Top 5 Things We Learned About ‘Hoppers’ at Pixar Animation Studios

Walking into Pixar was genuinely energizing in the best way – bright, welcoming, and quietly buzzing with creativity. Every conversation, from casual hallway chats to deeper discussions about story and process, revealed just how intentionally the studio nurtures ideas and the people behind them.

Leaving the studio always leaves me feeling inspired, informed, and just a bit envious of the incredible work that goes into every frame. These five takeaways are just the highlights I can share for now, but they’re only a small part of what I learned during my time at Pixar. There’s much more to unpack, and I’m looking forward to sharing additional insights and stories in the near future.

1. HOPPERS WAS ORIGINALLY ABOUT PENGUINS

Director Daniel Chong had 4 goals when creating his film.

• Comedy forward
• Epic and ambitious
• Thematically relevant
• About penguins!

That’s right, the original story pitch for Hoppers was a very involved story based on the idea that penguins were disappearing. The ‘hopping’ technology was similar, and the original story gained an added mystery and adventure.

Chong shared, “We originally had it as a globetrotting movie.  ‘Cause, you know, we looked at, like, Mission: Impossible and spy thrillers like that, so.  And I remember we were very lucky during the pandemic, we got to work with Damon Lindelof from Lost.

And he did a session with me just hanging out, and I pitched him through the movie.  And that was the one thing that he was very adamant about.  It’s like, “The movie’s too big.  Just make it a local area that, you know, the movie’s based on.”  He was right ’cause it really simplified, made the movie more manageable to write.  So yeah.“

In the end, Pete Docter guided Chong and his team away from penguins as the main characters, with Chong landing on the idea of casting the engineers of the ecosystem, beavers.

2. VIRAL TOM LIZARD SCENE

Who would’ve thought a derpy little lizard typing ‘lizard’ emojis into a phone would be comedy gold? Well, Pixar story artist Hannah Roman must have, because according to Director Daniel Chong, she was the genius behind the gag.

This short clip was featured after the end credits of Elio and had everyone talking about Hoppers! The moment went viral with everyone on the internet wondering who is that lizard?

Pixar answered (shown below), his name is Tom, and he is just as goofy as one of the woodland animals in Hoppers as he was in his viral breakout scene.

3. EASTER EGGS SPOTTED

Now I know all you Pixar fans are just waiting to know what Easter Eggs may be hidden in Hoppers. Well, while I was unable to spot the famed Pizza Planet Truck on my first viewing, I did spot the Luxo ball.

Thanks to Producer Nicole Paradis Grindle and Director Daniel Chong, they helped give clues on where you can spot some fun Easter Eggs.

The Pixar ball is found in the opening scene; you’ll spot the Pixar lamp and a nod to Finding Nemo.

In Mabel’s room, be on the lookout for an unannounced Toy Story 5 character, the 3 bears from Director Daniel Chong’s show ‘We Bare Bears’, a skeleton from Coco, and perhaps more.

4. THE LATE RALPH EGGLESTON DID SOME CONCEPT WORK ON HOPPERS

The filmmakers shared how Ralph Eggleston’s creative fingerprints touched Hoppers. The late Pixar artist/production designer, whose distinctive sense of color, scale, and emotional composition helped define films like Toy Story and WALL•E, contributed concept art during the early stages of Hoppers.

We hope his work will be showcased in the Art of Hoppers book, set to be released on February 10, 2026.

5. ALL ABOUT VISUALS

The visual effects work in Hoppers leans heavily into natural elements, using them not just as spectacle but as extensions of the story’s emotional rhythm. From the layered foliage, dappled lighting techniques, pushed proportions, to the felted-wool look of the beavers, these artists are a masterclass in their craft.

During our meeting with Production Designer Bryn Imagire and Visual Effects Supervisor Beth Albright, they shared that there were about 200 technical artists in 9 departments. Their collaboration under one roof is what really sets Pixar apart.

The crowd simulation artists in Hoppers had their hands full, as the cast of background characters is plentiful. From the woodland creatures, geese, fish, and the approximately 413 seagulls, the team created to lift Diane, the Great White Shark, out of the water!

From early concept art to visual effects, crowd work, and collaborative workflows, these five takeaways show every detail is crafted with care. Making Pixar films truly resonate with their audience.