A scene from Zootopia. [Photo/Mtime]

Pictures of Chinese netizens mimicking Flash's dopey facial expression are making the rounds online. Animated gifs, known as "stamps", featuring the character have also been shared across instant messaging app WeChat.

"Flash the Sloth has stolen the spotlight from the film's two main characters!" said user LeleTiantian on microblog Sina Weibo.

For most Chinese, Zootopia is the first time that they have even seen a sloth, but people now are keen to know more about these animals.

China News published a series of sloth photographs taken by its photojournalists based in America as well as stories on the animal on its social media accounts, receiving tens of thousands of "likes" from netizens.

At the Beijing Zoo, the American animal enclosure, which has several two-toed sloths, has been very popular in recent days.

"I could just watch these creatures all day! They are so cute," said another Weibo user Yykii.