A Wildly Entertaining and a Visual Masterpiece
DIRECTED BY CHRIS SANDERS/2024
A robot, a gosling, and a fox. What sounds like the lead-up to a terrible joke is the premise for one of the best animated films released so far this year. DreamWorks Animation’s newest creation, The Wild Robot, is a visually breathtaking work of art that is certain to garner much-deserved attention. Adapted from Peter Brown’s bestselling book by the same name, this film is a touching tale about the creation of found families that no doubt will tug more than a few heartstrings. With director Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon, Lilo and Stitch) at the helm, this is a film destined to make waves.
ROZZUM 7134 (Lupita Nyong’o), known later simply as Roz, is a robot that finds herself stranded on a remote island after washing up on its shore. A robot built with the purpose of being entirely subservient to the one who ordered her, Roz is instantly an alien on foreign land. The inhabitants of the secluded woodland cower in fear from this stranger that has intruded upon their world. As Roz bounces from critter to critter in desperate search for a task to complete. Her purpose eventually arrives in the form of an adorable gosling, Brightbill (Kit Connor). After accidentally “terminating” the gosling’s family, Roz hesitantly takes on the daunting task of motherhood.
Though the film putters along in its exposition, it is hardly noticeable due to the extraordinarily beautiful forest scenery. As I predicted after viewing the trailer for this film, the true beauty of The Wild Robot lies primarily within the animation. Over the past decade, it has been extremely refreshing to see studios acknowledge that their general audience have begun to demand a different level of quality from them. The Wild Robot is a recent addition to this movement as its borderline painterly style imagery is certain to captivate anyone regardless of age. Sanders includes a multitude of wide shots of the landscape to truly put this textured world on display. The vibrant environment makes Roz and her metallic appearance even more striking and unnatural
The stunning design is paired with the necessary talent to ensure this film will stand out. The Wild Robot boasts an exceptional cast that all manage to deliver. Even when you cannot see her on-screen, Lupita Nyong’o still captivates as the maternal robot grappling with her newfound discovered empathy. Pedro Pascal is delightfully witty as the fox Fink, whose self-confidence fizzles away to reveal a more complex creature underneath. Likewise, Kit Connor adds the required emotion needed for an adolescent Brightbill as he struggles to find acceptance in his world. The supporting cast is no less impressive, with names such as Catherine O’Hara, Mark Hamill, Stephanie Hsu, Bill Nighy, and Matt Berry lending their skills to this project.
The formula DreamWorks is operating with here is not necessarily revolutionary nor is it unheard of. From WALL-E to Big Hero 6, studios have had considerable success in centering their stories around artificial intelligence. However, considering the modern developments in technology, The Wild Robot feels more relevant than its predecessors. Roz, an artificially intelligent being, must grapple with the limitations of her programming and learn how to embrace the strange unpredictability of the natural world. Not only is she in search of the equivalent of a soul, but Roz must learn what the definition of home truly means. Is The Wild Robot the most original story ever put to film? Not necessarily. But that does not for one moment weaken this film. It is lighthearted when needed, packs an emotional wallop, and ultimately delivers a message about love and acceptance that lands practically flawlessly.
