Pixar continues to struggle launching new, original franchises. The recently-released Elio only has $118M worldwide after weeks in theaters, one of the studio’s lowest totals ever. But there’s hope that Pixar’s inventive new film, Hoppers, will turn things around when it arrives next year.
Hoppers kinda sounds like a twist on James Cameron’s Avatar, something that is jokingly acknowledged in the new teaser trailer. The story involves scientists who have learned how to “hop” a human consciousness into an artificial animal form so it can live and communicate with other animals.
All it needs is some blue CGI and 100% more Sam Worthington.
SYNOPSIS: In “Hoppers,” scientists have discovered how to “hop” human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals! Using the new technology, Mabel (Curda) will uncover mysteries within the animal world that are beyond anything she could have imagined.
The voice cast is led by Piper Curda, Bobby Moynihan, and Jon Hamm.
Daniel Chong wrote and directed Hoppers, based on an original idea he’d been developing since 2020. Chong is known for the Cartoon Network animated series and feature film We Bare Bears. There was some slight controversy surrounding Hoppers when ex-Pixar staff revealed they were told to “downplay” the story’s environmentalism messaging. Not exactly a good look.
Hoppers hits theaters on March 6th 2026.
