By now you probably know that we are huge Disney and Pixar fans. So when the legendary film company invited us to the Australian premiere of their newest film we “hopped” at the chance.
Pixar has always excelled at telling stories about identity, belonging and the courage it takes to step outside the life others expect for you. With its latest animated adventure Hoppers, the beloved studio once again taps into those universal themes – but this time through a wildly inventive premise that will no doubt appeal to queer audiences.
Set in a vibrant natural world where technology allows humans to temporarily “hop” their consciousness into robotic animals, Hoppers follows Mabel, a bright but socially awkward young scientist who joins a groundbreaking conservation program. By transferring her mind into the body of a lifelike robotic beaver, she’s able to infiltrate the animal kingdom and communicate with wildlife in a way humans never could before.
What begins as a scientific mission quickly turns into a journey of self-discovery.
As Mabel navigates life among animals – forming unlikely friendships and learning the social codes of an entirely different community – she begins to question her own place in the human world she left behind.
For LGBTQ+ audiences, though, Hoppers may resonate on an additional level. The film’s core idea of inhabiting another body, another perspective, and another way of being feels tailor-made for queer audiences who know what it means to live between identities.
Pixar hasn’t framed Hoppers as an explicitly queer story by any means. But the metaphor is hard to ignore: stepping into a different body, discovering new ways to express yourself, and realising that the world looks very different when you’re finally living as your authentic self.
With its playful concept, emotional core and environmental heart, Hoppers looks poised to deliver exactly what Pixar does best: a family film that entertains kids while quietly speaking to the grown-ups who know that identity, like nature, is rarely simple. And an incredible voice cast doesn’t hurt either – including Meryl Streep, Jon Hamm, Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, and SNL alum Vanessa Bayer and Bobby Moynihan.
Beneath the humour lies a timely environmental message. As Mabel bonds with animals and experiences their world firsthand, she begins to understand the impact humans have on ecosystems – and the responsibility that comes with knowledge.
And if queer audiences find their own reflections in Mabel’s journey? That’s just the magic of storytelling doing what it has always done best – helping us imagine new ways of being.
Hoppers leaps into cinemas March 2026.
