MANILA – Filipino-American Josie Trinidad is co-head of story of Disney’s newest animated film, “Zootopia” – she is another Filipino carving a name in the global animation stage.
It was in 2004 when Trinidad joined Disney Animation Studios where she was first trained as a story apprentice and then hired as a story artist. She helped make Disney movies “The Princess and the Frog,” “Tangled,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” and some other short films.
In Zootopia, Josie admitted being relatable with Judy Hopps, the lead character who moved to a big city and struggled to find a place in it. Being the first bunny in the police force, she sought to prove herself worthy of the position.
“This is the same thing I went through when I moved to New York,” Trinidad said in a report by the Philippine Star, adding that the filmmakers first thought of portraying how a prey versus predator affected a community like Zootopia.
“Then we leaned into animal stereotypes – elephants never forget, foxes are sly, rabbits are timid – everyone has a stereotype they’re fighting against,” she said in the same report. “That’s something everyone in the audience can appreciate.”
Zootopia has been released in the Philippines on February 17, distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.
Watch the official trailers of Zootopia here: