Tear Jerker / Zootopia

"I am a real cop."

WARNING: Per wiki policy, Spoilers Off applies to Tear Jerker pages. All spoilers will be unmarked.

It wouldn't be a great Disney film if it didn't make you cry, and here's some examples in Zootopia that do just that.

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• Judy and Nick both face hardships for the same reason; they are burdened by the roles they have to take and try to become something else. "Change starts with you."
• The film pulls zero punches when it comes to physical bullying. Switching to the P.O.V of their victims, being forced to the ground, nobody around to help the victims get out of it; is it any wonder why Judy and Nick are still traumatized by their respective experiences?
• While also heartwarming the scene beginning where Judy is leaving home and Stu and Bonnie including her brothers and sisters start saying goodbye to her. She at first prepares to leave inside the monorail, but suddenly runs up to them and hugs them.
• Seeing Judy as a 9-year-old getting clawed by Gideon is sad, especially the way Judy screams as he scratched her.
  • Gideon then taunts Judy, and while he does, look at Judy's eyes. You can see tears building up in them.
• While also a heartwarming moment, there is this line said by Judy's parents about her dreams of wanting to be a police officer. Keep in mind that Judy heard this when she was little. They know something is up about the other mammals' relationships with bunnies in Zootopia, but they simultaneously support Judy's dream while wanting her to keep her expectations low.
  Bonnie: It's great to have dreams.
  Stu: As long as you don't believe in them too much.
• When Judy arrives at her first briefing, Chief Bogo dismisses the arrival of a new recruit as completely unimportant. Judy's clearly hurt, but the general laughter signals she should try to treat it as a joke.
• Judy forcing a smile for her parents during a video chat to let them know everything is the way she always dreamed when in reality her first day in the force ruthlessly crushed all of her expectations. To young adults like her in real life, this can hit very close home.
  • As if that's not enough, they were exuberant that she was working in the safe job of Meter Maid, instead of the dangerous job of a "real cop".
    Judy: (in a stoic and annoyed tone while banging her head against the steering wheel) I am a real cop. I am a real cop. I am a real cop.
• Funny as the phrase "skunk-butt rug" is, Nick betrayed the trust of a man who took him into his own house and treated him like family, and looks legitimately remorseful and ashamed over it.
• Mr. Big tells Judy and Nick what happened to Mr. Otterton, then reveals his own Jade-Colored Glasses.
  Judy: Otterton attacked? But he's a sweet little otter.
  Mr. Big: My child, we may be evolved, but we are still animals.
• When Manchas introduces himself to Nick and Judy, he fearfully explains everything and his injuries, which sounds like he's shaken and petrified.
• After the Manchas attack, when Chief Bogo demands that Judy surrender her badge because of her failure to solve the Otterton case, the look on her face as she reaches up to take off her badge is absolutely heartbreaking.
• Nick's reaction when he realizes that his constant pranks and intentional delays cost Judy her career. Probably because her forced resignation reminded him of his past. It immediately moves into heartwarming when he gives a firm Little "No" to Chief Bogo's command to Judy to turn in her badge, and uses his skill in Exact Words to gain her ten more hours to solve the case, along with a HUGE What the Hell, Hero? to Chief Bogo for giving her an impossible case.
• Nick's childhood. Let's just cut to the chase:
  • He was expected to be sneaky, cunning and dishonest ever since he was a child solely because he's a fox. It's made clear in a flashback where his poor mother saved up enough money to get him a Junior Ranger Scout uniform of his own in order to chase his dream of becoming the first predator who joined the Junior Ranger Scouts. He ends up being bullied and forced into a muzzle by his peers made up entirely of prey animals.
  • Watching a young Nick break down and burst into tears outside the club by the staircase after tearing off the muzzle. It's clear that that's the moment he stopped being a wide-eyed idealist and accepted the fact that the world wasn't as fair as it should be. To an 8/9-year old, it's a devastating blow. Coupled with the quip he makes about being in the business of conning people since the age of 12, it's hard not to feel bad for the poor guy, and want to give those despicable bullies a good spanking. The worst part of the above is poor little Nick's confusion. He obviously never saw the bullying coming, pleads to know what he did wrong and is obviously on the verge of tears. Special mention goes to Kath Soucie's performance during the entire flashback scene.
    Nick: I learned two things that day. One: I was never gonna let anyone see that they got to me.
    Judy: And... two?
    Nick: If the world's only gonna see a fox as shifty and untrustworthy, there's no point in trying to be anything else.
  • What's worse is the parallels between Judy's and Nick's backgrounds. They had the same dream of becoming what they wished to despite the hardship of their species. Judy was able to achieve it thanks to the support of her family even though they didn't believe in her. Nick's mother, on the other hand, believed in her son's dreams and ideals but barely had enough money to get him a simple uniform. She couldn't give him the support he needed as much as she wanted to.
  • In an early scene, Nick gives Judy a rather effective "The Reason You Suck" Speech about how her optimism isn't going to improve anything. He makes an offhand reference to her "living in a box under a bridge." This is where Judy finds Nick living toward the end when she comes to apologize. He's using what he's experienced in his own life as the basis of this story.
  • Subtle bit of Fridge Tear Jerker: Present-day Nick is implied to be homeless and his mother is nowhere to be found. Given that he says he started his cons since he was 12, it means either he ran away from home at that age, or his mother died then, leaving him with nothing. Word of God had to insist that Nick's mom is fine and he knows where she is just to make the scene less depressing.
• Most of the media conference and aftermath.
  • Nick was visibly shocked, and then angered by Judy's insensitive remarks about predators.
  • One of the muzzled predator photos was a wolf who looked upset rather than angry, as if he/she had a brief moment of sanity, and realised what was happening.
  • Nick seeing these photos gave him a flashback to himself being muzzled as a Junior Ranger Scout.
  • Immediately after Judy steps off the podium, Nick snaps at Judy for generalizing all predators (and himself, by extension) as savage (which she technically did). Judy then tried to excuse her mistake, but ends up making things worse, culminating in Nick terminating their relationship.
    Judy: That went so fast! I didn't get a chance to mention you or say anything about how we—
    Nick: Oh, I think you said plenty.
    Judy: What do you mean?
    Nick: "Clearly, there's a biological component"? "These predators may be reverting back to their primitive savage ways"? Are you serious?
    Judy: I just stated the facts of the case. I mean, it's not like a bunny could go savage.
    Nick: Right. But a fox could, huh?
    Judy: Nick, stop it. You're not like them.
    Nick: (getting angry) Oh, so there's a "them" now?
    Judy: You know what I mean. You're not that kind of predator.
    Nick: The kind that needs to be muzzled? The kind that makes you think you need to carry around fox repellent?! Yeah, don't think I didn't notice that little item the first time we met! So look, let me ask you a question! Are you afraid of me? (Judy is stunned silent) Do you think I might go nuts? Think I might go savage? You think I might try to... (jumps forward) EAT YOU?! (Judy jumps into a defensive posture and unclips the fox repellent holster) I knew it. Pfft! Just when I thought somebody actually believed in me, huh? (hands Judy back the application) Probably best if you don't have a predator as a partner.
  • This interaction has a few upsetting points to it as well.
    • The worst part of his asking if she's afraid of him? During the Stunned Silence before he presses the point, Judy's nose is visibly twitching in the same manner it had when Gideon was threatening her as a kid.
    • Even sadder from Judy's POV. When Nick bares his claws at her, she backs away from him and reaches for her fox spray because she was probably remembering when Gideon attacked her when they were kids! She was afraid that Nick might hurt her as well—he doesn't, but still. Gideon attacking Judy must've scared her very badly enough to bring fox spray with her in case another predator attack her she might have a mild fear of predators and claws. She never told Nick about why she brought the spray with her making it even worse for their friendship.
    • Nick is firm in his belief that you should never let the world know it gets to you, and shrugged off every slur with his customary snark and disinterest. This is the only point in the whole film where he's genuinely angry, making it very clear that this really hurt him.
    • Pay attention to Nick's facial expression when Judy reaches for the repellent. It shifts from anger to surprise or shock, as if he, for a second, couldn't believe what he just witnessed.
  • To rub salt in the wound, Judy looks at the Employment Application, and realizes that Nick actually filled it out. He was more than ready to join the force and become her partner until she ruined it by branding all predators as "savage".
    • After that, she looked back at Nick in time to see him tear her police badge sticker off his shirt and throw it on the ground.
    • Worse yet, some of the nearby reporters visibly flinched as he did that.
  • Right after that, Judy rushes after Nick only to be blocked by the frantic reporters. What's the first question she's asked? "Were you just threatened by that predator?" And when Judy says no, he was her friend, they respond, "We can't even trust our own friends?" It really drives home how terrified everyone is, and how easy it is for people to turn on each other out of that fear. (Make note of the expressions in the crowd at the press conference when Judy makes her thoughtless comments—not just from the prey Zootopians, but the predators.)
• Gazelle's heartbreaking interview, interspersed with scenes of Zootopia quickly breaking down, protests turning violent, and people attacking each other on the street. It really hits home for anyone that's ever seen their own cities or communities torn apart by serious issues... most especially ones that haven't gotten better since.
  Gazelle: Zootopia is a unique place. It's a crazy, beautiful diversity where we celebrate our differences. This is not the Zootopia I know. The Zootopia I know is better than this. We don't just blindly assign blame. We don't know why these attacks keep happening, but it is irresponsible to label all predators as savages. We cannot let fear divide us. Please... give me back the Zootopia I love.
  • During the rally, Judy is seen struggling to calm the predators and prey at the peace rally. Meanwhile, they are starting to have a heated and quite realistic argument.
    Pig: Go back to the forest, predator!
    Cheetah: I'm from the savannah!
  • The monorail scene during the interview where Judy sees a rabbit quietly pulling her young daughter away from a tiger due to fear of the outbreak. And you can't even really blame her, because predators are snapping and attacking prey without warning, and who would want to take the chance with their child?
    • What's worse? While the tiger was focused on his iPad device, his eyebrows lowered when the rabbit mother did that. He wasn't looking directly at them, but he still was aware enough that he was being shunned and trying to ignore it.
  • Mrs. Otterton's reaction to seeing her husband Emmitt feral, on all fours, and leashed to a post in quarantine, also during Gazelle's interview.
    Mrs. Otterton: That's not my Emmitt.
    • She is seen looking at him through the glass when suddenly Judy shows up behind her and puts her hand on her in despair.
    • This scene comes across as especially harsh to anyone who has had to watch a loved one's mental state deteriorate in real life.
• Throughout the movie, and her life, there have been many factors that serve as foils to make Judy quit her dreams of being a Zootopian cop. Her parents' skepticism and doubt as an average bunny normally doesn't go for that kind of job, but it doesn't get to her. A fox bully named Gideon attacked her and warned her she will never be anything more than a scared bunny, but she refused to give up. She has serious trouble in the police academy, but worked hard to not only pass but excel. When entering ZPD, Bogo appoints her to parking duty instead of the investigation of the missing Zootopians, but keeps her optimism, for a while at least. She is fired for a non-procedure arrest and volunteering to help in an investigation without her chief's permission, but Bogo is forced to allow her assistance; only giving her 48 hours to solve the most recent disappearance case or face resignation. The time limit itself is already pressured enough without the fact that because this is indeed a recent case, there are no leads or witnesses attached to it, except for Nick who was with him for a short while. Beforehand, when first encountering Nick after being hustled, he reminds her that the city isn't as glamorous as she makes it out to be, and its harsh reality will crush her dreams and make her give up and return home. It's a real tearjerker to see Judy's constant struggle to rise above everyone's expectations, but none more so than when she actually does quit, even after seemingly successfully solving the missing citizens case, because of one factor she overlooked: her own ignorance, which after an interview concerning the case, costs her friendship with Nick, and throws Zootopia into fear.
• Due to causing the fear against predatory animals from her interview, Judy, feeling guilt-ridden, decides to quit her lifelong dream, feeling that she tore apart the city, rather than help it as a cop is supposed to do, as she sadly returns to live with her family at their farm to sell carrots, as Nick predicted early on. This, of course, saddens Chief Bogo, who has come to accept Judy. Luckily, this doesn't last due to an "Eureka!" Moment.
  Judy: I... I'm not a hero. I came here to make the world a better place, but I think I broke it.
  Chief Bogo: Don't give yourself so much credit, Hopps. The world has always been broken. That's why we need good cops... like you.
  Judy:: With all due respect, sir, a good cop is supposed to serve and protect—help the city, not tear it apart. I don't deserve this badge.
  (Judy takes off her badge)
  Chief Bogo: Hopps...?
  Bellwether: Judy, you've worked so hard to get here. It's what you wanted since you were a kid. You can't quit.
  Judy: (putting her badge on the desk) Thank you for the opportunity.
  (Judy walks out, downcast)
  • Could double as Fridge Brilliance, but when the scene ends, the camera lingers on a very tight shot of Judy's badge on the desk. The badge has "Trust, Integrity, Bravery" as ZPD's motto. The word closest to the camera — the only one sharply focused — is 'Integrity' — a trait Judy is exhibiting during this very scene, and entirely lacking in then-mayor Bellwether — who is sitting right in front of her. But we won't know that about Bellwether until the last reel.
  • There's also Bogo's somewhat backhanded attempt to reassure her, "Don't give yourself too much credit... the world was already broken." It's a very sobering statement, and even more upsetting in a world where some feel as if the country/world/human race is beyond saving. You have to wonder, just what Bogo could have seen during his career that would make him think that way; maybe he wasn't always the stereotypical Da Chief. The society we see in the film has no shortage of problems to begin with, but the idea that there might be worse things lurking further under the surface is even more upsetting.
  • While she did turn out to be the main villain, Bellwether is shown to be genuinely shocked and sad when Judy quits her job.
  • Clawhauser telling Judy that he's no longer the front desk officer because of the current climate of fear against predators. His explanation in no way blames her or the people in charge of moving him, as he just quietly resigns to his fate. It's very sad since Clawhauser throughout the film is mostly happy and optimistic but during this scene he looks so broken. Special points go to the huge contrast from the bubbly exuberance typically found in his voice and how subdued and defeated it is in this scene. Judy's expression of unpleasant surprise when she sees him packing his things, as well as her shocked My God, What Have I Done? reaction to his explanation, makes it even sadder and to finish it off, there's a subtle but noticeable flush around Clawhauser's eyes. Clearly, he's been crying. Additionally, Bogo, who no doubt recently had to deliver the bad news to Clawhauser, appears to be actively avoiding any eye contact or interaction with him, his expression much more serious than it is in either the previous scene or the next one.
    • A minor detail, but Clawhauser detailing his new location "down the stairs, by the boiler", as if he knows his new job will be a duller, more lonely one and is nudging Judy to still keep him company from time to time.
  • When Judy returns home after the media conference, she can be seen working at her parents' farm. She looks so gloomy and depressed throughout the scene. At one point, her parents ask her what is wrong and she tells that she's fine. Her parents can tell she isn't happy since her ears have been drooping the entire time.
• In the pre-climax, Judy returns to Nick to seek his aid. Nick coldly ignores her (not even bothering to look at her). When Nick begins to walk away from her, Judy desperately tries to make amends to the point that she breaks down in tears:
  Judy: Wait, listen! I... I know you'll never forgive me. And I don't blame you. I wouldn't forgive me either. (Nick stops walking away at this statement, but keeps his back to her) I was ignorant and irresponsible and small-minded. But predators shouldn't suffer because of my mistakes. I have to fix this. But I can't do it without you. (Nick still doesn't say anything) And... And after we're done, you can hate me, (starts tearing up) and that... that'll be fine, because I was a horrible friend, and I hurt you. And you... (crying) ...and you can walk away knowing you were right all along. I really am just a dumb bunny.
  • Special mention goes to Ginnifer Goodwin genuinely sounding like someone trying and failing not to cry. Especially when she starts crying into Nick's chest. This Tumblr post goes more in-depth about this scene where it turns out that she actually did start crying while reading out Judy's lines.
  • And while Judy says that she doesn't blame Nick if he decides not to forgive her, the fact that she broke down crying as soon as she says it shows that she wants him to more than anything else, and the realization that he probably won't is what pushes her over the edge from tearful to Inelegant Blubbering. On the bright side, it makes Nick choosing to forgive her all the sweeter.
• Judy struggling to run with Nick while trying to hide from Bellwether and her guards after getting her leg cut.
• As detailed above, Nick's flashback to being horrifically bullied as a child. Considering it's Disney, you'd expect some All of the Other Reindeer-type stuff, mean but in an ordinary way. What we get instead is downright brutal to watch, especially since part of it is "shot" in first-person POV — we're put in Nick's shoes, seeing it exactly as he did, and it's awful. If you were ever bullied, that scene probably dug up a lot of memories.
  • Worse, when Judy accidentally implies that all predators are inherently "savage", Nick has flashbacks to the bullying. Nick says he never shows that anything got to him, but it's made abundantly clear that a child being hazed, forced into a muzzle, and laughed out of a club when he just wanted to fit in was probably pretty traumatic, especially since he was so young when it happened. Is it any wonder the guy decided "Then Let Me Be Evil"?
• The scene when Bellwether poisons Nick. Turning him into a savage beast who nearly kills Judy. Of course, it turns out they were faking. But its horrific to see, a sly, intelligent creature reduced to a feral state. And the thought of Judy being ripped apart by her friend. God...
• For a bit of Fridge Sadness, watch the movie up to Nick and Judy's heart-to-heart on the Sky Tram. Now re-watch everything from their first meeting up to that point again. Notice the times when she lost her temper and berated him and he just shrugged it off. It's unlikely that Judy said anything Nick hadn't heard before, but one has to wonder — how many times did her words cut him up inside and he just didn't show it?
• The scene with Nick feeling Bellwether's wool is largely Played for Laughs, but there's a bit of Fridge Sadness to the line, "Sheep never let me get this close." It's another reminder that Nick has been ostracized due to his species for most of his life.

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