Among numerous things, Pixar movies are known for their humor, and yet I couldn't have been prepared for just how dark one recurring bit was in Hoppers. I'm about to talk about one particular "Pond Rule" explained and demonstrated in the new 2026 movie, and I need to get into some spoilers in order to discuss it, so if you haven't seen Hoppers, you may want to scamper off. Come back once you've seen it! (And I do recommend you see it. It definitely deserves the praise from critics, a strong opening weekend box office, and a spot among the top 10 Pixar movies.) Ok, so, not long after Mabel (Piper Curda) takes over the body of a robot beaver and starts interacting with the local wildlife, she comes to the aid of Loaf (Eduardo Franco), a beaver she's trying to recruit to help save the glade, but in this moment, is about to be lunch to a brown bear named Ellen (Melissa Villaseñor). When Mabel tries to rescue her new Beaver pal from certain death, both Ellen and Loaf are completely put off by the fact that this newcomer would dare interfere. Pond Rule #2, as Mabel soon learns, is "When you gotta eat, eat," and by intervening, she's committed an egregious pond faux pas, which leads to Mabel having to see the King. You can watch the clip below where King George (Bobby Moynihan) further explains the Pond Rules to Mabel, and both the first and second are demonstrated to her almost right away:
