There's nothing to be ashamed of. We've all had some sort of sexual awakening when it comes to cartoon characters. 

Whether it's Lola Bunny from Space Jam, Kovu from The Lion King II: Simba's Pride (my precious prince) or Beast from Beauty and the Beast, sometimes illustrated animals just do it for us. And that's okay. 

But no creature in the history of animation has ever hit quite as hard as Nick Wilde from Zootopia. Don't even pretend you don't know what I'm talking about — we all do. 

Nick Wilde just makes the people thirsty. 

Watch: The trailer for Zootopia 2. Article continues after video.

Honestly, I think we all knew from the second he popped up on screen with that cynical little smirk that we were in trouble. The sarcastic wit and the shield of cynicism? The blend of cunning intelligence, the redeemable bad boy charm, and the underlying kindness? It's the whole package. He's not just popular; he's the definitive animated crush. Period.

Not to mention, he just so happens to be voiced by underrated Hollywood hunk, Jason Bateman. Coincidence? I think not. 

But the fox obsession doesn't start or end there. There's a long history of fox-related crushes that date all the way back to the 1970s. 

Exhibit A: The fox from the 1973 animated Robin Hood. 

Now, he's foxxy — pardon the pun. A heroic outlaw that takes from the rich to give to the poor? Yes please. He's wily, he's resourceful, and he's rebellious in the best way possible. A heart of gold beneath a defiant exterior. There's nothing more attractive. 

Image: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

Then there's Mr. Fox from Fantastic Mr. Fox. Again, his being voiced by George Clooney may have something to do with it, but you have to admit there's something dreamy about his charm, his witty humour, his love for his family. It's all there. 

There's Tod from Fox and the Hound, Mr. Fox from The Chronicles of Narnia; the list goes on and on. 

But why do these cunning creatures have such a chokehold on us? Yes, it's 100% the intelligence and the crooked smiles. But what else?

Surprise surprise, I have a theory. 

Image: 20th Century Studios

If you've found yourself drawn to fictional foxes, your first thought may be that you're attracted to the 'bad boy' type. You know, sly, sarcastic, jaded, and a little naughty. 

But I think it's a lot deeper than that. 

Let's be honest, foxes get a bad rap in the media. Often portrayed as sneaky and deceitful. You've certainly heard the phrase, "as sly as a fox."

That's really the reason why we resonate with these characters so much. They turn the stereotypes on their head.

Not to get too serious, but these are really empaths. These are characters who have seen the worst of the world but have persevered regardless. Who have every reason to resent the community around them for their mistreatment, but instead, choose goodness in the end.  

Yes, they may be cunning, at times, and sarcastic in nature, but ultimately they have nothing but kindness and love to give to the world. 

At the core of our collective fox thirst, there lies a desire to embrace the misunderstood and the complicated. The characters who are commonly painted as devious or manipulative. Because they are so much more than that and we know it. 

"If the world's only gonna see a fox as shifty and untrustworthy, there's no point in trying to be anything else," Nick says in Zootopia. 

And that right there is the crux. We are drawn to the vulnerability beneath the tough exterior. We want kindness despite what society says you should be. The giving heart within a bad boy. 

We crave seductive complexity and moral transformation. We desire vindication. We want all of it. 

Well, that, and Nick Wilde's dreamy green eyes.

Feature Image: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures.