By the D23 Team
In Disney and Pixar’s all-new animated comedy adventure Hoppers, animal-lover Mabel Tanaka (voiced by Piper Curda) seizes an opportunity to use a new technology to “hop” her consciousness into a lifelike robotic beaver and communicate directly with animals. As she uncovers mysteries in the animal world beyond anything she could have imagined, Mabel befriends charismatic beaver King George (voiced by Bobby Moynihan) and finds herself rallying the entire animal kingdom to face a major imminent human-threat: smooth-talking local mayor Jerry Generazzo (voiced by Jon Hamm). With an all-star voice ensemble also featuring Kathy Najimy, Dave Franco, and Meryl Streep, Hoppers is directed by Daniel Chong and produced by Nicole Paradis Grindle, with an original score by Mark Mothersbaugh.
As the film’s March 6 release approaches, we’re taking a spin through both the animal and human worlds of Hoppers... so read on to find out who’s who!
Mabel (voiced by Piper Curda)
As a passionate animal-lover who ferociously follows her heart, Mabel cares for creatures both big and small—but can sometimes lose patience with humankind. Spending time with her gentle and beloved Grandma Tanaka (voiced by Karen Huie), Mabel finds peace in the beautiful tranquility that nature has to offer, until the very glade she grew up caring for is threatened. Though fighting for those without a voice is completely second nature to Mabel, her plan to bring animals back to the glade proves to be more of a challenge than she expected. Scrappy and fearless in her pursuit, Mabel will use every tool at her disposal—skateboard included—to stop the destruction of animal homes at the hands of Mayor Jerry (voiced by Hamm).
Mabel Beaver has the same passion for animals—but this time, she is one herself! One glance in a reflective pond confirms that Mabel’s consciousness is inside an adorable, small, furry robot beaver. Appropriately disguised, she infiltrates all aspects of the animal world and is pumped at the thought of solving the glade’s problem with help from within. Forced to think on her tiny, webbed feet, Mabel Beaver quickly learns the ropes of her new world by gaining the trust of a strange animal leader, King George (voiced by Moynihan).
King George (voiced by Bobby Moynihan)
A larger-than-life beaver with a jovial personality to match, King George is the leader of the pond and king of the mammals. Although he didn’t set out to be king, he embraces the role with enthusiasm every day and created some rules to help everyone in the pond get along: Pond Rules! Undeniably optimistic and kind, George is a beaver who loves leading group aerobics; learning everyone’s names; working together in harmony; and, of course, wood. A lifelong bachelor, he’s married to his job... and while anxiety and imposter syndrome have taken a toll on his hairline, there’s nothing else he’d rather be doing. When conflicts arise in his community, George just points to his Pond Rules: “We’re all in this together!”
Mayor Jerry Generazzo (voiced by Jon Hamm)
Running for reelection in Beaverton, Mayor Jerry thinks he’s all that. He’s self-obsessed and yet totally unbothered when it comes to the moral dealings of his job. Is he painfully self-restrained by red tape and what his constituents think of him? Yes. Will he stop attempting to build a highway through the glade, displacing animals from their homes? No. But under his shiny, perfectly coiffed hair and matching public persona, Jerry is losing his cool over the one thing he can’t control: Mabel.
Dr. Sam (voiced by Kathy Najimy) and Nisha (voiced by Aparna Nancherla)
Dr. Sam is Mabel’s biology professor at Beaverton University. Full of nervous energy, she also happens to be the brilliant inventor and scientist leading the top-secret research project: Hoppers. Though she runs her lab full of janky yet powerful technology with precision, when chaos strikes, she becomes easily flustered. Dr. Sam is determined to use her invention only for good because she knows that if it falls into the wrong hands, the result could be total ecological collapse. So, you could say her anxiety runs pretty high...
Nisha is Dr. Sam’s astute and loyal colleague. She’s second in command at the top-secret lab, and will let you know it. Though Nisha may be on the quieter side, when she does speak, be prepared for her to be brutally and uncomfortably honest with an unamused, deadpan delivery.
Insect Queen (voiced by Meryl Streep)
Insect Queen is the most respected and feared member of the all-seeing and all-powerful Council. She rules over her subjects and her spoiled, bloodthirsty son with a tiny iron fist, and the grandeur of a human royal. Her subjects are the most numerous on Earth, and the fact that they are constantly getting eaten by literally everyone else has shaped her bitter, hard-won wisdom and given her no illusions about the nature of power.
Titus (voiced by Dave Franco)
The demanding, spoiled spawn of the Insect Queen, Titus is squish-thirsty and hungry for power—so it’s best to stay out of his way while he transforms into an even more entitled version of himself... the Insect King!
Loaf (voiced by Eduardo Franco)
Loaf is not the smartest beaver in the pond, nor the sharpest stick in the dam. A slow yet staunch protector of Pond Rules, even to his own detriment, Loaf is... just trying his best to keep up.
Tom Lizard (voiced by Tom Law)
Though Tom Lizard prefers to avoid drama at all costs and rise above the fray, his insatiable curiosity typically puts him in the middle of it. Tom may be a little green reptile, but he’s got some big animal friends who have his back.
Ellen Bear (voiced by Melissa Villaseñor)
Ellen is a big, menacing, mostly grumpy bear always on the lookout for her next meal. While she lives by the motto “When you gotta eat, eat,” behind that forbidding exterior Ellen is surprisingly community-minded and very loyal to her friends.
Bird King (voiced by the late Isiah Whitlock Jr.)
The Bird King, with his horrible temper and flighty, flippant attitude, is not afraid to loudly honk and interject his opinions where he sees fit. Like most geese, he’s jumpy, paranoid, and loud. Bird King likes to look down upon his fellow Council members, figuratively and literally—as he flies away...
Amphibian King (voiced by Steve Purcell)
The Amphibian King is as cold and slimy as his skin. A frog of few words, he’ll slowly croak out bad ideas that are routinely ignored by fellow Council members. He’s heartless, but too dense to be malicious.
Fish Queen (voiced by Ego Nwodim)
A boisterous, stern, and formidable member of the Council, the Fish Queen is leader of the fish kingdom and always has a long-winded speech prepared... and she’ll make everyone wait with a dramatic pause while she goes down for water.
Reptile Queens (voiced by Nichole Sakura)
The Reptile Queens are a terrifying trio of almost identical snake sisters, ready and willing to bite your head off. Their interests include gossiping; mockery; trying to end Council meetings early because they’re boring and stupid; and making fun of other animals for having legs.
Diane (voiced by Vanessa Bayer)
Diane the shark is the apex predator summoned to help the Council carry out their mission to stop Mayor Jerry. Though Diane is one of the animal world’s most feared assassins, she’s actually super sweet—with a flawless bedside manner and a commitment to absolute professionalism. Nothing fazes her, even when she feels like a fish out of water!
Also be on the lookout for a few other humans in Mabel’s orbit, including: Conner (voiced by Sam Richardson), a grad student in biology working at Dr. Sam’s top-secret lab. He’s cheerful, gregarious, and pretty awkward—and doesn’t really know how he got himself mixed up in this mess, but he would like out... please. Plus, Grandma Tanaka (voiced by Huie), who has always been a calm, empathetic, and consistent presence in Mabel’s life, and understands her granddaughter when others don’t. From a young age, she teaches Mabel about the importance of protecting the beauty and innocence of nature. As a member of the Beaverton Wildlife Society, Grandma Tanaka believes that as long as you take care of those around you, you’ll be making a difference.
Hop over to your local theater and see Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers beginning March 6!