- “Ice 'em!”
- ―Mr. Big's signature phrase
Mr. Big is a supporting character in Disney's 2016 animated feature film Zootopia. He is an arctic shrew with an ironic reputation of being the most feared crime boss in Tundratown.
Background[]
According to The Official Zootopia Handbook, Mr. Big had humble beginnings. As a child, he was raised by his grandmother, whom he loved and respected dearly. Mr. Big's grandmother, or "Grandmama", was responsible for teaching Big the values of respect, determination, and family. His family would grow over time, as he would eventually find love, and have a daughter, whom he cherishes above all else, declaring her as "the light of his life".
Mr. Big is a self-made millionaire, having started with a few tuxedo shops in Little Rodentia, and eventually climbing up the financial ladder by becoming the owner of several successful legitimate businesses throughout Zootopia, such as the Tundratown limo-service.[1]
Mr. Big and Nick Wilde also have a history. At some point prior to the film, they developed a partnership and one that Mr. Big valued, as he saw Nick as family, having invited the latter into his home. Nick was even offered cannoli made by Grandmama. However, this partnership was short-lived, as Nick took advantage of Mr. Big by selling him a very expensive wool rug made from the fur of a skunk's butt. Mr. Big developed a sincere grudge against Nick following this event, as it disrespected the former and his grandmother, who passed away shortly after Nick's betrayal. She was buried in the skunk-butt rug, per Mr. Big's demands.
Mr. Big is often surrounded by a mafia of burly, well-dressed polar bears, who act as his bodyguards and henchmen - all of which are usually silent, stoic, and extremely loyal to their superior. His most trusted of the group is Koslov, the largest and most intimidating of the mafia, who also acts as Mr. Big's personal escort and mode of transportation.
Personality[]
Mr. Big carries himself with a strong sense of class and dignity. In spite of being a feared crime boss, he is not inherently villainous and prefers to establish healthy relationships with business partners, rather than intimidating someone to work as his accomplice. He values family and is capable of seeing his acquaintances and employees—such as Emmitt Otterton and Nick Wilde—as family themselves. He goes as far as to invite his affiliates into his home and providing homemade food and other luxuries in gratitude for their services, showing himself to be highly hospitable and respectful.
This is also seen with his blood relatives, such as his late grandmother, for whom he cares deeply. The same can be said for his doted daughter Fru Fru who, while disapproving of her father's criminal activities, cherishes her father. Those who treat Fru Fru well, in spite of their past actions, immediately becomes an individual worthy of kindness in the eyes of Mr. Big, and he will gladly show his appreciation in a grand manner.
Should he be crossed after establishing a partnership, however, Mr. Big becomes a deadly adversary. He demands respect, and when feeling disrespected, no matter the circumstances, his first method of action is to kill whoever opposes him. This balance of firm and fair has solidified his status and reputation in Zootopia's underworld.
Unlike the idealistic Judy, Mr. Big acknowledges that everyone, whether they're predator or prey, is capable of violence, as he indicated by his words, "We may be evolved, but deep down, we are still animals."
Appearances[]
Zootopia[]
During an investigation to find Emmitt Otterton, Judy and Nick track down the limousine Otterton was last seen in before his disappearance. What they discover is a ransacked car, and that it belongs to Mr. Big. Big's polar bear henchmen, Raymond and Kevin, find Nick and Judy and take them to their boss' estate. Mr. Big confronts Nick on the latter's audacity to arrive unannounced on the day that his daughter is to be married and further laments his feelings of betrayal and disrespect, regarding Wilde's rug scam. Nick tries to talk his way out of the situation but is interrupted by Judy, who places Mr. Big under police suspicion, believing him to be a culprit in Otterton's disappearance. Offended, Mr. Big sentences Nick and Judy to death via cryonic torture, but this is stopped by the arrival of his daughter Fru Fru, who scolds her father for breaking his promise not to "ice" anyone on the day of her wedding. Fru Fru then notices Judy and explains that she was the rabbit who saved her from being crushed by a giant donut while shopping in Little Rodentia. Mr. Big immediately releases Judy and Nick, feeling grateful for Judy's services to his daughter.
To thank the two, Mr. Big invites them to Fru Fru's wedding, where he explains what he knows about Otterton, who turns out to be Mr. Big's personal florist wanting to discuss something urgent prior to his disappearance, with Big sending a limousine escort to pick him up. Nick and Judy believe Otterton was attacked before he could arrive, but Mr. Big reveals that it was Otterton who attacked the chauffeur, Renato Manchas, who explained to Mr. Big that Otterton suddenly went savage and attacked him, though he escaped with a scarred eye. Otterton himself went missing afterward. Mr. Big advises Judy and Nick to visit Manchas in the Rainforest District if they want more answers.
Mr. Big returns later on when Judy and Nick ask him to help interrogate Duke Weaselton, willing to help due to his fondness for Judy, and the fact that she is personally dubbed the godmother of Fru Fru's expected daughter, whom the former plans to name after the bunny cop. Big's threat to freeze Weaselton to death successfully gives Judy and Nick the answers they were looking for.
Mr. Big is last seen during the end credits, where he and Fru Fru dance together on Koslov's palms at Gazelle's concert.
Zootopia+[]
The fourth episode "The Godfather of the Bride" concentrates on Mr. Big's early life. In it, he is seen at the wedding reception of Fru Fru and her husband, where he gives a wedding speech about his youth. He and Grandmama left the old country (which was simply across a ravine) a long time ago and entered Zootopia to start work in a bakery. Mr. Big found it difficult to make deliveries, so Grandmama got him a bike and their trustworthiness grew within the community. Mr. Big soon noticed that some Polar Bear neighbors needed some cooling down, so he bought them ice cream. In return, they proceeded to make his deliveries easier and he gains allies.
A Rhino gangster soon began to trash the neighborhood and when the Polar Bears were threatened, Mr. Big stood up to them and the residents literally ice the rhino by having him fall into an ice factory. Soon, Mr. Big took over the neighborhood, appointing one particular Polar Bear as his right hand and improve the community by founding the Little Rodentia area of Zootopia. Mr. Big finishes his story by telling Fru Fru that "the family you have makes you rich, the friends you choose makes them family, and with these things you will never feel small and no matter how small you are, you can still make a difference", before threatening her husband to treat her right.
Other appearances[]
An emoticon version of Mr. Big briefly appeared in the Zootopia entry of the As Told by Emoji short series, surrounded by a number of polar bear emoticons.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- Mr. Big is inspired by Vito Corleone (The Godfather).
- His backstory told in "The Godfather of the Bride" seems to be inspired by Vito Corleone's backstory told in The Godfather novel by Mario Puzo, which is also depicted in The Godfather Part II.
- Interestingly, Christian Brückner who voiced Mr. Big in the German dub also voiced the young Vito Corleone in The Godfather Part II.
- Mr. Big being a shrew, let alone a small animal, is hinted when Nick brings up giving him a wool rug made from the fur of a skunk's butt. While skunks aren't seen in the movie, such size won't be big enough for any of the polar bears. But it would be big enough for a small animal, like a shrew.
- In earlier versions of the movie, it was Mr. Big's lead crony Koslov, that served as the antagonist encountered in Tundratown.
- Mr. Big appears to be Catholic and signs are shown throughout the film.
- His religion for Catholicism is a reference to the Corleone Family from The Godfather, as the family from that Trilogy is Catholic as well.
- Koslov, his most trusted bodyguard, is shown to be doing the sign of the cross, as most Catholics do.
- Usually, the name "Mr. Big" is used to describe a man who is very important and powerful. This is often used humorously about a criminal leader. However, in the movie, it is unknown whether or not if this is the character's real name or an alias.
- Despite being small and harmless-looking, real-life shrews are well-known for their aggression, so Mr. Big's species is not entirely ironic. The filmmakers wanted "the most vicious carnivore" to act as a crime boss, and learned that this description best suited the shrew.[2]
- Throughout March 30, 2016, an event was held on Twitter by Disney UK where fans were able to ask Mr. Big questions using the hashtag #AskMrBig.[3]
- The only time Mr. Big is seen standing is when he is being photographed with his family at his daughter's wedding.
- Also, there are two times his eyes were shown in the film. First, when his daughter called him for their dance. Second, when he explained to Judy what happened to Otterton, specifically when he nearly scared Manchas to death.
- Earlier concepts show various expressions of him with his eyes exposed.
- Also, there are two times his eyes were shown in the film. First, when his daughter called him for their dance. Second, when he explained to Judy what happened to Otterton, specifically when he nearly scared Manchas to death.
- Due to coming across as more ethical than Bellwether, and forming a friendship with Judy, Mr. Big's moral alignment has been questioned by viewers, with many refusing to consider him a villain. Byron Howard and Rich Moore have stated that Mr. Big is supposed to be a merciless and dangerous crime boss who assisted Judy mainly out of gratitude for rescuing Fru Fru. Judy's affiliation with Mr. Big was given another justification during the Weaselton interrogation, which indicates that Mr. Big did not reform. When asked if Judy could be considered a "crooked cop" due to her affiliation with Mr. Big, the co-directors explained that Judy had already resigned from the ZPD by the time she interrogated Weaselton.[4]
- In Ralph Breaks the Internet, a sign of Mr. Big's Limo Service can be seen on a billboard in Slaughter Race.
References[]
- ↑ The Official Zootopia Handbook
- ↑ Zootopia - Diretor interview
- ↑ AskMrBig Twitter tag
- ↑ Byron Howard, Rich Moore (June 9 2016). "In Zootopia, now that Judy is involved with the mafia, how will it affect her career?" (Thread). Quora. Retrieved on July 19, 2016.
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