You Won’t Believe Which Studio Ghibli Film Inspired Pixar’s Hoppers

“A gentle whisper of nature, where every heartbeat feels alive and understood.”

Pixar’s Hoppers is already getting a lot of praise for its unique storytelling, animation, and, of course, its diverse range of animal characters. But did you know Hoppers also took inspiration from a beloved Studio Ghibli film? Well, that’s something new, right?

In a recent interview with Mantan Web, Hoppers director Daniel Chong shared his insights on how he chose the animal characters to highlight the connection between humans and animals.

At the beginning of the project, he considered using penguins but later dropped the idea and went with beavers instead, as they play an important role in shaping and supporting ecosystems.

Hoppers Director Daniel Chong Reveals His Surprising Pom Poko Inspiration:

Daniel Chong’s movie also took inspiration from one of the underrated gems, Pom Poko of Takahata that beautifully showcases the direct impact of human intervention on animals.

In Pom Poko there are groups of shape shafting Tanuki that are forced to survive by losing their house. Because of the massive deforestation near Tokyo.

Similar to the movie, Hopper portrays destruction of a forest that is deeply important to its main character, 19-year-old college student Mabel.

As we move further in the movie Pom Poko, it portrays how Tanuki never gives up on fighting humans to safeguard their dear homeland.

They use their shape-shifting powers to scare people and even launch large-scale attacks. But on the other hand, Daniel Chong realized his ideas were similar to Isao Takahata that portrays how humans often showcase blind sides towards animals and nature.

As we see in the Hoppers, our main character Mabel implants her mind into a beaver animatronic that lets her communicate with forest animals and motivates them to protect their home at all cost.

Also, one of the things that Chong notices is how Pom Poko represents two human perspectives, which influenced how Mabel represents both humans and animals. Both movies showcase the struggle of surviving and co-existing.

He also claimed that adding beavers made it much better because it directly symbolises nature’s ability to heal and rebuild, as ecosystems often form around them.

The other Ghibli movie that Chong took inspiration from is not the underrated one but the classic and beloved amongst the Ghibli movie lovers, My Neighbor Totoro.

The movie is astonishingly directed by Hayao Miyazaki, and the movie is known for its gentle storytelling, love for nature, and nostalgic world of childhood.

Chong described it as a unique and magical film that deeply influenced him to make Hooper themed around animals and nature by also incorporating our passionate main character that is eager to protect the animals.

Moreover, the good news is that Hoppers is available in theaters worldwide, while Pom Poko is available for streaming on platforms like HBO Max and Netflix, depending on your location. Don’t miss either of these great movies, they are among the best in their genre.

Lastly, don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments section and stay tuned to our site. Happy watching!

YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: The Most Over-the-Top Cooking Anime Ever Made (And It Actually Works)

IMAGE SOURCE: Pinterest