One of the year's biggest cinematic surprises has arrived on streaming, and now is the perfect time to watch it. Hoppers, the latest original film from Pixar, made a splash in theaters this March with a record-tying 97% Rotten Tomatoes score. While it has since settled to an impressive 94% from critics and 93% from audiences, it still outshines recent Pixar fare like Cars (74%) and Brave (78%).
What Is 'Hoppers' About?
The story follows Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda), an animal-loving student who uses groundbreaking technology to transfer her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver. Her mission: communicate with wildlife to stop Mayor Jerry Generazzo (Jon Hamm) from paving over their habitat with new roadways. Along the way, she meets King George (Bobby Moynihan), a naive but kind beaver monarch who teaches her the wild 'pond rules' of survival.
Critical and Fan Praise
Fans have embraced Hoppers as a return to Pixar's roots. Many applaud the studio for crafting an original story rather than relying on sequels or franchises. Reviews highlight its blend of humor, social commentary, and stunning visuals. One Rotten Tomatoes user, Vanae, wrote: 'I wish they'd make more movies like this.' Another, Jim W, added: 'It's a wildly inventive and clever movie with an emotional impact I didn't expect.'
Samuel C called it 'one of the BEST Pixar movies in a while, and dare I say it, EVER,' while Sumiran M noted: 'Pixar finally remembered how to be weird, emotional, and genuinely fun again.' Brighton N declared it 'a new bona fide classic animated film' that delivers its premise to perfection.
Voice Cast and Behind the Scenes
The film boasts an all-star voice cast including Meryl Streep, Dave Franco, Kathy Najimy, and Eduardo Franco. Director Daniel Chong's passion for beavers inspired Moynihan, who recalled: 'He was like, “You know, beavers are really cool, Bobby.” Now I completely understand.' Curda praised her character Mabel as 'very unprecedented' for Pixar, saying 'she finds her power in her uniqueness.'
Streaming Now
Hoppers is now available on Disney Plus, perfect for those who missed it in theaters or want a rewatch. Meanwhile, Pixar gears up for Toy Story 5 later this month, with Woody, Buzz, and Jessie returning to battle technology.
Don't miss this critically acclaimed animated adventure. Stream Hoppers today on Disney Plus.
