DreamWorks Animation has always been regarded as the biggest rival to Disney/Pixar, but despite a few memorable sagas like Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, and Madagascar, the truth is that the studio has rarely delivered stand-alone original works with the same cultural impact as many of the latter’s movies. That said, there’s one voice at the core of the success of both corporations: Chris Sanders, creator of Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods, and other artistic contributions to masterpieces that defined Disney’s Renaissance Era in the 90s. And now, the filmmaker is adapting Peter Brown’s novel of the same name, The Wild Robot, and expectations are sky-high due to its excellent global reception.
The film follows the same premise as the source material, telling the adventure of unit 7134 from ROZZUM, “Roz” for short – a robot who falls onto an uninhabited island and must adapt to the harsh environment, gradually building relationships with the island’s animals and becoming the adoptive mother of an orphaned gosling. The Wild Robot features an all-star voice cast, led by Lupita Nyong’o (Us) as the artificial protagonist, joined by renowned actors like Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us), Catherine O’Hara (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice), Mark Hamill (Star Wars), Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible), among others.
The Wild Robot easily becomes one of the best movies of 2024, even surpassing Inside Out 2 as my favorite animated film of the year. Sanders’ script, much like Brown’s book, appears deceptively simple but is, in fact, thoroughly developed, detailed, and complex, exploring numerous deep, diverse themes. Survival and adaptation, identity and self-discovery, empathy and connection, community and interdependence, motherhood/parenting, discrimination, environmental responsibility, artificial intelligence… none of these topics are simplified or glossed over in this narrative study.
That said, above all, at the heart of The Wild Robot is the juxtaposition between technology and nature. Through the interactions between Roz, a product of human technological advancement in a world without technology, and the wild island, countless opportunities arise for thought-provoking discussions on all the previously mentioned topics. Roz is forced to adapt to an unknown ecosystem to survive, and Sanders uses this conflict to question the presence of technology in natural environments, whether as a disruptive or harmonizing element.
However, The Wild Robot doesn’t portray technology as inherently evil. Roz learns to live with the animals not through physical, intellectual, or mechanical dominance but through the ability to integrate into the natural surroundings, symbolizing the potential for a more balanced coexistence between these two components of our lives. Roz’s survival – physical, emotional, and psychological – depends on learning the laws of nature and building relationships with the island’s animals, demonstrating the importance of resilience and the ability to learn from mistakes.
Personally, the most impactful arc naturally revolves around Roz’s journey of self-discovery and the gradual creation of empathy within the theoretically emotionless robot. The Wild Robot repeatedly emphasizes Roz’s “programming,” “directives,” and “tasks,” which were built into the robot to serve humans. But without humans around, none of these requirements apply, leading the robot to discover what it means to live, be free, and wild, all while searching for her place and purpose in this new world.
Love, care, and responsibility play a crucial role in Roz’s development as an empathetic being. Initially, concepts related to emotions, feelings, and even respect are incomprehensible, but through connections and experiences with the various animals encountered, especially with Brightbill – the young goose Roz adopts, awakening a maternal role within the robot – Roz learns to care for the beings around. The Wild Robot uses the transformative bond between Roz and Brightbill to represent the idea of family and the universal drive to protect and care for others.
Finally, throughout the movie, Roz also discovers the importance of living in a community and depending on others to survive. The delicate island ecosystem forces Roz to find a role within it, thriving only through cooperation, understanding, and respect for others, regardless of species or origins – a message that remains relevant today. The Wild Robot also subtly touches on the need to respect the natural order of the organic world, advocating for environmental sustainability and raising concerns about climate change, as well as questions about AI and the definition of “sentience”.
With the thematic analysis done, let me be clear: The Wild Robot is packed with entertainment, containing an incredibly effective layer of humor that makes the emotional moments even more powerful. I recommend bringing a box of tissues, not only to wipe the tears from laughing but also for the lake that may form under your feet from crying. The tonal balance is perfect, just like Sanders’ pacing, which knows when to slow down to deliver an important message and when to ramp up the energy and action to recapture the attention of younger audiences.
The Wild Robot features some of the most stunning animation in DreamWorks Animation history, with a fascinatingly immersive blend of 2D, 3D, and unique painting-like styles. The animals’ expressions are incredibly vivid, as are the colors of a film that stands out visually, but also through Kris Bowers’ (The Color Purple) unforgettable, award-worthy score. Bowers’ music is just the latest example of how this cinematic element can transform a movie entirely, elevating *every* sequence it intends to enhance with moving or epic melodies.
Cinematography isn’t often discussed in animated flicks, but it’s impossible not to praise the work of Chris Stover (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish). The Wild Robot counts with phenomenal visual artists, including animators and Stover. Hours after viewing the film, several beautiful images remain in my imagination as if they were real landscapes I had personally experienced. Technically, narratively, and thematically, I have no complaints, and the cherry on top is the fantastic voice work from a cast that doesn’t disappoint, not even a bit.
Final Thoughts on The Wild Robot
The Wild Robot offers much more than just immersive visuals, inspirational music, and diverse moments of pure entertainment – it’s a deeply reflective story that tackles complex, relevant themes with a delicate balance of heart and humor. Through the robotic protagonist’s journey of self-discovery, Chris Sanders explores the intersection of technology and nature, touching on topics like identity, empathy, and community, among others. This thematic depth, combined with astonishing animation and an exceptional voice cast, makes Roz’s adventure not only one of the most remarkable movies of the year but also an impactful study of coexistence, adaptation, and what it truly means to live in harmony with the world around us.
Rating: A
The Wild Robot is now playing in theaters theaters.
Learn more about the film, including how to buy tickets, at the official website for the title.
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