A Look at “Hoppers”: Pixar’s Charming and Heartfelt Story Celebrating Nature and Love
Pixar’s upcoming animated feature, Hoppers, was first hinted at in a post-credit scene from the 2025 film Elio. While the two stories differ, Hoppers promises a blend of humor and poignant moments, staying true to Pixar’s tradition of emotional storytelling. Inspired by Chris Sanders’ The Wild Robot, the film explores the relationship between technology and the natural world.
The story centers on Mabel, voiced by Piper Curda, who has always had a passion for caring for animals—even when her good intentions land her in trouble. After one of these incidents, she spends time with her grandmother (Karen Huie) and discovers a serene glade that deepens her commitment to conservation.
Years later, Mabel finds herself in college, battling Mayor Jerry Generazzo, portrayed by Jon Hamm, over plans to expand the city into previously untouched wildlife areas. Notably, his proposals threaten her grandmother’s cherished glade.
While attending Beaverton University, Mabel encounters innovative technology known as Hoppers, developed by Dr. Sam (Kathy Najimy), Nisha (Aparna Nancherla), and Conner (Sam Richardson). This technology enables users to transfer their consciousness into lifelike robotic creatures, mimicking real animals. The film draws parallels to James Cameron’s Avatar both visually and through dialogue.
Mabel’s adventure begins when she enters the body of a beaver, setting the stage for discussions on technology’s role in conservation and humanity’s impact on the environment.
As Mabel navigates her new life as a beaver, she meets a variety of creatures on her quest to establish a new beaver population, which is essential for the glade’s ecosystem. Among her allies is King George, voiced by Bobby Moynihan, who leads a sanctuary for displaced animals. Mabel’s team also includes a memorable cast of characters, such as the laid-back beaver Loaf (Eduardo Franco), the spirited Tom Lizard (Tom Law), and the gruff grizzly Ellen (Melissa Villaseñor). Although Tom Lizard is heavily featured in the marketing, his screen time is limited.
The story also introduces an animal council, reminiscent of an Avengers assembly, with various kings and queens from different species. Notably, the Insect Queen (Meryl Streep) showcases a surprising fierceness, echoed by her whimsically chaotic son, Insect Prince Titus (Eman Abdul-Razzak), who later transforms into a butterfly voiced by Dave Franco.
Without giving too much away, the film’s central conflict stems from the interplay between technological advancement and its underlying motives, as well as the tensions between humans and animals. The consequences of misusing technology highlight critical themes of shortsightedness and efficiency versus sustainability.
The narrative resonates with contemporary discussions surrounding artificial intelligence, particularly when the mayor’s proposed beltway promises to save commuters just four minutes. Hoppers adeptly examines these complex issues from multiple perspectives, emphasizing the nuanced nature of trust.
Title: Hoppers
Distributor: Disney
Release date: March 6, 2026
Director: Daniel Chong
Screenwriter: Jesse Andrews (from a story by Daniel Chong and Jesse Andrews)
Cast: Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Sam Richardson, Aparna Nancherla, Tom Law, Dave Franco, Meryl Streep, Karen Huie, Ego Nwodim, Isaiah Whitlock Jr, Eman Abdul-Razzak, Vanessa Bayer.
Rating: PG
Running time: 1 hr 45 mins
