Cassio Martins’s review published on Letterboxd:
The Wild Robot shines as DreamWorks Animation’s crowning achievement in 2024, a gorgeously crafted story that blends stunning visuals with powerful emotional depth. Helmed by Chris Sanders, the film not only brings Peter Brown's beloved tale to life but elevates it with an aesthetic that feels both fresh and timeless—a vibrant, hand-painted look that recalls Monet's lush landscapes and Miyazaki’s idyllic forests. Roz, the titular robot voiced with quiet intensity by Lupita Nyong'o, is brought to life through nuanced vocal performance alone, underscoring the warmth, humor, and complexity of a character without facial expressions. The supporting cast, including Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy, and Stephanie Hsu, amplifies this warmth with layers of sincerity and wit, giving each character their own unique emotional weight.
DreamWorks has truly outdone itself here. Technically, the film is a marvel; its painterly visuals elevate CGI to new heights, crafting a storybook world that feels both whimsical and deeply grounded. This meticulous artistry is proof that DreamWorks is finding its own visual language, capable of standing alongside—and sometimes even outshining—the visual prowess often attributed to Pixar. Kris Bowers’ enchanting score is the perfect companion, harmonizing orchestral and electronic tones to trace Roz’s journey from machine to mother figure, resonating with an intimacy that complements the film's heartwarming narrative.
Yet, for all its visual grandeur, The Wild Robot occasionally stumbles with a script that feels a touch too familiar, as if culled from the pages of Pixar's playbook. The core themes of companionship, sacrifice, and self-discovery echo films like The Iron Giant, and Roz's arc of learning love and empathy has shades of WALL-E and other animated classics. The narrative is undoubtedly touching, but at times it leans into predictable tropes, where fresh surprises would have made it even more memorable. Despite these minor critiques, the film retains a charm and sincerity that keeps it from ever veering into over-sentimentality. Roz’s relationship with her adopted gosling, Brightbill, is genuinely heartwarming and profound, bringing a universality to the film that is sure to resonate across generations.
Inside Out 2 may have soared to nearly 1.7 billion at the box office, but it lacks the technical artistry that defines The Wild Robot. Though The Wild Robot performed well financially, it didn’t reach the heights it truly deserved. Nonetheless, this film stands as 2024’s finest animated feature, rich in style and depth, and it is a strong contender for the Best Animated Feature next year. Whether it can match the blockbuster status of Inside Out 2 remains to be seen, but for those who experience it, The Wild Robot delivers something truly special—a film that beautifully embodies kindness as a survival skill. With this project, DreamWorks has not only found its footing but steps boldly into an era of unique, artistically ambitious storytelling.
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