The Wild Robot
Neil Steffens

Review by Neil Steffens Patron

The Wild Robot 2024

★★★★

Watched 30 Sep 2024

(DreamWorks #48) - DreamWorks Animation, RANKED

It's rare for a DreamWorks movie to have so much heart in it, but this film made me feel something in nearly every single scene. As I look upon my DreamWorks rankings, I see that my #1 movie (How to Train Your Dragon) was also directed by Chris Sanders. I've never noted the directors of DWA's output, but Sanders is certainly in my notes now.

The premise is very Pixar-like. We see nature and nurture, working together and evolving each other as an analytical robot takes up binary "tasks" that include guiding a gosling to adulthood. To complete this ragtag group is a fox that seems reluctant to help, yet we can tell is begging for friendship. The film runs the gamut on the types of non-romantic relationships it explores; the robot and gosling have a touching parent/child dynamic whereas the fox is all about platonic companionship. That damn fox gave me so many feelings despite his early off-putting demeanor.

The animation looks stunning. I'm so glad I saw this in the Dolby. It looks almost hand-painted and the animators seemed to play with the frame rate to give it a very unique storybook look. The colors on this island - one that experiences all four season - pops off the screen. This might be the most gorgeous DreamWorks film of all time.

The tears-to-scene ratio is akin to a Pixar film with the learning to fly montage getting me to my most damp face. The movie does feel a bit long after this, with the theme of working together inserted into the mix, but I still loved inhabiting this island for most of its runtime.

Oh, and I also like how this doesn't shy away from that circle of life. You will see some animals getting eaten and dying off screen. Those morbid opossums also inject some dark, deathly humor (my favorite supporting cast animals by far).

This is giving the aforementioned Dragon film a run for its money for my #1 spot on the list. Wild!

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