Piper Curda Lands Lead Role in Pixar's 'Hoppers' After TikTok Breakout

The 28-year-old actress says the opportunity is 'the most insane' of her career so far.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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Piper Curda, a 28-year-old actress from Chicago, has landed the lead voice role of Mabel Tanaka in Pixar's upcoming animated feature film 'Hoppers.' Curda says she was lounging in her apartment with her best friend when she got the call from her agent about the 'most insane opportunity' of her life. The role of Mabel, a passionate animal-lover who goes undercover in the animal kingdom, marks a major career milestone for Curda, who credits her growing TikTok following for helping her land the part.

Why it matters

Curda's casting in 'Hoppers' represents a significant breakthrough for the young actress, who has been steadily building her profile through a mix of TV, film, and social media work. The Pixar film is poised to be one of the biggest releases of the year, giving Curda a high-profile platform to showcase her talents and potentially launch her to new levels of stardom.

The details

In 'Hoppers,' Curda voices the character of Mabel Tanaka, a 19-year-old who discovers technology that can transfer human consciousness into lifelike robot bodies. Mabel goes undercover in the animal kingdom to better understand the creatures she's so passionate about. Curda says landing the role was a surreal experience, as she was simply relaxing at home when she received the call from her agent about the 'most insane opportunity' of her career so far.

  • Curda found out she booked the 'Hoppers' lead role while lounging in her Chicago apartment in 2026.
  • Curda is currently in the U.K. finishing up a weeks-long press tour ahead of the movie's release.

The players

Piper Curda

A 28-year-old actress from Chicago who has landed the lead voice role of Mabel Tanaka in Pixar's upcoming animated feature film 'Hoppers.'

Mabel Tanaka

The 19-year-old protagonist of 'Hoppers' who discovers technology that can transfer human consciousness into lifelike robot bodies and goes undercover in the animal kingdom.

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What they’re saying

“The relative smallness of that moment is the perfect juxtaposition against how big the rest of this has been.”

— Piper Curda (IMDb)

What’s next

Curda will continue her press tour in the U.K. ahead of the release of 'Hoppers,' which is expected to be one of the biggest films of the year.

The takeaway

Piper Curda's casting in the lead role of Pixar's 'Hoppers' represents a major breakthrough for the young actress, who credits her growing TikTok following for helping her land the part. The high-profile role is poised to launch Curda to new levels of stardom.