The Wild Robot, a 2024 sci-fi/adventure movie, is a heartwarming story about family, belonging, and big robots. 

A shipment of Universal Dynamics “ROZZUM” service robots is lost during a typhoon, with only one surviving the disaster and washing up on the shore of an island inhabited only by animals. After being activated by curious wildlife ROZZUM Unit-7134 (later nicknamed “Roz”) begins searching the island for anyone or anything that could be in need of help, whether they want it or not. Unfortunately for Roz the local fauna are unenthused by her advances, and despite her best efforts she usually causes more problems than she solves. Even after entering a state of dormancy, listening to and learning the animals' languages, her help is refused.

Unbothered due to her programmed lack of emotions, Roz decides to seek out the highest peak on the island and send a return signal. However on her trek she gets caught in a thunderstorm and chased by an angry grizzly bear. While she makes it out of the encounter in one piece the same can’t be said for a goose nest she falls on, killing the mother and destroying every egg but one. While investigating the ruined nest the surviving egg hatches and the gosling runt imprints on Roz. Together she and the creatures of the island must teach the infant goose to fly, swim, and hunt before his migration.

During Roz’s stay she starts to become more than what her programming originally allowed, sparking a change in the wildlife’s view on life, and piquing the interest of her mysterious creators.

From the first trailer this movie definitely didn’t look bad, however it felt pretty clear what tropes this movie would borrow from. After watching it I can say with confidence that this movie does really borrow from many old and tired cliches. Despite this they’re executed with such a degree of heart and wit that I’m completely unbothered by their presence. In fact I think that this film’s core plot is actually for the better. It gives much more room to focus on the well-written and likeable characters, and the top notch voice acting and beautiful animation that give them life.

The film also manages to tackle difficult subjects like death with an unexpected amount of maturity and class for a children’s film. This maturity also applies to its sense of humour, with a lot of visual or dialogue gags that I found genuinely funny and/or surprising, and with only one joke that made me roll my eyes just a bit.

The Wild Robot has a cast of elite voice actors including the likes of Mark Hamill and Pedro Pascal, who all do an excellent job at portraying their characters. However, I do need to give special props to one actor in particular. Lupita Nyong’o does an incredible job voicing Roz.  Roz’s voice starts with a blend of peppy and flat delivery typical for mechanical assistants like Alexa or Bxby, which Nyong’o manages to mimic with uncanny accuracy. Over the course of the film, as Roz’s personality develops further, Nyong’o changes her performance too, convincingly selling Roz’s development.

This film is absolutely gorgeous in a way I haven’t seen any other 3D animated film do before, aside from maybe 2019’s Klaus.  Many recent animated films (Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, TMNT: Mutant Mayhem, The Bad Guys, etc.) have been taking a leaf out of the Spider-Verse films' book and utilising a cell-shaded look with a frame rate that changes to match the mood of the scene, and while this looks incredible I don’t think it would fit the generally more mellow mood of The Wild Robot. Instead, The Wild Robot uses a similar style but one that’s closer to a Studio Ghibli or golden age Disney film than comic books. The Wild Robot’s lovely artstyle and excellent direction and lighting produce many beautiful, wallpaper-worthy shots.  The film also avoids the hideous Illumination-style animals that have become such a plague upon animation as of late, so props for that.

The Wild Robot is an amazing film, and will certainly go down as a modern classic.  If you want to watch something funny: watch this movie. If you want to watch something emotional: watch this movie.  If you have younger siblings: watch this movie. Whatever you do just watch this movie, I promise you won’t regret it.