The Wild Robot (2024)
Directed by Chris Sanders
[Rated PG] 1hr 42min
★★★★½
The Wild Robot is an animated family sci-fi film about a robot servant crashing onto an uninhabited island and trying to adapt to her new environment. While looking for someone to give her orders, she encounters a baby gosling and is tasked with raising him until he can join the goose migration.
This is an exceptional film in nearly every aspect. One major standout is the impressive animation style, which utilizes painting techniques through new innovations in the digital animating process. The resulting aesthetic is expressive, picturesque, and charming, and this enhances the naturalistic environment as well as reinforces the film’s empathetic themes. In addition, the stunning visuals are complemented by immersive audio elements. The voice acting is great all around, and Lupita Nyong’o’s performance as the robot is incredible. Since the robot has no mouth, the character can only portray visual expressions through body language, yet Nyong’o conveys so much emotion through her vocal performance that the robot can seem almost human at times. The score and songs also strengthen the emotional weight of the film because they are used effectively in key moments and don’t become excessive or overbearing. All of these excellent elements come together with a compelling narrative to create a wonderful and endearing story that provides a fantastic moviegoing experience.
I highly recommend The Wild Robot to everyone, as it is one of the best American animated movies in recent years. There are many great aspects of this film that make it worth watching, so it can be enjoyed and appreciated by any age demographic.
The Wild Robot premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and will release in theaters on September 27th. Click here to watch the Official Trailer.
– Review by Will Hopper