Directed by Daniel Chong, Hoppers blasts out of the gate with the chaotic energy of a woodland uprising and the emotional warmth Pixar is famous for. The film begins the moment Mabel, voiced with bright, earnest charm by Piper Curda, stumbles into a discovery that sends the entire forest ecosystem into a frenzy. From that instant, the movie makes one thing clear: nothing in this forest is going to behave normally ever again.
The world of Hoppers is a riot of personalities, and the voice cast turns it into a full‑blown comedic carnival. Bobby Moynihan brings glorious, unhinged swagger to King George, the beaver monarch who rules his dam like a benevolent dictator with a caffeine problem. Jon Hamm voices Mayor Jerry Generazzo with the smooth confidence of a politician who definitely rehearses speeches in the mirror, while Kathy Najimy’s Dr. Sam adds a warm, slightly frazzled scientific presence to the chaos. And when Dave Franco shows up as the Insect King, the movie shifts into a whole new gear of delightful weirdness.
The plot hops — literally — from heartfelt to absurd with Pixar’s signature blend of sincerity and silliness. Mabel’s journey through the forest’s political factions, animal kingdoms, and insect empires feels like a cross between a nature documentary and a Saturday‑morning cartoon that drank too much cold brew. Aparna Nancherla’s Nisha, Eduardo Franco’s Loaf, and Sam Richardson’s Conner round out the ensemble with comedic timing that keeps the film buzzing even when the story takes a breather. And yes — Meryl Streep voicing the Insect Queen is exactly as majestic and hilarious as it sounds.
Visually, Hoppers is a feast. Pixar’s animation team — backed by cinematographers Jeremy Lasky and Ian Megibben — builds a forest that feels alive, layered, and bursting with personality. Every creature, from Tom Law’s Tom Lizard to Isiah Whitlock Jr.’s Bird King, looks like it’s seconds away from starring in its own spin‑off. The action sequences are kinetic and playful, the quiet moments glow with emotional sincerity, and the environmental design (shout‑out to Bryn Imagire and Gaston Ugarte) gives the film a tactile, lived‑in charm.
By the time the final showdown arrives — a multi‑kingdom, multi‑species, multi‑chaos extravaganza — Hoppers has fully embraced its identity as Pixar’s most delightfully off‑the‑rails adventure in years. It’s heartfelt, hilarious, and proudly weird, powered by a cast that commits to every moment of woodland mayhem. It’s the kind of movie that leaves you laughing, buzzing, and maybe even a little misty‑eyed. And now that it’s playing in theaters, there’s only one thing left to say:
Hop to it!
MPAA Rating: PG.
Runtime: 104 mins
Director: Daniel Chong
Writer: Daniel Chong; Jesse Andrews; Jordan Harrison
Cast: Piper Curda; Bobby Moynihan; Jon Hamm
Genre: Action | Animation | Family
Tagline: Act Natural
Memorable Movie Quote: "Beaver beaver beaver log log log red heart rotating hearts."
Distributor: Disney | Pixar
Official Site: https://movies.disney.com/hoppers
Release Date: March 6, 2026
DVD/Blu-ray Release Date:
Synopsis: A 19-year-old animal lover uses technology that places her consciousness into a robotic beaver to uncover mysteries within the animal world beyond her imagination.
