In a bustling city where anthropomorphic animals from every environment live together, a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed rabbit named Judy Hopps fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming the first rabbit police officer in Zootopia's history. Despite graduating top of her class at the police academy, her capabilities are underappreciated by the tough, by-the-book police chief, a cape buffalo named Chief Bogo, who doubts that a small rabbit can handle the dangers of big-city law enforcement. Assigned to parking duty, Judy strives to prove herself, believing that she can make the world a better place if given the chance.

Judy soon sees an opportunity to show her worth when she volunteers to take on a missing persons—or rather, missing mammals—case that's part of a series of unexplained disappearances. To crack the case, she ends up forming an unlikely partnership with a sly, streetwise fox named Nick Wilde, who previously tried to outfox her but ultimately becomes an ally in her investigation. The duo embarks on a trail that confronts them with the complexities of their society, where predators and prey are struggling to overcome deep-seated prejudices and stereotypes. As they delve deeper, they must navigate a maze of intrigue and corruption that touches the heart of their city.