There’s an unspoken promise that comes with every Pixar film: heart, humor, and a story that resonates beyond the final frame. With Hoppers, the studio exceeds those expectations and boldly turns the page to a fresh new era.
There’s a boldness to Hoppers, with a playful yet meaningful tone and a visual style that feels fresh while rooted in Pixar’s storytelling DNA. What makes the film stand out even more is the filmmakers’ willingness to take risks. They weren’t shy about pushing the comedic boundaries, leaning into humor that the audiences might not expect. All the while, ultimately steering the story toward a thriller-tinged finale that raises the emotional stakes and gives the audience a perfect Pixar teary ending.
The result is a film that feels both daringly new and comfortingly familiar — a rare balance that speaks to Pixar’s evolving creative confidence.
Hoppers follows animal-lover Mabel (Piper Curda), who seizes an opportunity to use a new technology to “hop” her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver and communicate directly with animals.
As she uncovers mysteries in the animal world beyond anything she could have imagined, Mabel befriends a charismatic beaver, King George (Bobby Moynihan), and must rally the entire animal kingdom to face a major imminent human-threat: smooth-talking local mayor Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm).
The storyline is straightforward and pulls you in from the opening scene, where we meet a young Mabel as she attempts to free the various class pets in her elementary school. The heartwarming and humorous scene is paced to perfection. From the begining Mabel caused a bit of chaos. Albeit it wasn’t mean-spirited but an endearing girl whose compassion is bigger than her understanding of consequences. This theme of chaos, compassion, and consequence will continue throughout the film.
COMEDY & ACTION
The filmmakers did a phenomenal job in creating a comedy-forward film, “The thing that always guided us was the comedy and the characters,” explains director Daniel Chong. “That was what we chased the hardest. We knew it was our team’s strong suit, and we made sure early on to establish a unique comedic tone with fun characters to build everything on.”
Producer Nicole Paradis Grindle notes, “We wanted it (Hoppers) to have emotion and feature a ton of action too. It’s even a thriller when you get to the final scenes. But the humor was the initial key, since it brings people in. It’s an amazing story to tell in animation, this idea that we can see into that animal world and enjoy animals, as animals.”
There are so many unexpected scenes that truly make you laugh out loud, without giving anything away. Think of the Inside Out 2 scene with Anger and Pouchy – comedy gold, and Hoppers definitely has a lot of those unexpected comedic moments.
RELATIONSHIPS & HEART
While the film steers with laughs, that doesn’t mean that the heart takes a backseat. The relationship with Mabel and King George is about as heartwarming as any Pixar duo. With the vocal work done by Bobby Moynihan standing out as warm and honest – truly, after you watch Hoppers, King George may become one of your all-time favorite Pixar characters, especially with his signature quote of “We’re all in this together.”
According to Chong, “I feel so lucky to reunite with Bobby on the movie. We worked for six years together on ‘We Bare Bears,’ so we already had a built-in comfortability. Having him by my side was such a grounding thing, and made directing this gigantic movie not feel so daunting. It could feel like we just picked up where we left off. Everyone knows Bobby’s hilarious. But on top of all that, he has this undeniable sweetness and earnestness in his voice you just root for–and makes you love him. But he can also play it very broad and zany, too. His ability to balance these things is what makes him such a talented and brilliant performer.”
THE WHOLE TEAM
The main characters aren’t the only ones who shine; the supporting cast leaves an equally memorable impression. A lively ensemble of woodland creatures injects the story with texture and personality, each adding their own quirks, humor, and unexpected moments of heart. Even a Great White Shark named Diane manages to steal scenes, her presence both hilarious and oddly endearing.
A roadblock arrives in the form of Titus, the demanding and unyielding insect king whose small stature is sharply contrasted by his outsized ego and hunger for control. Despite his size, Titus commands attention every time he’s on screen, ruling with a chaotic intensity that disrupts the fragile balance of the world around him.
His reign isn’t just noisy or comedic — it carries real consequences. The unpredictability of his decisions injects the story with volatile energy, pushing the narrative into darker, more suspenseful territory. In its final act, the film leans fully into that tension, raising the stakes in a way that may startle younger viewers but ultimately demonstrates the studio’s willingness to stretch its tonal boundaries.
No Pixar film would feel complete without a heartfelt resolution, and Hoppers delivers one that feels both earned and satisfying. The filmmakers carefully tie together the relationship between King George and Mabel, even showcasing Mabel’s growth.
Perhaps the clearest sign of the film’s success lies in its rewatchability, which is how we always rate our love of a Pixar film. From the characters, comedic beats, and visual details, by the time the screen fades to black, you’re not just satisfied — you’re eager to dive back into the world again, experiencing the joy, laughter, and thrills all over.
Hoppers hits theaters March 6, 2026.
YOUR THOUGHTS
So, what did you think of HOPPERS? Once you see the film, leave a comment below, or rate and chat about it with other Pixar fans in the Pixar Post Forum thread reviewing the film.
