Pixar is back with another original movie, and this time the studio is taking us into the animal world.
Hoppers is a 2026 animated comedy-adventure from Pixar that asks a fun question: what if humans could put their consciousness inside robotic animals and communicate with real animals?
It sounds strange at first, but that is exactly what makes the movie interesting.
The story follows Mabel Tanaka, a young animal lover who gets the chance to use a new technology called “Hoppers.” The technology allows a person’s consciousness to move into a lifelike robotic animal.
Mabel chooses a robotic beaver and enters the animal world herself.
And from there, things get much crazier.
What Is Hoppers About?
Mabel is deeply passionate about animals and cares about protecting their homes. When the natural area she grew up around is threatened by a human development project, she decides to do something about it.
With the help of Dr. Sam’s technology, Mabel becomes a robotic beaver and enters the animal kingdom.
This gives her something humans normally don’t have: a chance to see how animals actually live and communicate.
She eventually meets King George, a larger-than-life beaver who leads the pond community. Mabel has to gain the animals’ trust while also dealing with a much bigger threat.
Pixar describes the movie as a story about Mabel rallying the animal kingdom against an imminent human threat.
And honestly, I think the basic idea is one of the strongest things about the movie.
The Idea Behind Hoppers Is Really Fun
One thing I like about Hoppers is that it doesn’t feel like Pixar simply repeating one of its older formulas.
The idea of putting a human mind inside a robotic beaver is ridiculous in the best possible way.
It gives the movie plenty of opportunities for comedy, because Mabel has to suddenly behave like an animal while still thinking like a human.
There is also a bigger question underneath all the jokes.
How would humans behave if they could actually communicate with animals?
Would we understand them better?
Would animals understand us?
And would humans finally realize how much damage we can cause to the natural world?
The movie uses those questions without turning itself into a serious environmental lecture.
Mabel Is a Good Main Character
Mabel is probably the part of the movie that holds everything together.
She is passionate, stubborn and willing to take risks because she genuinely cares about animals.
I also like that she isn’t presented as someone who has everything figured out.
She can be impatient, and her frustration with humans sometimes gets the better of her.
That makes her feel more like a real teenager rather than the perfect animated hero.
When she becomes a beaver, her personality doesn’t disappear. Instead, the situation forces her to look at the world differently.
That gives the character a nice emotional journey.
King George Steals the Show
If there is one character who could easily become a fan favorite, I would put my money on King George.
He is the leader of the pond and takes his job very seriously.
But he is also funny, optimistic and slightly ridiculous.
Pixar describes George as a beaver who believes in working together and has created his own set of “Pond Rules” to keep the community together.
That combination works.
He isn’t just there to make jokes. He represents the animal community Mabel is trying to understand.
And putting Mabel’s impatient personality next to George’s more optimistic approach creates some entertaining moments.
The Animation Looks Great
This is Pixar, so the animation was never going to be a major concern for me.
The animal world is colorful and full of detail, and the movie gives Pixar plenty of opportunities to show what it can do with forests, rivers, animals and robotic technology.
What I particularly like about the concept is that the movie can move between the human world and the animal world without feeling visually limited.
The robotic animals also give the filmmakers a chance to create action scenes that would be difficult to pull off in a normal animal story.
The Comedy Works
One of the things critics have responded positively to is the movie’s humor.
Hoppers doesn’t appear to be trying to be a slow, emotional Pixar drama. It is much more energetic and unpredictable.
Variety described it as an out-of-the-box critter comedy and highlighted its unusual energy.
That is a good description.
The movie has talking animals, a human consciousness inside a robotic beaver, an animal government and plenty of strange situations.
So it makes sense that the comedy is a little wild.
Personally, I think that works in the movie’s favor.
But the Story Can Get a Little Crazy
This is probably where I have my biggest issue with Hoppers.
The movie has a lot of ideas.
Environmental protection.
Human-animal communication.
Robotic technology.
Animal politics.
Comedy.
Action.
Family.
And a larger threat involving the future of the animal kingdom.
All of those ideas can work individually.
The problem is that putting so many of them together can make the story feel a little messy.
Some critics have also pointed out that the plot can become hectic. Rotten Tomatoes’ collection of early reviews includes praise for the movie’s unpredictable storytelling, while some critics felt the large amount of world-building made the story less coherent.
For me, that’s not necessarily a dealbreaker.
I would rather watch an animated movie take a few crazy chances than play everything completely safe.
It Feels Like a Good Family Movie
I think this is where Hoppers could work particularly well.
Children can enjoy the talking animals, comedy and action.
Adults can pick up on the environmental themes and the questions about how humans treat nature.
That balance has always been one of Pixar’s strengths.
The movie is rated PG and has a runtime of about 1 hour and 44 minutes, so it also isn’t an especially long commitment.
Is Hoppers Worth Watching?
Yes.
If you’re a Pixar fan, I think Hoppers is worth giving a chance.
It has an unusual premise, likable characters and enough comedy to keep the movie moving.
More importantly, it feels like Pixar is willing to take another creative swing rather than simply depending on an established franchise.
That’s something I appreciate.
Not every idea needs to become a masterpiece.
Sometimes you just want an animated movie that gives you something different.
And Hoppers certainly does that.
My Rating for Hoppers
For me, Hoppers gets an 8/10.
The concept is creative, the characters are fun and the animal world gives the movie plenty of room for comedy and adventure.
My biggest criticism is that the story can become a little too busy. There are moments where it feels like the movie is trying to introduce another idea before fully settling into the previous one.
But I still think the positives outweigh the negatives.
Pixar has made something energetic, funny and different with Hoppers.
If you’re looking for a family-friendly animated movie that isn’t another sequel, this is one I would recommend.
Hoppers is not perfect, but it is a lot of fun.
And sometimes, that’s exactly what you want from a Pixar movie.
James
