Emmy Award winner Jon Hamm, widely recognized for his iconic portrayal of Don Draper in "Mad Men," has recently embraced a new facet of the entertainment industry: animation. In a discussion with Collider's Steve Weintraub, Hamm enthusiastically shared his experience lending his distinctive voice to several animated projects, expressing his fondness for the medium by stating, "I've been animated, and I like it."

Hamm's latest venture into animation is with Disney and Pixar's new comedy adventure, "Hoppers." In this film, he voices Mayor Jerry Generazzo, a character who finds himself taken hostage by a determined group of animals. These animals are rallied by Mabel, a 19-year-old animal-lover voiced by Piper Curda. The plot unfolds as Mabel ingeniously utilizes new technology to "hop" into the body of a robotic beaver, allowing her to infiltrate the animal kingdom. Her mission is to convince King George, voiced by Bobby Moynihan, and other animals to unite and take a stand against an impending threat, leading audiences on a hilarious and adventurous journey. Other notable cast members lending their voices include Dave Franco and Vanessa Bayer.

Discussing the intricate animation process, Hamm revealed how Pixar artists masterfully bring characters to life. He explained that animators meticulously utilize footage of the actors in the recording booth as a guide. This footage influences the characters' facial expressions and physicality, creating a striking resemblance between the animated figures and their voice actors. Hamm highlighted this magical transformation, noting how viewers can distinctly see Bobby Moynihan in King George, Vanessa Bayer in Diane, and Dave Franco in Titus, observing that "they kind of come out through the animation." Despite his inability to draw, Hamm expressed immense admiration for the animators' incredible talent, acknowledging his good fortune to have participated in various animated films such as "Shrek," "Minions," "Grimsburg," and now "Hoppers."

During the conversation, Hamm also shared his personal preferences for Pixar films. While admitting the difficulty of choosing just one, he mentioned several favorites. He lauded "Ratatouille," specifically praising Patton Oswalt’s spectacular voice work, the film's profound message, and its clever exploration of the role of a critic. "WALL-E" also holds a special place for Hamm, who admired its elegant and beautiful storytelling achieved primarily through sounds and images, with minimal dialogue. The "Toy Story" series deeply resonates with him, often reducing him to "a weeping mess" during viewings, a testament to Pixar's consistent ability to craft incredibly well-told stories, infuse them with deeply humorous elements, and connect profoundly with audiences on an emotional level. The interviewer himself praised "Hoppers" as his favorite Pixar movie in years, suggesting it continues this esteemed lineage.

Beyond animation, the discussion delved into Hamm's favorite live-action films and directors. When asked about his preferred Christopher Nolan movie, Hamm decisively chose "Memento." He praised the film for showcasing Nolan's exceptional attention to detail and his remarkable acuity in delivering a highly complicated narrative. Hamm likened the experience of watching "Memento" to the initial viewing of "The Usual Suspects," where audiences are left questioning "what did I just watch? What just happened?" He emphasized how "Memento" creatively redefined storytelling and firmly established Nolan as a director to watch.

The conversation concluded with a query about his favorite Steven Spielberg film, a question Hamm described as "a tall order." After deliberation, he selected "Jaws," a common yet undeniable masterpiece, calling it "flawless." Hamm marvelled at Spielberg's incredible versatility, pointing out the dramatic genre shift from the terrifying blockbuster "Jaws" (released around 1975) to the heartwarming "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial," with "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" in between. This wide range underscored Spielberg's unparalleled talent as a gifted storyteller capable of spanning diverse emotional and thematic spectrums. "Hoppers" is currently playing in theaters.