I just saw Zootopia 2 and I love it so much, it was a really good movie and I definitely recommend going to see it! One part stuck out to me in particular however. Gary's anti-venom pen. As someone that has multiple allergies and has to carry epinephrine on them all the time, I thought that it was really cute.
Zootopia 2 spoiler warning
While allergies aren't necessarily a disability (one could argue they are or not, I personally consider them to be) there's barely any allergy representation, especially when it involves things like EpiPens. Charecters in media often have peanut allergies but the amount of representation shown with them is often few and short lived if any. Arthur is a really good example of how to correctly write a charecter with allergies and I definitely recommend that you check it out if you have the time. Arthur is a rare occurrence unfortunately, with most media charecters with allergies (which are only ever nut allergies) only are written to have them so a joke can be made (cough cough, meet the Robinsons)
In Zootopia, Gary the snake has a "Anti-venom" pen and while this might not seem to mean anything, it's a direct callout to EpiPens/Auvi-Qs
While you can see the resemblance between Gary's "Anti-venom" pen and the EpiPens, EpiPens don't have an automated voice, however Auvi-Qs do. Auvi-Qs give verbal instructions on how to administer, much like how Gary's "Anti-venom" pen.
Also, Gary is seen throughout the film to be wearing a fanny pack where he keeps his "Anti-venom" pen. Most people with severe allergies often carry a purse or bag around that they keep their epinephrine in so they can have easy access to it. (When I was little, I kept my EpiPens in a fanny pack and had to wear it everywhere so this really his close to home for me).
So why am I ranting about this? Because Zootopia 2 displayed the EpiPen in such a positive light. It wasn't something that the charecters were afraid of or bullied Gary for carrying because he was being over cautious. The EpiPen was actually one of the heros in the movie. Judy would've died without it. It wasn't something to be feared or something that had the main focus of the movie, it was just something that was there.
Representation matters. When a kid feels like they're the only person that has to carry their meds around with them they'll feel othered. Something as simple as a blue cartoon snake carrying his fanny pack with his meds in it around is enough to make kids with allergies feel like they're not alone. That scene where Judy is saved by Gary's "Anti-venom" pen is only possible because he was prepared and had his meds with him. This small part of the storyline can be associated with allergies really easily and help kids and even adults understand why they need to carry their meds with them.
