Set in the city of Beaverton, we are introduced to Mabel Tanaka (voiced by Piper Curda as a teenager and Lila Liu as a child), who spends her youth with her kind Grandmother (Karen Huie). Through her influence, Mabel learns to love the land and relate to the fauna of the area, especially a colony of beavers. It is an idyllic upbringing and leaves a lasting impression.

After losing her Gran, she is adrift until she is given a cause by the actions of the town’s mayor, Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm). He plans to destroy her favourite habitat to build a freeway overpass. After he drains the pond and drives out all the wildlife, the heartbroken teenager is given a cause to pursue and a galvanising purpose. This involves Mabel taking over the operation of a robot beaver and becoming part of the colony.

The message of the value of indigenous life forms is presented in an entertaining and less obtrusive way than most films of this ilk. Humour is used successfully and often to give the work a less strident tone. Mabel’s heritage is also used in a subtle and accessible way. The film’s success derives from a broadminded approach that puts entertainment first yet weaves in a message of value without the usual insolent approach.
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“We have assembled a legendary cast for ‘Hoppers,’ and the voice talent really gave the film all they had. Be it uproarious humour, heartfelt emotion or crazy animal noises, they delivered beyond our expectations,” stated director Daniel Chong and producer Nicole Paradis Grindle.

The trailer provides a closer look at the animated comedy adventure which introduces Mabel, an animal lover who seizes an opportunity to use a new technology to ‘hop’ her consciousness into a life-like robotic beaver and communicate directly with animals. Using the technology, Mabel uncovers mysteries within the animal world that are beyond anything she could have imagined.

“Hoppers” features the voice of Bobby Moynihan as King George, an undeniably optimistic, kind and larger-than-life beaver who is the leader of the pond and king of the mammals. Jon Hamm voices Mayor Jerry, a politician running for re-election in Beaverton. Under his shiny, perfectly coiffed hair and matching public persona, Jerry is losing his cool over the one thing he can’t control: Mabel.

“Hoppers” is directed by Daniel Chong (“We Bare Bears”), produced by Nicole Paradis Grindle (“Incredibles 2”) and features an original score by composer Mark Mothersbaugh (“Thor: Ragnarok”). Coming to cinemas this March.
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