I was super excited for Hoppers when I first saw the trailer last year. The concept of transferring your mind into an animal to communicate with nature really had me hooked. I’m pleased to report that not only does Hoppers execute this premise brilliantly, but it also packages together a fantastic story with memorable characters and top-tier gags.
WARNING: Minor spoilers below!
The Story
The film follows Mabel Tanaka, an animal lover who sets out to save a local habitat from destruction by transferring her mind into a lifelike robotic beaver. As I mentioned, the concept is handled excellently. I really appreciated that the stakes didn’t feel world-ending; it felt like a much more grounded, personal Pixar movie compared to the high-concept scale of something like Lightyear.
The film is set in the aptly named city of Beaverton, a metropolis on the edge of vast woodlands. The alpine setting really complemented the theme of the movie. While watching, I couldn’t help but draw comparisons to 2006’s Open Season. Granted, the similarities are mostly in the forest setting and the quirky animal cast, but it’s interesting to see where Hoppers may have drawn some of its inspiration.
The Characters
The characters are what make Hoppers so enjoyable! Mabel is relatable, fiery, and funny – everything you want in a lead. I was really impressed with how Pixar managed to translate Mabel’s specific mannerisms and appearance into her beaver form. I can definitely see her becoming a fan favourite in the years to come.
While Mabel is the star, the supporting cast makes the film truly entertaining. From King George (voiced by Bobby Moynihan), the beaver monarch, to Jerry Generazzo (voiced by Jon Hamm), the greedy mayor attempting to drive the animals out of Beaverton, the ensemble is a lot of fun. My personal highlights include the wacky Tom Lizard, the slow-moving beaver Loaf, and the insect king, Titus.
A Fast-Paced Adventure
My only real complaint is that I wanted more of them! It felt like the supporting characters – particularly Tom Lizard, Loaf, and Ellen the bear – didn’t get quite enough screen time. In truth, despite a 104-minute runtime, Hoppers felt a little rushed in spots. There wasn’t much opportunity for Mabel and King George to build a deep bond like we see with Lightning McQueen and Mater in Cars.
I appreciate this is an animated film primarily aimed at a younger audience, but Hoppers felt like a total breeze. There were definitely scenes that could have been expanded to give us more character depth and background, but it’s still a very well-packaged movie.
Animation and Humour
I also loved the animation style. Calling it “simplistic” might be an insult, because the fur and hair rendering is phenomenal; most of these characters look so fluffy you just want to give them a big hug! The simplicity actually lies in the environment around the characters – it feels a bit more stripped back, but that’s to no detriment of the movie. If anything, it just keeps the focus on the heart of the story.
What really stood out was the humour. Both the kids and adults in my screening were in stitches. The jokes never feel forced and land perfectly; I honestly can’t think of a recent Pixar movie that offered as many laughs as this one.
Heart and Meaning
Despite the comedy, there’s plenty of deep meaning rooted throughout. Mabel’s struggle to control her anger and her feelings of helplessness felt really relatable, especially as she processes the loss of her Grandma. As someone whose own grandparents influenced my love of animals, I really connected with Mabel – something I didn’t necessarily expect going in.
As a Pixar fanboy, Hoppers was a real treat. There are dozens of Easter eggs and callbacks that will have me rewatching this multiple times when it hits streaming later this year. I also noticed a few darker tonal shifts that felt inspired by the Win or Lose series – not a criticism at all, just a cool observation of how Pixar’s style is evolving.
The Verdict
All in all, Hoppers is a thoroughly enjoyable, well-packaged, low-stakes adventure packed to the brim with comedy and heart. It will no doubt be a beloved Pixar classic in the years to come.
4.5/5
P.S. A quick heads-up for my fellow UK Pixar fans! If you go to watch Hoppers at Vue, they have these brilliant popcorn buckets for sale. It’s a great little souvenir to grab while you’re there.
Steamboat Charlie 