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Zootopia 2: Creating Empathy in a Pit Viper
24 Feb
Summary
- Gary's eyes were moved forward and rounded to foster immediate empathy.
- The snake village design featured interconnected homes to show community.
- Furniture and door handles were adapted for a slithering lifestyle.

The creation of Gary, a sympathetic pit viper character in "Zootopia 2," involved significant artistic adjustments to evoke immediate audience connection. Production designer Cory Loftis explained that Gary's eyes were rotated to the front and rounded, moving away from a more ambiguous initial design. While retaining vertical pupils for a reptilian feel, these were softened to enhance empathy.
Further design considerations focused on Gary's community and their environment. Art director Sang Jun Lee proposed interconnected housing to symbolize a close-knit snake society, making their subsequent destruction more impactful. Practical adaptations for snake inhabitants included low counter heights, curved tables for resting, and door handles designed to be gripped by tails. Features like cushions and accessible ramps and slides were integrated throughout the village, showcasing the inventive efforts of the art team to fully realize the characters' world.




