Hoppers ★★★★★

Released: 6th March 2026

Director: Daniel Chong

Starring: Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, Jon Hamm, Dave Franco, Meryl Streep

It’s incredible to think that Hoppers – Pixar’s 30th film and latest original outing to hit the big screen – was originally one of Daniel Chong’s unlikeliest pitches to the beloved animation studio, with the debut director admitting he added the idea as more of “a joke that I threw in there at the end.” Inspired by nature documentaries that utilise robotic technology to offer an inside look at wildlife behaviour, the We Bare Bears creator takes this central concept and frames it through a hilarious undercover-mission lens. And for a project born from such a left-field inclusion, Hoppers is a genuine hoot – and one of Pixar’s best (and most important) original instalments in years.

When the once wildlife-rich glade that 19-year-old animal lover Mabel (Piper Curda) cherished visiting with her inspiring Grandma Tanaka (Karen Huie) is threatened by Mayor Jerry’s (Jon Hamm) latest destructive infrastructure project, she hijacks groundbreaking scientific technology from the ‘Hoppers’ programme, going undercover as a lifelike robotic beaver in an attempt to unite the animal inhabitants to reclaim their habitat. 

Daniel Chong’s directorial debut is one of Pixar’s wackiest films yet, as this literal walk on the wild side fully embraces a raft of unabashedly zany worldbuilding, laugh-out-loud gags, and some of the most bonkers set pieces the studio has committed to screen. There are animals with tiny crowns, a car-chase assassination mission that feels like a crossover between Jaws and The Birds, comedic squishes, hints at “the twig wars,” and one of the most hilarious uses of text-to-speech and emojis yet. It’s certainly the studio’s funniest instalment in years. And yet, writers Daniel Chong and Jesse Andrews pull off the almost impossible, successfully balancing heart and humour with an incredibly important, Studio Ghibli-esque environmental message that harks back to Pixar’s golden age.

It certainly helps that viewers are fully immersed in a colourful world packed with charming, incredibly lovable characters, with Mabel quickly befriending beavers King George (Bobby Moynihan) and Loaf (Eduardo Franco), grizzly bear Ellen (Melissa Villaseñor), and the brilliant Tom Lizard (yes, really), voiced by Tom Law. This ragtag bunch harks back to animated favourites such as Over the Hedge, Open Season, and Madagascar, with the familiar setup quickly establishing its central conflict. Meanwhile, the Up-inspired opening – which delves into Mabel’s core dynamic with her Grandma Tanaka and the glade – acts as the emotional heart of the film’s stakes.

This heartwarming intergenerational relationship is deeply relatable, and it’s here that Mabel’s Grandma teaches her about the beauty and calming power of nature, helping to quieten her rebellious spirit while nurturing her love of the outdoors. “It’s hard to be angry when you feel like you’re part of something big,” Mabel often reminds herself – a wonderful message of empathy and connectivity that feels like an incredibly timely reminder for viewers, too.

Emerging as a spiritual successor to a Studio Ghibli outing, Hoppers is a unique walk on the wild side that reminds us we’re part of something far bigger – and far more important – than ourselves, and something we have a responsibility to protect for future generations. Chong and the creative team perfectly capture the environmental crossroads we currently face as a species, particularly at a time when people are increasingly disconnected from nature and green spaces continue to shrink under the pressure of overdevelopment.

While this thematic focus may feel heavy for younger viewers, it’s handled with remarkable care, attention, and heartfelt humour. Similarly themed animated instalments such as FernGully: The Last Rainforest, Pocahontas, and Princess Mononoke can often lean toward emotional heaviness, but the warmth and wit of Hoppers make it one of the most effective – and accessible – examples of its kind in recent years.

The adorable, visually distinct animation style certainly lends itself to the cause, with the animation studio noticeably upping its game when it comes to character design and the incredible detailing across fur, feathers, scales, and varied environments. The creative team also introduce a clever visual cue to distinguish between human and animal points of view, subtly shifting animals’ appearances from more realistic black eyes to larger, anthropomorphised ones. There are also plenty of fun Pixar Easter eggs dotted throughout, too – from the inclusion of the blue birds from the Pixar short For the Birds, to a Finding Nemo nod in the form of a turtle named Crush, and a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it reference to a certain collar from Up.

Joyfully unhinged yet incredibly timely, Hoppers is one of Pixar’s most unique and confident original outings in years. Blending riotous comedy with real emotional stakes, Daniel Chong’s impressive debut delivers a powerful environmental message told through the perspectives of a whole new bunch of loveable characters. It’s an absurd but delightful adventure – and a reminder of how excellent Pixar can be when the studio actually takes a bold creative leap. Consider us fully hopped on board!