- Pixar's latest film "Hoppers" struggles to recapture its past magic.
- The movie's execution falters with weak character connections and sparse humor.
- While visually appealing, "Hoppers" feels forgettable compared to Pixar's classics.
I was an early adopter of Pixar movies. Their films weren't just good animated movies; they were some of the best movies being made, period. They had this brilliant blend of humor, heart, and storytelling that felt effortless.
What made Pixar special wasn't just the jokes or the visuals; it was the emotional depth tucked inside those stories. And the way they handled those themes was subtle, smart, and deeply relatable.
Think about the way "Coco" explored family and legacy. "Inside Out" gave us a surprisingly thoughtful look at emotions and growing up. "Ratatouille" taught us to believe in ourselves and follow our passions. "The Incredibles" explored identity, family dynamics and acceptance. Or how "Finding Nemo" was about trust, growth and learning when to let go.
Those movies had incredible character arcs, memorable humor, and heartfelt storytelling. They were fun for kids, but they also had something meaningful for adults.
Unfortunately, it feels like that Pixar magic has been fading for a while now, and sadly, "Hoppers" doesn't do much to bring it back.
An interesting idea that never quite comes together
On paper, "Hoppers" actually sounds like a pretty fun concept.
The movie follows Mabel, a young woman with a deep love for nature. She shares a special bond with her grandmother and a connection to a peaceful woodland area known as the glade. When that space comes under threat from development, Mabel becomes determined to protect it.
Through a scientific breakthrough, she manages to transfer her consciousness into a robotic beaver to infiltrate the animals living in the glade and save the environment.
It's an unusual, high-concept premise, but Pixar has always thrived on unusual premises. Talking toys, sentient cars, emotions inside our heads, a rat who becomes a chef. Weird ideas have never been the problem. Execution is where "Hoppers" struggles.
The story never quite hooks you the way Pixar's best films do. The stakes feel murky, the pacing is uneven and the emotional beats never really land the way they're supposed to.
More importantly, the characters never fully connect.
A main character that's hard to root for
One of the biggest problems with "Hoppers" is its central character.
Mabel is clearly written to be a free-spirited, passionate young woman who loves animals and wants to protect the natural world. That should be a pretty easy character to root for.
But something about her just doesn't work.
Instead of feeling charming or inspiring, she often comes across as frustrating and occasionally unlikable. Her motivations feel obvious, but her personality never really draws the audience in.
Pixar has historically been fantastic at crafting characters that audiences instantly fall in love with. Woody, Buzz, Remy, Marlin, Miguel, even characters with flaws feel warm and human.
Mabel never quite reaches that level. And when your movie relies on the audience emotionally connecting with the lead character, that becomes a pretty big hurdle.
Where are the laughs?
Pixar movies are usually very funny. Even the most emotional Pixar films are packed with clever jokes, visual gags and memorable comedic moments. It's part of what makes their movies so rewatchable. "Hoppers" struggles in that department.
I chuckled once or twice, but that was about it.
The humor feels sparse, and when jokes do appear, they rarely land with much impact. For a movie that's supposed to be an energetic, adventurous animated story, it never quite finds that playful rhythm. The result is a movie that feels oddly flat.
These kinds of movies work best when the audience is having fun along the way; laughing, rooting for the characters and enjoying the ride. That sense of fun is surprisingly absent here.
Another Pixar movie that feels forgettable
Here's the tricky thing about "Hoppers": It's not terrible.
There are some nice visuals, a few decent moments, the animation is polished, and the world is colorful. But it never rises above "fine."
In fact, it reminded me a lot of 2025's "Elio." That movie had some interesting ideas and wasn't necessarily bad, but it faded from memory almost immediately after I left the theater. "Hoppers" suffers from the same problem.
It doesn't feel like a disaster. It just feels forgettable. And that might be the bigger disappointment. Pixar used to make movies that stuck with you. Movies you wanted to revisit. Movies you quoted, shared and remembered for years.
"Hoppers" feels more like background noise in a sea of animated films instead of the shining beacon Pixar used to be.
Kids may still enjoy it
To be fair, I'm not the only audience for this movie.
My 9-year-old enjoyed it quite a bit. And honestly, that's worth noting.
There's plenty of colorful animation, animal antics and adventure to keep younger viewers entertained. Kids who aren't carrying around a mental list of Pixar's greatest hits may have a perfectly good time with this one, and that's OK.
But Pixar used to do something special; they made movies that worked equally well for kids and adults. That balance feels missing here.
Conclusion
If I'm judging "Hoppers" on its own, without comparing it to Pixar's greatest films, it's an OK animated movie. Kids will probably enjoy it, and there's enough colorful energy to keep them entertained.
But Pixar set the bar incredibly high for themselves.
When you've made movies like "Finding Nemo," "The Incredibles," "Ratatouille," "Inside Out," "Toy Story" and others, audiences expect something more than "just fine."
That's what makes "Hoppers" feel like a missed opportunity.
It's another entry in Pixar's recent stretch of original ideas that never quite capture the magic of their earlier work. The studio still knows how to make visually appealing movies, but the storytelling spark that once made them special feels harder to find.
Some Pixar movies I can watch again and again, whether I'm with my kids or not.
"Hoppers" is one I'd probably only revisit if they asked.
And that might be the biggest sign that Pixar is still searching for its way back to the magic that once defined them.
