REEL | Chucking 'Hoppers' – Pixar Saves the Talking Animal Kingdom

"Flap around and find out."

Walt Disney Pictures / Pixar Animation Studios

Pixar Animation immerses audiences in the delicate yet comedic balance between the animal kingdom and human interference in its delightfully wacky adventure comedy, Hoppers. Directed by longtime animator and storyboard artist Daniel Chong, the lovely Piper Curda voices Mabel, a defiant Japanese-American student activist hoping to preserve the natural ecosystem in the local forest glade behind her grandmother's house in the city of Beaverton.

Screenwriter Jesse Andrews' brisk but heartwarming script wastes no time or energy getting straight to the point in saving Mabel's beloved forest habitat and the comical, university-built robotic technology, which is definitely "nothing like Avatar," that she stumbles upon and transfers her mind into controlling a life-like beaver android. Audiences are treated to the vocal talents of Bobby Moynihan (perfect silly optimism) as the sweet beaver mammal King George, whom Mabel's beaver avatar befriends, and Jon Hamm (hilariously doofish) as the scheming politician antagonist, Mayor Jerry, whose plans to construct a new highway extension destroying the glade that enrage her.

Hoppers is zany but straightforward Pixar-animated fun with a predictably solid voice cast, adorable creature designs, and a good environmental message about protecting Mother Nature. Its vibrant talking animal action and comedic set pieces are an amusing delight for both children and adults to enjoy together. However, its aims and story feel rather basic and cookie-cutter, but it is, overall, a well-executed piece of animated joy for all. But seriously, though, call your grandma.


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