Phil Roberts 
The Wild Robot is an absolute gem. The film strikes a perfect balance of humor and a heartfelt, captivating story. It’s an animated triumph with powerful vocal performances, breathtaking animation, and an excellent score. It’s everything I hoped for and more.
The Wild Robot has finally arrived. After premiering at the Toronto Film Festival in September, critics have been raving about the film, calling it the best-animated feature of the year. With Transformers One already in the running, it remains to be seen if this newcomer can truly live up to the high expectations. With the upcoming release of Flow, another captivating animated film, non-human animated animal movies are experiencing a resurgence this year. So, as I sat at the London Film Festival, I was waiting to be impressed. But can Chris Sanders’ latest feature truly capture lightning in a bottle and propel this latest robot-animated feature into the stratosphere? Or should The Wild Robot remain in the wilderness?
REVIEW
Fear not, animated fans, because The Wild Robot is an absolute gem. The film strikes a perfect balance of humor and a heartfelt, captivating story. It’s an animated triumph with powerful vocal performances, breathtaking animation, and an excellent score. It’s everything I hoped for and more. With the stiff competition in the animated genre, I must admit that the film has set a new standard for everything that comes after. I was totally unprepared for the fantastic journey I was about to embark on, and the payoff was incredible.
Right from the start, the movie immerses you in a lush, densely populated forest and the nearby coastline, filled with lively sounds, vibrant colors, and diverse creatures. As the waves relentlessly crash against the shore, we meet ROZZUM Unit 7134, also known as Roz. The emotionless robot powers up and finds itself stranded in this picturesque paradise. However, it quickly becomes apparent that there are no humans around. Undeterred, Roz, voiced by the unwavering Lupita Nyong’o, embarks on a journey to find her owner and fulfill her programmed duty of servitude.
INCREDIBLE SOUND DESIGN
The exceptional sound design is the first thing that grabs the audience’s attention when watching the film. The decision to create a movie without human characters is quite daring, but it pays off remarkably well. In just a few moments, the sounds of the forests, oceans, and thunderstorms come alive, immersing the audience in the wild beauty of nature. Enhanced by the powerful and perfectly matched soundtrack by Kris Bowers, the opening scenes are a delight. Intended for viewing on the biggest screen possible, the forest sounds burst from the surround system, transporting us to this untouched paradise. Once there, the noises of the outside world fade away, encouraging us to savor every minute of the thrifty 102-minute runtime.
VISUAL DESIGN
As the sounds of the forest fill the room, the remarkable visual design captivates our attention. Building on the success of the Spider-Verse movies, which set a high standard for all animated features, this film faces the challenge of reaching the genre’s top tier. However, within moments, the vivid and diverse color scheme, combined with the film’s breathtaking animation, transports us beyond the Marvel brand and establishes its own unique identity. Here, the forest’s vibrant colors burst forth in the style of a storybook, further intensified by Roz’s glowing neon lighting systems. The outcome is one of the most visually stunning animated features to date, brimming with rich colors, gorgeous animation, and the natural harmony of nature’s sounds.
NATURAL HUMOUR
The movie seemed like it would have a serious tone with its impressive visuals and sounds, but it was surprisingly funny. A lot of the humor comes from the different animal characters in the film who accompany us on the adventure. However, Roz’s interactions with the local wildlife provide some delightfully tongue-in-cheek humor that will resonate with parents everywhere. In reality, the movie portrays motherhood and the essence of being a parent, but the continuous stream of jokes and funny antics keeps the story lighthearted and enjoyable. Not that it becomes tiresome, quite the opposite. As I mentioned, the film strikes a harmonious balance that presents the best of both sides of the narrative, delivering something truly captivating and uplifting. But don’t be deceived; the deeply moving essence of the story will have you grabbing for the tissues more frequently than you might expect.
COLORFUL CHARACTERS
The movie’s emotional impact comes from its exceptional cast, featuring Lupita Nyong’o as Roz, Pedro Pascal as the sly fox Fink, and Kit Connor as Roz’s surrogate gosling son, Brightbill. Catherine O’Hara, Bill Nighy, Matt Berry, Mark Hamill, and Ving Rhames round out the cast, delivering both hilarious and heartfelt performances as various forest animals. Their interactions provide moments of genuine comedy gold. Their close bond with Roz unites these competitive species as they confront adversity in the form of Roz’s creators. Unfortunately, the film follows the familiar WALL-E storyline with villainous robots, which is my only honest criticism. However, the solid story prevents unfavorable comparisons, allowing the filmmakers to use this reliable plot without diminishing the film’s excellence.
VERDICT
Overall, I had an absolute blast with The Wild Robot. The film is a rare gem with its beautiful animation, captivating visuals, uplifting story, incredible voice acting, and a killer soundtrack. Not only has it defied my expectations, but it has raised the bar for all animated fare from now on. If Chris Sanders set out to deliver the best animated film of the year, he has… effortlessly. The film is everything a fan could ever ask for. It packs a punch with its hilarious antics and has a heart of gold with its uplifting and poignant narrative. So, pack your bags, get lost in the wilderness, and embrace the alluring innocence of Roz and her forest companions.
You’ll laugh, and you’ll cry, but you’ll never forget this trip to the outdoors.
Dreamworks Animation‘s The Wild Robot releases in cinemas everywhere starting Friday, October 18th.
Meet Phil Roberts! He’s the dedicated owner, daily content manager, and editor-in-chief of The Future of the Force. Phil is a budding novelist who turned his passion toward writing about the franchises he loves back in 2016. He’s a huge fan of all things Star Wars, Batman, DC, Marvel, Star Trek, Indiana Jones, Ghostbusters, King Kong, and the Ray Harryhausen movies. Phil is a BFI-accredited journalist and a distinguished member of the Film Critics Association UK.
If he’s not catching a movie at the cinema, you can bet he’s streaming something just as awesome!
