by Jack Grimme, Contributing Writer
DreamWorks Animation’s latest release, The Wild Robot,follows Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), the titular robot, as she explores an unfamiliar natural world and make connections with the wildlife that inhabits it. Early in the journey, Roz finds herself responsible for a lone gosling and opts to help prepare the youth for migration, so his life isn’t cut short by a brutal impending winter. Nyong’o leads the ensemble cast as Roz and is joined by many beloved voices, including Pedro Pascal, Matt Berry, Catherine O’Hara, Kit Connor, and many more. The piece is based on a lauded children’s book by author Peter Brown, but the frank discussion of mortality and survival quickly reveals that the film has something unique to offer older audiences as well.
From the very first frame, this film sets itself apart from other modern entries within the genre. Over the past few decades, animation as a medium slowly became quite homogenized from a style perspective. It became hard to distinguish between different studios, creatives, or even between certain films, because the style was so uniform. Recent technological advancements and a new suite of creative minds seemed to be addressing this issue directly. Sony blew the doors wide open when they published Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse and quickly followed this trend with sequels and new IP, such as The Mitchells vs. The Machines. Other critical darlings like The Lego Movie and Kubo and the Two Strings continued to innovate on the medium, proving that the standard set by Pixar wasn’t the only path to success. All that to say, The Wild Robot is another visual marvel that defies trends and carves its own path. The rich natural colors, bold contrast, and watercolor-esque landscapes make for a truly unique and enrapturing experience.
The sharp visuals partner perfectly with the deep characters to build out a striking yet familiar world for our heroes to explore. The character dynamics aren’t necessarily groundbreaking, but every single detail poured into the screen to make it work keeps it fresh. An ill-prepared mother set on keeping her family afloat. A lost child battling with their complicated identity and how it compares to that of their peers. A self-interested loner with a heart of gold burrowed deep down. These are archetypes that exist in other stories, but are crafted in such a careful, precise, and passionate way as to make each moment feel fresh and each emotional beat hit like a truck.
The Wild Robot continues to set itself apart with a distinct sense of humor and a wonderfully resonant score — two things which can feel forgotten in other modern animated works. A forest full of predator and prey can be a harrowing setting. It doesn’t matter how much you anthropomorphize the intentions and emotions of these characters; at the end of the day, the bear still must eat. The film’s frank and often comedic approach to this idea makes this truth a little less daunting. It is done in a way that allows for laugh while also making the idea a little easier to stomach for a younger audience. Everything mentioned up to this point is perfectly underlined by a score, expertly crafted by Kris Bowers, which deserves a run during awards season. The magical music makes emotional climaxes feel tender and meaningful and allows the more action-heavy moments to revel in a sense of awe and wonder.
Ultimately, the only thing you can potentially knock The Wild Robot for is a lack of originality in terms of character and theme. Some moments are a bit predictable, since these archetypes are so effectively explored across the medium. However, that is barely downside for a variety of reasons. Chiefly, this is targeted towards children and for many will be the first time they see these ideas explored on the big screen. Each and every animated release doesn’t need to break ground from every angle, because the audience is typically on the younger side. And that qualifier truly should not undercut the success of this film at all. The film is chock-full of innovation and passion to the point where the previous concern is more than forgiven. Some adults may struggle to find a way in due to this disconnect, but the other parts should make for an enjoyable experience regardless. The heartwarming truth is that a new generation could be introduced to film by this gorgeous release and inevitably spark a lifelong attachment to the medium.
Rating: Loved It
The Wild Robot is currently playing in theaters
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