Swapped

Swapped Review: An adorable, joyful neo-classic

Brighton Nelson

01 May 2026 — 4 min read

I don't usually expect much from Netflix originals, especially when they're seemingly self-advertised as a top 10 film. However, the animation looked really cute, I was intrigued that they convinced Michael B. Jordan to be in it, and the Rotten Tomatoes scores weren't half bad. So, I pressed play on this during my dentist appointment and saw what it was all about. Thanks for joining me today on The Reel Ranker, and I hope you enjoy your time on the site!

Let's start with the negatives. There aren't really any major negatives here, but there are still some minor inconveniences to discuss. One, it has a completely unnecessary chase intro and jump to a flashback, where it should've just had a normal opening in the past. Two, the film does that kiddy, Netflix-y thing where it feels the need to redescribe elements multiple times to make sure everybody is understanding the plot (or to reexplain for social media addicts who can't watch a movie without scrolling). Three, this isn't a Pixar movie: there's no rich-themes-palooza here... The film is very surface-level and could've used a bit more depth. Fourth, the film was a tad inconsistent in its rules about understanding other species, which was a little jarring. This may not have stood out to anyone else, but it had me a bit confused.

Those are all the flaws I have with this film, and none of them really detracted all that much from how much I enjoyed this film, because it was an absolute blast! This is easily the best Netflix original movie I've seen in a while. While I don't think it'll be in my top five by the end of the year, I would honestly be completely happy to see this be nominated for Best Animated Picture by the end of the year! Many people are calling this film a weaker Hoppers, but I feel that's a complete bastardization of what makes this film so great.

The premise here is that there are special bulbs that 1) allow animals to swap places and 2) enable interspecies communication. While body-swapping is a common narrative strategy, the way it mixed up the dynamics here felt fresh. This is certainly helped by just how great the creature designs are: these aren't just normal animals. Every animal is a beautifully cute yet simple OC, and this really elevates the film above those with just generic animals.

Speaking of, the characters here aren't just cool-looking: they're also super fun and have more depth than I was expecting! Ollie, Ivy, and Boogle were an awesome trio that felt like an authentic, newly blossoming friendship. Every supporting character has a great place here, too! I especially love the wolf father-son duo—they stole the show when they were on screen.

Above all, the story was my favorite element. It's a simple adventure where two enemies unite the forest against the Firewolf once they realize their animosity was rooted in misunderstanding. The film also had two great plot twists: one was pretty obvious, but executed well on an emotional level and added depth to the plot; the other was one of those rare plot twists that you can't see coming at all, but feels so obvious and like a natural evolution of the story in a satisfying way. I was equal parts floored and devastated when it rolled around... I seriously never expected a near-10/10 plot twist from this film.

Lastly, the animation and music were absolutely incredible. I was completely immersed and hooked into this adorable world! It's not groundbreaking, sure, but it's incredible nonetheless. The music really adds to the whimsy, making it all the more awesome.

Usually I have some variety in my pictures, but the promotional materials look awesome.

The Reel Ranker Verdict

Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 78%
Letter Score: A
Star Ranking: 4 out of 5

Swapped isn't perfect, it isn't groundbreaking, or whatever. But who gives a crap: this film is unbridled joy. Its awe-striking animation, cute characters, unexpected plot twists, and fun story all contribute to a neo-classic of the animation space that I really hope gets the hype it deserves.

Interested in checking out my reviews for some other animated flicks? Look no further!