Minnesota Animator Worked Disney Hit 'Zootopia'

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- A Minnesota man is behind Disney's latest catchy characters in the box office hit "Zootopia."

The animated film with, which teaches a lesson about prejudice, brought in nearly $74 million last weekend. The film's animator, Justin Weber, grew up in Sauk Rapids, Minn.

Via Skype from his apartment in Los Angeles, Weber told WCCO on Tuesday how the Disney movie made his dream come true. Weber said he grew up drawing everything.

"I watched a lot of cartoons as a kid and would try copying them on lots of sheets of paper," Weber said.

Weber attended St. Cloud State University before graduating from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD) in 2008.

MCAD President Jay Coogan called Weber a standout student.

"Students here learn to take their creativity and apply it to what their purpose and meaning in life is," Coogan said.

In 2013, Weber had the opportunity to work as a Disney animation apprentice for the movie "Frozen."

Weber never imagined "Zootopia," his first movie as an actual animator, would have an even bigger opening weekend than "Frozen."

"There is just a lot of enthusiasm around the art form right now which is awesome," Weber said.

Weber's Minnesota roots continue to remind Weber raw talent only takes people so far.

He calls teamwork the most important skill a successful person can possess.

"As long as I was in front of paper, or a computer, or working on a film or animation, I was happy still am," Weber said.

He is now working on "Moana," which will be an animated Disney musical about a Polynesian princess.

The movie will premier in November and is already getting a lot of buzz.

MCAD's president reports the school has doubled the number of students choosing the animation track in the last two years.