We nearly wiped out these creatures in California. Now they're Pixar stars.

"We thought there's no way that that's true, ... that looks so stupid. Director Daniel Chong expressed initial skepticism about the tail-tucking behavior depicted in the film, unaware it was based on actual beaver physiology where tailbones extend through their tails and tuck under them while sitting, much like human tailbones."

"Emily Fairfax, who holds a doctorate in geological sciences, is a beaver expert who consulted on the film and brought Pixar's Emeryville staff on field trips to see the animals up close. She explains that beavers' tailbones extend down through their tails. Much like humans, whose tailbones tuck under them while sitting, beavers do the same."

"The science that's packed in there is really dense and is presented in a way that you don't even know science is happening. Fairfax highlighted how the film seamlessly integrates accurate scientific details about beaver behavior and physiology into the narrative without making the educational content obvious to viewers."

Pixar's animated film 'Hoppers' features a beaver character named King George whose tail-tucking behavior appears cartoonish but is grounded in actual beaver physiology. Director Daniel Chong initially doubted the accuracy of this detail until beaver expert Emily Fairfax, who holds a doctorate in geological sciences, explained that beavers' tailbones extend through their tails and tuck under them while sitting, similar to human anatomy. Fairfax consulted on the film and led Pixar staff on field trips to observe beavers firsthand. The film, in development since 2019, follows protagonist Mabel as she attempts to save an animal habitat from destruction by a highway project. She uses technology to transfer her consciousness into a beaver form to rally forest creatures. Beavers serve as the perfect protagonist choice because they are a keystone species whose presence enables other species to thrive, creating ecosystems capable of preventing human development.

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