Netflix's new animated film "Swapped" presents a familiar formula to young viewers by applying the body-swapping concept to animal characters. While Michael B. Jordan's return to the screen (in voice only) after his Oscar-winning role in "Sinners" and Juno Temple's performance are the main attractions of the film, a similarly themed film titled "Hoppers" was released earlier. Nevertheless, "Swapped" manages to stand out with its impressive visual animation and solid storytelling.

Directed by Nathan Greno (his first feature directing effort since the 2010 film "Tangled"), the film takes place in a fictional world called the "Valley" inhabited by forest animals known as "Pookoo." In the film, a curious Pookoo character named Ollie (Michael B. Jordan) encounters characters of a bird species called Javan and other creatures while trying to explore by breaking the Valley's rules. Ollie swaps bodies with a Javan named Ivy (Juno Temple) after falling into a "shimmering pod," and despite their natural enmity, they must work together to survive.

In the film, Ollie and Ivy team up with a fish character named Boogle (Tracy Morgan). Thanks to its fun transformations, fast pacing, and surprising twists, "Swapped" avoids becoming bogged down by heavy messages. While the content offers valuable lessons about the importance of harmony between species, the film conveys this in a light and fluid manner, maintaining a child-friendly perspective.

The film's computer animations are particularly dazzling in their depiction of green and vibrant environments. The character designs also provide a cute and appealing look. While Jordan and Temple's voice performances are adequate, Tracy Morgan steals the show with his humorous and charming portrayal of the fish character. The live-action actor, who has a military appearance, could consider participating in animation projects more frequently.

"Swapped" is a 102-minute production rated PG. The screenplay is written by John Whittington, Christian Magalhaes, and Robert Snow, featuring names like Cedric the Entertainer, Justina Machado, Ambika Mod, and Lolly Adefope. Set to be released on Netflix on May 1, the film manages to perform better than a familiar story structure.