Developing one’s sense of self is perhaps the most important journey any person will go through. In the classic psychology dichotomy of nature versus nurture, it is believed that any mind is a product of the environment it is surrounded by just as much if not more so than the natural predispositions that mind was given. Often, our immediate environment and the people we surround ourselves with is precisely what informs the person we choose to become and the responsibilities we choose to accept. Those decisions, small or large as they may be, are inexorable in how we discover ourselves and learn what matters to us. Such is the central theme explored DreamWorks Animation’s latest film, The Wild Robot.

Employing a similar artstyle to that of the shockingly excellent Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Wild Robot is a visually spectacular adventure that’s hard to imagine not being considered a classic in the years to come. Beyond its strong theming and impeccable visuals that blend naturalistic, post-apocalyptic, and hyper-futuristic imagery, The Wild Robot is a bold reminder of how great western animated films can and should be. The Wild Robot is so good that it truly elevates the bar for western animation as a whole. While it is in some ways a variation on a type of story that’s certainly been told in many other movies, this film carries with it a soul that makes it a remarkable experience - one that also begets and rewards multiple viewings.

To fully understand and appreciate what makes The Wild Robot so refreshing, some context is in order.

DreamWorks Animation is a frustratingly inconsistent studio. Some of their films embody some of the most irritating trends of western animation - they target a very young audience in a way that belittles the audience’s intelligence and tell stories that are remarkably marketable above being a compelling story. When eastern animation and smaller, independent western animation studios make far more creative, mesmerizing animated films, it’s been difficult to not wish for higher quality films from some of the west’s animation studios with the longest legacy.

Over the last ten years or so, though, the tides have started to shift for western animation. Sony Pictures Animation, arguably DreamWorks Animation’s biggest contemporary of western animation aside from Disney and Illumination, were often considered the bottom-of-the-barrel when it came to western animated films. Their portfolio of films from the late 2000s to mid 2010s were of very poor quality, only furthering the discrepancy in quality between western and eastern animation. But with time, more talent entered Sony Pictures Animation, and with new talent came a wider variety of inspirations. When Sony Pictures Animation shocked the world in 2018 with the phenomenal Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, it was instantly clear how integral this new generation of animators’ influences were. Anime, comic books, and video games were all clearly making their imprint on how animators expressed motion, color, and style. Moreover, style informs how animation enhances storytelling - something that helped make Spider-Verse such an excellent film. Since then, Sony Pictures Animation has maintained a higher-quality portfolio of films with the likes of The Mitchells vs. the Machines and Across the Spider-Verse.

DreamWorks Animation went through a similar transformation over the 2010s. While DreamWorks had certainly a collection of strong films throughout the ‘90s and 2000s, their inconsistency and occasional lack of style held them back. 2010 brought the excellent How to Train Your Dragon, directed by Chris Sanders, and proved just how profound the impact of animated storytelling can be. Indeed, the entire How to Train Your Dragon trilogy of films are reminders of how special animated films can be - they’re packed with adventure, captivating visuals, memorable soundtracks, and treat their audiences with meaningful stories and characters. These films are some of the greatest highlights of DreamWorks Animation’s portfolio, and their quality would still continue to rise in the years to follow.

2022 brought with it two incredible surprises from DreamWorks Animation - those being The Bad Guys and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish. Both of these films exhibited just how much the studio’s animators were capable of when given freedom to illustrate stories through captivating styles unlike anything else that any other studio produces. There’s a smooth paintbrush-like texture to the animation quality in both of these films along with a use of highly saturated colors that make images pop. These films look like nothing else in the industry - they look like DreamWorks films. It’s a special artstyle that sticks with the viewer - but it’s more than just the artstyle that makes these films work so shockingly well. These films also display an emphasis on strong pacing, strong character writing, and choose to tell stories in such a way that is unique to animation.

When The Wild Robot was first unveiled, trailers made it immediately clear that it was carrying on the legacy established by The Bad Guys and The Last Wish - that of stylish, saturated animation that ensured this new film would be visually striking. However, it was the directorial return of Chris Sanders that ensured that The Wild Robot would also be more methodical and heartfelt story with strong characters. Having previously directed How to Train Your Dragon and Lilo & Stitch, Chris Sanders’ involvement gave me confidence that The Wild Robot would be a film worth keeping an eye on throughout the year. As time passed and more information came out about the film, The Wild Robot became one of my most anticipated movies of the year.

Thankfully, that anticipation was met with a movie I thoroughly enjoyed. While it certainly doesn’t innovate with new ideas, the execution of beautiful animation, strong storytelling, and a strong emotional theme of parenthood and finding a place to belong makes The Wild Robot a great movie that brings with it an emotional resonance that will hit adults just as strongly as it will with younger audiences.

Western animation is most proliferated with films marketed towards families and younger audiences. While most of these types of films find it imperative to entertain these audiences above all else, the western animated films that have stood the test of time to the greatest degree have often been the ones that carry meaningful messages that transcend age and cultures. The primary themes explored in The Wild Robot are twofold - one is of parenthood, and the other is belonging. Regardless of how old you are when watching the film or how your cultural upbringing has informed your understanding of these concepts, the film’s statements on parenthood and belonging are ones that will stick with any moviegoer.

The film centers on Roz, the titular robot that finds herself stranded on an abandoned island filled with animals. She tries mimicking the activities of nearby animals, takes time to learn their way of communicating, and seeks to find objectives to complete - something that she’s programmed to do. Immediately, Roz is seen by all the other animals as a monster - something that is to be feared, otherized, and avoided for one’s own safety. Roz doesn’t belong both aesthetically and culturally. Her cold, mechanical demeanor drastically conflicts with the naturalistic art design of the island.

Roz eventually encounters a goose egg that is snatched away by Fink, a fox that informs Roz that the way of the island is that of self-sustainability. Indeed, Fink and all the other animals on the island are ultimately concerned with nothing more than their own survival. This is yet another contrast between Roz and the environment she finds herself in. By design, Roz is meant to help others enjoy their lives more by completing tasks for them. Now, she is surrounded by animals that, be it out of necessity or for survival, live and die for themselves and want nothing to do with people outside of their immediate family.

Roz and Fink befriend each other after she convinces Fink to not eat the goose egg, which shortly then hatches. Roz names the baby goose “Brightbill” as she gives herself the directive that her programming seeks: to feed the goose, to teach him how to swim, then teach him how to fly. Being an artificial creation, though, Roz has an inherent difficulty with understanding how to teach these very things to Brightbill. She doesn’t have the programming to parent Brightbill nor does she know how to set him up for success in time for the inevitable migration that will happen later that year. Despite navigating territory that she doesn’t know anything about, Roz embarks on a journey to give her found family as promising of a future as possible.

The journey isn’t an easy one. As Brightbill grows older, he’s immediately ostracized by the island’s community of geese. He’s considered a “runt”, has picked up many of Roz’s robotic mannerisms, and he struggles to swim and fly. The film illustrates how much Brightbill is otherized by the island’s geese in a way that has certainly been done in countless other films but is no less effective in communicating how difficult it is to be in a community to belong with. Roz, Fink, and Brightburn all live in their own house apart from the rest of the island - while that isolation brings them comfort, it doesn’t take away from the fact that they are physically and culturally separated from the broader ecosystem of animals.

In spite of the animals’ caring most about their own survival, Roz still chooses to navigate her life on the island by befriending and collaborating with as many animals on the island as possible so that she can teach Brightbill how to swim and fly. Roz and Brightbill naturally develop a mother-and-son relationship despite them being nothing alike - giving The Wild Robot a remarkable “found family” texture.

As the film moves toward Brightbill’s migration, Roz’s dedication towards completing her directive of raising Brightbill becomes one of both physical and emotional sacrifice. Roz comes to terms with the fact that she needs to be able to let go of Brightbill in order for either of them to be able to move forward. This is a simple, but heartful exploration of the burden of parenting and the sacrifices that inevitably come along with raising someone with the intention of setting them up for a successful and safe future.

In the film’s final act, Roz’s sacrifice becomes even greater, as she puts herself in greater harm for the sake of protecting the island in the winter. While many of the animals have only continued to ostracize her, Roz still continues to exhibit kindness to the animals around her. This ultimately brings the island’s animals to a realization that they need to lead their lives with kindness and collaboration with one another. Up to this point, animals have often made fun of each other, ostracized each other, and formed segregated communities around each other. While this is an idea explored in similar films like Zootopia, The Wild Robot’s centralization of its island setting creates a believable community of animals that realize the value of belonging with one another. As Roz sacrifices so much for the island’s well-being, she ultimately finds a place to belong - a journey that mirrors Brightbill’s acceptance among the geese as he assumes leadership and bravery in spite of those that think ill of him for being raised by a “monster”.

The greatest fault of The Wild Robot is merely that it follows the footsteps of similar stories that have been told before. Thanks to the film’s strong style and uniquely lovable characters, The Wild Robot is able to salvage this weakness and still provide a film experience that will likely stay with me for a long time.

The ideas of parenthood are likely to hit harder for older audiences while the struggles of finding a place to belong are likely to be more impactful to younger audiences - that’s what makes The Wild Robot’s simple-but-effective storytelling so strong. Beyond providing a fun adventure with stellar and stylish animation, The Wild Robot concerns itself with providing believable characters that overcome believable obstacles that much of its audience, regardless of age, will connect with. Roz, Fink, and Brightbill are all outcasts that ultimately help bring the island closer together due to their codependence and trust in one another. Moreover, the film smartly crafts a conversation about the struggles of navigating parenthood. Roz has no idea how best to raise Brightbill. As she invests in her bond with Brightbill, Fink, and the rest of the community that surrounds her, though, Roz is able to find the solace and the strength she needs to have confidence that the kindness she gives others isn’t lost on others.

The Wild Robot is proof that stories can still be simple but effective. This film doesn’t tread any new ground, but its smart, mature conversations about its themes elevate an otherwise basic story into being one that will truly leave an impact an audiences for years to come. From its emotionally mature story to its tight pacing and eye-catching animation, The Wild Robot stands as a remarkably heartful, human story worth seeing.

Final Grade: A-

Thank you very much for reading! What did you think of The Wild Robot? As always, join the conversation and let me know what you think in the comments or on Twitter/X @DerekExMachina.