Pixar Knows It’s Running Out of Ideas, and That’s Okay

by

The scientists behind the new film Hoppers are quick to point out it’s completely different from Avatar! The movie features a technology similar to Avatar’s – it lets people control animal bodies with their minds. This could be the film’s cleverest joke, and a surprisingly honest admission from Pixar that they might be struggling to come up with fresh ideas. Hoppers is an enjoyable, simple movie that will entertain children, and it’s important to remember that. However, it’s hard not to compare it to the groundbreaking Pixar films of the past and wonder what happened to the incredible creativity and artistry that once defined the studio.

The show Hoppers centers on Mabel Tanaka, a young woman who loves animals and is determined to save a peaceful forest from being destroyed by new construction. As she investigates why the animals have disappeared, Mabel discovers their departure began when the beavers left. She then learns that a secret technology called “Hopper,” developed at her university (where she’s been skipping class), is involved. To understand what’s happening, Mabel connects with a robotic beaver and enters the animal world.

The story has a lot going on – including Mabel’s struggle against the ambitious and self-centered Mayor Jerry Generazzo (played by Jon Hamm), who wants to use a new development project to get re-elected – but director Daniel Chong and writer Jesse Andrews manage to make it all flow smoothly. It’s also helpful that the movie Avatar already introduced audiences to the idea of this kind of technology. Once the story focuses on Mabel’s life as an animal, the film really gets going. She meets King George (Bobby Moynihan), the friendly beaver leader of the local animals, who has brought all the creatures together in a very crowded dam. Mabel learns about the rules and social order of the animal world – including the simple but important rule: “When you’ve got to eat, eat,” which also means being aware you could become food. Throughout her journey, she discovers the dark reason why the animals left the glade in the first place, and it turns out to be connected to the shady Mayor Jerry.

Initially, Hoppers focuses on environmental destruction, but the story shifts to explore the challenges and potential dangers of extreme activism. Mabel’s forceful attempts to help have unintended consequences, and the animals she’s trying to protect become divided and influenced by a disturbed insect (voiced by Dave Franco). While it hints at deeper themes, the movie mainly uses a fast-paced plot as a setup for classic *Looney Tunesstyle humor, like a memorable car chase where humans are pursued by a giant flying shark (voiced by Vanessa Bayer) lifted into the air by a flock of birds.

A striking concept in Hoppers is that the animals’ faces become full of life and emotion when Mabel transforms into one of them. But when she’s human, they become blank and their sounds lose meaning. The animation really emphasizes this, showing how difficult it is to truly connect with others – especially different species – when we can’t understand them. Though it’s still a Disney family film, and the animals remain cute in both forms, this idea feels underutilized. Only King George’s personality is strong enough for the contrast to really resonate. Compared to films like this year’s The Wild Robot, where the entire forest feels populated with unique characters, or even earlier Pixar hits like A Bug’s Life and Finding Nemo, Hoppers doesn’t quite reach its full potential. It’s a challenge for Pixar movies these days – even good films can feel overshadowed by the studio’s past successes.

Read More

2026-03-02 20:54