WE BARE BEARS Sneaks Into Pixar’s HOPPERS With a Fun Cameo You Might’ve Missed
Animation fans love spotting hidden references, and Hoppers just delivered a pretty great one. Pixar’s newest animated movie includes a quick cameo from a beloved Cartoon Network trio, and it’s the kind of blink-and-you’ll-miss-it moment that viewers have been excitedly sharing online.
If you’ve watched We Bare Bears, you might want to keep your eyes open the next time you watch Hoppers.
The crossover exists thanks to Daniel Chong, the director of Hoppers. Before working on Pixar’s latest release, Chong created the hugely popular Cartoon Network series We Bare Bears. So while directing his new film, he decided to slip in a small tribute to the show that helped put his name on the map.
Fans recently spotted that Grizz, Panda, and Ice Bear appear briefly in the movie. It isn’t a major plot moment, but it’s a fun Easter egg that fans immediately latched onto once screenshots began circulating online.
Chong’s animation career has included work across several major Disney and Pixar productions. His credits include Cars 2, Lightyear, Elio, Elemental, and Inside Out 2. With Hoppers, he steps fully into the spotlight directing one of Pixar’s more unusual original stories.
The movie has also gotten off to a strong start at the box office. During its opening weekend, Hoppers pulled in roughly $48 million, making it the biggest opening for an original Pixar film since Coco premiered back in 2017. Critics and audiences have also responded well, with the film currently sitting above 90% with both groups.
As for the future of We Bare Bears, things are currently quiet. The franchise previously expanded with the spinoff series We Baby Bears, but there haven’t been any announcements about the original trio returning.
With Chong now working on feature films, a full revival might feel unlikely at the moment. Still, animation has a way of bringing characters back when fans least expect it.
Until then, spotting the bears hiding in Hoppers is a pretty fun reminder of how connected the animation world can be.
