By Maya Bourne
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
I have had the absolute privilege of seeing Chris Sanders’ The Wild Robot in theaters twice, and I recall having only one coherent thought after both showings: this is true cinema. The astounding animation and music composition of the film, as well as the incredibly heartwarming and simultaneously devastating story, creates an all-around amazing experience.
The Wild Robot is a heartwarming story about motherhood, friendship, and disregarding one’s “programming” to help others. The main protagonist, Roz, is a robot who crashes on an island during her journey to a factory. She attempts to bond and help the animals on the island, but as one may assume, the animals are not very welcoming to a shiny, loud robot invading their peaceful environment. Roz quickly meets Fink- a fox accustomed to the “kill or be killed” ideology- and Brightbill, a goose who hatches in her hands after she accidentally lands on his nest, killing the rest of his family. Brightbill immediately bonds with Roz, the first thing he sees, and the trio band together to teach Brightbill to fly so he can join the goose migration in the winter.
From the moment I stepped into the theater, taking my seat and setting down my popcorn and candy, I was struck by the amazing visuals this movie utilized. The second time I saw this movie, I chose to see it in 3D, and the experience was even more brilliant. The animation looks almost like watercolor, the hues spreading across the screen, blending into the most exhilarating scenes. My favorite example of this is during one of the pivotal scenes in the movie when Brightbill joins the flocks of geese flying off during their annual migration. Roz runs with the goose on her shoulder, giving him a boost as he starts his long journey. The astounding visuals of the pair running away from a sunset surrounded by countless geese taking off on their flight create a beautiful and emotional scene, guaranteed to tug at anyone’s heartstrings. The visuals are not the only aid in creating this masterpiece, however. The score of The Wild Robot is incredibly pivotal and deepens the emotional impact of the movie even more than just the cinematography. Kris Bowers, the composer of the film, creates an all-consuming and breathtaking theme to accompany the movie, bringing it to all new heights. The music swells and falls, illustrating the characters’ feelings and actions in a whole new way.
The visuals and music are amazing, but what really makes or breaks a movie is the plot, and The Wild Robot excels in its storylines, leaving me utterly speechless in the theater. The character Roz is a captivating character, voiced by the incredible Lupita Nyong’o, and her journey through motherhood rings relatable to millions of women across the globe. As a robot, Roz contains no programming on how to raise a child, especially a goose, and she is forced to think on her feet, constantly improvising and learning from her previous experiences. The same feelings can be expressed by new mothers, or just women in general, struggling to navigate a new responsibility or role in life. Though Roz is an amazing character, my personal favorite was Fink, the fox. Voiced by Pedro Pascal, this fox has been raised in an environment where you were either predator or prey with no in between. He meets Roz attempting to eat Brightbill, and only agrees to help teach him when he got something in return. Fink’s character development was truly amazing, and very underappreciated in my opinion. The fox goes from an emotionless and deadpan character to a deeply emotional one. He even begs Roz to stay when she decides to return to her factory after the robot sent to retrieve her threatens to destroy the entire island unless she does so. He cries, saying he wouldn’t have anyone to talk to when she leaves, tearfully asking her who he’s supposed to go to when he has a problem. In addition, he helps gather all the animals into their hut during an extreme winter. He and Roz venture out into the deadly cold, retrieving every single animal he despises so much, giving them a warm place to stay for the winter. These actions show a truly remarkable growth in character for the fox, showing just how much a character can change given the chance. The Wild Robot is a truly amazing film that changed my perspective on motherhood, friendship, and my overall relationships with others. The amazing scenes, music, and complex storylines create a captivating movie appropriate for many. Kids can watch it for the pretty visuals and the uplifting music, and parents can watch the complex character growth and moving scenes this movie provides. I truly believe everyone should see this movie at least once, as it can change your perspective on many different issues and situations, perhaps giving you a new outlook on relationships and life.