by Evelyn San Miguel ‘26

Since its release in theaters on September 27, Dreamworks’ The Wild Robot has become an instant classic among audiences, solidifying its legacy among some of the animation studio’s greatest films. Based on the hit children’s series of the same name by Peter Brown, The Wild Robot is set on an island in the Pacific Ocean in a futuristic world. The island, untouched by mankind, collides with the man-made world when a helper robot named Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), crashes on the island’s shores. Left without a task to complete, Roz wanders the island for her purpose, disrupting the lives of the wild animals that live there.

Through an unfortunate series of events, Roz ends up adopting a gosling — Brightbill — who believes Roz is his mother. Coded to adapt to simple domestic tasks — essentially the equivalent of an ultra-intelligent and anthropomorphic Alexa more than anything else — Roz finds motherhood a far more difficult assignment than she feels she is capable of completing. Entrusted with raising Brightbill and teaching him to fly by autumn, Roz and her friend/co-parent Fink (Pedro Pascal) take up the challenge and joys of being Brightbill’s parents and guardians. Brightbill, played by Heartstopper lead Kit Connor, brings a sweet and endearing voice to one of the movie’s central characters. Told through beautiful writing and groundbreaking animation, The Wild Robot tells an emotional story of family, love, and finding your place in the world. While its message of found family is nothing original, The Wild Robot is a feel-good, family-friendly adventure, with animation that celebrates the legacy of Dreamworks’ animation studio and the veteran creatives that worked on the project.

Through impressive voices like Nyong’o, Pascal, and Connor, The Wild Robot is enhanced by its A-list cast, bringing the characters to stunning and vivid life. As Roz makes the island her home, she and the animals around her adapt to their changing world, uniting and breaking the boundaries of predator/prey for the sake of saving their home. With moments recalling Dreamworks’ masterworks like How to Train Your Dragon and Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, The Wild Robot brings a beautiful addition to Dreamworks’ portfolio of visually phenomenal and artistically magnificent animated films.

After the film’s raving reviews from Rotten Tomatoes, IMDb, and The New York Times, The Wild Robot is expected to be on streaming sites in the following months, bringing audiences closer to the film’s unforgettable story through the comfort of their own homes.

Grade: A