“Anyone can be anything in Zootopia.”

A person could even be the illustrator and a comic cover artists for Dynamite Comics on multiple fan favorite Disney franchises like Disney Villains: Scar (Cover Artist), Disney Villains: Hades (Illustrator), Hercules (Cover Artist), and Zootopia (Illustrator). Today, we have the pleasure of interviewing that person…Alessandro Ranaldi.

DuckTalks: What are some of your fandoms (what are you a fan of)?

Ranaldi: I’m passionate about everything, but I am probably an incurable Otaku. I love anime and manga, and I have see and read everything. They are the type of products I consume the most.

DuckTalks: In Zootopia, anyone can be anything. How did you become a comic book illustrator?

Ranaldi: I had always wanted to become a comic book artist. After art high school, I immediately found a job as an advertising graphic designer. After ten years, I found a private comics school. Thanks to the support of family, friends, and my girlfriend (recently my wife), I enrolled and was lucky enough to have great professionals as teachers. They accompanied me on this path and taught me practically everything. With some of them, we’re still close friends.

DuckTalks: The first Alessandro Ranaldi comic book cover that I added to my collection was your Disney Villains: Scar #1 Action Figure Variant cover. I wish that it was a real figure. What was your approach for creating all of the action figure variant covers for the Dynamite Comics Disney Villains: Scar series?

Ranaldi: Ehehe, thank you! I’m a big fan of action figures. When it came to imagining the Lion King characters, I preferred to imagine them as if they were rigid figurines.

By rendering the colors, I tried to make them more three-dimensional and reduce the details they presented instead in the film. Since drawing these characters is a more unique than rare opportunity, I wanted to take care of the packaging of the box with drawing the sticker portraying the protagonist in the style of the movie and including an iconic background on the card back. I admit that I tend to complicate my life!

DuckTalks: You were the illustrator of the Dynamite Comics’ hit Disney Villains: Hades comics series. I was really impressed by how well your art style matched the 1995 Disney animated hit, Hercules. How many times did you have to watch Hercules to get that style down?

Ranaldi: Thank you so much! Hercules is probably my favorite Disney classic. I have seen it MANY times. When I got the proposal, though, in addition to reviewing the film, I started browsing online for animation frames and character studies. It’s a masterful work; years of experience are hidden in those few lines. Reproducing the art style was not easy, but I guarantee it was extremely fun and rewarding!

DuckTalks: Your facial expressions for Hades were hilarious. Did you ever have to practice those facial expressions in a mirror before drawing them?

Ranaldi: Ahahah! I admit that I stood in front of the mirror very often to try out some goofy poses. Compared to other serious comics I’ve worked on, with Hades, I had the opportunity to explore comedy and “break” some rigid comic book rules.

DuckTalks: You have done some amazing covers for Dynamite Comics’ other Disney Greek mythology series, Hercules. Do you have a favorite cover of yours from that series?

Ranaldi: My editor has been incredibly helpful with me, allowing me to span the most iconic moments of the film. There are many other covers that have not yet been published, but if I had to choose one, it would probably be the one where Zeus draws a portrait of Hercules in the sky (issue #04). Even knowing it by heart, that excerpt always breaks me emotionally!

DuckTalks: “That’s Phil’s Boy!” always gives my goosebumps.

DuckTalks: How many times have you watched Zootopia (2016) since you were selected to be illustrator on the new comic?

Ranaldi: I’ve reviewed it a couple of times, both when I did the preliminary sketches and when the actual work began. Again, I explored the various sketches in the film’s art book. It was a more complex study process since I had to find a 2D synthesis that was faithful to the 3D models in the film.

DuckTalks: Did you have to do any additional research on drawing any of the animals?

Ranaldi: I did various research on animals found in other animation classics. For example, for Nick, I was primarily inspired by Robin Hood (1973) for his facial expressions and body acting. It was fun to note the vast differences between the two characters, even though they are both foxes.

DuckTalks: Do you have a favorite animal in Zootopia?

Ranaldi: Of course, Judy! What’s not to love?
Having had a rabbit as a pet, I’m particularly fond of this animal. Furthermore, Judy is just adorable.

DuckTalks: Have you been to any zoos in Italy?

Ranaldi: I was there when I was a kid, but it’s been a long time since I visited a zoo.

DuckTalks: Do you see yourself more as Judy Hopps or Nick Wilde?…or Flash?

Ranaldi: I would love to say I look like Nick, but I’m probably much more like Flash!
Jokes aside, I feel closer to Judy’s character than Nick’s.

DuckTalks: This new Zootopia comic series will be a great treat for fans who have been patiently waiting years for the movie sequel which releases in November 2025. How hyped are you for Zootopia 2?

Ranaldi: I’m looking forward to the film’s release, too! Well before it was announced, we often discussed with my wife how strange it was that a product with such great world-building would not receive a sequel or at least a spin-off. It is exciting to know that Nick and Judy’s stories are not yet finished!

DuckTalks: What challenges have you found for illustrating a comic of a fan favorite franchise that has a sequel releasing soon?

Ranaldi: I felt a solid responsibility for the brand. I know how many Zootopia fans are looking forward to this series, and I am giving it my all to bring justice to these characters. The biggest challenge, as is often the case when working on an existing IP, is to find the right balance between respecting the original material without betraying it and giving it its own artistic twist.

DuckTalks: “Try Everything” is an amazing song with a great message from the original Zootopia movie. Do you ever find yourself listening to that song while illustrating the Zootopia comic?

Ranaldi: Indeed! As well as the entire original OST of the film. Actually, when I have to work on a particular brand, I often listen to its soundtrack while I’m working so as to immerse myself in the mood as much as possible.

DuckTalks: What is your favorite district of Zootpia to illustrate?

Ranaldi: Of course, being a fan of rabbits, I would say Bunny Burrow right away!
But it takes work to choose when each district is so well characterized. I am definitely looking forward to being able to explore other districts in the city, maybe something that has yet to be seen (?).

DuckTalks: Thank you for taking the time to answer our questions. We look forward to picking up Zootopia soon.

Ranaldi: I look forward to sharing the work I’ve done during these months with you!

Here are some preview pages by Alessandro Ranaldi for Dynamite Comics Zootopia #1. Zootopia #1 arrives in comic book shops early in 2025 with covers by Alessandro Ranaldi, Trish Forster, and Craig Rousseau. Pick your favorite cover or Try Everything. Make sure to preorder Zootopia #1 at your local comic book shop and let them know to add the Dynamite Comics Zootopia series to your pull list.