Hoppers follows a 19-year-old girl named Mabel and her efforts to preserve a nature spot known as “the glade,” which is under threat from Mayor Jerry’s new highway construction. Jerry and Mabel’s dynamic is about what is expected: the young, fiery girl looking to make a difference on her own, vs. the politician fighting for reelection at any cost. While this is far from the first time this dynamic has been put to screen, Hoppers manages to differentiate itself in two major ways. The first is the beautiful introduction sequence, which shows the audience Mabel’s connection to the glade through her grandmother. This establishes the glade as more than just a physical place for the audience and Mabel alike. Right off the bat, Hoppers gives the audience one of those “Pixar Moments” where it can be hard not to get emotional. But it’s the film’s central narrative that truly sets it apart.
The film really takes off once Mabel discovers “hopping” technology, which allows her to put her consciousness into an animatronic beaver, giving her a new angle in the fight to preserve the glade. This approach not only lets Mabel get a closer look at the animals in the area, but lets the audience do so as well. Every second spent in the animal world is a blast. It goes above and beyond just showing what the glade has to offer, building the full animal kingdom out in a really fun way. The animals are used for some pretty low-hanging jokes that can be overdone sometimes, but apart from those few moments, this may be Pixar’s funniest project in a while. There was a moment that had the entire audience laughing so hard for about a minute straight.
Visually, there are some beautiful shots from start to finish, but in a cinematic landscape full of new and innovative animation, it felt like they could have done more. The stylized look worked incredibly well for the time spent among the animals and in their world, but much of the “human world” shown is not all that interesting. Luckily, the time spent there is short. The third may as well be Pixar showing off their animation, which can be directly compared to DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot, due to the similarities of their third act. There are undoubtedly comparisons to be made between the two films, but apart from the third act, this felt distinct. The visuals are accompanied by a score from Mark Mothersbaugh. There were times the film really let this score get creative, which added to some already fun sequences.
Thematically, everything here feels right up Pixar’s alley. While this does mean most of the plot is pretty predictable, it’s the execution that sets it apart. Character revelations that have been done before feel fresh when Pixar takes a swing at them, and Hoppers is no exception. Director Daniel Chong told GamesRadar+ that he believes in original films despite the popularity of sequels in his industry. Pixar’s best work has always come from original, kinda out there ideas, and Hoppers is no exception. It’s a reminder that the cost of progress is often irreplaceable things, and now more than ever, that’s a message the world could use more of.
