Zootopia is getting a fresh spin—this time with a distinctly Chinese flair. In a new collaboration with Shanghai Animation Film Studio, Disney has invited four Chinese directors to reimagine the hit animated world through a series of shorts titled Zootopia: Days and Nights.
Each short film taps into a different animation style and Chinese pun:
1. 对暗耗 (The Squeaky Deal): A stop-motion short starring Mr. Big and his shrew crew. The title is a pun on 对暗号 (“secret signal”), swapping 号 (“signal”) with 耗 (“shrew”)—a homophone in Chinese.
2. 豹好吃 (So Delish!): A watercolor animation starring Officer Clawhauser. The pun comes from 豹 (“cheetah”), which sounds like 爆 (“very” or “super”).
3. 拼爪速 (Fast Paws): A 2D short following Finnick and Duke Weaselton’s wild race to grab Gazelle concert tickets. It plays on the phrase 拼手速 (“fastest fingers first”), replacing 手 (“finger”) with 爪 (“paw”).
4. 睡了咩? (You Sleepin’?): A papercut-style piece about Dawn Bellwether battling insomnia. 咩 mimics a sheep’s bleat and also sounds like the question particle “吗”.
Posters and preview images have already been released, hinting at four distinct visual worlds. The full series will debut across China’s major social media and streaming platforms in November 2025—free to watch.
This collaboration goes beyond fan service. By blending Disney’s global IP with traditional Chinese animation styles, it links beloved animal characters to everyday life in China, while pushing creative boundaries through East-meets-West storytelling.