Product Info

Studio

Pixar

Director

Daniel Chong

Genre

Adventure, Animation, Comedy

Rated

PG

Theatrical Release Date (NA)

Mar 6, 2026

Film Length

1hr 45min

Purchase From

Hoppers is the latest Pixar film to hit theaters. It offers a colorful, well-animated, witty comedy adventure, with an unexpectedly tender-hearted relationship between humans and animals. Both children and adults will enjoy their time with this film.

Saving Nature

© 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Directed by Daniel Chong (We Bare Bears, Bolt), Hoppers follows a 19-year-old animal lover named Mabel, voiced by Piper Curda (I Didn’t Do It, May December), who is trying to prevent Mayor Jerry, voiced by Jon Hamm (Mad Men, The Town), and his construction crew from tearing through the city’s local nature park. Mayor Jerry claims there are no animals living in the area, but Mabel aims to bring back the animals. After failed attempts to save the park, Mabel uncovers a project in which her college professor and team discovered how to “hop” human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, enabling people to communicate with animals as animals. Without hesitation, Mabel jumps into the lifelike beaver to restore the habitat to the park and stop the construction. The film takes some time to start rolling as it builds up Mabel’s character from her childhood to the present, but the storytelling is necessary for viewers to understand Mabel’s personality and beliefs.

From there, her world turns upside down into a chaotic journey through the animal kingdom. Watching her reactions as she navigates her situation within the community of nature brings serious moments and big laughs. Mabel’s first confrontation with King George, voiced by Bobby Moynihan (Inside Out 2, IF), the beaver who rules the area, brings unexpected moments, both comical and emotional. The relationship building between these two carries heartbreaking and heartwarming moments, making King George a pivotal supporting character. Other characters such as the bear, another beaver who was originally to be eaten by the bear from this group, and the lizard bring a strong supporting cast during Mabel’s journey. Also, there’s Pond Rules, a set of rules that stay on course with nature, which gives a moment of real-life such as being eaten but with a comical topping to it. 

© 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

The film focuses on environmental issues and takes cues from Avatar, though Hoppers explains their scientific project of “hopping” is nothing like it, trying to poke fun at itself before the audience tries to compare it to the Academy Award-winning film. There are twists and turns within the story and Mabel’s interactions and goals that make it stand on its own as an original story when the audience will try to compare it to Avatar and other similar story films. There are dark moments when things get serious within the nature community, but the film does a great job delivering them with a side of good laughs to keep it positive while touching on real-life issues that continue to exist today. For example, humans pushing constructions into the wildlife and how it affects the animals there. Yes, there are some predictable moments, but with the twists and fun moments, you forget to think about the predictable scenes and just want to watch for the fun of it.

Everything about Hoppers is entertaining and delivers a lot of fun and laughs. Due to how well Pixar’s classic films once were (Toy Story, WALL-E) and its latest original films have not hit the same vibe since 2020, viewers may have set the bar too high and not give Hoppers the chance it deserves. Go into this with a fresh mind and no comparisons, you’ll enjoy your stay.

A Thing of Beauty

© 2026 Disney/Pixar. All Rights Reserved.

Pixar’s talent for animation shines in Hoppers. The beautiful nature landscapes feel like a moving painting, with the grass animating so elegantly that you forget it’s animated. The lighting effects from night to day are fantastic. Additionally the animal designs are cute and fun to watch. The pupils of the animals change depending on how they are viewed. When Mabel is in the robotic beaver or understands them with a communication device, the animals’ pupils look more cartoon-like. To outsiders who can’t understand their language, the animals have black beady eyes, which helps children understand the interactions between animals and humans. Humans look visually better than in previous films like Elio and Luca, where they had the bean mouth style.

The voice work is excellent, capturing the energy and emotional moments perfectly. Piper’s voice as Mabel conveys her excitement when she can finally understand every living creature. Dave Franco’s voice brings diabolic energy, while Meryl Streep’s voice as the Insect Queen exudes threatening vibes. Kathy Najimy as Dr. Sam is also great, portraying constant exhaustion in dealing with Mabel in a lifelike manner. The cast does a great job to make this film fun to watch.

The film’s soundtrack, composed by Mark Mothersbaugh (A Minecraft Movie, Thor: Ragnarok), continues to provide great scores for Pixar’s latest film. The scores are beautiful and whimsical, along with playful tones, and capture the moments perfectly. Even during intense scenes like when a giant shark is flown in for an offensive attack.

The Final Hop

Hoppers is a colorful, funny, and a dam surprisingly heartwarming adventure that continues to showcase Pixar’s ability to create emotionally deep and visually stunning family films. 

An early screening was viewed for this review. Hoppers arrives in theaters on March 6, 2026. An early screening was viewed for this review. Hoppers arrives in theaters on March 6, 2026. Fans can visit the movie’s official website for tickets and info.