Pixar’s Hoppers designer on taming nature’s “messiness” in the film

Pixar is nearing the March release of Hoppers, its 30th theatrical film, which opens Mar. 6, 2026. In an exclusive interview with MovieWeb, production designer Bryn Imagire addressed the visual challenges of setting the film mostly in the wild. Imagire said the team had to contend with how "nature is so inherently messy," noting that elements like "dams and lodges" are "made out of a million sticks" and could make frames feel "very visually busy and confusing." She added the goal was to show the "essence of nature" while "tamping some of that down so it wasn't overwhelming every time you look at a film frame." Pixar has returned to largely natural settings before with films such as A Bug's Life and The Good Dinosaur.

MovieWeb notes that with materials like grass, logs, water and trees, Hoppers demanded a lengthy production process to craft the specific visuals audiences have already seen in early looks at the film. The movie features a large cast of beaver characters and interactions Pixar says have not been shown before.

Kicking off with a story about scientists studying animals, later stages of the plot reportedly pit wildlife against humans in a battle for power, which should shape how the visuals evolve. Hoppers will debut in theaters on Mar. 6, 2026, and tickets are available for purchase online.

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