The Wild Robot

The Wild Robot

Released September 27, 2024 

Written and Directed by Chris Sanders

Based on the Novel by Peter Brown

Musical Score by Kris Bowers

* Contains some mild spoilers about my favourite scenes and vague descriptions of the climax *

It’s easy to dismiss animated movies as childish or lacking the depth to engage adult audiences. However, the animation landscape has been evolving, with studios like Dreamworks proving that heartfelt and profound storytelling isn’t exclusive to Pixar. Following the success of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Dreamworks delivers another extraordinary and emotionally resonant triumph.

The Wild Robot tells the story of Roz, a lost robot stranded on an island full of woodland creatures, as she finds purpose through the most unexpected of companions: an orphaned gosling named Brightbill. It’s powerful, uplifting, and full of emotionally resonant moments that will soften even the hardest of hearts. At just under 1 hour and 45 minutes, the narrative is remarkably efficient, delivering well-earned emotional beats without ever feeling slow. Establishing its stakes quickly, we are given a road map and a looming deadline: Brightbill must learn to fly in time for the winter migration.

The thematic elements are varied and interconnected, achieving a depth that seems improbable in such a short runtime. The film explores industrialization versus nature, survival versus kindness, carving one’s own path, and the experience of being ostracized or feared for being different. At its core this is a story about being thrust into an unfamiliar situation and finding a way to succeed in spite of your limitations—whether physical, mental, or social—to not just survive but thrive.

The Wild Robot explores these themes through the lenses of its memorable and endearing characters, beautifully weaving them through each perspective.

The protagonist, Roz, struggles to circumvent her programming as she finds purpose in motherhood. Lupita Nyong’o’s (Quiet Place: Day One) performance is a wonderful balance of robotic precision and emotional depth. Capturing Roz’s naivety, vulnerability, and eventually resolve for her new found family. Through her journey we learn the power of independent thinking, and the profound truth that survival often requires us to transcend what we are programmed to be.

Brightbill, the ostracized oddball runt whose small wings prevent him from flying like the others, must carve his own path and “fly his own way”.  His journey explores the challenges of fitting in, finding a sense of belonging, and overcoming the pain of feeling unwanted because of your difference. Brightbill’s alienation mirrors how the other animals perceive Roz, as he was raised by the so-called “monster”. Kit Connor (Heartstopper) nails the moments of angst and triumph with contagious sincerity, making Brightbill’s growth deeply moving.

Pedro Pascal is outstanding as Fink, a sly fox who develops a heart of gold. He is comedic, charming, and perfectly abrasive. Serving as a contrast to the story of Brightbill and Roz, Fink is abandoned and despised having never felt welcomed or loved. Pascal’s nuanced performance makes Fink’s eventual acceptance of his newfound family genuinely heartwarming.

The supporting cast is a wonderful mix of famous voices, featuring Bill Nighy, Ving Rhames, Matt Berry, Mark Hamill, and Stephanie Hsu. My favourites were the mother possum, played by Catherine O’hara (Schitt’s Creek) and her litter of mischievous children. The baby possums are a constant source of comedic gems. They follow a recurring trend of adorable characters with a morbid fascination with death—reminiscent of the little blue star in The Super Mario Movie).

From a production perspective, The Wild Robot is remarkable. Despite being made by a relatively new team of creatives, the film showcases incredible talent. Everything comes together with a beautiful synergy from the writing, direction, music, and visuals. Family oriented animated features need to include something for everyone, remaining simple enough for young children while being deep enough for adults as well. This movie absolutely succeeds at both.

The musical score is rousing, triumphant, and heartwarming. Whether it’s the background score, or the inspirational original songs, the emotional undercurrent of each scene is punctuated by the catchy and evocative music. The visuals are equally stunning, evocative of an acrylic painting brought to life. On a big screen, the texture is even more apparent, with subtle brush strokes and smeared paint adding tactile richness to the world.

All of this culminates in an utterly magical montage sequence where Brightbill learns to fly. Maren Moriss’ original song, “Kiss the Sky”, plays throughout, elevating the scene’s emotional weight. The scene is prolonged, with a brief break for some powerful dialogue, before the music crescendos as the Brightbill finally achieves his goal. It’s triumphant and inspirational, and had my eyes welling. The line “Where his wings end, his heart can pay the balance”, is probably my favourite in the movie. This scene beautifully encapsulates the brilliantly developed bond between Roz and Brightbill. When Brightbill makes that final pass by Roz, it was nearly impossible to hold back tears.

The pulse pounding climax is riveting, reinforcing the story’s thematic elements with urgency and poignance. Juxtaposing the dispassionate and destructive force of industry against the wilderness with violence, destruction and flame to devastating effect. Amidst chaos, the sound is briefly muted as our main characters share a heartfelt moment, echoing their first meeting. The ending is bittersweet and a bit more hopeful than what I expected. As the end credits roll, another incredible original song by Malen Morris brings everything home, serving as an emotional exclamation point to a brilliant cinematic experience. I’m blown away by how much this film accomplishes in such little time, displaying an efficiency and emotional resonance that soars far above many other movies.

The Wild Robot has everything I look for in an animated feature film. Breathtaking, sweet, heartfelt, and deeply inspirational. Despite the hype surrounding it and my already heightened expectations, it not only met but exceeded them. Full of rousing and emotionally resonant moments, stunning artistry, and several profound messages. It will leave you wanting to go home to hug your parents—or if you are a parent yourself, hold your children a little closer.

If Roz asked me, “On a scale of 1-10, how would you rate my performance?”, my answer would be clear; this is a resounding 9/10. The Wild Robot combines a painterly aesthetic, cohesively intertwined themes, rousing musical montages, and unforgettable characters into a cinematic experience that is sentimental and triumphant. This is a testament to perseverance, empathy, and the beauty of finding love and family where it’s least expected.

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