Review: Operation Bäver (Jumpers)

Mabel, a dedicated 19-year-old animal and environmental activist, is given the opportunity to test a groundbreaking, top-secret technology. Researchers have developed the “Hoppers” program, which allows a human consciousness to be wirelessly transferred into a lifelike robotic body, enabling direct communication with wildlife on their own terms.

Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda in the original version and Kerstin Linden in the Swedish dub) “hops” into a robotic beaver and ventures into the wilderness bordering the city. She is quickly integrated into animal society—a vibrant but overcrowded community ruled by the benevolent King George (Bobby Moynihan / Anton Körberg). However, this idyll is threatened by Mayor Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm / Rafael Edholm), who plans to clear the area for a highway project, and Titus (Dave Franco / Robin Fajardo), a power-hungry insect king with his own destructive agenda. Mabel must navigate this chaotic ecosystem, master her mechanical body, and bridge the gap between animals and humans before it’s too late.

Before reviewing the film itself, we should address the naming confusion in the physical media market. Marketed in Swedish cinemas as Operation Bäver (original title Hoppers), the film has curiously been rebranded as Jumpers on the Blu-ray cover. Whether this is a marketing tactic to suggest a new release or a result of European co-production logistics, it remains a confusing choice for consumers.

There was a time when Pixar was synonymous with groundbreaking animated masterpieces. It is difficult to overstate the cultural impact of Toy Story and its role in the rise of computer animation. Classics like Finding Nemo, Up, Cars, the emotionally resonant Coco, and the Oscar-winning Ratatouille are timeless benchmarks. However, a shift occurred around 2020. Amidst internal restructuring, the studio appeared to move away from its tradition of fostering new directorial talent through its acclaimed short films (many of which are collected as Pixar Shorts on Disney+).

Instead, Pixar has increasingly focused on message-driven coming-of-age narratives, often centered on emotionally complex teenage girls—as seen in Turning Red, Inside Out 2, and now Operation Bäver. While there is significant value in portraying these complex emotional journeys, the frequency of this pattern risks making characters feel like thematic vehicles rather than the universal, charming protagonists the studio is known for. The fact that Pixar has sequels like Incredibles 3 and Coco 2 in development suggests they may be responding to audience fatigue by returning to established, character-driven franchises.

Although Operation Bäver is framed as a classic fable, it functions primarily as a sci-fi comedy with a strong ecological message. The film has its moments of charm and genuine humor, particularly when depicting the beaver colony’s rigid community rules. However, the overall experience is uneven. After a promising first act, the narrative loses momentum, and engagement wanes. The plot offers few surprises, and the climax attempts to compensate by accelerating the pacing significantly, resulting in a somewhat frantic and overloaded conclusion. It is an entertaining family film, but it lacks the enduring magic of Pixar’s greatest works.

Visually, the production feels like a slight departure from Pixar’s typically industry-leading standards. Competitors like Universal’s Illumination are narrowing the gap, while DreamWorks continues to impress with The Wild Robot, and Skydance Animation delivers strong entries like the thematically similar Netflix production Swapped (I fel kropp).

Picture and Sound – Blu-ray

Regarding the Blu-ray release, the Full HD transfer is nearly flawless—digitally animated features naturally excel in this format. While the US market receives a 4K UHD edition with Dolby Atmos, the Nordic release is limited to Dolby Digital 5.1 for the Swedish dub and DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 for the original English track. While these specs largely mirror the Disney+ stream, the physical disc’s advantage lies in its extensive bonus features. These include The Critter Diaries (documenting the animation team’s research in Yellowstone), the making-of featurette Hopping In: The Making of Hoppers, voice recording bloopers (Dam Good Bloopers), and nearly twenty minutes of deleted scenes introduced by director Daniel Chong.

In summary, Operation Bäver is a vibrant and occasionally entertaining family adventure. Its place in your physical collection may depend on your theatrical experience or a desire to maintain a complete Pixar library (it marks the studio’s 30th feature). While not a bad film, it struggles to balance its chaotic action with its contemporary messaging. We hope future Pixar projects return to prioritizing the deeply universal, character-driven storytelling that represents the studio at its absolute best.

SF Studios sent a review copy for this test. Senders of material have no editorial influence on our tests; we always write independently with our readers and consumers as the primary focus.