Hoppers

Hoppers — Release Date: March 6, 2026. Directed by Daniel Chong and written by Jesse Andrews, the Pixar Animation Studios film is produced for Walt Disney Pictures. Blending animated science fiction with action comedy, the film explores themes of identity, communication, and environmental responsibility through a playful yet emotionally grounded narrative.

The story centers on Mabel Tanaka, a young animal lover whose passion for wildlife places her at the heart of a groundbreaking scientific experiment. When a group of researchers invent a technology that allows human consciousness to “hop” into lifelike robotic animal bodies, Mabel volunteers for an unprecedented mission. Her mind is transferred into a robotic beaver, enabling her to directly communicate with animals in their natural habitat.

What begins as a technological marvel soon turns into a race against time. Mabel discovers that a construction project, backed by powerful human interests, threatens to destroy a thriving ecosystem. Living among the animals as one of them, she gains firsthand insight into the delicate balance of nature and the complex hierarchies that govern the animal world. As she navigates this unfamiliar society, Mabel must earn the trust of its leaders, including influential figures within an animal council that oversees the forest’s fate.

The film blends high-energy action with character-driven humor, following Mabel as she balances her human instincts with her new animal form. Her journey becomes increasingly complex as the boundaries between human logic and animal intuition blur, forcing her to rethink what leadership, responsibility, and coexistence truly mean.

Visually, Hoppers leans into Pixar’s signature world-building, presenting a richly detailed ecosystem filled with personality and movement. The film’s tone combines comedic set pieces with moments of quiet reflection, positioning it as both an entertaining family adventure and a thoughtful meditation on humanity’s relationship with nature.

Designed to appeal to audiences across age groups, Hoppers stands as a science-fiction-inflected animated feature that uses imagination and humor to explore urgent, timeless questions about stewardship, empathy, and belonging.