Originally, the film revolved around Nick Wilde. Test audiences said that they had a hard time connecting with him emotionally, and found themselves drawn to Judy Hopps, so the story was changed.
Animators decided upon Judy's purple eye color because they thought the rest of her gray fur markings were too dull, particularly for a main character. Purple was chosen to represent her energetic and optimistic personality.
Chief Bogo's name is taken from the Swahili word "mbogo," meaning buffalo.
The nudist Indian Yoga instructor is named Nangi. Nangi refers to a naked woman in the Hindi language.
Nick Wilde's design is heavily based on the title character of Disney's Robin Hood (1973) (who is also a fox).