Hoppers (film)
A college student hops into a robotic beaver to save nature.
Hoppers is a 2026 American animated science fiction comedy film directed by Daniel Chong from a screenplay by Jesse Andrews and a story by Chong and Andrews. Produced by Pixar Animation Studios for Walt Disney Pictures, the film follows Mabel Tanaka, an animal-loving college student who transfers her consciousness into a robotic beaver to communicate with animals and save their habitat from destruction, inadvertently sparking an uprising among them. The film premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Los Angeles on February 23, 2026, and was released theatrically in the United States on March 6, receiving positive reviews and grossing $389.7 million worldwide.
- Release year
- 2026
- Director
- Daniel Chong
- Screenplay by
- Jesse Andrews
- Production company
- Pixar Animation Studios
- Distributor
- Walt Disney Pictures
- Composer
- Mark Mothersbaugh
- End credits song
- Save the Day by SZA
Lore & Background
Chong began developing Hoppers after returning to Pixar in December 2020, and the project was officially announced in August 2024. The film stars Piper Curda as Mabel Tanaka, Bobby Moynihan as King George, Jon Hamm as Mayor Jerry Generazzo, Kathy Najimy as Dr. Sam Fairfax, and Dave Franco as Titus. The plot follows Mabel from age six, when she is suspended for freeing class pets, through her college years, where she discovers the Hoppers program that allows humans to inhabit robotic animals. She uses a robotic beaver to infiltrate the animal world, befriends beaver monarch King George, and inadvertently inspires the Animal Council to attempt assassinating the mayor.
Reader's Guide
Hoppers represents Pixar's continued exploration of environmental themes and human-animal relationships, blending comedy with science fiction. The film's development spanned six years, with Chong citing nature documentaries using robot animals, Avatar, and Isao Takahata's Pom Poko as influences. The voice cast includes a diverse ensemble, with Piper Curda leading as the Japanese-American protagonist. The film's commercial success and positive critical reception solidified its place in Pixar's 2020s output. Its narrative, involving a young woman's reckless but well-intentioned actions leading to unintended consequences, offers a cautionary tale about human interference in nature. The film also features original music by Mark Mothersbaugh and an end credits song by SZA.
Did You Know?
- The film's end credits song 'Save the Day' was written and performed by SZA.
- Heidi Klum voiced the character Diane in the German dub, renamed Hai-Di.
- The film grossed $389.7 million worldwide.
- Chong cited Isao Takahata's Pom Poko as a major influence on Hoppers.
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