“Sometimes, to survive, you must become more than you were programmed to be,” Roz, a lone robot, puts it best in the new book adaptation of the novel “The Wild Robot” released this October. Seemingly light-hearted and simple, this beautiful animation brings the audience on a journey of introspection and self-contextualization. 

In a futuristic world where robots are programmed solely to execute assigned tasks, Roz awakens on a deserted island inhabited by animals. Immediately, she searches for a task but fails, as there are no humans to give her orders. With no specific role to fulfill, Roz feels oddly unanchored. 

Driven to find purpose, she adapts to her surroundings and develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling, where she takes on a new mission: nurture the gosling until its independence. Her journey involves the discovery of true purpose and identity, even when it contradicts one’s programmed path. 

This movie features a stunning, painting-like art style. Rich textures, vibrant colors, and dynamic camera angles captivate the viewer. The scene where Roz imprits on the gozzling masterfullly manipulates color; the plethora of color that streaks through the screen visualizes the magical emotions Roz experiences, which inspires the same sensations for the viewer. Together, these elements evoke a children’s storybook vibe, and thus establish a nostalgic and cozy atmosphere. 

Likewise, the audio complements the visuals. This movie displays immersive sound effects that imbue scenes with life, music that heightens emotions in significant moments, and voice acting that personifies characters. Voice actors beautifully articulate stern dialogue and witty banter, imparting surprisingly profound meaning for a children’s movie. The sudden humorous dialogue spaced throughout the adaptation feels like splashes of bright color on a calm canvas, adding charm with lighthearted moments. The sound, along with other elements, instantly transports the viewer to the movie’s woodland setting. 

“The Wild Robot”’s storyline and characters bring the movie to life. Dreamworks develops characters that go beyond the traditional “children’s movie protagonist.” Roz, although a robot, feels human. Contrary to the hard and cold portrayal of bots, Roz’s clumsy, compassionate, and persistent nature diverges from the stereotypical robot. The movie articulates these key personalities masterfully through subtle body language and tones of voice, forging a deep connection with the audience. 

All the characters have distinct identities that complement each other. Their personalities and drives feel authentic as the movie builds up the characters throughout the story line, lending them authenticity. Notably, Fink, a mischievous fox, undergoes significant character development. Initially, Fink appears cold and guarded as he never experienced love. However, Roz’s genuine warmth brings out the softer side of him. 

Along the same lines, the movie furthers several timeless themes. It explores purpose and identity; a robot learns she can override her programming with “heart.” When used the wrong way, this theme can appear cliche and banal, but when packaged and refined, the theme resonates with the audience.

The film also establishes a powerful nature vs. technology dynamic. It discriminates advanced automation with the untouched beauty of nature through its visually rich backdrop and lead character. This juxtaposition not only creates a striking aesthetic but also sparks curiosity about how these opposing elements will interact. Moreover, this theme resonates deeply in today’s tech-driven world, adding further layers of relevance to the story

This year, DIS second-graders watched “The Wild Robot” after reading the novel by Peter Brown as part of their classwork. “The movie and the book are fun. I like all the animals,” Shanvi Cha in second grade said. 

Ms. Prestia, their homeroom teacher and an avid fan of the original novel, also shares her opinion: “I was a little surprised by the movie. I thought it was really different from the book,” Ms. Prestia said. I had certain expectations and was expecting certain characters to be in the movie, but they weren’t there. So that was disappointing. But if I thought of the movie as separate from the book, it was a really good movie.” 

Although the DreamWorks Animation differed from the novel, it still proves to be a diamond in the rough. The film stands strong as a charming and thought-provoking adventure for all ages.