Every once in a while, a film comes around that is brand new, yet at the same time makes you feel like a kid again. I’m not talking about watching a new movie that is pumped full of nostalgia from your childhood. I’m talking about a movie with a formula and message that makes it seem like you’re a kid again watching one of your favorite films. This Oscars-nominee review explores how “The Wild Robot” gave me exactly that feeling.
“The Wild Robot” (2024) Review: Animation at Its Finest
Shades of ’90s Disney Animated Films
What I decided while watching this film with my kids was that it is an instant classic. “The Wild Robot” is the closest film we’ve gotten to old-school Disney animated films in a long time. The formula is similar, and for those of you who grew up in the ’90s, like myself, you know how those movies feel. Those were the “Golden Age” of Disney films, the “Disney Renaissance” as it was specifically called. This film could be chalked up as DreamWorks’ best-animated feature to date and probably the best-animated film I’ve watched since “Coco.”
Eye-Popping Animation Mixed With Heart
The “painterly” animation style is so eye-grabbing and pungent that you look all over the screen to see the minor details. For those unfamiliar, “painterly” animation is a 3D-style animation that is supposed to mimic watercolor paints. So much of this film looks as though it was hand-painted, another visual harkening to the old Disney animation. The wilderness setting benefited from this style greatly; you notice each leaf color, each rock facing and even the individual strands of fur on the animals. I can’t commend the animation crew enough; it’s a beautiful film.
It is full of heart and contains a message, yet another piece of what used to make Disney great. “The Wild Robot” brings that back with multiple messages throughout this film. It’s an adventure film, no doubt, and the action is stunning. Yet, the heartfelt messages it lays out place this movie on another level than most animated films today. It is emotionally driven and executed in a manner that had this 37-year-old with three kids with a massive lump in his throat multiple times.
Giving Voice to a Robot
Shout out to the entire vocal cast, but especially our Robot “Roz.” She’s portrayed by Lupita Nyong’o, who manages to take an animated robot and instantly make a connection with the audience. Her capability to bring emotion and life to a “lifeless” creation is a key cognitive of this film, and it’s a stellar vocal performance. Still, the rest of our voice cast was just as great; the two lead supporting characters are a fox and a gosling, portrayed by Kit Connor and Pedro Pascal. They did Excellent work to somehow enhance that connection between creature and creation.
An Oscar-Worthy Film
Overall, this just became my favorite animated movie in a long time. “The Wild Robot,” without a doubt, deserves its Oscar nomination. I wish I had seen the other nominees to compare, and I will get to them soon. However, they have a lot of ground to make up because “The Wild Robot” is a top-tier film. It’s one that my kids and I will revisit often, and I’m not upset about that at all.
“Sometimes, to survive, you must become more than you were programmed to be.” – Roz
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