The Wild Robot
DreamWorks Animation
As the world of animation has expanded and Disney lost much of its grip as the dominant force in Western animation throughout the 2020s, DreamWorks Animation has taken a rocky road as the studio has attempted to re-engage the general public on the studio's legacy and push forward with new ideas that could continue to grow the awareness and adoration towards the company. While there have been some major successes in this effort, The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, there have also been plenty of duds, Ruby Gillman, Teenage Kraken and Kung Fu Panda 4 to name a couple. DreamWorks' newest effort, an adaptation of Peter Brown's The Wild Robot, breakthroughs as another successful, though undoubtedly basic, animated feature for the studio.
Directed by Chris Sanders, best known for his directing work on 2002's Lilo & Stitch and 2010's How to Train Your Dragon, The Wild Robot opens up on an isolated island full of woodland creatures whose lives get drastically disrupted when a ROZZUM robot, eventually known by the name Roz (Lupita Nyong'o), crashes onto the island. Meant to help humans complete various tasks on a futuristic Earth, the robot tries desperately to find a purpose on the island as most animals either choose to run from it or attack it. Eventually learning how to speak with animals, Roz finally finds a purpose in the form of a baby Canadian goose named Brightbill (Kit Connor). Alongside a red fox named Fink (Pedro Pascal), Roz must step in as the mother to Brightbill after an accident leaves him without a family and helps him grow to be able to survive on his own.
When it comes to narrative and plot, The Wild Robot is about as basic as it gets. The story is incredibly straightforward and provides nearly nothing in terms of twists and evolution. It is evident early on what the film is going to provide when it comes to moral takeaways and direction with the film delivering on that promise over its 102-minute runtime. It isn't that the plot is boring or bad, the emotional connections are strong enough for what they are and the overall viewing experience feels engaging, but for those hoping for more meat on the bone, this meal will undoubtedly feel quite unfulfilling.
However, this more basic story is undeniably elevated by the heart and soul found in the relationship between Roz and Brightbill. While no part of this story or any singular emotional beat should feel shocking for anyone who has consumed even a decent amount of animated kid's content over the last decade, the story of Roz building an emotional connection with Brightbill as they both come to accept each other and their roles in their imperfect family unit is emotionally rewarding and is sure to hit many right in the gut as they think about their parents and what that relationship means to them.
The actual package of The Wild Robot is also notably strong. The almost hand-painted look of the animation is genuinely stunning and the character animation is beyond effective in giving these human emotions to non-human bodies. The score by Kris Bowers is soaring and pushes each major emotional scene forward to be far more memorable and grand than it would naturally stand on its own. The voice cast is also a pleasant treat with every individual evoking a weight and personality that feels natural and unique. While so often, animated films will go back to the well with recognizable voices who already have experience in animation, The Wild Robot stands out even more for picking a cast who haven't had deep careers in animation allowing something fresh. Pedro Pascal especially feels born for this type of performance, something more than likely helped by his experience on The Mandalorian.
While there is still an unneeded 3rd act action sequence and the actual conclusion to the film feels strangely unsatisfying, adapting the end of a first book within a larger series that sees the story continue onto something more rewarding for a final statement, these complaints are largely minor. The Wild Robot is an effective feature that will take the audience on an emotional ride that is all around strongly designed and executed. While it is hard to say the film is that ambitious or complex, the story doesn't demand anything more and the runtime never feels painful to sit through. Sure, this story could honestly have been told as a short film, but as a feature-length production, it is a charming addition to DreamWorks' filmography.
