[Film Review] The Wild Robot

Robot companions have long played a significant role in the universe of animated films, from The Iron Giant, to Wall-E, to Big Hero 6. Blasting onto the scene most recently is DreamWorks’ Oscar-nominated The Wild Robot. So, how does it stack up to its predecessors? Despite some familiar story beats, it’s a dazzling, fun, endearing, and heartfelt adventure that manages to wholly earn its place as a noble newcomer in the genre.

The film boots up amid the aftermath of a storm, where a container of robots has washed up on a remote island bursting with wildlife. Here we meet Roz, a humanoid robot (wonderfully voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) who possesses one primary function: To carry out tasks until they’re officially complete. So when she comes in contact with a freshly hatched gosling who thinks she’s its mother, things get quite complicated, even for Roz’s sophisticated software. Roz is tasked with preparing the gosling for its first migration, all while trying to gain trust from a diverse community of woodland creatures.

The impressively immersive animation extends a branch and invites us into a world full of vibrant colors, vivid textures, and exquisite natural settings. Much like Roz’s programming, the animation technology used is state-of-the-art stuff, and yet, a remarkable emphasis is placed on style and personality, making the visuals feel more artful and meticulously crafted as opposed to run-of-the-mill, generic graphics without a soul. About midway through, there’s a great sequence that takes on a painterly quality, and it’s awesome to look at—to the point where you wouldn’t mind seeing a version of the film with this aesthetic for the entire duration.  

The script’s sense of humor often draws jokes from the animals’ instincts and unique characteristics. There’s a cunning fox who just wants a friend, a hard-working beaver whose work is never quite appreciated, and a chuckle-worthy recurring bit about a family of fatalistic opossums. The film also recognizes the age of AI we’re living in, and presents the ethical side. When used responsibly, living things can benefit from technology, and technology can benefit from living things. And if you look closely, the film subtly weaves in a few moments that stress the importance of taking care of our dear planet. 

What makes The Wild Robot so worthwhile is its big, glowing heart. The relationship between Roz and the gosling is genuinely touching and meaningful. It’s built with themes about the depths of love, finding your purpose (whether it’s conventional or unconventional), and what it means to truly belong. Combine all that with the majestic musical score and it’s sure to stir up major emotions. In the end, it’s all rooted in kindness. That’s something that’s always welcome.

This review originally appeared in St. Paul's Community Reporter.