Yes, Sing bears some similarity to Zootopia, with their human-free worlds of anthropomorphized animals. But the two movies are very different in tone, humor, drama and intent; this could be a light comedy produced in Zootopia, its Pitch Perfect, perhaps. Theatrical impressario Buster Moon (Matthew McConaughey), a koala, decides to put on a voice-talent show in a last-ditch attempt to save his grand but failing theater, though precisely how this will save the venue isn’t quite clear. Still, McConaughey’s transcendent voice performance sells Buster as a bear of big ideas and bigger optimism, never mind the details. With a simpler story and gentler metaphors than Zootopia—mostly concerning hidden talents that only need the opportunity to shine—Sing will be easier going for younger kids, and it might even get them interested in classic pop standards à la Irving Berlin and Frank Sinatra (though there’s tons of modern pop here, too). With smart attention to the trials and foibles of a diverse range of characters—not just in species, but in gender, too—and some irresistibly toe-tapping musical numbers, Sing is sweet, funny, a total delight. By MaryAnn Johanson