Pixar’s latest masterpiece is making waves, and it’s not just because of its stunning visuals. Hoppers, the studio’s newest animated film, has just earned their highest Rotten Tomatoes score in nearly a decade—a staggering 97 percent. But here’s where it gets controversial: while critics are raving, some are quick to point out its similarities to Avatar. Is it a rip-off, or does it stand on its own? Let’s dive in.
Set to hit theaters on March 6, Hoppers follows the journey of Mabel, a 19-year-old environmentalist who literally ‘hops’ into the mind of a beaver to help a colony save their habitat. Sound familiar? Yes, the premise has drawn inevitable comparisons to James Cameron’s epic, but The Independent’s Clarisse Loughrey argues it’s anything but derivative. In her four-star review, she notes that while the film acknowledges its Avatar vibes within the first 15 minutes, it carves out its own unique space with its odd, spiky charm and anime-inspired energy. And this is the part most people miss: Pixar’s ability to blend Western animation with anime influences has given Hoppers a fresh, electrifying feel—not to mention the jaw-dropping, life-like fluffiness of its beaver characters, which makes Monsters Inc. look almost primitive by comparison.
With a star-studded voice cast including Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Dave Franco, Jon Hamm, and Meryl Streep, Hoppers is more than just a visual treat. It’s a testament to Pixar’s ongoing evolution, balancing original stories like Luca, Elemental, and the upcoming Gatto (slated for 2027) with sequels like Toy Story 5 (coming this June) and Incredibles 3. Speaking of Toy Story, the first two films still hold a perfect 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, while Toy Story 3, Finding Nemo, Inside Out, and Up all sit at 98 percent. Hoppers is Pixar’s first release of 2024, with more adventures on the horizon.
But let’s not forget Pixar’s humble beginnings. Founded in 1979 as Lucasfilm’s computer animation division (originally called the Graphics Group), it became an independent company in 1986, backed by none other than Steve Jobs. Their 1995 release of Toy Story revolutionized animation as the first fully computer-animated feature film, distributed by Disney, which later acquired Pixar in 2006. Fast forward to today, and Pixar continues to push boundaries, blending innovation with storytelling that resonates across generations.
So, is Hoppers a game-changer, or just another animated adventure? And does its Avatar-esque plot matter when the execution is this fresh? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—we’re eager to hear if you think Pixar has struck gold again or if this one misses the mark.
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