Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		5.0
Audio		4.5
Extras		2.5
Overall		4.0

Zootopia 4K Blu-ray Movie Review

Disney has released the 2016 digitally animated film 'Zootopia' to the UHD format. New specifications include 2160p/HDR video and a Dolby Atmos soundtrack. No new extras are included but the bundled Blu-ray disc, which is identical to that which Disney released in 2017, brings over a fine assortment of extra goodies.

Zootopia 4K Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The included screenshots are sourced from a 1080p Blu-ray disc.

Zootopia's 2160p/HDR UHD presentation delivers an agreeable image that bolsters the picture over the existing Blu-ray, offering a fairly routine, but certainly appreciable, collection of improvements. The resolution bump enhances the image with a greater feel for overall clarity and sharpness. The Blu-ray appears mildly soft in comparison. The UHD reveals textures with greater command; animal fur is of particular note with appreciably greater sharpness and overall clarity to individual strands. The many complex environments seen throughout the film, whether fairgrounds at film's start or densely packed and diligently digitally developed cityscapes, offer modest, but critical, gains in total clarity. It's an image in good working order that proves its worth over the existing 1080p product. Additionally, there are no obvious encode issues to note.

As is often the case with digitally animated titles making the jump to the UHD format, it's the HDR colors that more firmly and obviously distinguish it from the Blu-ray. There's a nice, though perhaps not eye-popping dramatic, boost to tonal depth and brilliance. The film's multitudinous hues present with bolder authority and finer, more intricately defined nuance. The film is plenty colorful and everything form blue police uniforms to Judy's purple eyes, from colorful wonders around the city to dense natural greens, all find another gear in terms of vibrance and solidification. Though not a substantial leap over the Blu-ray, the deeper contrast and more finely regulated and precise palette makes the movie all the more visually splashy. There are only sporadic instances where the changes are not particularly dramatic. Look at a sunset during a training montage at the 6:45 mark. It's beautiful on the UHD but the pillowy pastels aren't necessarily granted any significant boosts over what's to be seen on the Blu-ray. That's the exception, however, as the HDR's benefits are largely obvious both in a straight watch through and in comparing select shots with the older SDR presentation. Add in appealing black levels and superior whites and the HDR proves a critical factor in breathing new life into the movie.

Zootopia 4K Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Zootopia's Dolby Atmos soundtrack requires the now obligatory upward volume adjustment from calibrated reference (a practice that has recently been expanding beyond Disney) but the track is swell once that sweet spot is achieved. The track opens up nicely with the volume adjusted upward. There's some airy, expansive notes and echoing voices during the training montage referenced in the video review above, which also includes a good example of the low end extension, which is not obviously limited for this track as it has been in many previous Disney efforts. Quite the contrary, heavy animal footfalls rumble with impressive authority, various deep growls belt into the stage with potent subwoofer usage, action scenes effectively intermix the bottom into the fold, and music greatly benefits from the oomph. Music and action also stretch the stage quite wide and wrap into the rears as well, delivering a full-bodied experience that includes the occasionally discrete but more often than not finely integrated overhead effect. Ambient effects likewise present with quality placement and just the right volume, bringing the film's city in particular to living, breathing life. Dialogue clarity is true and prioritization never misses as the spoken word flows from a natural front-center home.

Zootopia 4K Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Zootopia's UHD disc contains no supplemental content, but the bundled Blu-ray is identical to that which Disney released in 2016 and brings with it the entirety of this set's supplemental content. Below is a listing of what's included. Please click here for full review coverage. A Movies Anywhere digital copy code is included with purchase. This release ships with an embossed slipcover.

• Research: A True-Life Adventure
• The Origin of an Animal Tale
• Zoology: The Roundtables
  
  
  • Characters
  • Environments
  • Animation
• Scoretopia
• Z.P.D. Forensic Files
• Music Video
• Deleted Characters
• Deleted Scenes

Zootopia 4K Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

With Zootopia, Disney simply built a world for the walking, talking digital animals that are all but surefire box office moneymakers these days. But it's not just an empty CGI experience. The film is tenderhearted and purposeful, speaking to individuality, acceptance, and co-existence with enough action and cute-and-cuddlies to satisfy all comers. Disney's UHD contains no extras, but the bundled Blu-ray brings with it all of the previously available content. Video is quite good as so is the Atmos soundtrack once the volume's been turned up. Recommended.