The Wild Robot is the story of a task-fulfilling machine out of their element. ROZZUM (Lupita Nyong’o) is a helper robot. Unexpectedly, ROZZUM (or Roz for short) finds itself in a forest. While she tries to engage with the local wildlife, the animals see her as a monstrous threat. Through a series of escalating mishaps, Roz greets a newly hatched gosling (Kit Connor). To her surprise, the gosling imprints on Roz as its mother. When a friendless fox (Pedro Pascal) offers to assist in nurturing it, Roz sees a chance to give her existence purpose. But as the unlikely pair begin to raise the young bird, they realize that parenting comes with its own challenges.
What works in The Wild Robot is the perfect blend of heart, humor, and a fantastic animated experience. Adapted from the book series by Peter Brown, writer/director Chris Sanders (How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods) masterfully brings the tale to life. Immediately out of the gate, The Wild Robot introduces a comedic buffet with equal servings physicality and wit. Within minutes, patrons of all ages will be laughing as they connect with all the colorful characters. Sanders then uses this engagement to raise the stakes. Through the evolving relationships, The Wild Robot explores complex issues like death, responsibility, guilt, and imposter syndrome with aplomb. As the film progresses, it offers strong, relatable messages on these topics without ever diluting their gravity. And the packaging is gorgeous. The Wild Robot boasts a unique blend of animation that feels like a painting/cel hybrid. Finally, the voice cast is outstanding as each performer adds distinctive depth to their animated counterpart.
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People not in the mood for a family-friendly adventure may opt for something different than The Wild Robot. The only consideration patrons might have is in regard to younger viewers. Some of the action sequences might feel incredibly intense, borderline scary. Additionally, The Wild Robot has real-world lessons about inevitable consequences that could feel heavy for children. Their reaction to the material is likely predicated on their personal emotional security and awareness. Although, The Wild Robot could be viewed as an excellent primer for those lessons, given the care it exhibits in exploring them.
The Wild Robot is an absolutely fantastic film that audiences of all ages will enjoy. It builds upon classic predecessors while still feeling novel and fresh. For 2024, expect The Wild Robot to be in contention for the best animated film of the year. Highest possible recommendation.
Recommended if you enjoyed: Wall-E, The Iron Giant, Zootopia
The Wild Robot is available to see in theaters starting on September 27th.
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