Hoppers Review: Pixar’s Latest Is A Brilliant, Charming Tour of the Pond

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For three decades, Pixar has been making incredibly popular animated movies. It’s too early to say if their new film, Hoppers, will become a classic, but it’s another successful and delightful movie from the studio, packed with unexpected moments and a genuinely touching story.

Pixar is known for its incredible animation. Starting with the groundbreaking computer-generated film Toy Story, they’ve consistently touched audiences with movies like Up and Finding Nemo, offering both clever ideas and skillful filmmaking.

Although Pixar has a strong track record of success, they’ve had a few disappointments lately. The 2022 film Lightyear felt like a strange addition to the Toy Story series, and while Onward (2020), Elemental (2023), and Inside Out 2 (2024) all had appealing qualities, they didn’t quite connect with audiences as well as Pixar’s biggest hits.

Hoppers marks a welcome return to classic Pixar storytelling. It’s a heartwarming and funny movie with a well-developed world and excellent voice acting. The film showcases Pixar’s strength in crafting original stories from unique ideas.

Talented Performances Ground a Stellar Pixar Outing

The show Hoppers follows Mabel Tanaka (Piper Curda), a kind but independent young woman who grew up in Beaverton with her grandmother. After her grandmother passes away, Mabel is upset to learn that Beaverton’s mayor, Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm), wants to build a highway that would destroy the beautiful local pond she and her grandmother loved.

To restore the ecosystem, she needs to bring wildlife back, and she gets help from a surprising source: robotic animals called Hoppers developed by the local university. These robots can be controlled by a human’s mind. Naturally, she uses the technology, discovers a surprisingly complex animal world, and a lot of funny chaos follows.

Curda brings a lot of energy and heart to Mabel, and her voice acting is fantastic throughout the show. Bobby Moynihan is perfect as the sweet but slightly clueless King George the beaver. Meanwhile, Hamm nails Jerry Generazzo with a polished, almost too-smooth vibe that’s a little like Gavin Newsom. Dave Franco is hilarious as Titus, and his performance really shines as the show goes on – you’ll have to see it to understand!

The movie is genuinely funny, with both the main characters and supporting players delivering great comedic performances – Vanessa Bayer’s shark is a particular highlight. The humor comes from many different places. The film also creates tension through various relationships: between Mabel and Jerry, Mabel and the scientists who made the Hoppers, between humans and animals, and even amongst the animals themselves. These conflicts effectively drive the plot forward and add to the film’s ironic and often absurd tone.

Hoppers Is a Timely, Funny Return to Pixar’s Heights

The story in Hoppers feels deeply heartfelt. Piper’s connection to her surroundings and her sadness over losing her grandmother are portrayed with sensitivity and feel genuine. While the story is touching, it avoids becoming overly gloomy or depressing.

One of the film’s strengths is its ability to create imaginative and complex storylines. While Pixar is known for strong storytelling and detailed worlds, true science fiction is less common (though WALL-E stands out as a unique example). Hoppers cleverly uses made-up technology to explore what happens when humans switch places with animals, and it does so in a thoughtful way. The film skillfully examines the challenges of communication, the consequences of body swapping, and the political dynamics within ecosystems.

As a movie fan, I found the world-building pretty imaginative, but a few character relationships felt a little fuzzy. Like, we learn there are kings and councils for all the animal groups, but it’s a bit odd that King George the Beaver rules over creatures that aren’t mammals, and no one bats an eye! Also, the idea that the Hoppers can let humans talk to any animal is cool, but I’m not quite sure how that’s even possible. Aside from those small things, though, it’s a really interesting world they’ve created.

Pixar truly shines with Hoppers, a creative and captivating film that marks a return to their best work. The voice acting is excellent, the story is clever and suspenseful, and it’s genuinely funny. While the sci-fi elements could have been developed further, the film largely succeeds. It’s a heartwarming story about caring for our planet, being kind to others, and cherishing family – a perfect film, especially considering Pixar’s recent challenges.

Final Rating: 9/10

Hoppers hits theaters on Friday, March 6, 2026.

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2026-03-02 21:05