User reviews

Our family had a good time watching this movie in the cinema. It has a good pacing, the animation is technically great, the scenery and the characters are well designed, there is a lot to see here.

Storywise, this adventure movie does not explore new territory. Not a problem for the kids, but the lack of surprises is a downside. On the other hand, it is enjoyable for the parents to list all the famous movies this movie borrows scenes from (including all the musical references).

This film is straightforward fun, and can be considered as a good introduction for the kids to the old classics we love so much.

I sat down with my 12 year old son to watch the 2022 animated movie "Hopper Et Le Hamster Des Ténèbres" (aka "Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness"). I must admit that I wasn't really harboring much of any expectations for the movie, but of course opted to give it a fair chance.

And I will admit that writer David Collard, along with directors Ben Stassen and Benjamin Mousquet, definitely managed to put together a very wholesome and genuinely entertaining storyline. It is one that has something for both adults and children alike. And I was pleasantly surprised with it, I have to say that.

"Hopper Et Le Hamster Des Ténèbres" is clearly inspired by "Indiana Jones", and it shows and also sounds; from Chickenhare's outfit, the music throughout the course of the story, the grand adventure and the general atmosphere of the whole thing. And guess what, it works. Oh yeah, it works.

The animation was good, smooth and very life-like, which definitely added something good to the overall movie. And the art style was good, especially since it brought the characters to life in a very good way and gave the characters unique traits and such. Lots of great details in the scenes.

The movie has some very memorable and outstanding characters, both the protagonists and antagonists. I definitely liked the character gallery in "Hopper Et Le Hamster Des Ténèbres".

I was genuinely entertained by "Hopper Et Le Hamster Des Ténèbres", and it is an animated movie that I can and will warmly recommend you sit down to watch. Well-worth taking the time to sit down and enjoy.

My rating of "Hopper Et Le Hamster Des Ténèbres" lands on a seven out of ten stars.

In a world of anthropomorphic animals, hare brothers Peter (Chris McCune) and Lapin (Danny Fehsenfeld) are adventuring princes who seek the legendary Hamster of Darkness. Upon one of their adventures, the two find an orphaned baby rabbit with chicken-like features whom Peter adopts as his son and names Chickenhare (Jordan Tartakow). As Chickenhare grows he learns of his father's adventures and aspires to be one, but is also insecure in himself due to his mixture of chicken and hare features making him the subject of ridicule which leads to him donning a cumbersome disguise to subdue his chicken features and make himself appear as a "normal" hare. Having come of age, Chickenhare attempts the trials for acceptance to the Royal Adventure Society only for his hare disguise to weigh him down and make him fail. Despondent over his failure, Chickenhare tries to find the Hamster of Darkness only to inadvertently release his wicked uncle Lapin from prison after having previously attempted to overthrow Peter. Seeking to make amends for his mistakes, Chickenhare sets out to find the Hamster of Darkness along with his manservant turtle Abe (Joey Lotsko) and their intrepid skunk guide Meg (Laila Berzins) to try and get the Hamster of Darkness before Lapin.

Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness is a loose adaptation of the graphic novel series Chickenhare by writer/artist Chris Grine. Development on an adaptation had begun back in 2011 at Sony Pictures Animation with the blessing of Grine but the project ran into development hurdles resulting in that incarnation of the project being cancelled in 2016. In 2021, it was announced the Chickenhare adaptation had been revived by Sony's international division as a co-production with Belgian animation studio nWave who've had their name on decent films like Son of Bigfoot and its sequel Bigfoot Family as well as The House of Magic, but are more known for their less reputable efforts like the adaptation of Robinson Crusoe that was retitled The Wild Life upon its U. S. release or most infamously The Queen's Corgi which while a decent financial success had inexplicable references and characters tied to real world events and political figures including references to assault allegations that just didn't belong in a children's film. So yeah, nWave has definitely been very "up and down" in terms of quality from their studio, but I'm happy to report that not only is Chickenhare one of the company's better efforts, it's probably the best work they've done to this point.

The movie's animation is really quite good. While this is a smaller scale European production without the resources of a Dreamworks or Disney, it's quite a nice looking movie with smoothly rendered textures and flowing movements in its characters and environments that are quite visually pleasing. The movie does a good job of capturing that pulp "Indiana Jones/Doc Savage" type adventure aesthetic and the opening action sequence with an elaborate obstacle course on a treadmill with multiple elements and dynamic obstacles sets the standard high for the levels of detail you see later in the film. The movie's bright and colorful with creative designs and pleasing sights and it's a very richly detailed production with lots to soak in. The action sequences in particular are very strong and the animators have fun with paying homage to tropes of the adventure genre with sequences with "pigmie" natives (guess which species they are) or temple puzzle traps that are quite a lot of fun. The movie even incorporates some brief segments of other animation styles similar to stop-motion and traditional and it's unquestionably some of nWave's most ambitious work to date.

The trio of characters we follow on this adventure are quite good with Chickenhare a solid protagonist who we empathize with due to him not feeling "normal" and the crux of his character disguising himself as a full hare by wearing his uncomfortable and cumbersome disguise makes for a strong allegory that can be applied to a number of situations kids feel in how they may not adhere to the state of "normal" society or their peers force upon them and it gives Chickenhare a solid arc of self-acceptance as he goes through the adventure. I also really liked Chickenhare's relationship with King Peter as CHickenhare's adoptive father who unlike a lot of movie father's isn't stubborn or unaccepting of his son but there is a bit of a divide between them because he can't fully understand Chickenhare's situation despite his best efforts and its refreshing to see that kind of relationship in a family film. Chickenhare's companions are likable and endearing with Chickenhare's pessimistic and snarky turtle manservant Abe serving as a solid foil to Chickenhare's thirst for adventure, and Meg the groups skunk adventurer guide makes a nice counterpoint to Chickenhare as someone who's also seen as an outsider but gives Chickenhare the confidence to be himself and gradually he leaves behind his disguise and allows himself to embrace who he is.

The movie is mostly solid, but it does have some of the tropes you've come to expect from modern day animated films with fart jokes (technically fart adjacent, but close enough it warranted a mention), some pop culture humor that doesn't really land, and on occasion maybe being a bit too glib in some of its deliveries. While Lapin seems like a good villain on paper, I wasn't a fan of the delivery used for the character which is very foppish and affected and I felt it undercut some of his credibility as a villain even in good moments such as a very well done climax. This may just be a personal preference, but I like villains in animated films to be balanced in 60% serious to 40% comedic and here I felt like they made him a tad too silly for my taste but your mileage may vary. There were also moments where I felt the pacing got a little rough such as a sequence where our group traverse a desert that feels rushed or scenes in the third act where the time compression goes a little overboard, but it wasn't too distracting.

Chickenhare is a solid adventure film with a likable cast of characters. I can't speak to its faithfulness to the source material as I've not read the original graphic novels, but on its own it's a fun adventure film with a nice core of being able to accept oneself and not have anyone force you to subdue those traits. The animation is really solid and may be nWave's best looking and most ambitious work to date, and it creates a world rich in detail and style. It does have some things that don't land you've come to expect from modern day animated films like various stock jokes or a villain who seems like he's maybe being played a little too broad, but aside from those points this is a solid film I can wholeheartedly recommend.

Chickenhare and the Hamster of Darkness is a 2022 computer-animated adventure comedy film produced by nWave Pictures and directed by Ben Stassen and Benjamin Mousquet 🐰

It's good 🙂 I'd recommend it if you like this genre 👍🏼

I loved the turtle.

Fun & humorous ride that's filled with of homages to Indiana Jones, Angry Bird, Lion King, Empire Strikes Back. Look closely and you'll also catch some Easter eggs.

What's good about it is that, despite borrowing 'ideas' from above movies, it does create original characters that get you invested. Especially Abe, the perpetually pessimistic turtle who views circumstances through the empty half section of the glass. But boy oh boy, does his wise cracks provide a big chunk of the laughs!

My gripe is the central, but ever recurring theme among animations, of self - discovery, i.e. The journey of chickenhare who discovers that he's, 'different' from others. Why do animations keep using this theme? It's has become annoying. For all of its ingenuity and smartness at weaving a story with the homages, chickenhare doesn't hesitate to use this plot device. And that to me, keeps it from at least an 8.

Chickenhare is a neat animated adventure film. In it, after failing a test to get into the Royal Adventurers Society, Chickenhare, the adopted son of Peter, the king of Featherbeard, who is a cross between a chicken and a hare (hence why he has the legs of a chicken and feathers on his head) sets out with his servant, Abe, to find the Hamster of Darkness to prove himself. However, his evil uncle, Lapin, has escaped prison and seeks the hamster to overthrow Peter and become king.

This is a neat movie for kids seven and up. I say that because it does have some crude humor (mainly the character of Meg, who is a skunk), and some dark moments, but it is an entertaining film. Despite being a basic story where the main hero, who is considered an outcast, goes to prove himself, fighting an evil villain, the voice acting is great, and the story is good. My only complaints are some of the jokes are hit-or-miss and the film is on the short side.

The animation is very well done, it's funny, the characters are charming and the plot is very interesting. It's a fun movie for the whole family to watch.

Highly derivative homage to the adventure genre with little to offer in the way of originality, even if I cannot fault the very, VERY family friendly message.

You've seen this kind of low profile animated adventure before but though they painted this by number, they kept the colors impeccable inside the lines.

The animation is better than the script has a right to be with impressive textures in both the cuddly fur and smoother surfaces and a bunch of amazing set pieces with some super concepts worked in, especially a race of strangely geometric pigs and a formidable final boss.

Yes it feels often like it should have been a videogame instead of a movie but I take a guilty pleasure in the central relationship; the two leads have a cute dynamic of a protagonist with potential lead to greatness by a deuteragonist who might have been able to do it all by herself if she had the puzzle skills for it.

Cannot fault the tortoise character either for balancing things out.

I did not care for the skunk spray thing depicted more like flatulence. It's a liquid, people.

The movie never takes itself too serious on its premise, and it knows its not a pixar or ghibli film, but it brings an adventure packed story with stellar animation that keeps you engaged from start to end.

The characters are lovable the acting is phenomenal and the story is very solid.

It does rely on many of the ussual tropes and while I DESPISE fart jokes , in this case they managed to bring it in at a level I can withstand and even take as vital part of one of the characters back stories and an essential part of their character.

Overall this is not going to move you like Disney or Pixar but it is an extremely fun adventure story that will leave you wanting for more.

Heres to hoping for Chicken Hare II.

The movie in English is fine and quite funny but don't watch the German version. Keep out of it skunk"ö becomes I don't give a sh** in German. Any many other inappropriate lines in this movie. No idea who supervised this. Watch original version only and your kids will enjoy it.

This is a one-trick pony cartoon with a clever title and a sympathetic protagonist who begins to get on one's nerves only ten minutes into the cartoon.. Cartoons belong on the Cartoon Network for $10 a month, not $10 A PERSON in theaters (plus the cost of snacks). Wait for the cartoon to be on TV; it will get there days after it leaves the theater. Spend your time and money with your kids in a myriad of other and better ways. Take them to the beach or to the mountains. Get out of the house. DO SOMETHING WITH THEM. ANTHING. They will eventually come to appreciate it more than just watching a cartoon with you.

Overall this is an entertaining movie for children, however some of the dialogue is a little weird/troubling for a kids movie. Some examples, they talk about a skunk character "plugging themselves", and they have some additional reaction to that. Another example is the use of the word "masochist" at the end of the movie. There are other moments like this in the film as well that just seem out of place, so I had to knock off a couple stars in my rating.

Hamster of Darkness is a film that presents an intriguing premise with a certain charm, but it ultimately misses the mark in several ways. The concept of a hamster navigating a dark, mysterious world is unique and imaginative, offering a fresh take on the adventure genre. I found some of the characters to be endearing. The look of the film also has its moments, with a few visually striking scenes that hint at what could have been a more engaging experience.

However, despite these positives, the film struggles in several key areas. The plot is often confusing and lacks a clear direction, making it hard to stay invested. The story meanders without much sense of progression, and the narrative's attempts at depth sometimes come off as forced. Additionally, while the film's quirky concept is interesting, it doesn't fully capitalize on its potential, resulting in a somewhat underwhelming execution.

In conclusion, Hamster of Darkness offers a unique concept and some charming performances, but its lackluster plot, inconsistency, and occasionally awkward dialogue prevent it from being a truly memorable film. It's worth a watch for its creative premise, but don't expect a fully realized or polished experience.

Always a relief when they don't feel the need to name 5-8 big name actors in the trailer. Usually means the project is actually pretty good and love goes into it. A listers are so unnecessary especially for the kids. I'm watching with my niece and dad. Parts have made us laugh and she is enjoying it! Great watch with children.

Peter and Lapin are hare brothers searching for the Hamster of Darkness. While that quest comes up empty, Peter does find a baby and adopts Chickenhare. The baby is a hybrid of a chicken and a hare. Peter would become the greatest adventurer of the land and King. Chickenhare is often bullied for his oddity and fears being a disappointment to his father. To prove himself, he needs to recover the Hamster of Darkness and join the Royal Adventure Society. In order to get it, he needs a book from imprisoned uncle Lapin, but he inadvertently helps him escape. Lapin and his goons are ahead of him in the quest. Chickenhare and his turtle sidekick Abe recruit intrepid skunk Meg to join them.

This is an European animated film. I like the premise although the first act could be more simple. I like the three main characters and their designs. The animation is solid if not the most advanced. The no-name voice work could be better. I wonder if kids would sound better or more cartoonish voices. Now, I really love the pigs. They remind me of Angry Birds. Despite that, I really really love the pigs. It is all very good except one thing does keep bugging me. I don't like the name Chickenhare. First, Peter would never choose to name him that. It sounds like an insult nickname picked by his bullies. That's what Chickenhare should be. The French version seems to have named him Hopper. That sounds much better. Chickenhare does not roll off the tongue easily and it should be a name created by his bullies. Every time someone calls him that, it bugs me. Aside from that, this is a fun animated adventure for the family.

IN A NUTSHELL: This colorful animation is based on a comic book series by Chris Grine. The story is about a brave young animal explorer who teams up with two trusty friends to find a powerful artifact before his greedy uncle can get his paws on it. Eager to fit in and feel loved in spite of his differences, he is obsessed with adventuring in spite of his clumsiness. The film is directed by Ben Stassen and Benjamin Mousquet. The screenplay was written by David Collard.

I have 4 sons. One of them was obsessed with hamsters so, of course, we had plenty of hamsters over the years. He would have really enjoyed this movie when he was a little kid.

THINGS I LIKED: The animation is delightfully detailed and colorful. And the textures of things like wood and water are so impressive.

The voice talents include Jordan Tartakow (Chickenhare), Joe Ochman (Abe), Danny Fehsenfeld (Lapin), Mark Irons (Piggies), and Donte Paris.

The design of Abe the turtle, the royal servant, is totally adorable. I loved the entertaining touch of his constantly-changing hats. I had pet turtles for 25 years, so I guess I'm a little biased, but Abe had most of the funny lines too.

Inspired heavily by Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark, there are many scenes that are almost duplicated with a respectful nod to the classic. At one point, the turtle servant quips, "Darn tropes!" ha ha Adults will recognize some of the music inspired by other movies too. The Easter eggs come from movies like Moana, Angry Bird, Lion King, and even Star Wars The Empire Strikes Back!

Plenty of humor, both spoken and visual.

The animation design of the pig soldiers was ridiculously cute and original.

THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE: Not all of the voices seemed to match the characters.

A lot of the humor is geared towards adults. Many of the jokes, references, and vocabulary will go way over the heads of young kids.

I was hoping the hamsters were going to be cuter and more epic.

TIPS FOR PARENTS:

Bullying Animated violence in a bar scene and other locations Characters in perilous situations It's a kid's movie so, yeah, there is farting (from a skunk) No profanity. Instead, we hear words like "darn".

This movie is family-friendly for all ages.

THEMES: Self-identity and finding out what makes you special Confidence in one's self Courage Family Friendship Working together Using one's unique talents.

I loved it. Characters and animations are great, good story line, this movie has it all. It did seem a bit rushed though. Everything happened in a short amount time, so I have one recommendation: turn it into a series. My kids would love it turned into a series, they would watch it all day. And, quite frankly, so would i. Turn it into a series and i would give 10 stars.

I got very curious about this animated movie that I never even heard of so I decided to give this movie a try for myself.

Based on the graphic novels of Chickenhare. Some of the scenes of the movie including the whip almost have a similar feel to Indiana Jones but set in fantasy styled setting.

The movie looks colorful as I see fit. The details like the rain for example look absolutely decent. And most of the parts are a bit cartoony though.

I really like some of the character designs in the movie. Somehow some of the characters in the movie look a bit interesting like the skunk named Meg. Although she has pros like her martial arts style and her stench she did not absolutely bring much help during the pig tribe scene. While the villains like Lapin didn't have enough reasons why.

Although the movie has plot holes. I just really want to know how a chick and a hare can actually breed for some reason.

I feel like this needed to have a sequel though. There are so many plot holes and lore to cover up.

Like this is pretty good the idea of a bunny chicken is pretty original and seeing how bad kids movies are getting this is a reminder that some cartoon try to break that wall anywho I recommend it if u wanna turn ur brain off or something.

I'm a Dad, AND a Father. My wife and I raised our 2 daughters on Disney animated movies. At that time, 30 plus years ago, that was acceptable, BUT NOT today.

In Chickenhare, I found everything that I needed in a movie: It was entertaining, funny, had bad guys, clean for kids, but fun for adults, and the theme that the movie shared with us; that all of us need to embrace that we're different, and special, WAS NOT rammed down our throats, but given a Mary Poppins touch; "a spoon full of sugar helps the medicine go down".

Very well created; from animation, to actors, to screenplay!! Yougottasee.

This is a very fun movie with a well executed core theme. There is a lot of humor and the plot is engaging.

Animation is also top notch (and its budget is only 20 million euros, watch out, Pixar).

The story felt a little rushed on 2 occasions, but not anywhere near enough to take away from the joy of the movie. It certainly was the most enjoyable and fun movie I watched this year.

With how unique the main character is, there are a lot of opportunities for Chickenhare part 2. Getting deeper into the origin story of Chickenhare or finding his lost sibling would make for a good sequel.

A sequel (or even a trilogy) would also stay true to the original Chickenhare comics which exist in 3 volumes.

I do disagree though with an idea of creating a whole Chickenhare series of 20-40 minute episodes, I think that would leave a lot of potential of this movie's storyline unrealized, unlike a full length sequel.

I am or rather was quite surprised that the movie did not play in theatres. But I reckon there are way too many movies out there - and quite a few big ones who get most attention anyway. Right now you have Top Gun Maverick, Jurassic World 3 and fresh out is Thor 4. No place for even more movies I guess.

That being said, if you do like your animated movies filled with animals ... and with a message - well you could do far worse than this right here. And then you have ... well a mix of two animals. We see how it begins ... and it may have a message right there. That there is constant evolution, that things we think we know right now ... may not exist in the distant future.

It also shows and tells us, that we should be comfortable in our own skin (and feather/coat) - no pun intended. The movie can be fun, even more so if you watch it as a kid or with kids around. You'll see them be excited and it may make you more excited about this too.

Nicely drawn and a story that flows like it should. Of course predictable, but if you are not too much of a cynic (or can repress it like I do with movies like this one), you will have fun watching it.

This is just an awesome movie. A very fun and wholesome adventure with a good message, the best movie I watched in a long time.

I really hope there will be Chickenhare Part 2.