Through breathtaking animation and a powerfully comedic and exhilarating story cemented and expanded by the cast, The Wild Robot might be the best animated film of the year.
The Wild Robot is a heartwarming, visually stunning story of nature versus nurture with neverending laughs thanks to the outstanding voice performances from the cast. The comedy fits for children and adults alike, inspiring smiles, shrieks, teary-eyed moments, and overall joy. It’s an enriching film, and Lupita Nyong’o (Us, A Quiet Place: Day One) is stellar as the robot searching for a task, Roz. Through breathtaking animation and a powerfully comedic and exhilarating story cemented and expanded by the cast, The Wild Robot might be the best animated film of the year.
Directed by Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon) and written by Sanders and based on the book of the same name by Peter Brown, the story follows the unexpected adventure of a shipwrecked robot, Roz, as she traverses an uninhabited island. But, although humans are nonexistent on the island, there is a plethora of wildlife. While encountering challenges and mistrust from the animals, Roz winds up caring for an orphaned baby goose. The story packs a lot of emotional weight. Themes about bucking your perceived “nature” and not letting others define you shine through the film.
The Wild Robot Pulls at the Heart and Funny Bone
It’s challenging to hit various emotional beats in a film. Often, one will overshadow the others. However, in The Wild Robot, moments of laughter, levity, joy, and even sadness reverberate through the audience. Perhaps those with a soft spot for animals feel those emotions stronger, but this film is still profoundly enriching. The comedy runs the gamut. There is Roz adopting specific animal characteristics to a hilarious at what personality an animal that plays dead, like a possum, would possess.
The sad and warm moments are just as memorable and poignant. Witnessing parenting challenges, ostracization, and other hardships pulls at the tear ducts. It’s a wonderfully moving film that includes essential life lessons. It touches on bullying, acceptance, defining yourself, and rising above your past or origins. Although, arguably, you could also point out some patriotic undertones, such as when the island unites. However, these are also animals. So, there is an inarguable “we were here first.”
Cast Brings Animation to Wondrous Life
Lupita Nyong’o in the lead is sensational. She delivers that deadpan yet overly friendly voice as Roz seeks to engage with the animals on the island. As she walks through the forest, following animals and asking them for a task, audiences shriek with laughter. As the tsundere-style fox Fink, Pedro Pascal (The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, Game of Thrones) is a perfect counter. His voice has a silky smooth, not-to-be-trusted demeanor, with that soft, caring heart beating underneath.
Both Boone Storm and Kit Connor (Heartstopper, His Dark Materials) are great as the orphaned goose, Brightbill. One voice conveys the innocence of youth while the other the angst of a teen. Another hilarious highlight of the film is the voice of Catherine O’Hara (Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, Penelope). She voices the possum mom—with seven, no six, no seven kids—Pinktail. She exudes the sentiment of a loving yet sarcastic and, at times, weary parent.
Splendid Animation
While the cast brings all the skills to The Wild Robot, the animation complements their performances, saturating audiences in a splendid wilderness. It does not neglect the dangers as seasons change, nor the risks hidden within its colorful, lively forest, but displays it with an awe that inspires the same resounding emotion in the viewer. Alongside that is a stunning score and music that amplifies each feeling.
The Wild Robot is a phenomenal feat in animation and storytelling, hitting every mark five for five. The cast is so perfect in their roles I could not recognize their voices during the movie. It’s as though the self fell away, and out came the embodiment of these animals. It’ll be challenging for another animated feature to come along in the last few months of 2024 that tops this movie. The Wild Robot is a spectacular emotional journey filled with visual wonder and a score that elevates every laugh, tear, and smile.
