March 6, 2026

There was a time when "Hoppers," a computer-animated adventure film, would have come across as bolder and more exciting. To be clear, it is these things to a degree, but not enough, and markedly less so when you consider the other films from which it's derived. A story about a plucky young woman standing up for her convictions and the underdog—or in this case, all the "under" animals—isn't exactly new territory for the well-established (and often reliably innovative) Disney/Pixar engine, and neither are its many other familiar attributes. And unfortunately, we sense this while watching "Hoppers." Despite its energy, visuals, humor, and willingness to explore darker subject matter, the movie renders as a trail we've treaded many times before.