Image credit: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
Following the strong box office debut of Hoppers, director Daniel Chong has shared an early piece of animation created during the film’s development. The newly revealed 2D test footage offers a glimpse into the creative process behind the Pixar project. The clip arrives as the film continues to gain attention for its successful theatrical launch.
Daniel Chong shares Hoppers 2D animation test footage
Daniel Chong recently unveiled an early animation test created during the development of Hoppers.
The filmmaker shared the clip on X (formerly Twitter) while thanking audiences for the response to the film’s theatrical release. In the post, Chong wrote, “THANK YOU for loving #Hoppers this weekend! To celebrate, here’s a 2D animation test we did back in 2020 for inspiration (by Lorenzo Fresta).” The brief scene presents two beavers floating along a quiet river.
THANK YOU for loving #Hoppers this weekend! ? To celebrate, here’s a 2D animation test we did back in 2020 for inspiration (by Lorenzo Fresta) ?? pic.twitter.com/DKXWujZ10s— Daniel Chong (@threebarebears) March 8, 2026
The clip surfaced shortly after the film’s strong debut at the box office. According to Variety, the Pixar release opened at number one in North America with $46 million during its first weekend across roughly 4,000 theaters. The film also collected $42 million from international markets, resulting in a global opening total of $88 million.
Directed by Chong and written by Jesse Andrews, Hoppers premiered in the United States on March 6. The story follows Mabel Tanaka, a 19-year-old animal lover who gains access to new technology that allows human consciousness to be transferred into robotic animals. By entering the body of a robotic beaver, she begins communicating with wildlife while trying to protect their natural habitat.
The film’s voice cast includes Piper Curda as Mabel Tanaka, Bobby Moynihan as King George, Jon Hamm as Jerry Generazzo, Kathy Najimy as Dr. Samantha Fairfax, and Dave Franco as Titus. The film has also received a strong response from critics and general audiences. On Rotten Tomatoes, Hoppers currently holds a 94 percent score from critics, along with a 94 percent audience rating.
Originally reported by Disheeta Maheshwari on ComingSoon.
