Pop Culture Happy Hour – "Hoppers" (March 9, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this episode of Pop Culture Happy Hour, hosts Linda Holmes and Aisha Harris dive into Disney and Pixar's latest animated feature, "Hoppers." The film centers on themes of environmental protection, activism, and the complexities of nature—both beautiful and dangerous—all through the lens of a unique, technology-driven plot device. The discussion moves from a summary of the inventive story, to nuanced commentary on its themes, character work, animation, and where "Hoppers" fits in the broader Pixar landscape.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Plot Recap and Concept (02:34 – 04:43)

• Linda sets up the film: "We start with Mabel Tanaka, a young woman voiced by Piper Cur, who has always loved animals and nature… Mabel learns that the slimy mayor of her town wants to destroy the glade to build a highway" (02:34).
• Mabel's grandmother instilled in her a love for a local glade filled with wildlife, now threatened by development.
• The film introduces mind-to-animatronic “hopping,” where humans can remotely inhabit animal robots to interact with real animals. Linda clarifies: “The hopping refers to the… jumping into the mind. But honestly, if you want to understand this plot, just understand it can turn you into an animal” (03:39).
• Mabel, in the body of a mechanical beaver, befriends George (voiced by Bobby Moynihan) and tries to rally the animal kingdom to save their habitat, leading to encounters with an insect queen (Meryl Streep) and a villainous mayor (Jon Hamm).

2. Tone, Style, and Animation (04:43 – 08:38)

• Aisha compares the film to others: “At one point during this movie, they call out Avatar… For me, the reference point for this movie was... The Wild Robot" (04:43).
• The movie uses nature’s unpredictability and mortality to effectively ground its emotional stakes. Aisha admires that: “One of the things I love about Hoppers is how, you know, it's nature. So at any point a character could just disappear because of the circle of life... uses that to some great effect here, but also thoughtful effect” (05:31).
• The film is “delightful... fresher and just a little bit more exciting... than other recent Pixar fare” (05:55).
• Linda notes the wide variety of animals and details in the animation: “There are lots of different kinds of animals… bugs and birds and reptiles” (07:30) and raves about the accuracy and charm of Mabel’s animated hair.

3. Thematic Depth: Activism, Mortality, and Intensity (08:38 – 11:41)

• The film doesn’t shy away from natural violence and death, making it “on the more intense end of the scale for Pixar movies” with “pretty scary things... a big fire... there’s a lot of talk in this movie about killing things, I think more than… you’ll usually see in a Pixar movie” (08:38).
• Bobby Moynihan and Jon Hamm receive high praise for their voice work, with Linda stating, “This is a pretty good deployment of funny Jon Hamm... is very successful in this” (09:24).
• The story frames Mabel as a relatable, sometimes-overwhelmed but determined young activist: “Mabel is a rebel... and then feel defeated about it. And I think it handles that plot line with grace” (10:40).

4. Social Commentary and Lessons (11:41 – 15:26)

• Aisha highlights the realness of the activist’s journey: “Being an activist and trying to do something important is not always in the moment, particularly rewarding... they do a good job of exploring her feelings around that” (11:44).
• Linda and Aisha appreciate the nuance around relationships between Mabel and the animal community, cautioning against “savior” narratives: “You have to be careful of how you treat the relationships that you form when you’re there... you may not always be received as super welcome” (12:29).
• The animation thoughtfully distinguishes between the way animals see each other versus how humans perceive them: “When we’re seeing it through the eyes of a human, the animals look a little bit different... more like, ‘Oh, my God, they’re so cute.’ And then... as they see each other, they’re a little more your traditional animated [style]... I love those little details” (12:57).

5. Broader Animated Film Trends and What’s Next (15:26 – 18:34)

• The hosts discuss the classic “all people are good” tendency in family films, noting that "Hoppers" flirts with, but questions, this notion. Aisha: “It walks up to that line, but then it kind of pulls back and says, well, maybe not necessarily, but can’t we dream?” (15:04).
• Concerns about Pixar’s sequel-heavy upcoming slate: “I worry that the slate that’s coming up does not bode well. Like, next is Toy Story 5... It seems like more rehashing. You've got Coco 2 coming. I do just wonder, is this a blip or will they try to keep making these types of movies...” (15:27).

6. Representation, Lead Characters, and Voice Performances (16:29 – 18:54)

• Linda revisits the evolution of female protagonists in Pixar: “I wrote something that was essentially, can we have a Pixar movie about a girl who is not a princess?... I see a human young woman as the center of a Pixar movie, I’m still happy and relieved” (16:29).
• The representation of Mabel (Piper Cur) as herself for much of the film is lauded, even though she “does turn into a beaver for a significant chunk... she also spends a significant chunk of the movie as herself” (17:59).
• Meryl Streep’s Insect Queen gets special notice: “That is not just Meryl Streep doing Meryl Streep. Like, she puts a little mustard on that performance, which I appreciated a lot” (18:10).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The funny thing about this movie is that when you see it, I think it’s pretty easy to follow. But when you try to explain it, it sounds complicated, so just stick with me a little bit.” – Linda Holmes (02:34)
• “One of the things I love about Hoppers is how, you know, it’s nature. So at any point a character could just disappear because of the circle of life, the chain of life. And it uses that to some great effect here, but also thoughtful effect.” – Aisha Harris (05:31)
• “I think the hair work they do with Mabel is some of my favorite Pixar hair work ever.” – Linda Holmes (07:49)
• “There’s a lot of talk in this movie about killing things, I think more than you’ll usually see in a Pixar movie.” – Linda Holmes (08:38)
• “Being an activist and trying to do something important is not always in the moment, particularly rewarding… you have to be prepared for the fact that you may not always be received as super welcome, depending on how you conduct yourself.” – Linda Holmes (11:44)
• “When we’re seeing it through the eyes of a human, the animals look a little bit different... their faces are way more like, ‘Oh, my God, they’re so cute.’... And then when we are seeing the animals as they see each other, they’re a little bit more like your traditional animated [style]... I love those little details.” – Aisha Harris (12:57)
• “Every time I see... a human young woman as the center of a Pixar movie, I’m still happy and relieved.” – Linda Holmes (16:29)
• “Meryl Streep... puts a little mustard on that performance.” – Linda Holmes (18:10)
• “Delightful is the perfect word.” – Linda Holmes (18:56)

Segment Timestamps

• Plot setup & mechanics: 02:34–04:43
• Comparisons & stylistic choices: 04:43–06:45
• Animation & tone: 06:45–08:38
• Intensity & themes: 08:38–11:41
• Activism, lessons, ‘saviorism’: 11:41–13:54
• Visual detail & animation praise: 13:54–15:26
• Big-picture Pixar thoughts: 15:26–18:34
• Representation, voice cast, wrap up: 16:29–18:56

Overall Takeaway

Linda Holmes and Aisha Harris agree that "Hoppers" marks a high point for recent Pixar, blending inventive technology, earnest activism, and sensitive coming-of-age themes with beautifully detailed animation. The film is less about high-concept allegory and more about a grounded, earthbound story with a strong, relatable female protagonist. While it flirts with standard “everyone is good” messaging, it shows enough nuance to feel fresh, and the hosts hope Pixar continues producing original works like this amid an increasingly sequel-heavy slate. Both recommend "Hoppers" for its heart, animation, voice performances, and honest engagement with big, sometimes heavy ideas.

Hosts: Linda Holmes & Aisha Harris
Podcast: Pop Culture Happy Hour, NPR
Episode: "Hoppers"
Date: March 9, 2026
Recommended for: Pixar fans, families, animation buffs, anyone interested in thoughtful discussions on representation and modern animated storytelling