In a world where Pixar is increasingly leaning on the safety of its established toy boxes, the studio is finally letting a weird, wonderful new idea out into the wild. Pixar Animation Studios has spent much of the last few years balancing its heavy-hitting sequels with ambitious, original swings, and the first trailer for “Hoppers” falls squarely into the latter category.
Directed by Daniel Chong, creator of “We Bare Bears,” the film follows a young protagonist, Mabel, who uses new technology to transfer her consciousness into a robotic animal. It is a high-concept premise that fits comfortably within the Pixar tradition of asking “What if [X] had feelings?”—in this case, exploring the bridge between human emotion and animal instinct.
READ MORE: The 150 Most Anticipated Films Of 2026
The voice cast is led by Piper Curda (“May December”), with Bobby Moynihan (“Saturday Night Live”) as the beaver monarch and Jon Hamm (“Mad Men”) as a greedy mayor. Even the legendary Meryl Streep (“The Devil Wears Prada”) joins the fray as the Insect Queen. The film’s aesthetic, showcased in the teaser, leans into a lush, pastoral environment that feels distinct from the neon-metropolis vibes of “Inside Out 2”. There is a tactile quality to the robotic beaver—Mabel’s vessel—that contrasts beautifully with the organic, fluid movement of the “real” animals she encounters. It’s a visual metaphor for the artifice we bring into nature, handled with the studio’s characteristic nuance.
Produced by Disney and Pixar, “Hoppers” represents a key part of the studio’s strategy to cultivate new IP alongside its established franchises. While the premise is built on a technological gimmick, the trailer pivots toward a deeply emotional core regarding communication and empathy across species. It’s the kind of mid-budget-feeling original story that used to be the studio’s bread and butter, aiming to capture the cross-generational appeal that has defined the studio’s best work. As Mabel navigates the hierarchy of the wild, the film looks to challenge our perceptions of what it means to truly inhabit a space.
“Hoppers” is set to hit theaters on March 6, 2026. Watch the Super Bowl Big Game spot below.
