Back in Bird Village, all the slave animals were working hard to not get eaten. On one tree is Floyd, a white-necked raven who was Nolan's right-wing bird. Similar to Cory, he believes that it's wrong to eat animals that talk, but since he's lower on the food chain than a hawk, he's allowed to eat fruit, bugs, peanuts, and whenever it washes up on the beach, Lucky Chomps. He had a discussion with Nolan on if they should leave the island.
"Excuse me, Nolan." He asked. "The puffins are complaining that it's too warm, the ibises are complaining it's too cold, and the swallows, blue jays, and cardinals want to migrate. What should I tell them?" Upon hearing this, Nolan started laughing like a maniac.
"Migrate?" He asked. "MIGRATE?! That is for cowards. Besides, we have everything we ever need right here. If a bird wants to be cold, just jump in the pond or the ocean. If a bird wants to be warm, go inside one of the birdhouses and wrap yourself with a squirrel. And even if we do run out of food, we can always eat the lower animals, and there are always more of those on Outback Island. Here, let me demonstrate." He flew down to a lower branch, snatched a mouse, and started demonstrating to Floyd.
"Here." Said the owl. "Let me demonstrate how fun it is to eat live flesh." Nolan picked up the mouse, who was practically begging and pleading to let him go, only for Nolan to place the mouse in his beak and swallow it whole. "There. Easy as 1-2-3. Get the picture?"
"Yes, sir!" Replied Floyd, but he still felt it was wrong.
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Back in Zootopia, Nick, Judy, and Cory arrive at Muddy Swamp via gondola. Judy sat next to Nick since she was still afraid of birds. The three made it to Nibbles' house, which was about the size of a garage: She pays her bills by doing wood commissions for the other animals. After hearing a knock on her door, Nibbles Maplestick answered the door and was surprised by two familiar faces.
"Why, if it ain't Nick Wilde and Judy Hopps!" She said. "And who is this new fella? A griffin?"
"My name is Cory," Said the bird. "And I'm a red-tailed hawk."
"Oh, you're a bird!" Said the beaver. "Reptiles may be my specialty, but birds are uncharted territory for me. Luckily for you, I know someone who sailed the whole ocean before, and he can go it again!"
"Is he at Marsh Market like last time?" Asked Nick. "I don't want to encounter a juggling seal again."
"No, he's at Zootopia Harbor!" Nibbles replied. "Besides, it wasn't a juggling seal. It was a sea lion. Big difference. Anyway, everyone get in car, but be careful of splinters."
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After an hour of driving, the four animals made it to Zootopia Harbor. While in the car, Cory told Nibbles his whole story.
"You're from a faraway island where animals still eat other animals that can talk?" She asked. "Now, that is sick! If you're a bird, why aren't you flying?"
"Because I sprained my wings by smashing into a window." Cory replied. "All these metal trees have holes in them protected by invisible forcefields.
"You mean glass?" Asked Nibbles. "We place those on windows so bugs don't get in. Unless you happen to like eating bugs. I had to eat worms to get approval from a secluded group of reptiles, and yuck! I'm not trying that again." Soon, the foursome arrived at a house near the dock. The door opened, and a seal as big as Chief Bogo came out!
"Let me guess." Said Nick. "You're a sea lion and not a seal."
"A sea lion, I am not, you land lubbers!" The seal bellowed in a raspy voice. "I'm a Caribbean monk seal, and I've been living in Zootopia for 50 years. The name's Renato, and what can I do for you today?"
"We need a trip to Canary Island as soon as you can!" Said Judy. "See this hawk? He comes from Canary Island, where animals still eat animals that talk! And the ones that don't want to get eaten have to do cruel labor: Operating elevators, planting flowers, building birdhouses..."
"Enough blabbering." Said Renato. "Canary Island. Haven't heard of that place in a long time. I've been there once, but they are savages! No offense, beaked one."
"None taken." Said Cory. "But I only eat fish and frogs for meat. Never mammals or reptiles!"
"If that's the case," Said Renato. "I tip my hat to you, Brown Feathers."
"It's Cory." Said the hawk.
"Do you get paid in money or fish?" Asked Nick. "I still have trauma from that sea lion."
"I'm not like one of those sea lions, fox." Said Renato. "Thirty bucks for a round trip. Do any of you have money on you? I don't do trips for free."
"Luckily for you," Said Judy. "I happen to have enough money on me." She walked over to Renato to give him the money: A twenty dollar bill and a one dollar bill.
"That will do, lassie!" Renato bellowed. "Off to Canary Island we go! It will take a day to get there, so make sure all ye electronics are fully charged!" The characters soon set off to Bird Village, unaware of the danger they'd put themselves in.
Author's Notes: In Zootopia 1, Clawhauser's favorite cereal was Lucky Chomps, a riff on Lucky Charms.
Floyd the white-necked raven is named after Floyd Norman, who worked at Disney during the 1950s and 1960s on films such as Sleeping Beauty, 101 Dalmatians, Mary Poppins, and The Jungle Book. He also worked at other animation studios such as Hanna-Barbera, Ruby-Spears (the company that did 80s Alvin and the Chipmunks), Film Roman, Pixar, and Filmation.
One of the residents of Marsh Market in Zootopia 2 is a juggling sea lion. Whatever you, don't call him a seal and don't throw coins into his bucket!
Also in Zootopia 2, in order to get accepted by the reptiles, Judy and Nick had to eat worms that could slither down your throat. Declining their food is considered disrespectful.
For those unfamiliar, the Caribbean monk seal was seal that lived in the Caribbean, hence it's name. These massive guys could grow up to 8 feet long and weigh up to 600 pounds! Similar to sloths and polar bears, algae would grow on their bodies, making them turn green. The Caribbean monk seal went extinct in 1952 due to hunting it for its blubber.
I decided to make Renato a Caribbean monk seal because I thought it would be cool to include an animal in the Zootopia world. I was also inspired by how dodos still exist in the Animal Crossing video games, despite the fact that the bird went extinct about 400 years ago.
Renato is named after one of Disney's top CG animators, Renato Dos Anjos.
| Renato working on Wreck-it Ralph. |