If you’ve caught Hoppers in cinemas, you already know it’s a “dam” good time. But as with any Pixar release, the film is absolutely loaded with callbacks and hidden details that link it to the wider Disney and Pixar universe. Some are classic staples we see in every movie, but others feel like a massive nod to the “Grand Unifying Pixar Theory.”
Just a heads-up: There are spoilers ahead if you haven’t seen the film yet!
Here are the biggest Easter eggs and references I spotted in Hoppers:
Hidden Pixar Staples
A113: Dr. Sam’s lab is designated as room A113, the classic nod to the CalArts classroom found in almost every Pixar film.
The Pizza Planet Truck: During the sequence where the animals are escaping, you can see the iconic yellow truck sitting in a display case by the exit door.
The Pixar Theory Chalkboard: Late in the film, Dr. Sam shows a chalkboard covered in sketches for “future projects.” These clearly show prototypes for Dug’s talking collar from Up, Sox the cat from Lightyear, and a cleaning robot that is unmistakably WALL-E.
Disney & Pixar References
Finding Nemo: Young Mabel tries to save a class turtle named Crush.
When Mabel asks which way to go in the forest, a spider webs an arrow to point her in the right direction – a direct mirror of the Moonfish forming an arrow for Marlin and Dory.
Diane the Shark is also a massive tribute to Bruce. Not only is she a Great White with that same “polite assassin” personality, but her movements during the chase scenes are a direct mirror of Bruce’s pursuit in the submarine.
Big Hero 6: If you look closely at Mabel’s jacket, the name “TANAKA” is embroidered on it. This is likely a nod to Kiko Tanaka from the Disney+ series Baymax!. It’s rare to see Pixar reference a Disney Animation project so directly, but the character designs in Hoppers definitely share that BH6 DNA.
Up & Toy Story: Mabel’s phone case features a Wilderness Explorers Badge and one of the Little Green Men aliens.
Bambi: There is a specific shot of a bunny and a skunk hanging out in the forest, which is a direct tribute to Thumper and Flower.
Soul: When Jerry is on his tablet watching YouTube, check the suggested “Funny Cat Videos” sidebar. The thumbnail features Mr. Mittens from Soul.
The Lion King: King George’s backstory is a mirror of Simba’s, and he even quotes The Haunted Mansion by telling Mabel there is “always room for one more.”
High School Musical: George also tells the group they are “all in this together.”
The Incredibles: One of the cat videos Mabel watches features an orange cat that looks exactly like Squeakers.
For the Birds: During the Animal Council meeting, look at the huddling blue birds on the branch – they are the same neurotic birds from the classic Pixar short.
Onward: The van used by Dr. Sam is the same model as Guinevere, Barley’s van from Onward.
Elio: In a photo on Mayor Jerry’s wall, you can spot a female Camp Carver scout, which is a direct nod to the characters in Elio.
Future Teases
Toy Story 5: On Mabel’s windowsill, there is a small toy of Atlas the Hippo, who is rumoured to be a major new character in the upcoming sequel.
Movie Tributes
Avatar: In one of the most “on the nose” references in Pixar history, Mabel describes the whole mind-transfer concept by saying it “is like Avatar!” It’s pretty rare to see them name-drop a non-Disney franchise so clearly!
Back to the Future: The character of Dr. Sam is heavily modelled after Doc Brown, right down to the hair and the eccentric scientist energy.
Frankenstein: The opening scene where the beaver comes to life is a shot-for-shot homage to the creation of Frankenstein’s Monster.
Jaws: Diane the Shark attacks with the exact movements of the shark from Jaws.
Free Willy: When Diane jumps over the dam to help put out the fire, the shot is a perfect recreation of the famous Free Willy jump.
The Terminator: The robotic “Hopper” suits and the final confrontation feature heavy nods to Terminator. Between the mechanical scanning and the red-glowing “eye” in the dark, it’s a clear tribute to the T-800.
It’s great to see Pixar finally leaning into the fan theories by showing Dr. Sam essentially “inventing” the tech we see in later movies. It makes the whole universe feel much more connected!
One Easter egg I actually did miss during my first watch was the Luxo Ball – I’ll definitely be keeping an eye out for that yellow and red star on the rewatch!
Did you spot any other references while watching? Let me know in the comments!
Steamboat Charlie 