The Wild Robot : Fantastic Fest Review

Animated movies, over what feels like since the dawn of time, have delivered films that have both shaped and often defined our childhoods. For much of that time, Disney held the keys to those doors, but over the last thirty years, we’ve been given many more doors to choose from. The first new door was Pixar, but soon DreamWorks, Illumination, and Blue Sky Studios began providing us with new lessons in life and entertainment for children and adults alike. Well, welcome to your next favorite animated film, one that will be on your TV screens for months—but trust me when I say, you’ll be more than happy with that.

On a remote island, we see a crate wash up on shore. Inside it lies something mysterious to the island’s animal inhabitants. There are no humans, only animals, and when this mystery activates, it introduces itself as a robot with a mouthful of a name. However, both the audience and later the creatures come to call her Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o). At first, the animals refer to her as a monster, but Roz has one task: to observe and learn the creatures’ habits. After doing so, she explores the island and, after an accident, ends up becoming the adoptive mother of an orphaned goose, despite having no clue how to raise it. Luckily, a sly fox named Fink (voiced by Pedro Pascal) offers to help her, while also benefiting from their newfound friendship and enjoying a better life than before he met Roz. Through their bond, Roz helps the orphaned goose, Brightbill (voiced by Kit Conner), grow strong enough to migrate, forming a family with him and Fink. Soon, Roz discovers a new “program” within herself—one centered around love—but her makers want her back. The question is: will they succeed in retrieving her?

From its opening frame, you can feel the artistry of The Wild Robot, as Chris Sanders brings us something that feels alive, unlike most American CG animation. Sanders, who not only directs but also adapts the script from Peter Brown’s novel, infuses the film with a Miyazaki-like atmosphere, enhanced by the naturalistic setting. This delivers one of the most visually stunning animated films you’ll see. The watercolor-like feel of the forest and the animals inhabiting it is mesmerizing, and when combined with the story’s emotional depth, it takes you on an unforgettable roller-coaster ride.

The Wild Robot is something you simply have to experience. It’s full of action, laughter, and profound empathy. It’s a film that radiates beauty and will captivate both children and adults, impacting them in the best ways. The message is clear: no matter what we’re programmed to be, we can break free from patterns of behavior. However, this lesson is absorbed naturally through the story rather than preached. With a fantastic voice cast, it’s clear that both they and Sanders poured their hearts into this project—you can feel it in every frame and hear it in every line. Trust me when I say, this film will stir your emotions, both the good and the bad, but in the end, it reminds us that sometimes we need to live a little wildly and trust our hearts. Very few animated movies, or movies in general, have touched me the way The Wild Robot did, but that’s what happens when you can feel the love and care put into every aspect of it. So, let this wild adventure take hold of you—because it’s hard not to—and enjoy a truly special experience for the entire family.