The Wild Robot Is Blend Of Ghibli Good And Pixar Poignant
The Wild Robot is beautiful. In a Studio Ghibli-esque turn from DreamWorks we get a story of a robot being placed in the hostile wilderness of “the island” who is left looking for tasks. Rozzum (Roz for short) learns the language of the woods but struggles to acclimate to the culture until she is tasked with taking care of an egg. From this point on the film is not only about Roz learning the ways of the woods but also helping to raise this one duckling.
Aesthetically this film is very interesting, using a somewhat similar style to Puss in Boots: The Last Wish but also providing a very plush, textured landscape that made all the flowers and trees look so vibrant and inviting. The character design is pretty solid, showcasing the variety of color and texture present in nature. The color palette of this film is where it really shines, making everything the prettiest version of realistic colors it could be.
The cast of The Wild Robot is also excellent. While most of the cast were big names, a staple for DreamWorks films, it didn’t feel forced, and many of the voices were unrecognizable. Lupita Nyong’o is a powerhouse, adding and taking away different mannerisms as Roz learns more about nature and herself. Fink, a quick talking fox, is voiced by Pedro Pascal and gives such a great warmth to the character.
While this movie is marketed on the family comedy elements of a robot learning to raise an organic life form there are so many more layers to it. I was touched the most by its examination of how to be a community member and the importance of caring for others. While there are plenty of jokes (I would honestly say a few too many for my tastes, but DreamWorks loves bits) it is a surprisingly adult film. I will caution families, though, this film is a bit more on the nose about the circle of life than you might expect from a kid’s film and could inspire some of the big parenting conversations about death. Proceed with caution. While this review is shorter than my standard fare, that’s because I want you to discover this film for yourself. Please do yourself a favor and go.
I give The Wild Robot (DreamWorks Animation; PG; 1 hr 41 mins) a 4.5 out of 5
