Gary L. Goldman asserts he pitched the concept to the major studio twice - in 2000, and 2009 - and was eventually rejected on both occasions, but not before providing copies of materials for animation departments to review.

Mr Goldman, best known for writing Total Recall, contends he presented "a treatment, a synopsis, character descriptions, character illustrations, and other materials", in addition to 'Zootopia' as a title to head up the franchise.

The lawsuit, laid by Goldman's Esplanade Productions, opens by accusing The Walt Disney Company of long-term engagement in unauthorised copying of works and ideas, and even encouraging the practice - referencing popular films such as The Lion King and Toy Story.

The suit references similarities between Disney's film and Goldman's Zootopia, including themes, settings, the ensemble (down to individual characters) and even dialogue.

Court documents present one example explicitly pertaining to the project's utopian theme - as to whether one can overcome prejudice in society and "be what he or she wants to be" - and that both explore a storyline where animal characters are involved in conflict, external and internal.

In support of the argument, the suit also compares dialogue. Goldman's Zootopia includes the quote: "If you want to be an elephant, you can be an elephant," which is compared to Disney's Zootopia: "You want to be an elephant when you grow up, you be an elephant."

A likeness is also drawn between the roles characters play in the film, many of which are represented by the same species of animal - including a yak-like creature 'Yax', who runs a club in Zootopia, which Esplanade claims represents the visually similar 'Max', who "is the proprietor of a club with a similar name,' in its version.

Similar claims are made in regard to the protagonists of the film, as well as a raft of side characters.

Disney's Zootopia went on to win an Oscar for Best Animated Feature Film and remains in the top-five grossing animated films of all time, taking in more than $US1 billion dollars.

James Cameron's Avatar is the only totally original film (not based on existing works or historical event) to earn more money at the box office.

Disney has refuted the claims and intends to defend itself in court proceedings. "Mr. Goldman's lawsuit is riddled with patently false allegations," a Disney spokesperson told Deadline.

"It is an unprincipled attempt to lay claim to a successful film he didn't create, and we will vigorously defend against it in court."

It's not the first time Disney has been hit with claims of plagiarism, with a suit claiming similarities between the 2013 hit Frozen and Muneefa Abdullah's children's story The Snow Princess.

That action was dismissed after a court ruled Frozen, which grossed upwards of $US1.2 billion was not "substantially similar" to the author's copyrighted work.