The latest from Disney and Pixar, Hoppers, jumps into cinemas across Australia on March 26 and it may just be the darkest comedy we’ve had from the companies yet!
The story follows Mabel, an animal lover and solo activist trying to save her beloved glade. When she discovers experimental technology that has human consciousness hopping into lifelike robotic animals, her mission seems closer than ever to being successful. The result is an adventure of whimsy, comedy and determination as Mabel uncovers the mysteries of the animal world, one log at a time.
Hoppers starts with the question, “What if you could talk to animals and understand what they’re saying?” but by the end of the film, you’ll be asking yourself if a more harmonious existence between us and our animal counterparts is where we need to shift our focus.
This film will have you laughing, crying, gasping in shock and breathing out in relief. It’s both absurd and charming, endearing and shocking. It may spark conversations around conservation and processing grief and if you’re taking younger kids, there are moments in this film that may be a little scary, particularly towards the end.
It feels like Hoppers sits both in what we expect from Disney and Pixar, while also beckoning in a new vibe that sets it apart from its previous collaborations. The animals are adorable, the voice actors are top of their game, our protagonist is flawed but the underdog we love rooting for and, while the story has a few holes and the plot seems to escape us as we go along, the animation is beautiful to watch.
Hoppers was laugh out loud funny at times and, at others, possibly the scariest animation since Disney’s Bambi, but that may be personal. It’s not lost of me that both of these moments revolve around fire in the forest. And while parental supervision may be necessary for this film, it does teach us that respect and understanding for each other is important and taking care of our world matters. That while something doesn’t directly affect you, your actions and choices can have big consequences for someone else and that other doesn’t mean unimportant and empathy and supporting each other moves us forward.
Hoppers has the folly of science fiction and the heart of its predecessors, mixed in one. It’ll speak to some and alienate others but it is exciting to see a film from Disney that is new (and not live action or a sequel), thanks to Pixar.
