Although PIXAR’s Hoppers may seem like a misleading title before Easter rolls around, it really is not. The animation alone makes that clear, offering some impressive leaps in digital fractal design alongside more complex renders that push what the studio can pull off. When compared to past works, there’s lots to like, more holiday eggs to be found. Those types of things are never easy to spot when most of the story takes place in a forest glen.
To avoid spoilers, I skipped the usual channels for information. That is because after the last two movies, knowing too much sets up expectations. I wanted to go in fresh. This latest is written and directed by Daniel Chong of We Bare Bears fame and his experience with directing humorous works starring animals shows.
This film is downright hilarious and reverses the idea of man versus nature to show how animals can fight back. When Mabel Tanaka (Piper Curda) learns about a project that lets her project her consciousness into a robot beaver to observe woodland creatures, little does she know about the ecology happening behind the scenes.
The forest has rules and recognizes “the food chain.” There’s a different world order at play, and around Oregon, there’s no Bigfoot! That’s not altogether surprising, since it would distract from the story. I often consider this state home for the beast, and maybe he was simply hiding in the forest like the rest of the creatures rather than deal with the human threat.
There is, however, another giant-sized creature that makes a surprising appearance, and her role delivers the best bite without me revealing too much. After all, Oregon’s vast coastline means something massive washing ashore is not out of the question. That said, anyone familiar with the geography will know the township this story takes place in is nowhere near the ocean. What we find here are more like tributaries and small lakes.
One detail I can’t help notice is how this world borrows some ideas from Craig of the Creek. This Cartoon Network gem follows kids who’ve carved a sprawling stream of water into their own little kingdom, with each patch of wilderness ruled by a different group. Here, instead of kids, it’s animals. Their social order gets disrupted when Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm), the mayor of Beaverton, approves construction of a new freeway that threatens to destroy the ecosystem. The threat feels real, and watching the animals push back is even more fun than Over the Hedge. The two films have very different premises, but what connects them is how nature rallies against humanity at its worst.
Chong’s vision is heartfelt. He offers ideas on how nature and humanity might coexist and adapt. With a cast of talents who are no doubt activists in their own right, everything comes together nicely. Loaf (Eduardo Franco) is a riot, and while he may not be king of the creek, it’s George (Bobby Moynihan) that this synthoid needs to convince. What she proposes is daring, but is it even right? The sequences that follow are the most surreal I’ve seen in a family-friendly animated film.
The story is really about the fear of losing control, and Hoppers delivers on many fronts. Characters get displaced for one reason or another, and it’s not just the animals. Mabel has no grandmother. The mammals are forced to relocate. Even Titus (Dave Franco), son of the Insect Queen, has a role, and all I can say is he has the personality of Mister Mind! He’s the most deliciously unhinged character of the lot. With so many layers to peel back, I’m sure there’s more to discover when I head back to the theatre for a fourth watch.
4 Stars out of 5
Hoppers Trailer
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