Award-winning News Anchor Peter Mansbridge Cast in Cameo Role in Disney's Zootopia

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada is pleased to announce that Peter Mansbridge, CBC News icon, will lend his voice to a cameo role in Walt Disney Animation Studios’ comedy-action adventure “Zootopia.” Directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”) and produced by Clark Spencer (“Bolt,” “Wreck-It Ralph”), “Zootopia” opens in theatres on March 4, 2016.

Mansbridge provides the voice of Peter Moosebridge, a moose and co-anchor of the ZTV News who’s become a trusted source of news for the inhabitants of “Zootopia.” The character was specifically written with Canada in mind and to be voiced by a Canadian, which is the first time this has ever been done in a Walt Disney Animation Studios film.

“We are so excited to have a moose among the residents of ‘Zootopia’ and couldn’t be more thrilled that, in the ultimate casting coup, we were able to convince the preeminent voice in Canadian news to accept this assignment,” said Greg Mason, VP, Marketing, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Canada. “Not surprisingly, Peter was a natural and we think audiences will delight in seeing Canada represented in Peter Moosebridge.”

Mansbridge has received more than a dozen national awards for excellence in broadcast journalism at CBC News: The National. His distinctive voice launched his news career. He was “discovered” by a radio executive when he worked as an airline ticket agent calling flights in the wilds of Northern Manitoba. This cameo role in “Zootopia” marks Mansbridge’s first experience working on an animated feature film.

“Some of my earliest television memories involve watching ‘The Wonderful World of Disney’ on CBC,” said Peter Mansbridge. “Also, as a long-time fan of Disney’s animated films, I was immediately intrigued when I received the proposal for this cameo role, of a newscaster no less. These films were part of my childhood and now I see my kids and grandkids watching them.”

“Zootopia” opens across Canada on March 4, 2016.


ABOUT “ZOOTOPIA”

The modern mammal metropolis of Zootopia is a city like no other. Comprised of habitat neighborhoods like ritzy Sahara Square and frigid Tundratown, it’s a melting pot where animals from every environment live together—a place where no matter what you are, from the biggest elephant to the smallest shrew, you can be anything. But when rookie Officer Judy Hopps (voice of Ginnifer Goodwin) arrives, she discovers that being the first bunny on a police force of big, tough animals isn’t so easy. Determined to prove herself, she jumps at the opportunity to crack a case, even if it means partnering with a fast-talking, scam-artist fox, Nick Wilde (voice of Jason Bateman), to solve the mystery. Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootopia,” a comedy-adventure directed by Byron Howard (“Tangled,” “Bolt”) and Rich Moore (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “The Simpsons”), and produced by Clark Spencer (“Wreck-It Ralph,” “Lilo & Stitch”) opens in theatres on March 4, 2016.