The Wasteland Reviewer

Hoppers (2026) Written Review

What if Pixar made their own version of Avatar? This is certainly a bit of low-hanging fruit in terms of humor. The trailer for Hoppers (and the film itself) already makes this joke. The whole internet has been discussing similarities since that first trailer dropped. We are not bringing anything fresh to the table outside or bringing some added attention Hoppers way. A college age woman who has been in love with nature her whole life finds her way into a strange experiment to save her local watering hole for the animals that live there. Her mind is transferred into a robotic beaver body, and she must befriend the animals to save the nature around Beavertown. 

Does Pixar newcomer Daniel Chong bring a fresh new take on the Pixar formula? Chong certainly does as he injects the wildly fun vibes of his own work, We Bare Bears, into the fold. Hoppers have a bit of unhinged personality and energy we are not used to in Pixar films, but it is a welcome breath of fresh air. The humor is a little bit more abstract and weird giving Hoppers a sharp and unique personality amongst the Pixar catalogs. The pacing is filled with energy and over the 105 minutes of the film, you are never going to get bored. The film does a great job of balancing all types of energy, feelings, and emotions. There are some genuine heartwarming and heartbreaking moments along the way (especially tied to Mabel (our protagonist) and her grandmother). There are even some elements of the film that are borderline terrifying for a kid’s movie. You can tell Chong has a vision (which is quite absurd) and has no problem pushing the limits of his audience. The animation is vibrant and textured with plenty of fun exaggerations of physicality throughout the film. 

How do the story and script shape up? First off, the dialogue in this film is so sharp, funny, and clever. Hoppers will have you laughing quite a bit throughout the film. The scenes and structure of the film are leveraged for some good sight gags as well. The thematic work is rich and meaningful. Mabel is a warrior for Mother Nature from the opening scene (about a class pet breakout orchestrated by Mabel alone). The ideas of compromising and working together to elevate your community are a powerful one as Mabel navigates her tumultuous relationship with Mayor Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm). The idea of community and being part of something bigger than yourself plays perfectly throughout the film. The “world-building” is quite impactful as well with all types of critters included (one animal will shock you in the most unhinged way). The dynamics amongst nature in the film are quite sharp and interesting as well. Mabel’s journey of finding new family and connection hits so well as she also attempts to bridge the gap between humans and animals. The true antagonist of the film and their plot is a little overblown, but it still plays for good laughs with how over-the-top and bonkers the humor is.

How does the voice cast accentuate the experience? At the heart of it, Piper Curda does a great job humanizing and exploring the character of Mabel who we connect with and care about. Bobby Moynihan has plenty of experience with Chong’s work and channels his brand of charm and energy as the beaver, King George, who is one of the biggest highlights of the film. Hamm is an absolute delight as the oddly charming and despicable mayor of the town. King of the Hill alum Kathy Najimy is a good anchoring presence as the scientist behind this crazy experiment. Dave Franco is unhinged and hilarious as Titus, a crazy and cruel caterpillar who is up to no good. The rest of the supporting cast is filled with great newcomers and familiar names. But a special shoutout to Karen Huie who is charming, sweet, and strong as Grandma Tanaka (she is not in it much but makes quite the impression). 

Is Hoppers a nice win for Pixar? This is a breath of fresh air for this animation studio and in the best way possible. Newfound energy and a fresh sense of humor make Hoppers standout in this full filmography of Pixar. Chong has plenty of promises at the studio and we should all be looking forward to seeing what he delivers next.