[Movie Review] Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers (2026) Offers a Surprisingly Fresh and Heartwarming Science Fiction Escape for the March Holidays

I caught the preview of the new Disney and Pixar animated film Hoppers (2026) on Tuesday evening and I will be the first to admit that I walked into the cinema with rather low expectations. The trailers simply did not look particularly arresting to me. However, I ended up walking out absolutely loving it to its core. With the world currently feeling like it is in such a messy state with international conflicts and heavy global news dominating our feeds, this movie provided a genuinely happy and much needed escape for a couple of hours.

Just in time for the local March school holidays, Hoppers proves to be one of the best and most heartwarming original stories the studios have produced in recent memory, offering a perfect cinematic outing for audiences of all ages.

The narrative centers on a rebellious 19 year old college student named Mabel, voiced with infectious energy by Piper Curda.

Mabel possesses a deep and fierce appreciation for nature, a passion that was lovingly fostered by her wise grandmother. The emotional core of the film is anchored in a quiet, beautiful woodland glade where the two used to spend time together. Unfortunately, the peace of this natural haven is threatened when the ambitious and somewhat narcisssistic Mayor Jerry, brought to life by Jon Hamm, announces his plans to bulldoze the area to build a new freeway. Desperate to stop the construction and save her childhood sanctuary, Mabel realises she needs to figure out a way to repopulate the glade with its native wildlife to secure its protected status.

This is exactly where the story takes a wildly inventive science fiction turn that I genuinely did not see coming.

Mabel discovers a secret university project run by the eccentric Professor Sam, played wonderfully by Kathy Najimy. Through a bizarre experimental technology known as hopping, Mabel is able to transfer her consciousness into a robotic beaver avatar. This allows her to physically infiltrate the animal kingdom to organise a resistance against the developers.

The premise sounds completely absurd and batty on paper, resembling a highly imaginative cross between Avatar and Dr Dolittle, but director Daniel Chong executes it with such a surrealist nonchalance that it works brilliantly. Cast your logics aside for those brief moments and I promise you will enjoy the ride with Hoppers tremendously.

Once Mabel actually enters the animal kingdom, the movie shifts into high gear and introduces a slew of hilarious and eccentric characters.

I was particularly impressed by Bobby Moynihan, who delivers a standout vocal performance as George. He is the idealistic beaver king who insists on finding the good in absolutely everyone, even the corrupt mayor trying to destroy their home.

The local Animal Council brings even more comedic friction to the plot. You have the legendary Meryl Streep bringing a commanding energy to her role as the formidable Insect Queen, alongside Dave Franco as her delightfully squirmy son Titus. There is even a brilliantly absurd and laugh out loud sequence involving Vanessa Bayer voicing a great white shark named Diane who is inexplicably navigating dry land.

From a technical standpoint, the animation strikes a good balance between high end photorealistic environments and signature Pixar character designs. The woodland glade looks incredibly tangible and lush, yet the live action feel never crosses into uncanny valley territory because the animals themselves retain their expressive, cartoonish charm.

The visual gags are rapid fire and mostly land well. The film also makes great use of its soundtrack to inject sudden bursts of energy. Hearing the 1980s classic Working for the Weekend blast through the theater speakers as the beavers diligently get to work had the entire audience, myself included, laughing out loud.

Overall, what truly makes Hoppers special is how seamlessly it weaves its themes of communication, empathy, and environmental conservation into the plot. The lessons grow naturally out of the characters and their wild situations rather than feeling like a tedious, preachy lecture. After a recent strings of lacklustre live-action remakes and unimaginative sequels, Hoppers marks a triumphant return to form for Disney and Pixar, proving they can still deliver innovative, story driven magic.

Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers (2025) is now showing in Singapore cinemas. Go catch it!