Pixar's Latest Animated Film Features Unexpected Humor That Surprised Even Its Cast
Pixar's new release Hoppers marks a return to form for the Disney-owned studio, delivering its signature blend of adorable anthropomorphized animals, heartfelt lessons, and eccentric comedy. The film has debuted with Pixar's strongest Rotten Tomatoes rating since 2017's Coco, earning an impressive 97% score from critics.
An Unconventional Friendship at the Film's Core
The story follows Mabel, voiced by Piper Curda, an animal-loving student who uses experimental technology to transfer her consciousness into a robotic beaver. Her mission: communicate directly with wildlife to save their habitat from the roadway plans of smooth-talking local mayor Jerry Generazzo, played by Jon Hamm. Along her journey, Mabel befriends King George, a naive but kind-hearted beaver monarch voiced by Bobby Moynihan, who teaches her the surprisingly wild "pond rules" of animal survival.
Moynihan describes the central duo as "aggressively adorable," a sentiment that extends to the impressive voice cast including Dave Franco, Kathy Najimy, and a rare animated appearance from 21-time Oscar nominee Meryl Streep.
A Scene So Shocking the Actors Thought It Would Be Cut
Despite its family-friendly appearance, Hoppers pushes comedic boundaries in unexpected ways, particularly in one scene that left the cast genuinely surprised it made the final cut.
"I didn't know about it until I walked into the booth one day," Curda revealed about the controversial scene. "They played it for me, and I remember them all waiting in a corner, watching me watch it. I gasped out loud and smashed my hand over my mouth. I genuinely thought it would get cut from the film."
Moynihan enthusiastically endorsed the risky humor, calling it "a genius joke" and adding, "Getting the person they got to play this character for that joke is my favourite joke in movie history. It's so good."
Behind the Scenes with Director Daniel Chong
Moynihan, who previously worked with director Daniel Chong on We Bare Bears, expressed deep appreciation for being included in the filmmaker's Pixar debut. "I'm such a fan of his work that the idea that he chose me to let the world hear his voice is extremely special to me," he said, ranking his Chong collaborations among his career highlights despite extensive voice work including Duck Tales and The Secret Life of Pets.
Chong's passion for the film's beaver characters initially amused Moynihan. "I remember when he started telling me about this movie, he was like, 'You know, beavers are really cool, Bobby,' and I remember being like, 'Okay, man, relax!' But now I completely understand the tone of his voice in that sentence."
The Demands of Voice Acting Excellence
Curda, known for Disney Channel roles in the 2010s, described working on a Pixar project as "like graduating from high school to college." She initially worried about feeling out of place but found Pixar "quite separate" from her previous experiences.
Both actors emphasized the surprising discipline required for voice work. "You don't realise how much discipline it takes to do voice acting," Curda explained. "There's so much more that goes into voice work than people necessarily expect."
Moynihan noted Chong's exacting standards, revealing the director made Curda repeat one line 83 times. "He doesn't necessarily even look at you. He just knows what he needs to hear." Curda laughingly compared Chong to "the David Fincher of animation," referencing the director known for numerous takes.
Crafting Unique Characters and Relationships
Curda deliberately avoided outside influences when creating Mabel's voice, keeping her "very singular." She explained, "She is, at least to me, a very unprecedented female protagonist, especially in a Pixar movie. She finds her power in her uniqueness."
Moynihan approached his royal role with appropriate gravity, drawing inspiration from Disney kings like Triton and Mufasa for his portrayal of the sweet-natured, furry monarch who sports a mysterious little crown—part of a running gag featuring various animal and insect rulers throughout the film.
Curda praised the film's focus on unconventional relationships, particularly the human-beaver friendship at its center. "I love exploring what maybe most people would call non-traditional relationships," she said. "They're normalizing them. I like that we're contributing to that message that you don't have to just surround yourself with people who look or think or are the same age as you."
Hoppers arrives in cinemas with both the adorable charm audiences expect from Pixar and enough surprising edge to keep viewers of all ages thoroughly entertained.
