After a crash landing on an island on Earth, a highly advanced and smart-thinking robot named Roz (Lupita Nyong’o) finds herself in surroundings entirely unlike anything she has ever seen. The island is filled with wild animals, and the environment is significantly different. Programmed to be a personal assistant, Roz discovers that finding a new purpose on the island is challenging. Before Roz can move forward in any capacity, she needs to understand the planet better, including the various animals that roam around. Roz starts to study the different weather patterns and other various elements, even going so far as to understand animal languages and behaviours along with how they move.
But while learning, Roz finds herself going head-to-head with a wild bear. Sadly, Roz is thrown over a cliff during the battle, destroying some goose eggs on the way- all except for one. Roz takes it upon herself to care for the remaining egg, carrying the heaviness of guilt for accidentally destroying the egg’s nest. Thanks to the outstanding care from Roz the goose egg hatches. Roz continues to care for the gosling and gives him a name, Brightbill (Kit Connor).
While she is excited and pleased that she has finally found a task and a purpose that must be fulfilled, Roz soon discovers that no program can advise her on how to be a good mother. Luckily, Roz receives some help teaching Brightbill to eat, swim, and fly before the migration from Fink (Pedro Pascal), a playful yet cheeky fox, and Pinktail (Catherine O’Hara), an opossum with experience raising children. With their help, can they prepare Brightbill to survive and take flight during the migration?
The Wild Robot is an animated feature and family film, although some tense scenes throughout make it best suited for older children. The film was directed by Chris Sanders, whose past work includes other family films and animated features such as How to Train Your Dragon (2010), Lilo and Stitch (2002), and Call of the Wild (2020).
I was pleasantly surprised by how well-made The Wild Robot is for several reasons. The stunning and impressive animation features fantastic imagery and creativity, especially Roz and her advanced robot capabilities. The film also tells a touching story, exploring themes such as motherhood, friendship, and the power of working together. The story is compelling, highly unpredictable and had me tearing up multiple times. The voice work is fantastic, and the pacing of the touching journey is excellent.
Overall, The Wild Robot is an exceptional animated film. I loved the concept, characters, and journey of the highly advanced robot Roz. The film consists of outstanding visuals and high levels of creativity. While the film does have several moments of laughter and action, it also packs in plenty of heartfelt moments that brought tears to my eyes multiple times. The voice acting was top-notch, too. This film is truly a memorable experience, and its journey is unforgettable. It’s a must-see for 2024.
5th October 2024
Written by Peter Walkden
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