The Wild Robot Review: This robot makes me feel emotions

There is a lot of projects that can come along that you wonder on the likes of something that varies in the production and outcome where you may not know what to expect from said developing project and then can be determined on its appeal from the first bit of footage or concept that is presented to you to get you invested. Stuff like The Lego Movie that sounded like it was possibly doomed as a possible giant 90 minute advertisement that turned into something that has a lot of humor, heart and something that proved you can make anything from a massive product IP, to the likes of musicals like Wicked or Dear EVan Hansen that has its fans and many wanting the adaptation for a long time and then turn out in the realms of a success like Wicked or a disaster like Evan Hansen (the less said about that one the better) or even to the likes of Into the Spider-verse, a project that was another take on the friendly neighborhood wall crawler that could be just a simple animated project but then start doing the cool thing of focusing on another spider-man besides Peter Parker with Miles, get the guys that made the Lego Movie and let them show creative genius and then put it in an animation style that has now defined the new wave of animation that some studios and filmmakers have embraced, which is what the focus of the film in question is talking on today as we are heading to the realm of the company that besides Sony animation have been trying their hand in with an array of success and that is with the studio of Dreamworks animations,

Now this studio has had a fair bit of films this year with one or 2 I may give my thoughts on with a total of 4 films coming out from them alone from this year, with a film on Netflix that is often overlooked but has been very well recieved, a long awaited sequel from an underrated film from 2010 that many want to consider non canon (as do I and was also a TV movie), a 4th film in a series that feels like it is missing some elements (but will get to that review eventually) and then the focus of todays film which is an adaptation of a series of books by Peter Brown about a robot that finds itself marooned on an island and learns to adapt and call it their home and that is with the focus of todays review (and 2nd part of a duology of reviews on robots) with The Wild Robot. From the moment the first trailer released, it has gripped me from the striking animation and lack of dialogue and moved me in ways that made me feel emotions and was invested and intrigued to hear more on it as the marketing and release grew closer to where we are today and where I will be answering the question of if this film has found a way to adapt or if the programmed format is too damaged beyond repair. Well if its a case where I was sobbing uncontrollably for the 2nd half of the film is an indication I am happy to say that this film is a absolute beautiful film and like a certain animated film from this year about emotions, was a film that made me emotional by the films end. sure it has a very slim amount of issues but they can be easily overlooked for a film that I would rank as one of the best of this year and I will give my thoughts on the whole project here.

A story programmed to follow

Staring in the place with any of these reviews and the basis to really get a focus of insight into what many will experience (besides the visual look of the project) is how the story will come about and this has the aided benefit of being based on a series of books that would be the foundation for the project but build on the aesthetic and visuals of the project to really give it an identity. It is a case of there being many different adaptations of books and novels in the past and this one takes the approach to the first novels story with as such a focus of its plot.

"Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named ROZ must learn to adapt to its new surroundings. Building relationships with the native animals, ROZ soon develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling and soon adapts and learns to become a protector for this island when a dangerous threat tries to destroy it."

So in most case about the narrative at face value, it sounds like a standard by the numbers plot of a bit of a fish out of water type scenario with this being a robot in a land that is not accustomed to its surroundings and has to learn to adapt and while there is a bit of that narrative present, there is a lot more to it as it provide a tale about found families and accepting ones flaws as something to be grateful for and learn to appreciate what can come from these new surroundings and discoveries about others and about ones self which I think is a beautiful piece (that also can be a fair bit dark in its visual storytelling then I expected it to be). Sure it is not all perfect as I can give the case that the first few minutes go by just a little too quick that it was a worry that it may be something of a film that will breeze by without given us much time to slow down and take it all in, but thankfully it does pull on the breaks after a few minutes to get more up to speed for some characters and the only other element that feels a bit messy or unneeded much is a final battle that the likes of the film needing a physical villain was a bit so-so but I get to set up to a continuation of the story it didn't take away from the important messaging and heart that was put into this films narrative and after all of that, I think for a story it wears it proudly for all to see.

Story: 8.5-9

Characters to serve your needs

So in most case there is a fair bit that is often seen with a lot of films like this that provide quite the array of characters to give focus to and while it is the same for the likes of this movie as well, its more of a focus to a select few, with some not having as much of a presence as some of the others and giving the focus to the main characters at the heart of the story is the main focus here, with some other players in this race getting some form of mention in the roundup of side characters section but we have a bit of a discussion to the tale to give so lets talk on those character we will grow attached to over its runtime.

Roz (Lupita Nyong'o)

So I feel it is best to start with the titular character of the film and the one that we as the viewer will follow the journey alongside from the very beginning and that is with the character of Roz. So in most regards of stories of this concept of the fish out of water, we expect the case of most other forms to adapt and overcome the situation they are in and learn to adapt to the surroundings they find themselves in and learn some things along the way and while it may be the case of some human emotions and ideals are easy for human characters or other distinct characters that may be close to the animals on the island, it makes it a little more of a new concept when the main lead is a robot that is seen as the common aspect in general and media that robots can't feel human emotions properly especially the concept of love. However it is always an intriguing way to see how some will define their programming and cold exterior and learn to experience many new things like become their own person against their code suggests and learning to experience new emotions like love from the animals they will interact with. I also have to give praise to the voice performance of Lupita Nyong'o as it could've been a case that they could've phoned it in with a normal voice or attempt to a generic robot voice but she goes a fair bit beyond in giving a range of voice and tonal forms as the story goes on to convey many forms of emotion that would be new for this machine in a new environment and I love to see more of this development to this said version as the story progresses with more narrative focus in the sequels as I grew attached to this character and provided many forms of emotions to me then I expected and help to really sell that getting the title character done right is an important thing and I would be satisfied with their services.  

Fink (Pedro Pascal)

So we talk on the character that is often from a perspective in the way that you look at them that they would be seen as a sly, cunning figure that will work itself to get his way but know from the likes of how it comes about is there is more of a tragic tale hidden behind that exterior and this is presented in the character of the fox known as Fink who in this is voiced by Pedro Pascal. When we are first introduced to this character, we get the ideal of the normal traits for a fox of conniving, sarcastic and a little bit aggressive and sly, like the basis of a fox would be known for if threatened or defending their lives and loved ones, but there is a much deeper layered character to this fox that he will use his tactics to get his way, but always has a feeling of someone who puts it on cause they feel alone and are afraid to attach themselves to someone cause they would fear they would hurt them more then if they never created a close bond to it and I love the approach they went with this character that has him become a form of a parental figure to the young gosling and the collective bond and friendship he would grow to have with the mechanical helper that is seen as a monster and a threat to many of the animals at first glance that overtime will learn to open up more but still have a little sarcastic tone to him and I love how they manage him that keeps who he is at face value and then also have a more respectful and softer side that shines through as the story progresses and loving that development and hope to see more of that in future stories they have with these characters.

Brightbill (Kit Connor)

Now on the character I feel has the biggest focus in providing the heart and a good amount of the emotions were coming from is the focus in the parental bond that came from Roz and the little gosling that could with Bright Bill. We see this journey from the beginning of its life and slowly build that journey from coming from a broken home and learning a lot more with being a bigger challenge of someone that is a lot different then they would expect and also being the runt of the litter and an outcast to other creatures of its kind, but what they find from that difference in a person helps to make it feel special that for many people like myself would feel like they would not always belong or may look the same as others but be seen as different and when the likes of some that would hurt you or make you feel small or different, it is to find ones self and embrace what makes you you that much more important and can help find ones self and the case of them learning about where they cam from and having a difficult time of fitting in felt well respected and genuine that seeing this development of learning to accept ones self and be who they are and where they came from is a beautiful piece presented, especially with that family bond that becomes built between Brightbill and Roz as the story progresses that when they separate in a beautiful scene of the migration moment, was the moment where I am sitting in the film beginning to well up with emotion and where I love that development and bond they created for these characters and love to see this bond grow more as more stories are told for this little gosling and the found family he has become apart of.

Long neck (Bill Nighy)

The last of the characters I can at least give a little bit of a focus in terms of discussion as there is a bit of a talk we can have on another character is with another flying animal that has a bit of a presence and character focus and that is with the old wise bird of Long Neck. So we get introduced to the character when we see the basis of the 3 step plan that Roz has been told to provide for the small gosling of Feeding, learning to swim and then the focus of it is learning to fly to go with his kind when migrating to warmer climates for Winter and when it was a case of other birds or animals would see Bright Bill as a freak or see him as a lost cause, this wise bird appears and sees that while others may lose hope on him, he can see that he would become the best of all of them and I appreciate that their is one that when all will go against and tear people down, some will go against the noise and support when things are possible. In most case the character does not have much of a big screen presence in the film, but for the amount of time that they give to them and the motivation and use of his character may come off as a bit preachy to some but I think they use him well in the film and love to know more about them if a story is done right and helping to make that little gosling soar.

The other forms of tech and nature on display

So in the last of the focus of the characters will consist of 2 different focus elements where one is more of a big group and another is a late addition character that I will be given my thoughts on in a bit more of a brief description for them as I don't have too much to discuss with them compared to the others in focus but felt it best to include and not leave them out.

So first we talk on the bigger group of characters and that is mainly on the likes of the animals of the deserted island that we will cross paths or become acquainted with as the film goes on. Now it is a case we do not know much on a lot of them besides a select few which include a mother possum named Pinktail (Catherine O'Hara) and her children, a stubborn beaver named Paddler (Matt Berry) that is trying to chomp down the biggest tree, Thunderbolt (Ving Rhames), a peregrine falcon that also helps with Bright Bill taking flight and Thorn (Mark Hamill) the big Grizzly Bear of the woods that is more of a danger then an ally for the first half anyways. Now each of them have their own unique form in helping in the narrative that they have their use in some form and while it is a case that they are not the biggest of use in characters in the film, what each of them bring when the moment comes for the narrative or in development is done decently well and I am sure with more stories to tell of Roz and these animals that a few of them can definitely get more of a presence and give a lot to more stories in what they will tackle.

And the last focus of characters is one that I feel if you took it out would've still worked but I get of needing some form of a negative force that goes against the new status Quo and that is with the character of Vontra (Virtual Observational Neutralizing Troublesome Retrieval Authority) (Stephanie Hsu) who as I mentioned is introduced very late into the film and somewhat seen as a placement for an antagonist in the project that helps set up some dire stakes for the main characters and for in some sense build to the use of a big final confrontation in the back half of the 3rd act. In all fairness, I can understand why it would be used in this film and I am sure if the tracker that Roz sent out happened near the beginning of the film that they would be more of a presence or a bit like the Terry from Soul that will go out of its way to make the count or things right, but is only brought in near the end and the likes of the presence just feels a little unnecessary in that form. I am sure in the case that they will set them up to appear in a follow up film and be more of a possible threat and more of a presence but there is a sense of a potential with a villain for the film, but just need to have more of a presence to really sell it to me.

But overall in terms of characters for this project, I can say that the film does well with making them feel layered, have some appealing motivations and aspirations and help them learn more and become more then they were programmed to be and how it went about with most is strong. Sure some would need a little more presence or buildup to get the real concern and fear to the narrative, but I am sure with a few will develop more as the series goes on and build to continue such strong charcaters for future stories.

Characters: 9-9.5

The visual wonders of nature and technology

Now let us talk on the element that help to really appeal to me from face value in the first piece of footage that I saw and this was in its way of presentation to the film and if it was anything else to describe it then Visually stunning then I do not know what I can describe it cause it is a wonderful visual aesthetic and look to the whole project that helps to set it apart from other projects from the studio and even from other films from said studio that have taken the approach of something unique and different, where the likes of Puss in Boots Last wish goes for a look of a illustration of a fairy tale and the Bad Guys goes for one of more of a fluid fast paced cartoon, the approach on this one is more akin to the likes of a hand painted look with its aesthetic and style that help to contrast with the design and geometrical 3d form of the characters of the story and I think the look helps to feel close to the illustrations of the books covers and give something some colourful and wonderous as its often seen that art and paintings can often tell a story from the approach and ways an artist would create their piece to a canvas, page or screen and even in some that may be often just still, to the creative eye can see so much in motion and how they presented the different elements or the blend of the creatures big and small and the environmental elements from the lush green grass and the great tall trees, from the waters of the surrounding oceans to the changing clouds and weather in the sky that help to appeal and provide so much variety and provide so many feelings and moods where the sunny skies provide a sense of warmth and comfort, the stormy nights provide fear and want to have you find shelter and the levels of heavy snow of the winter provide worry that many would not last through the nights but through compassion and connection, they find a way to survive and how they go about it is a beautiful array of visuals and aesthetic and I must applaud the animators and creatives involved that really went all in in showing some wonderous visuals and in a case with films like Spider-verse and Puss in Boots, there is so many shots that I would love to just freeze frame on, take those shots and have them hanging on my wall as so many of them are a visual sight to behold. It also goes a bit dark with some of its visuals which is something I didn't expect but it's some subtle messed up visuals and don't take away from the beauty but appeal with showing the horrors of the world too.

As on the basis of the other element comes to the likes of the faithfulness in the adaptation as well as the likes of pacing and runtime where the latter of which is on a top form with how it is presented with the only hiccup of pacing coming from the opening few minutes as so much goes on that it was a worry that it was going to be a constant speed through to get from beginning to end but thankfully it does slow down and find a perfect pace of tone in how the movie goes along and really feels it tells it story with a good length in runtime overall which is often a fair bit of time feel it could be longer or works better being shorter but there is a valid few that find the right balance in length. As on the likes of its faithfulness to its adaptation, while I have not read the book and may pick up the trilogy at some point, I have heard on the likes that it is a respectful and well made adaptation from book to screen that has just a few issues and missing elements from some that have read it to compare but if its only a few small issues that are missing and really gives a respect to its original narrative that a few exceptions is perfectly fine (most adaptations give ever detail, some miss a few bits and some skip and try and make their own and miss the mark) and hope if it goes into the stories of the sequels that I hope to have read them and see if they will give as much love in its adaptation as it did to this one.

Presentation: 10

Writing to hit at your core

So on this section is one that I will be keeping brief in the most case I do not have too much to really talk on with this section of the film and that is to do with the writing and dialogue and it is to say that it is a well written and decently written piece of film. It is often the case when it comes to the likes of other films from the studio that is often seen of the overabundance of low brow humor and dialogue that has some focus but may not take itself overly serious and it can get to that degree of feeling a bit repetitive that it will become what they are associated with, but there is a few times where you can have that dialogue and humor but it is more reduced in the wider form and taken more serious (a staple seen with the recent Puss in Boots from this studio of having that fine balance of goofy and serious). This one would have a similar tone in the serious and balanced nature, that has a little bit of tone and goofy nature where it is seen at first of the oblivious nature to Roz as she is first finding herself on the island and unclear as to who is the person she is to serve as their recently purchased helper bot but becomes more serious and focused in tone that has a bit of a goofy nature here and there and the more humourous tone of the film would come more from some of the animal characters in the film that will also give a bit of a serious and more focused tone that is not just a focus to some sass. If there is a case of any issue I would feel would be something I expected to have seen more from this would be a focus in the likes of a deeper message that while the theme of found family and learning to find ones self, I was expecting a little more on the likes of some bits of focus about the themes of how technology affects the climate or the environment that it is seen as a threat to that world and for ours but I get it was a case of just wanting to focus on the more important story beats with that concept being seen in the more visual form that in some sense feels a little tacked on with the villain that is pushed in to it as well that a little on the likes of learning of protecting it in some form of dialogue at that point would've been nice but I think from the way they show that this form of tech can learn to protect it instead of destroying it but I feel it may be more of a focus that can be brought up a little more of a focus in the follow up stories a lot more. However even with the lack of focus of the obvious narrative, the dialogue of serious and a bit of light heartedness and themes presented are not diminished in any way and appeal in that form too that you think could be by the numbers but how they go about it is masterfully done.

Writing: 8.5-9

Music to make you soar

Similar to the previous section, this one is also not going to be overly as long as we are talking about the other element of the technical side of things and that is the sweeping scores of the music that is present in the film and I have to say the case that it is a beautiful piece of a score for a movie in the score and some of the original songs for the movie as well. I have to give props to the films composer of Kris Bowers with really making some wonderous with his first fully animated film as he has done some films with animation before but not a full one and it really shows that he knows what he was getting into with this soundtrack that gives that sense of bewilderment wonder and discovery of seeing the island for the first time as well and some of the wonders that we will find across the vast terrain that give some great balance in moments from wonders of discovery, the sense of threat and a rising action moment when danger comes looming and moments of melancholy and emotion when it is time to say goodbye for a time and it balances its focus and use beautifully in how it comes about in the score that it is quite a feat and hope for it to achieve some award recognition for it appeal. It is also the case it was not only just a lovely score but the film also boasts a pair of original songs for the film by musician Maren Morris with the songs of "kiss the sky" and "even when I am not" and they are some wonderful tracks that help to best describe the moments that they used with Kiss the Sky working great in the montage of helping Brightbill to defy all odds and learn to spread his wings and soaring high above the sky and just work with it so well and they are some wonderful tracks in general and hope for some award praising for that too. It is a case I would hope for maybe another original song or 2 in there as well (and truth be told for a bit of time I thought the recent Billie Eilish song of "Birds of a Feather" was part of the soundtrack as well, but I was proven to be mistaken) but I think for what its worth, it is perfectly accustomed to the production of the fine balance to the score overall.

Music: 9.5-10

A few technical issues that got damaged on delivery

Now of course on the basis like with any review that I give, I can say a lot of the time there is some issues I may have with the film and even when I see some as a 10 out of 10 project, there is always a case of some minor nitpicks that will bring it down just a little bit but would on most case be overlooked on a normal day viewing of it. In most case these are just the minor nitpicks I would have for it here and there that are a personal and may be a little difference in opinion to others but these are just my small nitpicks that I will list here.

Story: This bit connects a little in the likes with presentation of some small pacing issues in the beginning about the likes of some of it going by just a little bit too quick that some worry it was going to be that little bit too fast to really appreciate the film, but thankfully they do slow it down quick enough to give it the appreciation that it deserved and the only other issue was the likes of if it was needed for a villain to be brought in so late in the film when for most of the movie it didn't need it and could've saved a villain for a follow up, but I get to have some conflict and a bit of a message and tone to their film in general but they are some small issues that they resolve in a quick and reasonable manner overall.

Characters: This is also a small instance that I already alluded to but its the likes of some characters feeling a little unnecessary or more of a build up to be reasonably used for said project film and this mainly comes to a villain that is added in near the end of the film that I felt if given more of a presence earlier in the film or saved to the eventual sequel it may have worked better as the one in this can be a little mixed on how it is presented, but with other characters not having much of a presence, it helps more of interacting with the main characters to the story and will be something I see getting more development in future stories of this world being presented.

Writing: The last one of focus in this section I have is with the likes of the small issue with writing and that is a case of some message they could've added or give a little extra development to and that is the likes of an environmental message to add to the story to give it a bit more of a concept that would be expected a little with a story of a robot lost in the wilderness and learning to adapt that the likes of how tech can destroy something that was around for a very long time and wonder the likes of maybe a little to the backstory of the company that Roz was manufactured from and if there is some nefarious means behind it but I am sure they will add it more on that theme in the later films (as the books lean more into those themes from what I have seen) but I think if one concept theme messaging was expected and we get another that is done really well then I feel it can be justified in its method approach so I can give it a pass on that extent for the time being, but if not given a proper one in a future story it may feel a bit repetitive.

But these are all the small issues an nitpicks I have with this film and its a case on some days they would stick out to me in my mind and other days I can let them slide, but I feel it is best to move on and decide yourself and I can bring this diagnostics of a review to a conclusion. 

Does this robot really made me feel something?

So to wrap this all up in a nice little bow of satisfied services, the Wild robot had all the basis that this could've been your simple animated film for Kids and families but has gone above and beyond and proved itself that animated films can be a whole lot more with one of the most beautiful, emotional and heartwarming movies of the year and if I would be so bold as to say it is part of the top 3 films that really appealed to me from 2024 (the other 2 that would be an interchangeable in the top 3 is the film on emotions and a prequel to one badass warrior of the wastelands and part of a wider array of some of this years best) with its beautiful story, gorgeous animation, wonderful theme and message at its heart and soul and bringing it all together to make something truly wonderful. I mean if its a film that had me crying in the middle of the cinema screen for about half the runtime in its beauty then how I am not sure what other high praise I can give it and I would highly recommend the film to any that may not have seen it to be lost in its visuals or want something of a feel good film that can feel a bit like a warm hug, like one that you always love and feel safe and comfort from that specific person (or like some other titles from this year that feel so much like that) and I for one am very excited to see where the story goes from here with the sequel on the way and hope its on the level of heart as this one.

Final Score

Story: 8.5-9

Characters: 9-9.5

Presentation: 10

Writing: 8.5-9

Music: 9.5-10

Total: 45.5 - 47.5 / 50 or 91-95% (A to A+)

So with all of that, this brings it to the end of another review for another film I wanted to talk and give praise on and probably the last of the reviews for 2024 and I hope you enjoyed reading my thoughts and opinions on these over the last year of some from the past and some more recent. I know I can be a bit of a delay with some of these reviews but I hope to try and be a bit more quick with them as I go on and hope to do more and more in the new year to reduce some of a backlog I have, but at the end of the day I want to make sure that when I have time and focus for a review that I am giving it my all and giving some clear love and appreciation to the medium of cinema and all forms of media but I appreciate all for checking out the reviews in written or video form. But besides that, this is just my own thoughts on this film and I would love to know your own thoughts on this film, did you love it, hate it, surprised or disappointed or even indifferent about it all, let me know in the comments below and I would love to hear all about it there. But as always I shall leave it as such and I hope you all stay being wonderful people and have a great day everyday doing many great things and I shall see you all in the new year for more reviews from me :)

Take care, keep being you, signing off

Sam H :)