Not the manic, frenzied sugar rush of comedy I was expecting based on what of the promotional material I had personally seen ahead of time, as I found the laughter largely dried up for me once the actual “hopping” antics started. Instead, the thing that kept me thoroughly invested and glued to the screen was the surprisingly powerful plot that features real stakes (characters can die), shocking moments (characters DO die), and is brimming with genuinely affective emotion. This a strong reminder of Pixar’s ability to bridge the gap between the children and their parents in the audience to create an animated film they can both enjoy.

The message is what really makes me love this though. The deeper one behind the surface level “save the animals, protect the environment” theme some viewers appear to be getting distracted by. In an era where everyone is divided into their different “kingdoms” and actively trying to wipe out the rest so that only their thoughts, perspectives, and ideals remain, Hoppers is pleading with us to instead compromise and come up with a set of “pond rules” so that we can all live together in a natural harmony. A sermon the U.S., and honestly the world as a whole, needs to hear right now.

"Well… I’m here. You’re here. Let’s figure this out."

Bonus points for including scenes with a tinge of horror that might legitimately make kids uncomfortable/frightened for a second like in the Disney classics of old.