TheHopperstrailer has been released, revealing the first full look at Pixar’s family-friendlyAvatarreplacement. Written and directed by Daniel Chong,Pixar’s upcoming filmfollows a young nature lover named Mabel Tanaka who uses new technology to “hop” her human consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver, allowing her to communicate with animals as an animal.
TheHopperscastincludes the voices of newcomer Piper Curda as Mabel,Saturday Night Livealum Bobby Moynihan as a beaver named King George, and Emmy winner Jon Hamm (Mad Men) as the town’s greedy mayor.
Now,Pixarhas released thefirst teaser trailer forHoppers. It introduces Mabel as she enters Beaverton University and learns about a revolutionary technology that transforms the human mind into a lifelike robotic beaver. Mabel uses the technology to transfer her mind into a beaver and begins communicating with various animals, including birds, other beavers, and bears.
However, after Mabel intervenes to prevent a lazy beaver from being eaten by a bear, she learns thathopping technology shall not be used to upset the natural order, causing her to cut off communication with the scientists who invented the technology. Check out the trailer below:
What The Hoppers Trailer Means For The Movie
Pixar’s Avatar Has Arrived
The biggest takeaway from theHopperstrailer ishow strikingly similar its premise is toAvatar. The comparison is so obvious that even Mabel, the movies’s plucky protagonist, almost breaks the fourth wall by openly acknowledging, “Guys, this is like Avatar,” much to the dismay of the defensive scientists who refuse to acknowledge the reality.
Much likeAvatar,Hopperswill also deal with themes of environmentalism. Though he isn’t included in the teaser trailer, the film features a greedy mayor character voiced by Jon Hamm who is leading a highway construction project that will cause damage to the glade. In turn, Mabel and the other wildlife target him and attempt to prevent the highway from being built.
Our Take On The Hoppers Trailer
Will Disney Wear Out The Premise?
On the surface, it seems like a shrewd move for thePixar movieto echoAvatar’s premise. After all,Avataris one of the most successful film franchises of all time, with each installment grossing over $2 billion globally. Pixar tapping into the proven formula should giveHoppersan accessible and crowd-pleasing foundation.
The premise could begin to wear itself out.
However, with theupcomingAvatar: Fire and Ashhitting theaters this December andHoppersarriving a few months later in March 2026, the premise could begin to wear itself out. It also doesn’t help thatAvatar, from 20th Century Fox, andHoppers, from Pixar, are both produced under Disney’s umbrella, which could create the appearance that they are recycling their ideas, rather than coming up with new ones.
