Hoppers: Pixar’s underrated gem

I have to be honest; I had very low expectations for Hoppers, and frankly, I think Disney and Pixar did too.

They barely marketed the film, and I think they made a big mistake. I know audiences are going to enjoy this film – they just need to know it exists.

Hoppers is funny, full of emotion and far more action-packed than I expected. The story is strengthened by an incredible voice cast who completely disappear into their characters.

Pixar also seems to be trying something new with their animation style, and it looks excellent. Once again, it’s one of those animated films that offers something special for the whole family.

Hoppers follows Mabel Tanaka, a young girl who wants to save the world one animal at a time. After a group of scientists discover a way to transfer human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, Mabel uses the technology to become a robot beaver and stop a politician’s plan to destroy the local wildlife habitat. In the process, she unknowingly sparks an animal uprising against humans.

A film with heart

This is a film with heart and a simple yet powerful message. The story is not necessarily about good versus evil but about how even good people can sometimes do bad things. It is about taking responsibility for your mistakes and finding a place where you belong and can make a difference. The story genuinely moved me, and I think many people will be able to relate to it.

The film works as well as it does because of the excellent performances from the cast. Piper Curda plays Mabel and truly makes you care about the character as she tries to save the world. Bobby Moynihan lends his voice to King George, a beaver who steals the show and easily became my favourite character.

Jon Hamm plays the mayor who wants to destroy the animals’ habitat in order to build a highway, and his performance brings real complexity to the character. Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Eduardo Franco, Tow Law and Melissa Villaseñor round out the rest of the cast very well.

Strong addition

For the most part, the animation looks incredible, although I don’t think Pixar has perfected it completely. I really like the design of the animals and the world they live in. The one part of the film that really bothered me, however, was the number of plotholes in the story. I know most children probably won’t notice them, but it feels as though a few important scenes were left on the cutting room floor.

I also really enjoyed the soundtrack. I nearly started dancing to a few of the songs. Overall, Hoppers is a strong addition to Pixar’s catalogue. The film genuinely surprised me, and I think it’s the best original Pixar film since 2021’s Luca.

It’s always wonderful when there’s a film in cinemas that can entertain the whole family. I can definitely see myself appreciating this film even more with time or on a rewatch. At this stage, despite its flaws, Hoppers is an excellent animated film.