You let one ant stand up to us, then they all might stand up. Those puny little ants outnumber us a hundred to one, and if they ever figure that out, there goes our way of life! It's not about food; it's about keeping those ants in line. THAT'S why we're going BACK! Does anybody else want to stay?
„
~ Hopper rallying his grasshoppers after nearly killing three dissenting ones, showing how greatly Flik and his fellow ants greatly outnumber them.
“
NOT ONE ANT SLEEPS UNTIL WE GET EVERY SCRAP OF FOOD ON THIS ISLAND!
„
~ Hopper screaming at the ants.
Hopper is the main antagonist of Pixar's 2nd full-length animated feature film A Bug's Life, which is a retelling of Aesop's fable The Ant and the Grasshopper.
He is the cruel leader of a gang of grasshoppers, including a feral pet and right-hand grasshopper named Thumper, and his younger brother named Molt. He is also Flik's arch-nemesis.
He was voiced by Kevin Spacey, who also played Albert Benton in Unsub, Buddy Ackerman in Swimming with Sharks, Keyser Söze in The Usual Suspects, John Doe in Se7en, Lex Luthor in Superman Returns, Clyde Northcutt in Fred Claus, Micky Rosa in 21, David Harken in the Horrible Bosses duology, Dr. Nerse in The Cleveland Show, Jonathan Irons in Call of Duty: Advanced Warfare, Frank Underwood in House of Cards, and Doc in Baby Driver. In the video game adaption and It's Tough to Be a Bug!, he was voiced by Andrew Stanton, who also voiced Emperor Zurg in the Toy Story franchise.
Hopper is a large, golden brown Carolina grasshopper who is very tall (at least, for an insect). He is also blind in his right eye because of a scratch from a blue jay that almost ate him. He also towers over Flik and the ants in the film. His legs are long, good for long-ranged kick attacks.
Personality[]
“
You piece of dirt! No, I'm wrong. You're lower than dirt. You're an ANT! Let this be a lesson to all of you ants: Ideas are very dangerous things! You are mindless, soil-shoving losers! Put on this Earth to serve us!
„
~ Hopper insulting the ants.
Hopper is a ruthless, violent, cunning, manipulative, and egotistical dictator who thinks nothing of killing ants, whom he considers lower than dirt. He dislikes being thought of as weak in any way which could be why he abuses everyone around him.
His persuasive manner of speaking to Princess Atta is reminiscent of an abusive and argumentative boyfriend mocking his terrified and pusillanimous girlfriend. He also beats up his own henchmen and even seemingly kills three of them. Furthermore, while he won't kill him, Hooper still abuses Molt and despises him despite the fact that he is his brother as well as his below-mentioned promise towards his mother.
However, in spite of his villainy, he can be somewhat compassionate and merciful as seen when he gives the ants a second chance at providing food after they fail miserably despite having no reason to do so. Otherwise, Hopper sees mercy and compassion as weaknesses and relies mostly on fear to maintain authority proving that he only acted merciful because he thought that they weren't a threat. Hopper was the only grasshopper who knew the ants outnumbered them from 100 to 1. He believes that the ants are like helpless wards who cannot really think for themselves, therefore taking advantage of them.
Throughout the film, Hopper is concerned that Flik will stand up to him as one rebel ant is enough to cause a whole colony's mutiny. Deep down, Hopper knows that the ants are stronger than they appear, especially in large numbers; for this reason, he actually fears them, but he hides it with his cruel and dictatorial demeanor and by taking advantage of their submissive nature.
His only slightly redeeming quality aside from being somewhat reasonable at times is that he may have loved (or at least respected) his mother enough to honor her deathbed promise to never kill Molt. However, he does demonstrate that he would have killed him if not for his promise. Hopper was more knowledgeable than the other grasshoppers due to knowing how dangerous the ants actually were and by his manipulative and serious personality, was also more of a magisterial and oppressive leader who would do anything to get food, even if it meant committing genocide. Also, aside from his promise to his mother, he doesn't show any regard for his family as he never shows any care for Molt.
Biography[]
Introduction[]
“
Hopper: It seems to me that you ants are forgetting your place. So let's double the order of food. Atta: No, but-but-- Hopper: We'll be back at the end of the season... when the last leaf falls. You ants have a nice summer. Let's ride!
„
~ Hopper to the ants.
At the beginning of the film, Flik accidentally destroys the offering of food that the ants prepared for the grasshoppers. When they arrive, Hopper is angry to find the food all gone and scolds Princess Atta who intends to take over for the queen. Molt interrupts and talks about the time Hopper almost got eaten by a bird. Hopper pins Molt against the wall and tells Molt that he if hadn't promised their mother on her deathbed that he wouldn't kill Molt he would do so. Molt accidentally enrages Hopper more but due to his promise he instead punches another grasshopper. Hopper tells the ants that he's a "compassionate insect" and he'll give them a second chance.
Hopper brings in Thumper and nearly feeds Dot to him. Flik orders Hopper to leave Dot alone, but cowers back in fear when Hopper approaches and dares him to take Dot. Hopper tells the ants that they are forgetting their place and Hopper doubles the order of food that the ants must prepare. Hopper and his gang then fly back to the desert.
Hopper's Rant[]
After a while, Hopper is seen again at his hangout in the desert. Molt suggests to Hopper that they do not collect food from the ants due to them having enough food to get them through the winter as it is. As Hopper is about to punch him for suggesting this, Molt frantically tells him that it was not his idea, causing him to direct his attention towards the two grasshoppers, Axle and Loco, that had told him to tell him this. Realizing that his underlings are unable to understand the situation, Hopper demonstrates to Axle and Loco the strength of an ant by throwing a single grain at them only for them to laugh it up due to how weak it is until he pours the entire grain reserve on them, burying them alive and presumably killing them along with one other grasshopper sitting next to them (the former two are later shown to be alive surprisingly). He snaps out at them in rage that it was never about food, but "keeping the ants in line" as the ants can defeat them easily with overwhelming numbers. Hopper questions does anyone else want to stay and all the grasshoppers instantly fly with him to Ant Island.
Rise to Power[]
When he is dissatisfied with the amount of offering the ants give him after a second chance, Hopper takes over Ant Island and plots to assassinate the Queen. After hearing from Dot about Hopper's villainous plot, Flik and the circus troupe return to the island and rescue the Queen, with the help of the fake bird that they made earlier in the season. Hopper had a fear of birds, revealing that he had ornithophobia. However, he soon discovers that the bird is a fake after it is set on fire by P.T. Flea, and has Thumper pulverize Flik upon realizing that it was his idea.
Flik's Bird Brained Idea[]
Flik makes his heartfelt and assertive speech about how his colony is strong in numbers. Hopper swats Flik to the ground and raises his foot to squish him, but Atta intervenes. Hopper then turns to see all of the ants and the circus bugs ready to fight and bombard him. After being ditched by his own minions, Hopper is trapped in the circus cannon. Before the ants and the circus bugs are ready to launch him, however, rain came in.
Seeking revenge on Flik for humiliating him, Hopper shoots himself toward Flik and flies away with him. The circus bugs give chase to save Flik, launching Tuck and Roll onto Hopper's back in an attempt to stop him. Hopper maneuvers himself through a small hole and manages to shake off the pill bugs, but they reveal that they have removed a piece of one of his antennae. This creates enough of a distraction for Atta to swipe Flik away from him, and he pursues the two across the river.
The End of Hopper[]
Flik tells Atta to stay hidden and goes out to find Hopper, only for the grasshopper to land right in front of him. He strangles Flik in an attempt to finish him off with the promise to return next season with more grasshoppers as he corners him against a bird's nest. Suddenly, the orange finch appears and notices the two bugs. Assuming that this is simply another trick, Hopper looks to Flik who confirms it and he teases the bird until she shrieks at him. As he realizes his mistake and tries to flee after dropping Flik, the bird blocks off his path, catches him, and feeds the screaming Hopper to her chicks, with a hidden Atta and Flik looking away in fear, thus foreshadowing that Hopper is real mindless soil-shoving loser not the colony.
At the end of the movie, Tuck and Roll are shown jabbering on about their fight with Hopper while holding the still twitching piece of his antennae, which is all that is left of the villainous grasshopper, as their entertainment trophy.
Other Media[]
It's Tough to Be a Bug![]
Despite his death in the film, Hopper reappears as the main antagonist in the short film. He chastises Flik for inviting humans into the insect world, claiming that they are an enemy to bugs and displays an exterminator sign and footage from movies including Beginning of the End and Empire of the Ants as evidence. He then attacks the audience with a giant fly swatter, bug spray, hornets, and black widow spiders. As he threatens the audience with the fact that humans are far outnumbered by insects and that "nothing can stop [them]", a chameleon sneaks up behind him and tries to eat him, but he flees off-screen.
A Bug's Life (The Video Game)[]
Though Hopper is the main antagonist in the respective Nintendo 64 and PlayStation versions of A Bug's Life, he does not officially appear until the game's final three levels (Anthill Part 2, Riverbed Flight, and Canyon Showdown). He makes an appearance in the game over screen (in the N64 version of the game). Though in the Playstation version, the scene from the movie where he furiously throws the leaf of food at the ants plays when it is game over and forces the player to start the game all over.
Quotes[]
“
So, where is it? WHERE'S MY FOOD?!
„
~ Hopper's first words.
“
It's a bug eat bug world out there Princess. One of those "circle of life" kind of things. Now let me tell you how things are supposed to work. The sun grows the food, the ants pick the food, the grasshoppers eat the food...
„
~ Hopper talking to Atta.
“
Hopper: I swear! If I hadn't promised Mother on her deathbed that I wouldn't kill you, I would KILL you! Molt: And believe me, nobody appreciates that more than I do. Hopper: SHUT UP! I don't wanna hear another word from you while we're on this island. Do you understand me? [Molt whimpers] I SAID, DO YOU UNDERSTAND ME?! Molt: Well, how can I answer? You said I couldn't say another word! AH! REMEMBER MA!
„
~ Hopper gets mad at Molt by threatening him, a hint to his somewhat honorable nature.
“
But, there was that ant that stood up to me.
„
~ Hopper about Flik who stood up to him.
“
You little termites! I give you a second chance, AND THIS IS ALL I GET?!
„
~ Hopper, angry at the ants meager offering.
“
You piece of dirt! No, I'm wrong. You're lower than dirt. You're an ANT! Let this be a lesson to all of you ants: Ideas are very dangerous things! You are mindless, soil-shoving losers! Put on this Earth to serve us!
„
~ Hopper insulting the ants after having Thumper beat up Flik.
“
Flik: Hopper! Hopper: You think it's over? Flik: No, no, no. No, I can explain-- Hopper: All your little stunt did was buy them time! Flik: No, please! Please, Hopper-- Hopper: [Hopper grabs Flik by the throat.] I'll get more grasshoppers and be back next season. But you won't! [the bird appears above them; Hopper looks up and notices the bird] Well, what's this, another one of your little bird tricks? Filk: Yep. Hopper: Are there a bunch of little girls in this one, too? Hello, girls! [the bird shrieks] AAAUGH! [bird jumps in front of him] AAAUGH! AAH! UNH! OOF! AAH-AAH! AAH! NO! NO! NO, NO-NO-NO! NO! AAH! AAH! AAH-AAH! AAH! NO! OH, NO! AAH! OH, NO! NO-NO-NO! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!
„
~ Hopper's last words as he is eaten alive by the bird's babies.
“
This is the 15th take. I cannot work like this. I will be in my trailer.
„
~ Hopper in a blooper after Atta agreed that the former looked stupid.
Trivia[]
Hopper is ranked #19 in the Top 30 Disney Villains.
Hopper's right eye got damaged after a blue jay nearly ate him.
Hopper was voiced by Kevin Spacey in the film, and by Andrew Stanton (the film's co-director) in It's Tough to be a Bug and the video game. John Lasseter had offered the role twice to Robert De Niro, who declined both times. Interestingly, De Niro would later voice Don Lino in the 2004 DreamWorks computer-animated film Shark Tale.
Hopper is the first main Pixar movie villain to be physically fought.
Hopper is also the first main Pixar movie villain to be an animal.
Hopper wanting to force the ants into giving food to him and his gang is basically inspired by Aesop's Fable, The Ant and the Grasshopper, in which it tells about an ant collecting food with the grasshopper having no food due to the lack of work.
He is also the first main Pixar movie villain to be killed off in his movie. He was followed by Syndrome of The Incredibles, Charles F. Muntz of Up, Mor'du of Brave, and Ernesto de la Cruz of Coco (although his death technically occurred before the events of the film). Hopper is also the first Pixar character overall who is not an inanimate object to die.
He is considered one of Pixar's most evil villains. His heinous actions, however, fall short due to him not willing to kill his own brother since he promised his mother he wouldn't despite his frequent annoyance.
Hopper had a soft spot for his mother, as he honors her deathbed wish not to kill Molt, despite being quite tempted to on various occasions, although many have debated if this is actual love or him simply trying to prove he can keep a promise.
In the film, after Thumper beats up Flik due to P.T. Flea aiding him (accidentally), he calls the colony "mindless soil-shoving losers," but in the read-along storybook, he calls them "mindless soil-sucking losers." The reason for this difference is unknown.
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