CHECK THE SCORE: SZA Brings Heart and Hope to Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers with New Anthem “Save The Day”
- Klep Napier
- 3 hours ago
- 2 min read
By Klep Napier | Wearecritix.com
Multi-GRAMMY Award-winning singer-songwriter SZA has officially released her brand-new original song “Save The Day” from Disney and Pixar’s upcoming animated adventure Hoppers, and it’s already setting the emotional tone for what could be one of the studio’s most heartfelt films in years.
Written by SZA alongside Ben Lovett and Rob Bisel, “Save The Day” isn’t just another end-credit record. According to director Daniel Chong, the song became a lifeline during production. Chong shared that SZA’s music carried him through the stress of filmmaking, and when the team first heard the completed track, some of them were moved to tears. He describes it as an anthem not just for the film’s lead character, Mabel, but for an entire generation looking for a runway to change the world.
That’s powerful.
The full Hoppers soundtrack, featuring “Save The Day” along with an original score by legendary composer Mark Mothersbaugh, will be released on March 6, the same day the film hits theaters. Mothersbaugh, known for his instantly recognizable style and emotional range, called the film’s message “positive information for people to think about,” even noting that it carries a bit of a Devo spirit in its DNA.
For collectors and vinyl heads, there’s also a character-shaped die-cut vinyl of Mabel featuring “Save The Day,” available now for pre-order exclusively through Disney Music Emporium. Yes, Pixar fans, it’s shaped like the character.
Now let’s talk about the movie itself.
Directed by Chong and produced by Nicole Paradis Grindle, Hoppers follows Mabel, voiced by Piper Curda, an animal lover who uses experimental technology to “hop” her consciousness into a robotic beaver so she can communicate directly with animals. What starts as curiosity quickly becomes a full-blown adventure as she befriends beaver King George, voiced by Bobby Moynihan, and rallies the animal kingdom against a looming human threat led by Jon Hamm’s Mayor Jerry Generazzo. The voice cast also features Meryl Streep, Dave Franco, and Kathy Najimy.
Special early access screenings begin February 28, ahead of the film’s wide theatrical release on March 6.
Tickets to see “Hoppers” in theaters are now available at:
SZA has already redefined modern R&B with record-breaking albums like Ctrl and SOS, and now she’s bringing that same emotional depth into the animated space. If “Save The Day” is any indication, Hoppers isn’t just aiming to entertain, it’s aiming to inspire.
And honestly? That feels right on time.
Disney and Pixar’s Hoppers opens exclusively in theaters on March 6.