Finnick

"Small mammal, big heart, baby."

- Finnick

Finnick is a supporting character in the 2016 Disney animated feature film Zootopia. He is a fennec fox and Nick Wilde's partner-in-crime.

Background
Finnick is the partner and best friend of successful con artist, Nick Wilde, being a cunning con artist, himself. Together, the two regularly roam about the city of Zootopia during the day, hustling citizens as a means to make a quick buck. Though they are polar opposites, the two get along well when working a scheme, and have shown to be met with considerable success in their operations.

Contrast to his size, Finnick has an extremely deep, gravely voice, which forces him to remain silent when in public, as his appearance plays a key role in his scams: Being the smallest breed of the fox family, Finnick is much smaller than Nick, to the point where he is often identified as a toddler, rather than his actual age. This is a point of contention for Finnick, who shows deep displeasure in this common misconception. Nevertheless, he can be talked into embracing his appearance for the sake of money, which appears to be one of the few things that can suppress his temper for a certain amount of time. Finnick and Nick's most well known act is that of a father and son duo, with Finnick disguising himself as the latter, usually coupled with an elephant costume and pacifier. He has also used his toddler-like appearance for other means throughout his life, such as cutting school by convincing the teacher that he was his own baby brother.

Though not explored in the film, Finnick has a history of criminal activity; he managed to continuously evade arrest over the years by using his childlike appearance to disguise himself with a look of innocence. His massive ears have also been used to listen out for the sirens of nearby police cars, providing him with time to flee a scene before their arrival.

Finnick also owns a rather shabby van, which appears to double as his and Nick's mode of transportation during their operations, as well as his home. Though a seemingly experienced driver, there have been instances where he's been pulled over for underage driving.

Development
Finnick was present in some of the earliest versions of the story, which featured Nick as the protagonist in place of Judy Hopps. He was among the predators forced to wear a tame collar to keep them under control. Being one of the more vociferous citizens about this treatment, Finnick was resentful to the point he frequently received shocks during his outbursts. He also knew Nick ever since they were children, having been in the same elementary class as Nick. Both Finnick and Nick were also friends with Clawhauser and a conspiracy-obsessed badger, the latter being an accomplice in the duo's scams. Though Clawhauser and the badger remained in the story, Finnick is the only member of the original group to still have association with Nick in the final film.

Finnick was also heavily associated with Nick's ambition to open the illegal Wild Times amusement park. The park was hidden beneath a false medical clinic and was a place where predators were given the chance to remove their collars to enjoy a life of freedom. Inside, Finnick (dressed as a nurse) worked with Clawhauser at the "collar check" desk, where the former would use a tag reader to remove the tame collars.

Personality
While Nick is calm and collected, Finnick is short-tempered and loud, often resulting to acts of violence whenever annoyed. He presents himself as self-assured and no-nonsense, completely ignoring his diminutive size in favor of striking fear into those around him with verbal, and even physical threats.

Though he detests the misconception that he is a toddler, Finnick has enough self control to maintain his boiling temper for the greater good: money, in his case. As such, he can be just as cunning and manipulative as Wilde, especially when waddling around like a toddler, to render others putty in his hands. Despite this, he doesn't seem to think much of the cons he participates in; contrast to Nick's consistently prideful grin, Finnick's expressions throughout the operation process—the initial act aside—was rather lax, stoic, and almost uncaring. Furthermore, when one of their schemes was cut off due to Nick's near-arrest at the hands of Judy, Finnick had no complaints and completely ignored the loss of business for the day.

When paired with Nick, the two share an interesting, symbiotic relationship, of sorts; they generally seem to associate with one another for a common goal, being to earn money. Throughout their business hours, they work and collaborate well with their individual assets. When they aren't working, their interactions mirror that of two lifelong friends, or brothers, as they playfully tease one another, and use their misfortunes or minor shortcomings as a means to crack jokes, though they never show any real resentment. Finnick, particularly, enjoys watching Nick's ego deflate, and was quick to commend Judy on her ability to hustle a professional con man into assisting her in a case. When they do show any form of companionship towards one another, it's done through banter unique to their personalities—Nick would use wisecracks to bid farewell to the fennec fox, and Finnick would respond with a dose of violent sass, again acting along the lines of modern, lifelong friends.

Finnick also appears to care little for authority. He paid no real mind to Judy as an officer, instead going about his business unfazed in her presence, despite the fact that he, too, was involved in the con that put Nick on her radar. He apparently finds the very idea of being an officer to be humiliating.

For all of his gruffness, Finnick does have a heart. He appears to have a particular soft spot for Judy as near the climax of the film, when visited at his van, Finnick was initially hostile upon answering, only to immediately soften at the sight of Judy. He subsequently showed her sympathy by answering her pleas and helping her find Nick, who she had evidently developed a friendship with since their last encounter. This is Finnick's only known act of kindness, and indicates that he does have some amount of care for both Nick and Judy.

Physical appearance
Finnick is a slender fennec fox with an oval-shaped face and large ears. A portion of his fur is a brownish-gold color, while his face, palms, paws and the soles of his feet are a sandy color. He also has a black nose, light brown eyes with a notable case of periorbital dark circles beneath them, and equally dark eyelids.

Finnick's casual outfit is a black button-up, bowling shirt with a red stripe and a sliced diamond design on the left side of his chest. He wears a white shirt underneath, olive shorts, and can sometimes be found with a pair of black sunglasses.

When scamming with Nick, Finnick's toddler disguise is usually that of a blue-gray elephant hooded sweatshirt/costume with pink inner ears, pink toes, white tusks, and a large, pink heart at the center of the suit. Only his eyes and surrounding fur are visible in the hooded suit. He can usually be seen sucking a red pacifier in addition. When he first meets Judy, he is given a junior ZPD sticker on his suit, which he later places onto Nick's shirt.

Role in the film
On an average day, Finnick and Nick were carrying out another money-making hustle. Nick was unknowingly spotted by Officer Judy Hopps who, believing him to be plotting, follows Nick to Jumbeaux's Café. She finds Jerry Jumbeaux Jr. refusing to serve Nick and believes this to be due to the latter violating a law. She prepares to confront him with her fox repellent, only to pause when she spots Finnick, who Nick claims to be his son. Finnick looks to Judy and the two exchange gazes, but the fennec fox ignores her beyond that in favor of the matter at hand. Nick explains that his son would like a Jumbo-pop, claiming that Finnick loves all things elephants, hopes to become one once he grows up, and that buying a Jumbo-pop would be a way to lovingly encourage said dream. Judy is notably touched by this story, though Jerry is unfazed, causing Finnick to throw a mild tantrum. Out of sympathy, Judy confronts Jerry, threatening to close his establishment due to health code violations should he refuse to serve Nick and Finnick. Jerry begrudgingly complies, but Nick seems to have left his wallet home, apologizing to Finnick for "ruining his birthday", before the two take their leave. Finnick sadly reaches for the ice pop and Judy, again feeling sympathy, pays for it herself.

Outside of the café, Nick thanks Judy for the help and the latter encourages Finnick on his "dream" to become an elephant, giving him a ZPD sticker on his elephant suit as a gift. Nick and Finnick then depart the scene, leaving Judy to her duties as a meter maid. During her shift, she spots Finnick exiting from a van and excitedly rushes to greet him, only to pause upon seeing him hold a jar steadily as Nick fills it with the juices of the melted Jumbo-pop. The two then return to the van, but instead of Nick ("the parent") driving, it's Finnick who's at the wheel, furthering Judy's suspicion. She follows the duo to Tundratown, where Finnick is inserting his elephant suit's footprints into the snow, while Nick fills those prints with the Jumbo juices. Back in Savanna Central, it is revealed that Nick and Finnick were creating "pawpsicles" to sell to lemmings, while Finnick collects their discarded sticks, which are later sold as lumber to construction mice, finally proving their entire situation was a scam.

With the workday complete, Finnick is paid his share, and he discards his elephant costume and pacifier before entering his van in swift silence. He then reveals his true appearance and voice as he and Nick bid farewell until the next day, subsequently driving off while blasting rap music and unknowingly leaving Nick to face an upset Judy.

The next day, Finnick and Nick reunite for another "father and son" scam; Finnick falls asleep in his false stroller while traveling, which Nick covers to prevent anyone from noticing the former's adult-sized snoring. During his nap, Judy Hopps returns and requests information from Nick for a case. As the two exchange banter, Finnick awakens and eavesdrop on their conversation. Judy, needing Nick to help her solve the case, hustles the latter into confessing his crime of felony tax evasion, forcing him to either help or face five years of jail time. By this point, Finnick could no longer keep silent; he breaks into uproarious laughter at Nick's humiliation before commending Judy on her cunning actions. Finnick then declares Nick to be a cop, and gives him the ZPD sticker as a sign of that, leaving the scene in laughter.

With no other choice, Nick sets out to assist Judy with her case. Over the course of their adventure, they unexpectedly form a meaningful relationship. However, a series of unfortunate events at Judy's hands accidentally leads to the destruction of their friendship, and the destruction of peace within Zootopia. Nick abandons Judy as a result of this, and the latter returns to her hometown. During this time, Finnick and Nick cross paths once again. When an epiphany hits Judy that could lead to the restoration of Zootopia, however, she rushes back to the city and searches for Finnick. When she finds his van, Finnick answers abruptly, prepared to attack his unwanted visitor with a bat. He restrains himself upon seeing that it was Judy, who pleads for compassion and help in finding Nick, to which Finnick complies to.

Though Finnick is not seen again for the remainder of the film, Nick and Judy allude to him during the climax by referencing the "toot-toot" noise of his elephant costume's trunk. During the epilogue, Nick, now an official cop, can be seen eating a Pawpsicle during his shift, implying that he and Finnick (whether for profit or not) continue to work together to make them.

Disney INFINITY 3.0
A townsperson of Finnick (in his elephant costume) appears in the game, which can be unlocked in the Toy Store. When playing as Nick Wilde, Finnick can be summoned to assist the player in battle for a period of time, using a Jumbo-pop as a weapon.

The Finnick townsperson also plays a role in the Toy Box story Nick Wilde: Undecover Cop, where he acts as an informative for Nick and Judy's case.

Kingdom Hearts Unchained χ
A chibi version of Finnick is featured as a "snuggly" companion for avatars, serving as an arm accessory.

Disney Tsum Tsum
When activating the special skill of the Finnick tsum tsum, a silhouette of Ele-Finnick briefly appears on the screen smashing a number of tsum tsums with a Jumbo-pop.

Trivia

 * Finnick's name is a play on his species' name.
 * The casting of Tommy Lister was intended to juxtapose Finnick's character design.
 * In some books and merchandising, Finnick's eyes are incorrectly colored blue or gray.
 * In earlier drafts of the story, Finnick and Nick worked at a fast food restaurant in Little Rodentia called Chez Cheese. Another version had them working at a restaurant called Bug-Burga.
 * According to co-director Byron Howard, Finnick is older than Nick, but refuses to disclose his actual age.
 * An elephant was not the only disguise choice for Finnick throughout production. Other roles included a popsicle and a nurse.
 * On occasion, he can ironically succumb to his own stereotype, as he was seen falling asleep in his stroller at one point of the film.
 * He is also a heavy snorer, yet ironically whimpers very much like a puppy in his sleep.
 * The song Finnick plays in his van during his reveal is "Parlez-Vous Rap" by Bloodpop and Daveed Diggs.
 * Finnick is either incorrectly proportioned or he has a form of dwarfism. Although fennec foxes are the smallest foxes in the world, in real life, adult fennec foxes are almost as large as red foxes, like Nick Wilde.
 * According to co-director Jared Bush, "Finnick" is actually just a nickname, and the character refuses to reveal his real name to others out of coyness.
 * Finnick's outfit in early concept art heavily resembles the final design of Nick's outfit.
 * Baymax from Big Hero 6 can be seen as an antenna topper on Finnick's van.
 * On the rear end of Finnick's van, the fish hook of Maui (a character from Moana) can be seen as artwork.
 * During renovations of the Walt Disney Animation Studios building, beginning in 2014, Finnick was one of the character silhouettes featured on the wall mural.
 * Finnick's popularity following the film's release led to an increase in demand for fennec foxes as pets in Chinese markets, although the animals are considered unsuitable for domestication.
 * At one point in a version of the story that utilized the tame collars, Finnick was to exclaim the line, "I'm a grown mammal—fennec fox!". Though deleted from the film, Tommy Lister actually recorded the line, which was utilized as one of the phrases for the "Talking Finnick" plush figure.
 * In an earlier version of the jumbo-pop hustle, Finnick's disguised role was different; he was Nick's adopted son (taken from the orphanage thirty minutes prior to the scene) who actually believed he was an elephant, was unable to speak, blind, and diagnosed with a potentially fatal illness.