive at Shanghai Disneyland's Zootopia on its opening day, Dec. 20, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort]

Roger Gould, creative director of Walt Disney Animation Studios' Creative Legacy and Pixar Animation Studios' Theme Park teams, believes that the exciting thing about this project is that everyone working on it brought their own passion and excitement because they love the world so much. "They really wanted to do it justice and make sure that their contribution lived up to the quality and the love that our audience here has for this movie," he said.

The creative director explained that nearly a hundred artists, many of whom worked on the movie, created the original animation for the Zootopia: Hot Pursuit attraction and the theme park, where a sense of familiarity arose as they worked with characters who were like old friends.

Jared Bush also praised the collaborative process and creative colleagues in creating their films and expressed excitement about the new ideas introduced to the park. He was particularly enthused by the new elements specially crafted for the theme park, expanding a familiar world with endless possibilities. He even revealed the exciting news that things he'd seen in the park were to be Easter eggs in the "Zootopia" movie sequel they're currently working on.

The decision to bring Zootopia to life in Shanghai stemmed from the film's huge success in China. The 2016 blockbuster remains the highest-grossing foreign animated feature in the country. Jill Estorino, president and managing director of Disney Parks International, reflected on the pivotal moment of the narrative shift.

A Chinese poster of the 2016 animated film "Zootopia." [Image courtesy of Walt Disney Animation Studios]

Estorino, who previously lived in Shanghai and referred to herself as a "Shanghai girl," shared that in 2019 when she was the executive vice president of Global Marketing and Sales for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, they were considering several choices for the story they were going to bring to Shanghai Disneyland, and the original idea was based on Mickey and Minnie. 

"But when we saw how popular the Zootopia film was, how much heart and meaning it had to the Chinese people, we quickly changed our minds, and decided and created a very new concept for the land, which was based on the Zootopia," she said, adding that this is a good example of how Disney can pivot when they hear the consumers' needs or wants.

As the sun dipped below the horizon, it cast an evening glow over the Zootopia skyline. "I love how Zootopia is different at night than it is during the day. And there are very few lands at a Disney theme park that transform in that way," Estorino marveled, underlining the immersive experience that awaits visitors.

Guests line up to experience the Zootopia: Hot Pursuit attraction under Chief Bogo's watch at Zootopia land in Shanghai Disneyland, Dec. 20, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort]

For Josh D'Amaro, chairman of Disney Experiences who has worked for Disney for more than 25 years, the Zootopia land is a testament to the company's constant innovation. "When I walked into Zootopia for the first time, I stopped and took a deep breath because there's so much detail, there's so much color," he said. With over 70 years of theme park construction experience from the Disney empire, D'Amaro emphasized Shanghai Disney Resort's unique position as a canvas for the newest and most experimental ideas.

The executive also pointed out that the Shanghai resort is on a grander scale in many perspectives than anything they have done before. "When I come here to visit this theme park, I look out at the castle and it is the biggest, grandest castle that we have anywhere. Also, we get to do things like Zootopia, celebrate films that resonate so strongly in this part of the world, and we get to try new things like in Pirates of the Caribbean. It's the only place in the world that we do it, and I think it's spectacular."

The promise of more enchanting tales unfolding at Shanghai Disneyland echoed through D'Amaro's words. "We are going to do more things like Zootopia in the future," he said, foreseeing a continual evolution of the park into a major global tourist destination. Although no big announcements for more lands have yet been made, the third franchise hotel at Shanghai Disney Resort is already under construction.

The dynamic transformation of Shanghai into a multifaceted tourism destination was evident in Estorino's words. " If you look at the image of Shanghai as a tourism destination today, it is both for family and adults as well as fun, not just for business. And Shanghai Disney Resort has become a bit of the beacon for Shanghai as a city, for tourism."

Not only that, as Gould noted, when building the original Shanghai Disneyland in 2016 they needed to search across China for artists. But now, with the construction of Zootopia, they can have local Shanghai artists who have developed into experts after building the original Disneyland, applying their skills to this project. "So a lot of the work that was done to build this was done by our local Shanghai artists who really have achieved an extraordinary level of artistry. It was really exciting to see that," he said. 

"Zootopia" characters Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps greet guests at Shanghai Disneyland, Dec. 20, 2023. [Photo courtesy of Shanghai Disney Resort] 

In September, Disney executives revealed at an investor summit that it is developing plans to accelerate and expand investment in its Parks, Experiences and Products segment to nearly double capital expenditures over the next approximately 10 years to roughly $60 billion. This includes by expanding and enhancing domestic and international parks, as well as cruise line capacity.

"What this suggests is that there is a lot of confidence in Disney Experiences. We have a long history of being incredibly successful in all of our experiences around the world. And we believe that Disney Experiences is a growth engine for the company going forward," D'Amaro said. He emphasized that according to their calculations, for every theme park visitor they have across their global parks and experiences, there are 10 more who love Disney and are eager to engage with them, but have not yet had the chance. "That equals a lot of opportunity for us to continue to tell new stories to new guests in the world," he said.

With Shanghai Disney Resort as the epicenter of this growth, the stage is set for new stories, new guests and a continued celebration of the magic that transcends cultural boundaries.

"We have a lot more stories to tell. Zootopia is a perfect example of that," D'Amaro concluded. "Shanghai Disney Resort is a place that works in that regard. And we have the best cast members and Imagineers anywhere in the world."

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