Hoppers (2026): "Cute Beavers, Confused Messages, and Pixar's Most Frustrating Near-Miss"

Matt and Sophie dive into Pixar's latest original film, Hoppers, a movie that left them surprisingly cold despite its glowing reviews and stunning animation. While the beavers are undeniably adorable, the visuals are beautiful, and supporting characters like Titus and George provide some genuinely funny moments, neither host can shake the feeling that something important is missing.The discussion explores Pixar's increasingly difficult challenge of creating new stories in a world where every theme feels familiar, from grief and environmentalism to family relationships and finding your place. They compare Hoppers to films such as Turning Red, Encanto and The Sheep Detectives, questioning why those stories connected emotionally while this one never quite lands.Along the way, they discuss anime influences in Pixar's animation style, the film's unusual "animal avatar" concept, whether George the beaver is actually the real protagonist, and why a movie can be visually spectacular yet still struggle to make you feel anything at all.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.