Acclaimed “Pixar’s best film in years,” the sci-fi movie “Hoppers” premiered on March 4. With a clever mix of comedy, adventure and environmental activism, the film garnered attention for its inventive premise and unexpected emotional depth. 

“Hoppers” made its presence clear thanks to robust marketing that ranged from Super Bowl features to corporate partnerships with Lego and truckloads of merch. 

Pixar also uploaded several short-form videos of Tom Lizard, the cute reptile sidekick, that quickly went viral. The content accumulated 316 million views, and this dramatic character became an internet meme in merely two months. The campaign successfully built anticipation well before the film’s release and led to a $46 million opening weekend.

This popularity set the stage for director Daniel Chong to showcase how sympathy drives people to stand up for oppressed communities, and how compassion is not a feeling, but a choice. 

The plot follows Mabel Tanaka, a young teenager with an unmatched affection for the local glade and its animal inhabitants. When mayoral candidate Jerry Generazzo announces a development plan for the area, Mabel is determined to rally the animals against the construction. To do this, she “hops” her consciousness into an artificial beaver and links her mind to the lifelike robot.

With strong parallels to reality, the film acts beyond a simple tale about a girl and her pond. The various kingdoms, with a mammal king and an insect queen, mirror conflicting groups in our society. Each clan operates under its own social hierarchy, with leaders who hold absolute power over their subjects. The diverse predator-prey dynamics and strict social roles allow the film to explore topics such as hierarchy, war, and oppression.

“Hoppers” balances these heavy themes through slapsticks and sarcastic dialogues sprinkled throughout the film, maintaining its playful atmosphere as a family movie. 

While some attempts felt mildly childish and predictable, most, like Diane the flying shark, cracked me up.

The animation style carries the same sense of chipper vibrance. Akin to other whimsical Pixar movies, the film incorporates bouncy shapes and bright colors, along with detailed textures and leaves that rustle delicately in the breeze.I rate “Hoppers” a 4 out of 5. Throughout the entire two-hour experience, I found myself cycling through heartfelt moments of amusement, sadness, and nostalgia. For animal lovers seeking a sweet and inspiring film, “Hoppers” is tailor-made.