By: Dana Jacoviello
There are many animated films that exist out in the wild of Hollywood movies. That being said, Hoppers is probably one of the top animations I have ever seen as it focuses on the question, can one young woman create the change that she wants to see?
Mabel (Piper Curda) has decided to “hopp” into the body of a robotic Beaver that Dr. Sam (Kathy Najimy) created and is her life work in hopes to help save the dam against Dr. Sam’s wishes! Through this process Mabel learns she can understand and talk to animals. She meets many along the way as she attempts to find a beaver to save The Glades, their original home that is now being destroyed by Mayor Jerry (Jon Hamm). During her travels Mabel gets close with King George (Bobby Moynihan) and the other animal community, yet they have no idea she is a human as they are against them. I don’t want to give away the movie, but it’s eye opening in many ways on how nature works and how humans interact with it – they are part of something bigger.
Moynihan as King George, the King of mammals, was magnificent. Hamm, as Mayor Jerry Generazzo, was another slam dunk as was Kathy Najimy as Dr. Sam. Meryl Streep even steps in as the Insect Queen. There was just a brilliant cast overall and it was great to see different names in main and supporting roles. It’s a movie about a grieving kid who loves animals so much she fights for them with every ounce of her soul. She defies law and argues with Mayor Jerry all the time, but her grandma Tanaka (Karen Huie) taught her that nature and humans are one. You just have to be quiet, sit still, watch and listen.
Hoppers is filled with excitement and adventure. One minute you are laughing and the next you are crying. You even will get upset or mad during moments, but it’s worth the trip. The entire animation voiceover cast was exceptional in playing their roles. The director, Daniel Chong, and writers did exceptional with this one. I am actually a huge fan of his work.
The movie Hoppers was a story of inspiration, motivation, nature, humans and many lessons to be learned. It is easy to make any movie with a message, but Daniel Chong made a masterpiece with this one. I haven’t enjoyed an animation THAT much in some time.