The best movies, TV shows and books for summer 2025
May 15, 2025 3 AM PT
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Pixar's Newest Film ‘Hoppers' Asks, ‘What if You Could Talk to Animals?'
We spoke with director Daniel Chong about his debut feature-length film releasing in spring of 2026, and how he compares the process to parenting. As Pixar has built a reputation on writing its own rulebook for crafting stories that are both relevant and timeless, the question, "What if?" has been a guiding light in many of their on-screen ventures. That question looms large in the idea behind their upcoming feature film, Hoppers, releasing in theaters March 6, 2026. The premise reads: What if you could talk to animals and understand what they're saying? In Disney and Pixar's all-new feature film Hoppers, scientists have discovered how to 'hop' human consciousness into lifelike robotic animals, allowing people to communicate with animals as animals! The adventure introduces Mabel, a college student and animal lover who seizes an opportunity to use the technology, uncovering mysteries within the animal world that are beyond anything she could have imagined. Have a look at the brand new teaser trailer: Now, if you're thinking that's giving some big James Cameron's Avatar vibes, you're not wrong. In fact, Daniel Chong, the director of Hoppers openly acknowledges the influence–though he calls it just a "soft jumping-off point" for where the movie is really headed. In addition, he mentions another big film franchise that he drew inspiration from. "One of the other biggest influences for us was Mission: Impossible," Chong tells Parents. "The movie becomes a bit of an espionage movie, where Mabel is going undercover. It will lead to a lot of crazy thrills that you did not expect." Chong goes on to describe the character of Mabel as being just as unpredictable as the adventure she's on, and how viewers who are animal lovers and rule-breakers (for a good cause) should get a lot of enjoyment from Hoppers. Character and Narrative Connections As with many of the directors in Pixar's filmography, Chong's relationship to his first feature film is a personal one. Having been a story artist at Pixar before becoming a director, he says it's only natural that a lot of himself would be sprinkled throughout the story. He points to his love for animals and his fascination with how they coexist with humans as the original thematic spark behind the movie. He also reveals how he leaned on his own close relationship with his mother to inform Mabel's relationship with her grandmother in the film. "I channeled a lot of that into the movie, because that's the relationship that grounds [Mabel] in her love of nature and why she wants to protect it so desperately," says Chong. "Mabel is also a bit unhinged, and a little chaotic, and unpredictable. She's led by her passions, so [viewers] can expect some unpredictability from her." As seen in the trailer, Mabel's protective instinct should serve her well at some points and not so well at others, as she navigates a world very different from her own. Chong speaks to how the characters treading into scientific innovation leads to them crossing wires with some established rules of nature. And while the two don't always mix, there are some lessons that can come from it. "A lot of the movie is about how [Mabel] coexists, not just with other animals, but with other people," Chong notes. "[It's about] how she relates to them, and the consequences of decisions she makes, good and bad. She's learning to navigate connection more than anything; and as she does, she'll learn how to build them over the process of the story." Research and Mystery As for how he chose a beaver to be the avatar animal for Mabel's experience, Chong says it came after a lot of trial and error, but it was a decision that made a ton of sense after doing research. "They call [beavers] one of the 'ecosystem engineers'", says Chong. "During the rewinding of Yellowstone National Park, wolves were a big part of that equation, but beavers played a big role also. Once the beavers set up their ponds and lodges, all these other animals began to return to the area because the ecosystem [they helped build] restored the habitat." Chong explains how the knowledge that these "little rodents can do engineering" inspired him to make them the focal point in the movie, highlighting that even the smallest among us can make a big impact. Diving a little deeper into the research Chong and the team did for Hoppers, he talks about a trip they took to Yellowstone where they immersed themselves in the wild with the animals, just like Mabel will be. "One of the cool things they tell you as you enter Yellowstone is, 'You are now entering the animals' world. This is not your place, so you need to respect it,'" Chong recalls. "It was a really grounding experience for all of us to recontextualize our place." The film's art team also went to Colorado to actually swim in beaver ponds, with the guidance of Emily Fairfax. Ph.D, Assistant Professor of Geography at the University of Minnesota and beaver expert. While there, they took photos and learned everything they could about beaver habitats. Chong laughs, saying, "I'm glad I didn't go because I have a feeling I would not have survived. But they went the extra mile for the research, and I hope it shows in the movie." Regarding Mabel's journey in the movie, Chong teases how she may get a rude awakening when it comes to respecting animals' habitats as well. "That's the thing about the animal world–there's still so much we don't understand. There's so much mystery; and we may not ever understand animal intelligence totally. But that's the fun of the movie–seeing how that all plays out." How the 'Village' Brings Everything to Life While Chong does not have kids, and doesn't profess to understand all that the parenting journey entails, he is a "parent" to this movie. And he draws a very clear connection to both processes needing a village. "Making a movie (especially one at Pixar) is a tough journey," he acknowledges. "It takes a long time, and you're basically iterating the same story over and over and over again [to the point that] you can lose your way and lose perspective so easily." Sound familiar? "The only thing that really helps me survive this process is the support of the people around me," Chong continues. "I felt very luck to have a great team–some of them I've known for quite a long time. Having a support system I can rely on really made it more plausible, so I didn't have to cary the burden of making the movie every day." Chong says he hopes the work this village put in on Hoppers will ultimately shine through next spring. Read the original article on Parents Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
New Dating App for Disney Adults Currently In Development
A new dating app is currently in development that is designed specifically for Disney adults to find a romantic match (and make friends)! It can sometimes be difficult to find other people who share the same level of enthusiasm and love for Disney, which is where this app comes in to bring fans together. Keep reading for everything that has been shared so far about this new app designed for Disney adults! READ MORE – New Disney Adults Dating App in Development TikToker Joe @joethebeardednerd described in a video that he was inspired to create a dating app for Disney adults after he was stood up on a date. He said, 'I did what any other Orlando local does, and I went to Disney,' which prompted him to come up with the idea of developing a Disney dating app. The app is called 'Single Riders,' a play on Disney's Single Rider service at the parks. The new app will have both a dating side and a friendship side for those who want to go to Disney but don't have anyone to go with. I especially like this idea of having a friendship side, as sometimes it's easier said than done to find others who have the same level of passion for Disney and want to spend time in the parks. I expect that a lot of users will take advantage of this side of the service. In a post from Joe via the singleridersapp account, he encouraged people to share in the comments what they would like to see in this dating app and shared that a beta program is opening up later this year. There were some good suggestions in the comments! TikTok user Robyn McGurgan shared, 'I go to the parks alone and it would be AWESOME to have a feature that shows if other singles are at the parks at the same time!' There were several more suggestions and questions in the comments, including those asking if this would be available on the West Coast as well, which the account confirmed would be the case. An older version of this concept is Mouse Mingle, a paid dating site for Disney fans that was launched in 2015 to bring together people who love Disney, Star Wars, Pixar, and Marvel. The concept of a Disney adults dating service is something that people have shown interest in, as Disney in general is a topic that many people can connect through. READ MORE – You can see the post about the new app from Joe via the singleridersapp account on TikTok below: Don't Miss the Latest Disney News Don't miss the latest Disneyland and Disney World news from Mickey Visit. Join the FREE Mickey Visit newsletter that over 100k readers receive every single week. Mickey Visit is here to help you save money and experience more during your Disney and Universal vacation. See the Mickey Visit guide to Disneyland and the Mickey Visit guide to Disney World for tips. The post New Dating App For Disney Adults to Serve Single Riders appeared first on Mickey Visit - Disney News & Planning Tips. Solve the daily Crossword
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Newsweek
The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 5 – Release Date, Schedule, How To Watch
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Entertainment gossip and news from Newsweek's network of contributors Rumors in the press and a surprise arrival were the topics of conversation in last week's episode of The Gilded Age, and now we're heading into episode five of season three. Taissa Farmiga in HBO's The Gilded Age, Season 3, Episode 5. Taissa Farmiga in HBO's The Gilded Age, Season 3, Episode 5. Karolina Wojtasik/HBO READ: The Summer I Turned Pretty Season 3 Episode 3 – Release Date, Schedule, How To Watch With just four episodes left in the season, things are expected to get heated, and we've pieced together all the information you need on how to watch The Gilded Age season three, episode five, including The Gilded Age season three, episode five release time and The Gilded Age season three, episode five release date. The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 5 Release Date The Gilded Age season three, episode five, will be available to stream on Max on July 20, 2025. New episodes of The Gilded Age season three premiere on Max each Sunday through August 10, 2025. The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 5 – How to Watch The Gilded Age season three, episode five, lands at 9:00 pm ET/PT on HBO and will be available to stream on Max. You will need HBO or a Max subscription to watch The Gilded Age season three. A basic subscription for Max with ads is $9.99 per month or $99.99 for the year, and a standard no-ads subscription starts at $16.99 per month or $169.99 annually. What Time Does The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 5 Come Out? The Gilded Age season three, episode five, will be available on HBO and Max from 9:00 pm ET/PT. With the evening streaming release in the US, the debut time in other time zones will differ. Here is when The Gilded Age season three, episode five will air in your time zone: July 20 BRT: 10:00 pm July 21 BST : 2:00 am : 2:00 am CEST : 3:00 am : 3:00 am IST : 6:30 am : 6:30 am JST : 10:00 am : 10:00 am AET : 11:00 pm : 11:00 pm NZDT: 1:00 pm The Gilded Age Season 3 Release Schedule Episode One: June 22 June 22 Episode Two: June 29 June 29 Episode Three: July 6 July 6 Episode Four: July 13 July 13 Episode Five: July 20 July 20 Episode Six: July 27 July 27 Episode Seven: August 3 August 3 Episode Eight: August 10 The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 5 Runtime Episodes of The Gilded Age season three typically run for 53 minutes, as per IMDb. What Will Happen in The Gilded Age Season 3 Episode 5? The plot details for episode five of The Gilded Age season three are currently under wraps for now. You can read previous episode synopses below: Episode One: Chronicles the societal shifts in 1880s New York as old money clashes with new, igniting a fierce rivalry that exposes a period of immense upheaval and transformation. Chronicles the societal shifts in 1880s New York as old money clashes with new, igniting a fierce rivalry that exposes a period of immense upheaval and transformation. Episode Two: Despite their own squabbles, Agnes and Ada host the Scotts. Bertha and George clash over what's best for Gladys. Despite their own squabbles, Agnes and Ada host the Scotts. Bertha and George clash over what's best for Gladys. Episode Three: While George enters tense negotiations, Larry and Jack meet with a potential investor. Later, Scott meets the Kirklands. While George enters tense negotiations, Larry and Jack meet with a potential investor. Later, Scott meets the Kirklands. Episode Four: Bertha deals with unwanted rumors in the press and the surprise arrival of her sister Monica. (as per IMDb) You can also read the season three synopsis: The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic and social change, when empires were built, but no victory came without sacrifice. Following the Opera War, the old guard is weakened and the Russells stand poised to take their place at the head of society. Bertha sets her sights on a prize that would elevate the family to unimaginable heights whileGeorge risks everything on a gambit that could revolutionize the railroad industry — if it doesn't ruin him first. Across the street, the Brook household is thrown into chaos as Agnes refuses to accept Ada's new position as lady of the house. Peggy meets a handsome doctor from Newport whose family is less than enthusiastic about her career. As all of New York hastens toward the future, their ambition may come at the cost of what they truly hold dear. (as per Warner Bros Discovery)
