Add “Zootopia 2” to the list of Academy Award-nominated films for which Stuart Sumida, Cal State San Bernardino professor of biology, has served as an anatomical consultant.

The Disney Animation Studios feature about a crime-solving duo – rabbit cop Judy Hopps and friend fox Nick Wilde – is one of five films nominated for the 98th Academy Awards’ Best Animated Feature Film. “Zootopia 2” is also one of five nominees for Best Feature by the Hollywood Chapter of the Association Internationale du Film d’Animation (ASIFA-Hollywood). The academy’s Oscars will be awarded on March 15, and the ASIFA-Hollywood’s “Annie Awards” will be presented on Feb. 21.

If “Zootopia 2” wins both top awards, it would be a repeat of sorts for the “Zootopia” franchise. Sumida was also a consultant for the animators on the first “Zootopia” movie, which in 2017 won both the Oscar for the Best Animated Feature Film, as well as an Annie Award for Best Feature.

"It's a thrill getting to work with the creative people at film studios like Disney Animation,” Sumida said. “And, doing that kind of work is really helpful in bringing the science education we do here at CSUSB to the forefront."

From left, “Zootopia 2” characters Nick Wilde, Gary De’Snake and Judy Hopps. The film has been nominated for a Best Animated Feature Film Oscar
From left, “Zootopia 2” characters Nick Wilde, Gary De’Snake and Judy Hopps. The film has been nominated for a Best Animated Feature Film Oscar.

Sumida has served as an anatomical consultant for major animation and visual effects studios on nearly 100 projects during his career at CSUSB, many of them award-winning films, including Academy Award winners "Ratatouille” in 2008, “Brave” in 2013, and “Soul” in 2021.

He also has worked with animators of major studios for movies that include “Puss in Boots, the Last Wish,” “How to Train Your Dragon,” “Surf’s Up,” “Bolt” and “Kung Fu Panda.”  

He is the recipient of the 2022-23 Golden Apple Award, CSUSB’s highest honor for excellence in teaching, as well as the 2008 Wang Family Excellence Award, which recognized him as the California State University’s outstanding professor in natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

Sumida, who is currently the president of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology, lectures on subjects that include human anatomy and physiology, evolution and topics in zoology. He is the author of three books and more than 70 journal articles – many with students, introducing them to the process of research and publication in refereed journals.