DreamWorks Animation “The Wild Robot,” directed by Academy Award nominee Chris Sanders, was a delightful film that touched my heart.
Sanders was approached by DreamWorks to make a film adaptation of Peter Brown’s book, “The Wild Robot,” according to Sept. 27 The Wrap. The film was released on September 27.
The premise of the film follows a robot named ROZZUM Unit 7134 or Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), who washed up ashore on an island inhabited by various animals.
Roz tries to navigate her way through the wildlife, only for the animals to reject and run away from her when attempting to offer several animals for help.
Her life in the wilderness becomes more difficult when she is tasked with raising a gosling. It was intriguing to see how Roz’s life would play out while raising a goose because she is a robot.
Audiences meet Pinktail (Catherine O’Hara) when Roz seeks advice on raising the gosling and it embarks a wild ride for Roz.
At first, I was skeptical about the film because I was unsure of how good the film would be once I saw the trailer.
However, it exceeded my expectations and a key part of the film's success was to establish a firm plot that does not have any plot holes.
I found that the film had a plot that was easy to follow for audiences and every scene after another flowed nicely.
Roz is a charming protagonist who quickly wins the hearts of audiences in her journey and I was hooked.
She goes through the motions of adapting to an environment that is vastly different from hers. I felt sympathetic towards Roz because it was hard to see her try to fit in when she was much different.
Roz’s purpose is only to help others and she is programmed to complete tasks for them.
This part of the film showed the reality of how some people are judged by their appearances and how that forms their viewpoints.
It set a reminder that we should not make assumptions about people without even getting to know them first.
As the film continues, her interactions with the island felt deeply impactful and humorous, adding layers to the story’s exploration of identity and community.
It was a smart choice to incorporate humor into the film because it made the characters likable. The animals had some hilarious one-liners and their actions left the audience chuckling.
The supporting cast of characters is also excellent, with each animal bringing their unique personality and charm.
I felt the voice actors got into their characters and portrayed them exceptionally well. They added depth and exaggeration that made their characters stand out on their own.
As the film progressed, each character had a change in their personality for the greater good.
For example, another animal named Fink (Pedro Pascal) is initially seen as cold and cunning. Later on in the film, he starts feeling compassionate and open towards others.
I found the animation style of “The Wild Robot” eye-catching and visually appealing to see.
The animation had a more vibrant, distinct style that makes this film unique compared to other animated films.
Sanders said the film used a hand painted appearance in inspiration of old Disney movies and movies from Japanese animator and artist, Hayao Miyazaki, according to an April 10 The Variety article.
The aesthetic of the animation is one of the strongest suites that made the film stand out.
Seeing the animation on the big screen was aesthetically pleasing and enhanced the characters’ features.
The filmmakers also vividly brought the lush forests, mountains, crashing waves and stormy skies which made every detail of the island come to life.
The unique style reminded me of the animation used in “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” and I was pleased to see this use of animation gaining more traction.
For those who are fans of the latest “Puss in Boots: The Last Wish” sequel or a fan of Dreamworks in general, “The Wild Robot” is a film worth watching.
It has everything that people look for in a film; a smooth plot line, character development and various themes.
DreamWorks latest film tells a touching and emotional story of coming together while touching on themes of motherhood, family and survival.
Sanders and the cast did a phenomenal job of bringing this film to life and will definitely leave you emotional. It is a pure masterpiece.
