'Initially we were concerned, but I think it's helpful': new Pixar movie Hoppers is 'nothing like' Zootopia 2 — but could be just as successful

Disney and Pixar are riding high into 2026. With the release of Zootopia 2 at the end of 2025, the studios' most recent movie became the eighth highest-grossing film ever, to the tune of $1.85 billion worldwide.

Normally, this level of success puts a lot of pressure on whatever comes next, which happens to be tech vs. environment tale Hoppers. However, there's extra cause for concern — not only is Hoppers following a financial smash hit, but its subject matter crosses over, too.

You might remember a new character introduced in Zootopia 2 called Nibbles Maplestick (Fortune Feimster), a gregarious beaver obsessed with true crime podcasting. She's one of the breakout stars of Nick (Jason Bateman) and Judy's (Ginnifer Goodwin) next crime caper, and that's not amazing news for a new movie centered on the same species of animal.

However, for Hoppers director Daniel Chong, it's all water off a duck's (or should I say, beaver's) back. In fact, he sees the coincidences as a 'huge help' for his new release.

"People are hungry for more stuff, and I think we'll deliver"

Hoppers | Official Trailer - YouTube

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"We found out a couple of years ago that they had a beaver too," Chong tells me about Zootopia 2. "I think initially we were a little concerned, obviously, but I think ultimately it's not a main character.

"They've had a bajillion characters since the first Zootopia, and we have such a different kind of movie. For me, this is a movie about humans and animals rather than about just animals. It's about the relationship between both worlds, which is a very different thing."

Chong certainly makes a good point. In Hoppers, we follow Mabel (Piper Curda), a young girl who uses the new technology to uncover mysteries of the animal world. How? Scientists have discovered a way to transform human consciousness into robotic animals... so Mabel becomes a beaver.

That doesn't mean the industry pressure has completely gone away, though.

"I think it's gonna be helpful to be honest. I mean, I think I'd rather it this way than the opposite. I think there would be more pressure if things weren't working, and then everything was riding on us to come out the gate swinging, especially for an original movie.

"I think people are hungry for more stuff, and I think, I think we'll deliver."

You heard the man, people... a Pixar movie that doesn't disappoint is always one worth seeing.

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