Loved 'Hoppers'? Watch This New 87%-Rated Animation That Just Blew up Netflix's Charts

Netflix has recently released Swapped, a new animated movie from Nathan Greno, director of Tangled and screenwriter of Meet the Robinsons.

If you enjoyed Pixar's recent hit, Hoppers, then Swapped is the perfect addition to your animation marathon.

What Is 'Swapped' About?

Ollie is a small animal and a member of a rare species of rodent called a Pookoo. Once, he helped a green Javan bird get nuts, a local delicacy. However, this resulted in the Javan bird eating all of Ollie's supplies, causing him to become an outcast in his own community.

Everything changed when Ollie accidentally stumbled upon a magical capsule. Giant, elephant-like Dzos once produced such capsules – when an animal touched one, it would transform into a different species.

Thanks to these capsules, harmony reigned on the island. However, one of the wolves misused the miracle, becoming a Firewolf and burning down all the Dzo, thus upsetting the balance. Ollie touches the capsule and transforms into a bird.

'Swapped' Is a Detailed and Unique World That Begs to Be Explored

The first thing that strikes you when watching Swapped is its bizarre, surreal setting. It's not exactly an animal movie, nor is it pure fantasy – it's a unique experience that falls somewhere in between.

The Javan birds resemble kakapo parrots, but have leaves growing on their heads, the wolves' skins look like thick trees with blossoming branches instead of fur.

The more time you spend with Ollie, the more new species you discover: snakes disguised as thick roots and bears whose backs are half made of rock.

Unlike many modern animations, which rely on hyperrealism or simplified forms, Swapped offers something in between – a style reminiscent of the best examples of 2010s animation with a modern twist.

'Swapped' Is a Worthy Successor to the Recent Hit 'Hoppers'

Pixar's Hoppers was a true highlight of the year – it surprised us with its freshness, humor, and unexpected twists. Swapped continues this tradition, but with something unique – while Hoppers relied on action and humor, Swapped offers a more intimate and touching story.

Ollie, an outcast hero, learns to understand his enemy, his journey is a path to empathy and understanding that the world isn't black and white.

Most importantly, the story has a knack for surprise – a couple of unexpected plot twists force viewers to see the action in a new way.

For those who crave intelligent, soulful animation, Swapped is a must-see. And yes, the voice acting by Michael B. Jordan and Juno Temple is an added bonus.

What Did Critics & Viewers Think of 'Swapped'?

• Swapped has 67% from critics and 87% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.

• On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.3/10.

• On Letterboxd, Swapped scored 3.4/5.0.