“Funny thing is, you’re about 10 times more likely to get killed by a falling airplane-part than by a shark.”
-Gi in Captain Planet and the Planeteers
Things could be simpler if we wanted them to be. Folks could have shelter, clothes, and food by pooling resources instead of hoarding them or (worse) fighting over them. People could have everything they need and the chance to get everything they want via this easy shift. But doing so would mean acknowledging a few key items: (1) we’re all human, (2) space is limited, and (3) none of us can take what we amass with us. All the science fictions stories that aim for hope in their screenplays feature a coming together of all the world’s people in order to survive a great tragedy, whereas, in reality, the world is growing to be more like every person for themselves. That sense of ideological extremism is at the heart of Daniel Chong’s (We Bare Bears: The Movie) second feature film, the ecological absurdist adventure Hoppers. Viewers can now go for a ride in the wilderness and explore the making of the feature via five featurettes and nearly 20-minutes of deleted scenes from their own homes.
Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda) loves animals and the outdoors, something she shares with her grandmother, Tanaka (voiced by Karen Huie). When a new development from Mayor Jerry Generazzo (voiced by John Hamm) threatens the glade that Mabel and her grandmother cherish, she takes steps to bring the construction to a halt. However, even as each idea fails, she refuses to give up and allow the project to proceed. But just when she’s about to lose hope, she stumbles upon an experimental project her college professor, Dr. Sam (voiced by Kathy Najimy), is working on that may give her the opportunity she needs to communicate with the local wildlife in order to revitalize the glade and stop the project. But what she discovers along the way will transform what everyone thinks they know about ecological harmony.
The following home release review is based on a digital edition provided by Pixar via Walt Disney Home Entertainment. As such, no first-hand impressions are available regarding any aspects of the physical formats (4K UHD, Blu-ray, or DVD) in either steelbook or standard editions.
Rule 1: Don’t be a stranger.
Rule 2: When you gotta eat, eat.
Rule 3: We’re all in this together.
– King George’s Pond Rules
Built on a story by Chong and Jesse Andrews (Luca) from a script by Andrews (Luca; Me and Earl and the Dying Girl), Hoppers feels, from top to bottom, like an eco-adventure conceived by someone raised by Captain Planet. Now, before you cry “Silencio, Bruno!,” hear me out — a young adult finds themselves battling a government leader (local, in this case) who they’ve frequently come up against in order to prevent the destruction of an active natural space and must use unnatural technology in order to do so. Mabel *is* a Planeteer, using whatever is at her disposal in order to protect these vulnerable creatures. Admittedly, Mabel isn’t specifically seeking to preserve nature itself, just the specific glade due to its interpersonal importance; however, the point stands. She’s all heart and willing to use whatever tools are available to prevent the total destruction and paving of the glade. But Mabel isn’t some level-headed eco-hero, she’s a young adult driven by her emotions, seeking a goal without measuring the distance, considering her tools, or doing anything that a good Planeteer would do before jumping into action — and this is where much of the drama within Hoppers comes from as well as the significance of the story. Unlike other “save the rec center” type stories that release, the lesson within Hoppers isn’t solely about the glade, that’s merely the catalyst, it’s also about balance within one’s self, remembering that we’re all connected, and that survival means working together, not squishing our enemies. At a time when words like “regulation/dysregulation” are becoming commonplace in households, when emotional quotient is as significant a tool in one’s toolkit as the expression of one’s intelligence, and the primary difference between the human and animal world is our inability to recognize when we are polluting our own “pond,” having a lead character who must go on a parallel journey as her adversary is not only a fascinating switch-up on expectations, it’s a necessity for younger audiences in this rapidly shrinking world. Yes, Andrews and Chong devised a world in which tech can, in the words of the film, Avatar someone into a robotic animal in order to assimilate within animal communities, a choice that establishes anything is possible in this rule-bending environmental action adventure. But that’s just the mode of transport for what the film insists we do: find balance in order to exist together.
This concept is baked into the film and is executed by a plot that slowly grows more absurd as it continues. First, we’re introduced to a young Mabel and her animal-loving disposition, then to young adult Mabel and her mission to preserve the glade, and then beaver Mabel’s quest to find a new resident beaver for the glade — all of which leads us to the unexpectedly bizarre and dangerous realm of the animals which defies expectations at every turn. Rather than being content with a script whose sole surprise is the “hopping” technology Mabel makes off with, it’s merely the TRON-like entry point for another realm wherein the rules and perspectives aren’t entirely as Mabel’s education led her to believe. Thus, a rich field of opportunities arises that the voice actors, such as Dave Franco (The LEGO Ninjago Movie), Melissa Villaseñor (Ralph Breaks the Internet), Isiah Whitlock Jr. (Pete’s Dragon), Vanessa Bayer (DC League of Super-Pets), and even the great Meryl Streep (Fantastic Mr. Fox), take full advantage of through situations made most hilarious through their push to the extremes. But this isn’t all. Even the art direction is precise and considered, whether it’s the appearance of hand-painted backgrounds for the expansive forest area when the foreground is digital art or the visual language used to depict perspective (human or animal) based entirely on whether the eyes of the animals are anthropomorphized or not. There’s intentionality in every aspect of the film, regardless of whether it surprises you or not. (And chances are, no matter how predictable you make thing Hoppers is going to get, a curve ball is going to throw you off your line.)
If you’re the sort who wants to dig deeper into a film beyond its runtime, there are, based on where you buy from and which edition, four world-building featurettes to explore, one gag reel, and 20-minutes of deleted scenes. The 10-minute “The Critter Diaries” offers a behind the scenes look at the work Chong and his team put in to better understand the animals featured in the film so as to create the best foundation for them before things transform into the silly and strange. The 12-minute “Hopping In: The Making of Hoppers” shifts from the natural realm to the Pixar offices to provide a guided tour through the creative process of making the film through the perspective of cast and crew. The six-minute “Meet King George” scene breakdown offers a closer examination of the Superlodge created by King George (voiced by Bobby Moynihan) and the necessitation of the Pond Rules via a walkthrough of how the team used what they learned in the research phase to create the important location through its various technical stages of editing, VFX design, animation, production development, and, of course, directing. The four-minute “Beaverton Revealed” is all about the secrets that lie within Hoppers in a similar vein of Zootopia 2’s “Zoo-prising Secrets” featurette. Closing out the supplemental materials is a two-minute blooper reel, “Dam Good Bloopers,” and six deleted scenes with an introduction from Chong and editor Axel Geddes (Finding Dory; Toy Story 4).
Calling Hoppers weird is both an understatement and a compliment. The animation used makes the creatures feel real in a way befitting a more traditional animal-based adventure and not one that’s more like the mystical portion of Turning Red (2022). The journey into the animal world doesn’t anthropomorphize any more than it has to, opting instead to show why all creatures, big and small, possess a soul and empathy, which is what makes them worth honoring to the best of our capabilities. Along the way, it just so happens to expose why trust matters for good communication, why listening matters even in conflict, and that technology has the capability to transform perspectives and induce nightmares, if we allow it. To that end, be advised that portions of Hoppers may upset younger or more sensitive viewers, but those who revel in a little chaos are going to have a ball. More importantly, it may set another generation on the path of preservation. Go, Planet!
Hoppers Special Features*:
- The Critter Diaries: Wander behind the scenes with director Daniel Chong and the Pixar team as they explore Yellowstone, study wildlife, and find real-life inspiration for our favorite new animated characters from Hoppers. (10:17)
- Hopping In: The Making of Hoppers: Hop into the making of the movie as filmmakers, cast, and crew share how their ideas, collaboration, and creative process brought the story, animation, and lovable characters to life in Pixar’s Hoppers. (11:46)
- “Meet King George” Scene Breakdown: Dive deep with director Daniel Chong and his filmmaking team as they reveal the craft of making King George’s Superlodge. Get insight into the directing process, editing, VFX, animation, and production design. (6:34)
- Beaverton Revealed: Explore Hoppers to find surprising Pixar film cameos, hidden references, and plenty of fun, behind-the-scenes facts. (4:12)
- Dam Good Bloopers: Laugh along with your favorite voice actors from Hoppers as they have fun bringing their characters to life in the recording booth. (2:04)
- Six (6) Deleted Scenes: Check out these scenes that didn’t make the final cut, as introduced by director Daniel Chong and editor Axel Geddes. (19:39)
*Bonus features may vary by product and retailer
Available on digital April 28th, 2026.
Available on 4K UHD, Blu-ray, and DVD June 2nd, 2026.
Available on Disney+ June 3rd, 2026.
For more information, head to the official Pixar Animation Studios Hoppers webpage.
Final Score: 4 out of 5.
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Categories: Home Release, Home Video, Recommendation, Reviews, streaming
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