Hoppers: An Environmental Tale of Hilarity and Heart

Wiring Up

Embrace the outside world and prepare your best battle cry, because one of the biggest names in animation is back for a whole new tale across genres! Hoppers is the latest film from juggernaut studio Pixar, who are responsible for some of the most acclaimed movies in all of animation. Ranging from Toy Story and Finding Nemo to Up and Inside Out, their films are often highlighted for their vibrant styles and heartfelt messages, with many of them often ranked among the greatest films ever made.

Now, the studio is back for an all-new original idea, during a time when they have seen more struggle than success. Though many of their films still see acclaim, their original ideas have often been sidelined, with Soul, Luca, and Turning Red being shunned to streaming service exclusives, and Elio – their previous outing – flopping at the box office. But there has been a lot of potential surrounding Hoppers, which has built a steady reputation for itself in the months leading up to its release. Not only has the film earned critical acclaim, but it has gained an online fanbase through a variety of internet memes centering on Tom Lizard, one of the primary characters, helping the film to build hype as it tracks an opening weekend total of around $40 million.

Personally, I was curious to check this movie out, and to see how it would compare to previous Pixar outings. This studio was a staple of my childhood, and even now, many of their movies still rank among my personal favorites – especially Toy Story 3 and Finding Nemo. I always love seeing what creative ideas they come up with, and look forward to seeing how they will play out on the big screen. This movie was no exception, as it promised an animated comedy film with science-fiction aspects and an environmental message, an interesting Mad Libs of genres which caught my attention the minute the first trailer dropped, and amplified when the reviews started to come in.

Without any hesitation, I hopped to Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield and attended a screening of the film on Thursday, March 5. As the animals ran into the sunset, I was left with one question: did this movie let out a roar as incredible as the bear on the poster, or was its legacy worth nothing more than a few Lizard memes?

Hopping into Action

Set in the city of Beaverton, Hoppers focuses on an animal-loving college student named Mabel Tanaka, who is determined to save a local forest glade from Jerry Generazzo, the town’s mayor who forwarded the construction of a highway over it. During her attempts of rebellion, she discovers an advanced form of technology known as hopping – created by her professor, Dr. Sam Fairfax – which allows humans to transfer their minds into robotic animals and communicate with wildlife. Desperate to save the glade, Tanaka uses it to transfer her consciousness into a robotic beaver, leaving her to convince the creatures to fight back, eventually leading to the threat of an animal uprising against the human world.

Directed by Daniel Chong – who created the Cartoon Network series We Bare Bears – the film features a massive ensemble including Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, Sam Richardson, Eduardo Franco, and Meryl Streep among many others.

I am pleased to report that this movie stands out as another highlight of Pixar’s filmography. This primarily stems from the way it balances itself: prioritizing a lighthearted nature while still maintaining a tender emotional core. It ultimately gives the movie an appropriate tone which perfectly balances out the opposite sides of the emotional spectrum, not being afraid to get heartfelt while still ensuring viewers have an enjoyable time. 

There’s a vibrant energy throughout the feature which encourages the audience to have fun, especially with constant onscreen shenanigans with often humorous results. Surprisingly, I found myself laughing consistently during the runtime, certainly more than I expected going into it. One of my biggest pet peeves with modern animated movies is that many of them rely on lowbrow, cheap jokes with often predictable and juvenile punchlines. 

But to my delight, Hoppers uses its humor to its advantage, utilizing sharp line deliveries and exaggerated portrayals of wildlife as its primary source for jokes. It gives the movie a big advantage, as it stays consistently witty and unpredictable in where it will go next, adding to the overall fun of the feature by being constantly energetic. 

Even with all the humorous bits, the movie still sports a prominent heart, leading to a vast array of effective emotional moments. Through a combination of genuine character interactions and realistic dialogue, the film sports a strong layer of tenderness similar to previous Pixar outings, particularly in how it explores ideas like standing up for what’s right and the ability to make a difference. 

The movie features a number of dramatic scenes which were flawlessly crafted, and strongly counteract all of the high-energy antics. A personal favorite example occurs close to the second half, when Tanaka vents her frustrations about her personal struggles, in a sequence which allows viewers to gravitate towards her while still acknowledging the severity of what’s at stake.

There are a variety of factors which help this movie’s script to stand out as one of 2026’s smartest and most consistent. That said, my biggest gripe with the writing comes from the way certain plot points were utilized, as a decent amount of them felt generic. The movie implements a number of story beats which have been used in numerous other films beforehand, including the struggle to adapt to a new environment and rebelling against a giant corporation. Although the many aspects surrounding them are effective, these pointers feel a bit derivative in the grand scheme of the script, as they don’t do much to differentiate from its competition, ultimately making many of the onscreen events rather predictable. 

The movie’s sense of creativity and overall fun does help overshadow these foreseeable outcomes. But from the perspective of the writing itself, they still served as a weak point of the movie, since they made the core plot a bit predictable, despite the efforts of everything surrounding them. 

Stunning Species

One of the biggest standout aspects of this movie is the animation, which remains consistent with the high quality of other Pixar movies. The studio is primarily known for using a distinct 3D style in their movies, often using vibrant colors and varied character designs to bring their environments to life. This movie is no exception, as its animation perfectly meshes with its high energy and overall concept. 

The characters designs are all eye-catching, with each individual – human or animal – being given distinct features to help each of them stand out. Whether it be Fairfax’s frazzled hair and constantly concerned facial expressions or Tanaka’s big eyes and brown fur in her new body, each character sports a variety of physical traits which helps them to stand out. 

The designs also have fluent movements, particularly the numerous species of wildlife, ranging from beavers and bears to lizards and insects. Whether they are building a dam to combat the construction or partaking in a strange meeting with their king, they stay true to the real-life traits of the animals, while still being appropriately exaggerated to match the movie’s energy and humor. 

Additionally, the movie’s environments are absolutely stunning, primarily making use of a forest backdrop as the animals fight to save their glade. Though some industrial locations are used – including a university where the hopping process occurs and a massive stage where the climax takes place – the bulk of the runtime is devoted to the woods, where the film’s standout backdrops are located. Whether it be the beauty of a lake glistening in the sun or a mysterious tunneled area where animal monarchs meet, each environment is gorgeous to look at, with effective lighting and sound design added to truly amplify the experience. A key example of this is one of the movie’s first scenes, where a young Tanaka views the glade with her grandmother. 

The animation also allows for a number of creative liberties, especially in the high-stakes action sequences, of which occur at climactic points of the runtime. These include a chase sequence across city roads as the heroes are targeted by a massive foe and the final 15-20 minutes, which sees the entire city of Beaverton placed under a massive threat. In these sequences, the animators go all out, utilizing quick edits and occasional tracking shots – where the camera lingers by design – to paint a picture of the situation’s full scale, and how it impacts the surrounding area. It adds a layer of intensity to these sequences, making them all the more engaging while still being stunning to look at. 

Animalistic Antics

Part of what makes this movie so enjoyable is its characters, who are distinct from one another with their own unique senses of charm. Every primary person or animal in this movie has their own unique motivation or way of life, which helps each of them to be enjoyable in personality while allowing room to develop them and provide more context into why they act the way they do.

Undoubtedly, the standout character is Tanaka, who sees the biggest arc throughout the feature. Having found solace in nature’s beauty in her youth, she desperately fights to protect the glade by any means necessary, despite the protests of those around her. She is frequently doubted as she struggles to make a difference and solve the issue at hand, making her a very complex character who sports her own flaws as she struggles to prove herself to those around her. She is also at the forefront of the majority of the film’s emotional scenes, especially in the second half as she begins to question her motives and worries deeply for the glade’s future, making her character the most developed and relatable one of the entire ensemble.

Tanaka is accompanied by a strong supporting cast, whose personalities perfectly combat her core traits of rebellion and desperation. On one hand, some characters have more bubbly and uplifting traits which help Tanaka in understanding the full picture – this can primarily be highlighted in King George, the wildlife’s optimistic beaver ruler. On the other hand, some characters are more skeptical of her motivations and even try to combat her, including the anxious Fairfax and the condescendingly smug Generazzo. 

The unique personalities of each character lead to a wide array of enjoyable interactions, which not only help develop their arcs, but also help Tanaka to understand the fuller picture of what’s at stake and how her actions affect others.

The only characters I did not care much for were the council of animal monarchs, who serve as additional antagonists. These characters were teased in the trailer as a threat to the human world, especially once the story reaches its tipping point. However, these characters do not receive much screentime, nor do they have any time to shine in their humor or dialogue. 

Not to mention, their leader – who I will refrain from delving into to prevent spoilers – does not get much to do, being introduced about midway through the runtime, then nearly forgotten about until the third act. There is promise for this council to be more effective and memorable, but the movie sidelines them more than any of the other characters, ultimately leaving them as somewhat forgettable.

Yet, despite the council’s forgetability, the characters also do a great job of exploring the film’s core messages. At first glance, the script may seem like a standard “save the environment” plot, but the film takes that concept and experiments with it in a unique way to craft something creative. Through their emotional interactions and intricate thinking, the film is able to develop core themes surrounding the relationship between humanity and nature, and finding one’s place when all seems lost – especially through the development of Tanaka. This approach allows the film to explore common themes in a whole new way, in turn making this movie enjoyable for audiences of all audiences, young and old.

Squishing the Competition

Overall, despite some recycled plot points and subpar villains, Hoppers is an adorable Pixar outing through its stunning animation, charming characters, consistent humor, engaging story, and effective handling of its messages. Though not quite a masterwork from the studio, it still stands out as an incredibly enjoyable feature, making it an early standout of 2026’s filmography.

If you’re a fan of Pixar’s previous works, sci-fi comedies, or films with environmental themes, this is the perfect movie for you. Hoppers is currently showing at thousands of theaters nationwide, including on Route 57 at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Mansfield. If you want to see a movie that embraces creativity while driving home important takeaways, this is a strong contender for your next watch. 

This film expertly met my expectations in how it was crafted, resulting in a satisfyingly sweet movie worth hopping to the cinema to check out.

My Rating