History Heartwarming / Zootopia

-->'''Nick:''' "I'm not leaving you. That's not happening!"

** That last statement becomes even more heartwarrming after we learn Nick's backstory. It's possible that while the rest of his behavior was an act, he was actually being genuinely sincere and honest when he said that.

** That said, while notably her fellow officers seated by her looked at her with a mix of curiosity and [[TheLoad "why us" for having her there]], Officer McHorn DID take up her offered "Bro-fist" about wanting to make the word a better place. He could have easily ignored her, or made it hard enough to knock her out of her seat. It also should be noted the Wolf and Tiger's looks were more "Look at the naive rookie" than judging her for being a rabbit. FridgeBrilliance when you realize that both being predators means they probably had to deal with prejudice most of their lives for what species they are, despite, you know, not having a choice to be born into them. It also should be noted those same three officers are standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Judy later at Gazelle's peace rally.

* A small one, but Finnick helping Judy finding Nick. Not only does it show that he didn't cut ties with Nick, but it is implied that he did it out of selflessness since there was nothing he could gain from helping her. It is also implied that he sees Judy as a MoralityPet as he seemed ready to beat her up with a bat for knocking on his van, but immediately calms down upon recognizing her. The fact that he kept the sticker she gave him, even if he gave it to Nick in mockery shows that he at least was touched by her kindness back at the ice cream shop.

* During the panic, [[TearJerker the higher-ups of Zootopia remove Clawhauser from the front desk because they don't want mammals to see a predator face when they first walk into the ZPD]]. While he's obviously extremely upset about it, he uses his calm tone and choice of diction to make it clear to a distraught Judy that he does ''not'' blame her or anybody else for what happened.

** At least one piece of official marketing art depicts Judy and Nick back-to-back, with Judy [[NecktieLeash playfully holding Nick's tie tight over his shoulder]]; a pose almost universally reserved for LoveInterests. (It's the page pic for BarefootCartoonAnimal).

** At least one piece of official marketing art depicts Judy and Nick back-to-back, with Judy [[NecktieLeash playfully holding Nick's tie tight over his shoulder]]; a pose almost universally reserved for LoveInterests.

* While Chief Bogo is introduced as a MeanBoss to Judy, he is shown to have a [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold caring side that shows up from time to time]]. He wishes Francine, an elephant officer, a sincere "happy birthday". Especially significant since he uses LastNameBasis with all his employees as a matter of course, but calls her by her first name in this context. And during Judy's DarkestHour, when she fears that she has broken the city, he states: "Don't give yourself so much credit, Hopps. The world has always been broken. That's why we need good cops...like you.

* The fact that ''Disney/{{Zootopia}}'' was such an enormous success is a heartwarming story in and of itself. After spending over a decade making lackluster theatrical films and downright bad sequels, prequels and so on, Disney finally got back on its feet with three big hits (not counting Creator/{{Pixar}}, of course): ''Disney/ThePrincessAndTheFrog'', ''Disney/{{Tangled}}'', and ''Disney/{{Frozen}}''. All three films were musicals and fairy tales featuring (mostly) human characters. So, after the enormous success of ''Frozen'', what does Disney do? They create a movie that ISN'T a musical, ISN'T a fairy tale, and ISN'T centered around human characters. They create a modern-day Aesop fable with social satire that would probably go over many kids' heads. And not only that, but at a relatively late stage in pre-production, they had to change the ENTIRE story and shift the focus onto a different character. And what did they get for thinking outside the box? One of the most critically, financially, and popularly successful films of that year AND in Disney history.

* Following the death of Brian Bedford, the voice of Disney's ''Disney/RobinHood'', the movie director [[https://twitter.com/ByronPHoward/status/687445016982065153 Byron Howard made a tweet after he heard the news of his death]]. He even mentioned how ''Robin Hood'' gave him a lot of inspiration for ''Zootopia''.

* For the Chinese ''Zootopia'' campaign Byron Howard [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fxith2q.jpg made this poster]] as part of the campaign for the movie in China which shows [[Disney/BigHero6 Baymax]] holding Judy and Nick.

-->'''Lionheart''': It was a [[TropesAreTools classic case of]] [[WellIntentionedExtremist "Doing the wrong thing for the right reason"]].

* Pictured above, Judy's reconciliation with Nick, with her tearfully admitting her mistake of accidentally generalizing all predators to have revert back to their savage ways during her speech and accidentally hurts Nick's feelings. Nick just plays her recorded voice ("I really am just a [[MeaningfulEcho dumb bunny!"]]) on her carrot-shaped pen/recorder that she gave him earlier, before turning to her with a smile and letting her cry into his chest, while quipping a few friendly remarks to reassure her that he gladly forgives her.

* During a protest during the panic, ZPD officers that are both predator and prey work together to keep the peace. Showing that no matter what rumors go around, they stand together to serve and protect.

** We also get a glimpse of some of Judy's other family members including a sibling that is cuddling and kissing a stuffed animal bunny. Also Bonnie is shown holding a newborn baby bunny.

* During a protest [[spoiler: during the panic, ZPD officers that are both predator and prey work together to keep the peace. Showing that no matter what rumors go around, they stand together to serve and protect.]]

* It's a small moment, and it's marred by the fact he had previously been recorded as saying he was only concerned about his career if the truth came out (because he is a predator), but as he's being arrested [[spoiler: Mayor Lionheart is clearly deeply upset about the infected people and that no cure or explanation for their condition has been found]]. Then there's the fact he had them in a hospital to try and help them in the first place (and keep both them and others safe).

* Even if Nick's revelation [[spoiler: about his childhood trauma]] is a {{Tearjerker}}, him opening up about it to Judy shows that he has come to trust her. It's implied that he never told anybody his backstory before, and after he's done Judy shows him sympathy, which for Nick is probably the first time someone has done it in years.
** [[spoiler:His Junior Ranger oath. "I - Nicholas Wilde - promise to be brave, loyal, helpful, and trustworthy!"]] He gets to be all of that to Judy, [[spoiler:many years after he made that oath]].

* Right before a press conference after Judy solved the case, she gives Nick an application to enroll in Police Academy because she really wants him to be her partner. [[spoiler: Nick follows through with it at the end of the movie.]]

* Pictured above, Judy's reconciliation with Nick, with her tearfully admitting her mistake of [[spoiler: accidentally generalizing all predators to have revert back to their savage ways during her speech and accidentally hurts Nick's feelings]]. Nick just plays her recorded voice ("I really am just a [[MeaningfulEcho dumb bunny!"]]) on her carrot-shaped pen/recorder that she gave him earlier, before turning to her with a smile and letting her cry into his chest, while quipping a few friendly remarks to reassure her that he gladly forgives her.

* When Nick and Judy are trying to escape [[spoiler: Bellwether and her minions]], Judy's leg becomes injured: she can't run. Judy tells Nick to go on without her and bring the evidence to the ZPD. Nick [[NoOneGetsLeftBehind absolutely refuses and uses his handkerchief to bandage up her leg]].

** It's even more touching when you remember that [[spoiler: Bellwether's conspiracy was targeting predators. It's never outright said, but Judy was trying to get Nick to run because she didn't want him to lose his mind to the Night Howler serum. Nick knows about that ''very'' likely scenario and he doesn't care, since he knows that as a critical witness, Bellwether will kill a defenseless Judy if she gets left behind in the museum. Their loyalty to one another and their awareness at what Bellwether has in store for them if she gets them is what makes them come up with their BatmanGambit to take her down]].
** [[spoiler:After they get knocked into the pit, in a blink and you'll miss it moment right before Bellwether confronts them, Nick reaches out toward Judy almost as if he's asking her, "Are you okay?"]]

* [[spoiler:The curing of all the savage predators and reuniting them with the prey animals brings tears of happiness.]]

** It's quite lovely to know that the wardens of the Zootopia prison believe that even convicted criminals should have a chance to watch the Gazelle concert, and the prisoners seated on either side of [[spoiler:Bellwether]] seem to really enjoy the show, even if it's just on a small-screen TV.

* When Nick reveals his [[spoiler: traumatic backstory to Judy, the ''sole'' good point was that Nick's mother, despite being poor, managed to get him the scout's uniform he wanted.]]

* After Judy and Nick fall down the waterfall, Nick comes out first and worryingly calls for Judy to the point he says her name for the only time in the whole film.

* A small but major moment: when Nick and Judy are being chased by the now-feral Mr. Manches, they try to make it to the sky tram to escape. Nick gets to the tram first, opens the door and shouts, "Get in!" Even though they hadn't know each other long at all, Nick thought to save Judy before himself.

* A small but major moment: when Nick and Judy are being chased by the now-feral Mr. Manches, they try to make it to the sky tram to escape. Nick gets to the tram first, opens the door and shouts, "Get in!" Even though their lives were in danger, Nick thought to save Judy before himself.

* The fact that Zootopia was such an enormous success is a heartwarming story in and of itself. After spending over a decade making lackluster theatrical films and downright bad sequels, prequels and so on, Disney finally got back on its feet with three big hits (not counting Pixar, of course): The Princess and the Frog, Tangled, and Frozen. All three films were musicals and fairy tales featuring (mostly) human characters. So, after the enormous success of Frozen, what does Disney do? They create a movie that ISN'T a musical, ISN'T a fairy tale, and ISN'T centered around human characters. They create a modern-day Aesop fable with social satire that would probably go over many kids' heads. And not only that, but at a relatively late stage in pre-production, they had to change the ENTIRE story and shift the focus onto a different character. And what did they get for thinking outside the box? One of the most critically, financially, and popularly successful films of that year AND in Disney history.
* The Zootopia Christmas Image titled [[http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cwyep1n.jpg "Happy Howlidays"]] which was posted on Byon Howard's Twitter account. Judy looks so happy in this picture. To make it doubly adorable, the "Santa Claws" she is hugging is Clawhauser.

*** And it's doubly sweet when you realize that in order for her to step on his tail, [[FridgeLogic he'd have had to wrap it around her first.]]

*** And it's doubly sweet when you realize that in order for her to step on his tail, he'd have had to wrap it around her first.

** Judy's parents, Stu and Bonnie, look so charming when they are dancing, and appear to having the time of their lives.

[[Heartwarming/ZootopiaNonCanon Click here]] to view non-canon work.
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* Byron Howard and Jared Bush, being told that fans are {{shipping}} [[ThoseTwoGuys the two guard wolves with speaking lines]], and deciding to help by [[http://takemotoarashi.tumblr.com/post/143948297890 giving the unnamed guard a name]] when they could have easily ignored the request.