The Wild Robot - A Wild Redemption Story

Turning the Power On

If you were stranded on an island with no company aside from the animals and environment surrounding you, what would your first course of action be? 

In their latest effort, DreamWorks Animation offers their answer to this question with The Wild Robot, based on the book series of the same name by Peter Brown. 

DreamWorks is one of the most recognizable names in all of animation, having created several classic series including Shrek, How to Train Your Dragon, Kung Fu Panda, Madagascar, and many more. However, some of their latest projects have been struggling in different ways. While they have still released some great films throughout the 2020s, such as The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, others found themselves in trouble recently, with mixed reactions to Trolls Band Together and Kung Fu Panda 4, as well as the horrible performance of Ruby Gillman: Teenage Kraken. 

The Wild Robot aims to redeem DreamWorks’ recent decline in quality, evident through its star-studded cast, strong marketing, and the direction of Chris Sanders, who previously helmed Lilo & Stitch and co-directed the first How to Train Your Dragon. 

Their efforts seem to have paid off, based on the near-universal acclaim from critics, highly positive audience reception, and  an impressive $35 million opening at the top of the weekend box office.

After catching a showing of the film on October 1 at our local theater, Cinépolis Luxury Cinema, with fellow Staff Writer Joe Hamway, a question arose: can this movie live up to hype and help the studio to flourish once more?

Has DreamWorks Been Redeemed?

The Wild Robot tells the story of an android named Roz, who finds herself stranded on an island. She must adapt to her new environment and discover her wild side, with the animals in the area helping her along the way. 

The film features an ensemble voice cast including Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Mark Hamill, and Catherine O’Hara among others. 

After recent hit-and-miss quality from DreamWorks, I am satisfied to report that The Wild Robot is a major hit for the company. In fact, dare I say, it may be one of the best movies in their entire catalog. This largely stems from the film’s story and characters, which keep the engagement level high while resonating with the audience. 

Despite a simple story in concept, it builds upon it in a way that does not feel too predictable, providing a beautiful message about loving and protecting those around you. To that end, the picture maintains a perfectly balanced tone, finding the right mix of  adventure, humor, and heartfelt moments, all while moving at a steady pace. 

The only nitpick I really have with the film is that some of the characters don’t get enough screen-time. Every character in this film from Roz to the animals she encounters all have their own unique charm, and most of them are developed strongly. However, a few do not get much time to be fleshed out, so they don’t have as much impact on the viewer. 

One character in particular was not given much buildup or development until the third act; I will not say who it is to prevent spoilers, but it was still noticeable in the final product.

That said, I can overlook this nitpick because of everything else the film has going for it, especially in regards to the visuals. Speaking of which…

A Painting in Animated Form

One part of DreamWorks movies that is steadily consistent in quality is the animation, which is often vibrant, fluent, and colorful. But The Wild Robot’s animation could rank among the greatest that the studio has ever put out; it amplifies the colors within the environment and provides variety in what viewers see. The character designs and movements fit in perfectly with the brightness of the locations, making this one of the most visually pleasing films I’ve seen all year. 

In fact, the animation is so stunning, it feels like a story book or painting came to life and started telling a story of its own. Many reviews I see for this movie often compare it to other robot-centered family classics such as WALL-E and The Iron Giant, especially the former. While watching The Wild Robot, I got very similar vibes to WALL-E because of how well it implemented the idea of visual storytelling.

While it still contains dialogue aplenty, the picture lets the visuals and animation tell the story, making it even more of an accomplishment for it. There’s a bunch of gorgeous imagery across the island the characters inhabit-mixed with how well the characters interact with it and each other; it all makes for one of the most visually satisfying films I’ve seen in a hot minute, and some of DreamWorks’ strongest work.

Bring Some Tissues

The aspect of this film that surprised me the most was the emotional weight behind the story and several scenes throughout it. I’d even go as far as to say this is one of the most grounded films DreamWorks has ever released, in turn making for some truly emotional moments. 

I can recall a few times when I felt close to tears from this movie, whether it be due to a tender character moment, emotional bit of dialogue, or beautiful symphony from the musical score. Despite the PG rating, this actually proves itself as more than just a standard kids movie, as older audiences can engage and emote with the beauty of what is unfolding on screen as well. While other DreamWorks films can be easily disposed of as “kiddie” movies, including some of their recent blunders like Trolls and Ruby Gillman, this actually makes for one of the most approachable movies they have put out, as it can be appreciated and loved by any viewer of any age.

This all culminates into an ending that also left me on the brink of tears. Without giving too much away, it is a very sweet and charming moment as the story, dialogue, and music shine one last time to bring forth a satisfying conclusion. It proves that even when their quality is hit or miss, DreamWorks is still highly capable of releasing terrific animated features, with this one being quite possibly their strongest in a decent while.

More than Programmed to Be

Overall, while I do wish a few characters had received more screen time, The Wild Robot marks one of the best movies DreamWorks has released in modern times, thanks to its engaging story, emotional dialogue, magnificent music, and breathtaking animation and visual storytelling. As previously mentioned, this is one of the studio’s most approachable films because of how wide its audience appeal is. Younger crowds will fall in love with the movie’s bright colors and cute characters, while older audiences can appreciate its heartfelt message and grounded approach. 

Centenary University students will surely enjoy this movie, especially if they love emotional stories and have a passion for animation. Since this picture appeals to such a wide crowd, I give a high recommendation to The Wild Robot, now playing in theaters nationwide, including at the nearby Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas in town. 

This is a magnificent film and one of the best to come out this year, especially in terms of animation. In a film about unleashing your wild side, it managed to successfully appeal to my emotional side, and proves that DreamWorks is still capable of releasing strong animated features that will live on in positive ways for many years to come.

My Rating: