Anika Begay
Summary
- Pixar has announced a new original film titled
Hoppers
at D23, with a body-swap comedy starring Jon Hamm and Piper Curda. - The animation studio has recently seen a major shift in focus towards sequels to established IPs, with D23 also seeing confirmation of a
Inside and out
spin-off show and
The Incredibles 3
. - With the studio still open to focusing on original titles such as
Hoppers
it reveals a glimmer of hope and creativity.
While they have a full slate of sequels for their main franchises, Pixar has announced a new original film titled HoppersThe beloved animation studio known for History of toys, The IncrediblesAND Finding Nemo attended D23 to showcase their upcoming slate of film and television projects alongside other studios under the Disney banner. In addition to new updates for previously announced titles, Pixar confirmed that several new projects were in development, including a return to the world of the Parr family in The Incredibles 3.
AS Screen outburst attended the Disney Entertainment Showcase on the opening day of D23, Pixar announced during its segment that its next body-swap comedy will be released in 2026, Hoppers.
In the animated film, young Mabel (Piper Curda) finds herself putting her mind into the body of a mechanical beaver to explore nature without imposing on the wildlife. Together with Curda, Hoppers stars Jon Hamm as a mayor with ulterior motives in favor of unspoiled natural landscapes, while Bobby Moynihan will provide the voice of King George, the king of the beavers.
Hoppers It’s one of the highlights of Pixar’s D23 showcase
The studio is moving away from a focus on original stories
While previously announced projects included The history of toys 5 AND Helium were the focus of Pixar’s 2024 D23 showcase, Hoppers stands out as a very welcome addition to the studio’s future film slate. Between the studio finding many of its productions released directly to Disney+ and others struggling to live up to box office expectations, Pixar’s president revealed in 2024 that there would be a greater emphasis on sequels and spinoffs of existing, proven IPs over a priority of original ideas, and that focus could be seen in their D23 presentation.
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While the TV series Win or lose inaugurates the studio’s first original television project and the promise of Helium in 2025 the studio will introduce audiences to an entirely new galaxy, it’s hard to deny that Pixar’s slate relies heavily on the same business practices that dominate much of Disney’s slate. D23 reveals from all the studios involved largely consisted of existing IP, rather than branching out into new frontiers. Thus, with the company basing its future successes on proven properties, Hoppers It is a glimmer of hope and creativity in a familiar and secure future for both studios.
Hoppers may not hit theaters until early 2026, but Pixar’s early reveals have created a lot of promise for the unconventional body-swapping story. Between bright, colorful concept art, and Hamm and Moynihan teaming up to use their comedic talents in a battle between nature and profit, Hoppers is bound to make audiences laugh. As such, Pixar may have another long-awaited hit on its hands.
