Pixar’s newest movie “Hoppers,” which employs witty humor and an environmental theme, has been hailed as a return to the movie company’s creative form. While Pixar has recently faced a creative and financial rut with its films, with lackluster box office performance and a reliance on streaming via Disney+, it has made a creative comeback this year.
“Hoppers” is an animated film directed by Daniel Chong and follows the journey of Mabel, an animal-loving student. For a scientific experiment, she uses technology to transfer her brain and consciousness into a life-like robotic beaver. As a robotic beaver, she is able to communicate with animals and rallies them to defend their habitat against humans.
“I thought it was really funny and that was why it was so successful,” Lauren Lee (10), Hoppers fan, said. “Besides the humor being very appealing, I thought that Hoppers also had a deep, complex message that meant that many people, not just little kids, were able to enjoy it.”
Beyond its visuals and reported humor, the film also explores the nuances of politics. Mabel must ponder whether, because humans often kill animals and insects, the same animals should be able to kill humans in turn. While Mabel opposes the proposal, viewers must consider the complex implications of such an idea, especially in the context of modern politics and reparations.
“I just watched the trailer and it looks compelling,” Matthew Halter, movie enthusiast and critic, said. “Kids can always get behind a good story about talking animated animals, but what looks really interesting is how they are bringing in hard-to-grasp technological concepts of the future to bring humans and animals closer to understanding each other. I can see why it might make some noise.”
“Hoppers” has been very successful in the box office, claiming a spot as one of the highest-grossing films of 2026 and debuting at no. 1 with $46 million in sales. Commercially, the movie was the highest rated in Pixar history for over a decade, receiving a 94-97 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics have also lauded the tactile visuals as a departure from the typical Pixar animation style. “Hoppers” may just be the end to Pixar’s cold streak.
