Warning: SPOILERS for Zootopia+ episode one "Hopp on Board"The new Zootopia+ miniseries from Disney+ has finally transported fans back into this highly imaginative and beautiful world - but with the perfect twist. Beloved side characters who never received the screen time they deserved in the original movie are now able to take viewers by the hand and lead them through six hilarious and creative short episodes. And two of these "guides" include Bonnie Hopps (Bonnie Hunt) and Stu Hopps (Don Lake) during the first episode, "Hopp on Board."
Like every other episode from this soon-to-be hit miniseries, "Hopp on Board" transpires during actual events from the Zootopia movie, adding a fresh perspective and more in-depth look at both moments and characters in profound ways. The episode not only expands upon the already-established personalities of Bonnie and Stu in a believable manner but explores a more heartwarming part of their relationship by having them experience a completely unexpected and different type of scenario than anything that they went through in the movie.
Luckily, Screen Rant got the chance to speak with voice actors of Bonnie Hopps and Stu Hoops, Bonnie Hunt and Don Lake, respectively, to discuss the entire experience of returning to the world of Zootopia and certain key scenes.
Bonnie Hunt & Don Lake on Zootopia+
Screen Rant: This one is for both of you. Just watching the original movie and this episode, your characters are very different. When you first got the gig and didn't see the script for Zootopia+, what did you think the episode was going to be like?
Bonnie Hunt: Gosh! We knew we were in trusted hands, creatively, that they were going to be part of something that is character-driven and heartfelt and funny. So it was kind of, "What's it going to be?" But it was such a surprise when it was action-packed. It was so fun for us.
Don Lake: Absolutely, absolutely. It was fun to see how that fit in the movie. It was suddenly expanded. You know what I mean? Kind of, like, blown up, so to speak. And it was like 'Oh, this is very interesting. What a great door! What a great window that goes into, like, a parallel universe into Zootopia, where we get to explore a little moment we never thought we would, which is part of the whole mosaic.'
Screen Rant: You've both done a lot of lead roles outside Zootopia. It must have been different getting a call for characters who you probably never expected would be the main focus of an episode like this. What is it like reprising a role like this?
Bonnie Hunt: Well, it's so flattering and such a gift, you know? We just love working with talented people. Don and I have worked together for years in all different forms of entertainment, in theater, television, film, radio, and now in voice work together. It's nice that they are focusing on the parents, these ancillary characters in the film. It was a compliment because we loved working together with them. We have so much fun whenever we are recording because we wall want to make each other laugh or impress each other, that's what it's all about. So that's the best. It was a gift.
Don Lake: And to get to improvise like that and to come up with things in the moment. And then getting to hear [Directors] Trent [Correy] and Josie [Trinidad] laughing, and seeing the people you know in the booths laughing. You live for that, you live for it.
Bonnie Hunt: And then seeing it brought to live in animation, when you get to see it. It's like 'Boy, they used that!' Seeing how they brought it to life. It's so visually pleasing and artistically awesome.
Screen Rant: I felt like the humor in this episode was almost more relatable. There is the trouble of getting Siri to do something that you're asking or getting the earbuds out of your kids' ears because they aren't listening. It must be so satisfying getting to do that type of humor. How much of that humor really hit home for you?
Bonnie Hunt: So nice of you to notice that, Steven, and to bring it up. Because for us, all of it was relatable. That's what makes it so great. We know that the generations, all the different generations, can watch this together, and all of them will have something that means something to them, that makes them life, and that is relatable.
Don Lake: I don't know if this is the right word or not, but it's like when you see things like that, you look at the creative team, and you go, 'Wow! They are really kind of connected.' You know what I mean? They are really in the zone, so to speak. They are thinking of all these little things that are so important, such big moments, but that are in a tiny bit of space. It's just, 'Wow! They are such a connected group, really.'
Screen Rant: I can't help wondering what it must have been like doing that kissing scene at the end. It was very drawn out. If I were an actor and doing that, I could see myself going through multiple takes. It heartwarming, but really funny.
Bonnie Hunt: [Laughs] It was heartwarming. But to be honest, as actors, for Don and I, we were like two sixth graders that can't take each other seriously that way. So we were literally completely red-faced.
Don Lake: Yeah.
Bonne Hunt: I mean, Don, how did we get through that? We were laughing like little nervous kids...
Don Lake: Yeah, like school kids in the playground. Yeah, we couldn't even look at each other, even on the monitor.
Bonnie Hunt: [Laughs]. We couldn't even look at each other, Steven. So I'm glad it worked, that it had the depth that it needed but between us, it was like two grade-school kids. Somebody going, 'Kiss her!' And he's like, 'No!'
Don Lake: Yah, it just shows what great animators they are. [Laughs].
Screen Rant: That's awesome. And I'm curious, too, I don't know if you had the chance to see it or if you saw the other episodes of Zootopia+, but if you had any favorite episodes from the ones that you've seen.
Bonnie Hunt : Did you have a favorite, Don? I would hate to say one was a favorite.
Don Lake: I was pleased after each one I saw. And by the time I got to the end of them ... wow! It was all fantastic. And sometimes when you run into those people [involved in one episode], you're telling them how great that episode was. And then you see another person from another episode and go, 'Oh my god. That episode was fantastic.'
Because each one has an ingredient that the others don't get to explore. But that's what makes the six of them as a whole unit wonderful to watch. And I was in awe of each one, really. And, yes, yeah, I could name so many...
Bonnie Hunt: I like watching my nieces and nephews watch. That's the fun part. The audience's reaction, and seeing the audience connect with all of them. They did it very well. It's got the depth and quality. It's great all the way across, across all the episodes.
Don Lake: Yeah, yeah. And you really are impressed and entertained by how they pulled a little moment from the movie, these six different moments... And then they drew it all out. You appreciate that more as you go along. It was really cool.
Screen Rant: Bonnie, you've done a similar episode when you came back to Toy Story as Dolly in the episode, "What's a Leader?" in the Forky Asks a Question series. How did this Zootopia+ project differ from that?
Bonnie Hunt: I don't think of them as different, honestly. I think that for me, personally, I like to be as selective as possible [when choosing a project] and still make a living, which is kind of a balancing act. But I love things like Dolly and Bonnie Hops. It's just something from your heart. It's warm, but it also has a reality to it. And there is a consequence for the things that are well done by the characters. Ther are lessons. There are messages. And it's all wrapped up in something so entertaining. So for both of those characters, that was the ultimate combo platter.
Screen Rant: Don, one of the scenes that really made me laugh was when you did that whole quote, "I just saw the one part on the sheep where there is no wool." What is it like doing something like that, where kids will be like, 'That's funny,' but to adults, it's like, "Yeah, that's really funny?"
Don Lake: I know. Wow. This is a good one. That is a beaut. That's a gem. That's a gem. I lit up.
Bonnie Hunt: But that's the clever way of saying something as opposed to when it's said blatantly, which is how it's normally done in today's entertainment. Just for shock. Just say it. It's not as clever.
To me, it's all about cleverness of this type of joke, that can be shown to all generations and appreciated by the ones who get it, but that's safe for the ones who don't but clever. That's not crude but clever, you know? I'm not a prude by any means but, boy, I want that cleverness.
Don Lake: [Laughs]. It's just a better laugh for sure. Yeah.
Check out our other Zootopia+ interview with the creative team as well.