The WIld Robot

DreamWorks Animation has typically been seen as the B-side to the greater works of Pixar. When there was Toy Story 1 & 2, there was DreamWorks’ Shrek, which was less emotionally demanding, but still proved hugely successful and a pop culture touchstone. As the work of Pixar over the past decade has strained to reach the highs of their hayday, DreamWorks has released some of their finest, richest works such as the How to Train Your Dragon trilogy and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. After co-helming the first Dragon film and directing their successful prehistoric family film The Croods, director Chris Sanders returns to the studio with an adaptation of the popular 2016 children’s book by author Peter Brown. This adaptation is yet another exceptional work for the studio with an emotionally intelligent and visually extravagant offering.

Courtesy Universal Pictures

In the near future, Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) is a service robot for the company Universal Dynamics that crash lands on an island inhabited solely by wildlife. Learning how to communicate with the animals, Roz attempts to blend in with the creatures, much to their chagrin. After accidentally crashing into a nest of geese, Roz destroys everything but a sole surviving egg. The egg hatches into little Brightbill, an adorable tiny gosling that imprints onto Roz. Deciding to raise the baby bird with the help of a lonely fox, Fink (voiced by Pedro Pascal), Roz must handle the responsibilities of motherhood while getting Brightbill ready to fly in time for migration season.

Helmed by Chris Sanders, co-Director of Lilo & Stitch and How To Train Your Dragon, The Wild Robot is perhaps his finest work yet. Overflowing with creative vibrancy and sizable emotional stakes, Sanders showcases his storytelling flair with this lovely, inspired adaptation. His latest echoes the wondrous emotional depth and storytelling prowess of Hayao Miyazaki. From a visual standpoint, this is among the very best feats in animation in recent years. The animation is richly textured with the look of hand drawn illustrations on the edges of the characters and around the frame. Recent innovations in technology have proven wonders in recent years for animated features such as the Spider-Verse films, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, and those advancements have greatly benefitted the animation team here. The sheer artistry in The Wild Robot‘s animation is a breathtaking feat. Taking CG-animation and fusing it with traditional 2D flourishes, the visuals are simply awe-inspiring.

Courtesy Universal Pictures

As much as it is a story about a robot, The Wild Robot is a very human story. A story about a mother finding her purpose and learning to coexist amidst a difficult ecosystem, there’s a wealth of depth in the script written by Sanders. For each of Sanders films, there’s a theme in his work of alien creatures attempting to find peace in a world they don’t belong in. He always finds a truth in this idea that is explored in great detail. What makes this script stand out above other recent animated family films is how it deals with heavy themes of death and existentialism. Sanders doesn’t shy away from the harsh reality of the wilderness and its lack of moral code, but balances those heavier elements with great joy and movie magic.

The Wild Robot‘s vibrancy and emotional depth is further emboldened by a terrific voice cast. Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o does remarkable work as Roz. Selling her initial naivety and willingness to serve and please with her turn as a maternal figure, Nyong’o threads a tricky balance. Kit Connor as the older Brightbill gives a heartfelt performance that sells the emotional stakes of the latter half of the film. You increasingly feel the tight knit bond between Roz and Brightbill which often leads to tear-jerking results. Pedro Pascal is also noteworthy as Fink, who goes from a scrappy fox focusing on his own survival to then caring about Brightbill and the other creatures of the wilderness. Bill Nighy adds some gravitas as the elder goose, Longneck. Catherine O’Hara, Ving Rhames and Mark Hamill round out the cast as other members of the wildlife that are all forced to come together in the wake of a common enemy.

The sweeping score by Kris Bowers (King Richard, Green Book) further heightens the grander emotional power. There’s a training sequence of Roz and FInk teaching Brightbill how to fly that is told primarily through visuals and Bowers exceptional work. The only major fault of the film comes in the third act introduction of the villains, the Universal Robotics droid sent to collect Roz. Instead of coming across as a greater threat, the inclusion comes off as a rather clunky script necessity that feels rushed and serves to give the story a “big baddie”. The ensuing action is fine, but overcomplicates a story that thrives off of narrative simplicity.

Courtesy Universal Pictures

The Wild Robot is bursting with creative ingenuity set around a powerful story that reaches the emotional heights of Pixar’s best. Director Chris Sanders takes the successful 2016 children’s book and adapts it with rich storytelling and impressive visual splendor. This is easily the best animated film of the year, one that will equally delight and enthral both viewers of young and old.

The Wild Robot is now playing in theaters.