Fair use from Yahoo.

Released Mar. 6, Pixar’s “Hoppers” is the kind of movie that reminds audiences how unpredictable the studio can be. With every new release, people expect something different from Pixar—some films become instant classics, while others feel more like experiments. “Hoppers,” directed by Daniel Chong, definitely falls into the experimental category. The movie follows Mabel, a curious teenage girl who volunteers for a scientific program that lets humans “hop” their consciousness into robotic animals to study wildlife. Instead of watching animals from the outside, she becomes one—specifically a robotic beaver living among real animals in the forest. The idea sounds strange at first, and the movie quickly leans into that weirdness.

The film throws viewers into the concept without over-explaining, which works in its favor. The opening moves quickly, and once Mabel enters the animal world, the story blends adventure, comedy and environmental themes. A lot of the humor comes from watching a human try, and often fail, to fit into an animal society. Visually, “Hoppers” stands out as one of Pixar’s stronger recent movies. The forest environments feel huge and alive, and the animals’ personalities come through in expressive animation, especially during the more action-driven sequences across rivers, dams and different territories.

The story, however, can feel uneven at times. The first half is especially strong because it focuses on discovery and humor, but the middle slows down when the film shifts toward its larger environmental message. The themes about protecting nature are important, but at times the film explains them too directly as opposed to letting the story show them naturally. That “show, don’t tell” difference matters because when viewers see the message through choices and consequences, it feels earned; when it’s spelled out, it can pull you out of the moment and slow the pacing.

The characters are also a mixed bag. Mabel is likable and easy to root for, but several side characters feel underdeveloped, which stands out more as the movie leans on them to move the plot forward. One example is Tom Lizard: he has a fun presence, but he ultimately feels more like a tool to push the story along than a character with enough depth or purpose to leave a lasting impact.

Even with those flaws, the movie has plenty of charm. The humor works more often than it misses, and the collision of the human and animal worlds leads to genuinely creative scenes. The ending also feels satisfying without trying too hard to force an emotional moment.

Overall, “Hoppers” isn’t Pixar’s best movie, but it’s still one of their more interesting ones: the strange premise, strong animation and fun animal characters keep it entertaining even when the pacing slows down. That’s why it lands at three stars for me, its pacing dips when the message becomes too direct, and some side characters, such as the lizard, feel underused.

“Hoppers:” ★★★☆☆