“Hoppers” is an original animated film that combines comedy and science fiction, created by Pixar Animation Studios. The movie was released in theaters on March 6, 2026, with a run time of one hour and 44 minutes. Two weeks after it was released in theaters, some family members and I decided to go watch it. When I walked into the theater, I didn’t have any expectations set for this movie, since I hadn’t seen much about it. However, when I walked out, I was pleasantly surprised by the plot, storytelling, and pacing of the film.
“Hoppers” revolves around 19-year-old college student and animal enthusiast, Mabel Tanaka. She uses a new technological innovation that transforms human consciousness into a robotic animal, transferring her mind into a mechanical beaver. Tanaka uses this invention to connect with the animal life around her and to save a glade that holds memories of her time with her now late grandmother.
At the start of the movie, one thing drew me in that was a recurring element throughout the film. I noticed that the scenes in the first half of the movie contained a limited amount of background noise and music. I wanted to highlight this feature because it made certain moments in the movie feel more emotional and impactful.
During a handful of these quieter moments, I also noticed the movie would slow down in pacing in a given sequence of scenes. I feel like the switch in pace was done beautifully; not feeling misplaced. With some movies that I’ve watched recently, I’ve noticed a growing trend in a quicker, more rushed, advancement of the plot. However, with “Hoppers,” it felt as if the movie was taking its time telling the story, making the film more impactful.
As the plot advances, there is a major shift in the tone of the plot from the first to the second half of the movie. In the first half of the movie, the atmosphere is more lighthearted and goofy. To me, it also felt slower in pace, introducing the characters and setting shown throughout the film, which paid off later on in my opinion. However, in the second half, it would switch from being cheerful to an unhinged, organized chaos.
Towards the end of “Hoppers,” there is a twist-antagonist that is shown to be a major threat to the glade and the main characters. When this person reveals their main goal, it feels extremely unsettling and shocking. I remember feeling so stunned when they were actually advancing towards their goal, which is rare when I watch a movie with a surprise villain. I was genuinely left wondering when the plot would resolve, or even if it could at this point.
I also want to praise the animation. During the first few scenes of the movie, one of the first things that drew my attention were the incredible textures and lighting seen in the film. The clothing, natural elements, textures on the animals, and the seemingly natural or artificial lighting that highlighted the characters were all so visually appealing. Of course, Pixar’s animation is always exceptional, yet I feel like the models and textures in “Hoppers” even further enhanced the animation and visual appeal.
The main critique that I have for the movie is about the end of the film. I feel like the resolution was rushed and there was a lack of consequences for the actions the main characters had made throughout the movie. However, these critiques are really nit-picky. The resolution is still impactful, bringing back the wholesome, slower paced atmosphere from the initial half of the movie. Overall, “Hoppers” is probably one of the most unhinged and unpredictable movies in terms of the plot that Pixar has put out, and I feel like it was done beautifully.
Overall, I greatly enjoyed this movie. It pulled on my heart strings, evoked emotions from the audience, and kept me wondering what was going to happen next. I will acknowledge this movie may not be everyone’s cup of tea, as it’s not a stereotypical Pixar movie in terms of the plot, tone, and pacing, but these changes were the things that made me like the movie.
