DreamWorks Animation delivers a beautiful adaptation of Peter Brown’s award-winning book, The Wild Robot, to the big screen. The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival (TIFF) earlier this month, and since then, it’s been one of the most eagerly anticipated films of the year.
The story begins when a robot, ROZZUM unit 7134, known as Roz, gets shipwrecked on an island devoid of humans but teeming with wildlife. Without any human guidance, she’s forced to rely on her programming and sets off searching for anyone who needs help with a task. As time passes, she finds a new purpose after discovering a goose egg, prompting her to change her focus and set a new path.
Universal Dynamics is the company behind the design of ROZZUM unit 7134, a robot aid that’s supposed to make life easier for humans. The setting is a not-so-distant dystopian future where migration is still relevant but notable cities don’t exist as we know them. For example, I was zapped back to childhood when I saw the sight of a submerged Golden Gate Bridge with humpback whales swimming by. In the early 80s, I was gifted a book, Humphrey the Lost Whale, which assisted in my understanding of why a humpback whale meandering about the San Francisco Bay was such a big deal. Needless to say, this sight was just one of the many markings of authenticity that were embedded into the film.
Roz, voiced by (Lupita Nyong’o), sounded very scripted and robotic in the film’s early stages. As she adapts to her environment, her speech patterns change, showing her growth from a programmed mechanoid to an autonomous being. The film didn’t shy away from the real dangers that exist in the wild. Without a human in sight, Roz had to quickly learn the landscape of the island, including the terrain, vegetation, and wildlife that inhabited the area. Dangerous cliffs and an angry grizzly were just a few of the dangers that lay in her wait.
After shielding the egg from a crafty fox named Fink (Pedro Pascal), we’re introduced to a bright-eyed young gosling named Brightbill (Kit Connor). Roz is the first face he sees and quickly becomes attached to her. She isn’t 100% behind the idea of caring for a gosling but begrudgingly does so. The relationship between the three—Roz, Fink, and Brightbill— was like poetry in motion. The trio was formed out of desperation and survival, but in the end, they created a family.
The best part of their relationships was how one educated the other. Roz was a very optimistic, sophisticated robot, but lacked human emotion and understanding. Her interactions with the animals on the island bettered her understanding of kindness, which in turn, helped her grow closer to Fink. Fink lived a life of solitude which was exacerbated by the fact that all the other animals viewed him as a villain. But in an almost quid-pro-quo fashion, Roz softened his heart through acts of kindness while he inadvertently taught her how to survive. Brightbill is one of those animals who teaches Roz about love and compassion while Roz and Fink provide moral support during his journey of self-discovery. It was animated cinema of the highest quality.
Everything about the film is beautiful. Some scenes packed more of a punch than others and it was easy to notice. One of the many signs of artistic brilliance you’ll notice is the variety of animals on the island. After doing some research, I learned that the artists at DreamWorks Animation created 47 species of animals for the film. There’s a scene where all of the geese start to take flight and the screen is engulfed with waterfowl (28,710 geese to be exact). Another powerful scene that you may have caught in the trailers is when Roz finds a tree covered in butterflies. As she disturbs one, a hoard of them fills the screen as they take flight. The film’s crowds and effects teams created 80,000 butterflies for that one moment.
Brightbill is seen as an outcast by the other geese because of his small stature and being raised by a robot. He has only a handful of months before it’s time to migrate and he doesn’t know how to fly. With the help of his village—Pinktail Possum (Catherine O’Hara), Thunderbolt Falcon (Ving Rhames), and the flock’s leader Longneck (Bill Nighy)— Brightbill navigates the art of flight, the feeling of belonging, and growing comfortable in his identity.
The Wild Robot is a once-in-a-generation film that appeals to audiences of all ages. I was overjoyed when I discovered the film’s many trailers belied the true magic of the film. The synergy between three strangers that became family, the communal existence between predator and prey, and the internal process of finding one’s individualism were delivered in an awe-inspiring manner. I have zero doubts that the film will rise victorious after awards season.
The Wild Robot gets a 10 out of 10. To the chagrin of that studio that rhymes with “Flick Czar”, The Wild Robot stands as a cinematic masterpiece that will be revered for generations to come. An irresistible amalgam of humor, survival, and adventure await. This is a film best experienced in IMAX.
The Wild Robot will be available in theaters on Friday, September 27.
-Jon Jones
Photos: Courtesy of DreamWorks Animation
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