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| Source: Universal Pictures In what is probably the most poetic animated film to come out this year, The Wild Robot evokes feelings of community, motherhood, and belonging all while presenting lush visuals and deep scoring that are practically guaranteed to theatrically overwhelm viewers into tears. For a family adaptation, this plays it straight while also tackling the source material with nuance and compassion. It doesn’t waste any time establishing the island’s dynamic and how Roz (the robot) fits into it at first, with that notion eventually being challenged by the 3rd act. While moving at a fast pace in the 1st half, it checks all the thematic elements needed to make an outstanding 2nd half. Themes such as motherhood, belonging, and community are handled with care and genuine enthusiasm, which is rare to see in a mainstream film nowadays. Most of the gags work well, especially those in the 1st act. Surprisingly, there’s no human antagonist in this which probably wouldn’t have shocked me if I read the book recently, but alas. Visually breathtaking, the animation is sublime and euphoric to take in. This will apparently be DreamWorks’s last in-house project, and if so, it won’t be easily forgotten. The titular island setting is conveyed with immense depth and detail and provides a ton of eye candy for viewers to get lost in. Also, the art style is never constient, combining the best of what 2D and 3D have to offer. Compared to other celebrity front-loaded films this year, the casting for this suits every character to a tee. Lupita Nyong'o’s vocals were built to play Roz, as her performance is robotic-like yet full of energy. Pedro Pascal plays a sly and scruffy fox who becomes memorable. Other voices including Mark Hamil, Stephanie Hsu, and Kit Connor lend their talents to animals and robots alike. It’s no secret animation has been on the down-low this year, as major releases haven't been hitting the quality benchmark of past years. If there’s one movie to change that premonition, The Wild Robot certainly is up to the task, as it is filled with heart, emotion, and creativity that captivates imagination. My Rating: 8.5/10 🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿🍿 Now playing in theaters! A UNIVERSAL PICTURES RELEASE |
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