The Wild Robot Review
Peter Brown’s best-selling book series may be unfamiliar to some given its recency. Yet, there has always been something interesting to explore with stories for kids that tackle big ideas. With stories like Ida, Always to Ben Rides On, mature topics like separation, belonging, and emotional control are shown to be handled with care. However, Brown has managed to wrap up all these themes with his own series, The Wild Robot, which is a harrowing journey of its own. In its animated adaptation, DreamWorks has not just managed to bring life to Brown’s story, but also uplift it to new levels with respect.
DreamWorks’s adaptation of The Wild Robot follows in vein to Brown’s original works. After crash landing on an island, Roz finds herself raising a gosling she calls Brightbill. Despite the other animals on the island having fears, Roz befriends several like Fink, a feisty fox, and Pinktail, a mother opossum. With their help and guidance, Roz helps Brightbill become the best goose while learning more about her place in this world.
From the get-go, The Wild Robot has a fast pace to keep you hooked. It never ceases to slow down as Roz tries to explore her new surroundings, getting caught up in an action sequence in the process. However, it’s all enjoyable thanks to Lupita Nyong’o pulling a unique Baymax impression as Roz. Although, the dramatics are played up a bit with Kris Bowers’s orchestral score, which made each scene feel like it’s an open-world level from Super Mario Odyssey.
However, when it reaches the second act, The Wild Robot slows down to create this fascinating dynamic between Roz and Brightbill. Kit Connor brings a lively, energetic mood to Brightbill in a way that enforces Brightbill’s way of standing out. Through his performance, you really want to root for Roz to help Brightbill fit in despite what the other animals think. When he doesn’t, the film takes that little cliche turn where the two enter this argument that you know will get shortly resolved.
While some may be slow to fully digest The Wild Robot’s quick pace, it’s understandable that director Chris Sanders would take this approach. Due to the film trying to fit in all of Brown’s stories, this style of pacing is needed in order to get its themes across. It can go from Roz teaching Brightbill to fly to Roz trying to figure out her own origins in a snap.
Whether it be tackling the ideas of “humanity versus nature” or finding purpose, the fast flow causes these themes to be integrated in specific bits. Fortunately, there are many moments of calm between Roz, Brightbill, and Fink that help maintain that narrative balance.
On the characters themselves, they’re all hilariously complex in their own respective ways. Outside of Roz and Brightbill, who go on similar journeys, Fink is surprisingly kindhearted. Initially, you’d think he’d be more mischievous given his nature as a predator. However, he’s given his own reasonable motivations for joining Roz and Brightbill that makes you want to love him thanks to Pedro Pascal. The same goes for Catherine O’Hara’s Pinktail, whose motherly advice comically coincides with her children’s pessimistic jokes about Darwinism.
Unfortunately, the only character who lacks depth is Stephanie Hsu’s Vontra. While Hsu does a great job playing up Vontra’s excitedly cold personality, the pacing relegates her to the film’s final act. Yes, even though she looks like one of those Matrix squid drones, Vontra just feels like a last minute addition to increase the stakes.
Fortunately, she’s able to shine in The Wild Robot’s many visually astounding scenes. Every scene feels inspired by a combination of Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and Studio Ghibli’s Castle in the Sky. The vibrant compositions put to screen absolutely heighten your senses in ways that are simply beautiful to see. Add to that the grand orchestral score composed by Kris Bowers and you get one of DreamWorks Animation’s most gorgeous films to date.
The Wild Robot is a visually stunning and incredibly faithful adaptation that not only successfully brings Peter Brown’s stories to life, but uplifts it to new heights. From its funny cast of characters to its wonderful story about empathy backed by stellar animation, this film certainly ranks as one of, if not, the best animated films this year. With The Wild Robot, it shows that there’s a lot of potential to create hard-hitting stories with accessibility through care, collaboration, and a touch of creativity.
The Wild Robot opens in theaters Friday, September 27.
Rating
★★★★½
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Christopher Gallardo is a freelance entertainment writer and critic. While not running The Reel Roller, Chris can be found writing reviews and breakdowns on all things films and TV. Outside of entertainment writing, he’s currently taking classes for a Bachelor’s of Science with a minor in Digital Media & Journalism. Plus, he loves Percy Jackson, animated films and shows, and Fallout! Follow Christopher on Instagram & X.