‘Hoppers,’ Pixar’s Safe Bet, Offers Humor, Grandmothers and Beavers — with Just a Touch of Darkness

MOVIE REVIEW: Leave it to beaver! Pixar's Hoppers hits big

Original, true all-ages fun has become harder to find in Hollywood. Disney and Pixar’s true all-ages fun has become harder to find in Hollywood.

‘Hoppers,’ Pixar’s safe bet, offers humor, grandmothers and beavers — with just a touch of darkness

Pixar really knows what it’s doing. It has for 40 years, ever since it first opened its doors as an independent animation studio. Twenty years ago, it became part of Disney (that fruitful marriage will celebrate its 20th anniversary in May), and it’s long since gotten the hang of what its ever-growing audience is looking for. As such, it no longer puts out small projects. Hoppers, its first movie of the year, is no minor affair — though it does …

Beavers were nearly wiped out in California. Now they’re inspiring Pixar’s new movie.