Sneha Jaiswal (Twitter | Instagram)
A wild robot, a conniving fox, and an innocent little gosling – doesn’t sound like those words should be part of a familial trio, does it?
Directed by Peter Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon), ‘The Wild Robot’ is based on Peter Brown’s novel of the same name. The film follows a robot that washes ashore on an uninhabited island and is accidentally activated by a wild animal. Designed as a domestic helper, the robot, known as Roz, searches for a purpose and unexpectedly finds one in caring for an orphaned gosling called Brightbill, with some reluctant help from a cunning fox.
With the rising number of AI horror movies, where robots are generally villainized (think of the smash hit ‘M3GAN’), ‘The Wild Robot’ is a bright, fun adventure about the Robot Roz finding its place in a island that’s not bound with human rules and regulations.
Roz is the first being the orphaned Brightbill encounters, forcing the robot (reluctantly at first) into the role of caregiver, becoming its parent, teacher, and protector as she prepares the little one for independence. Fink the fox begins as a would-be predator, seeing Brightbill as little more than food, but slowly evolves into Roz’s guide to the animal world and a mischievous, uncle-like presence in the gosling’s life.
It’s equally hilarious and heartwarming watching Roz raise the gosling, slowly learning, and reprogramming herself to belong in the untamed world of animals. The film’s tagline, “Sometimes, to survive, you must become more than you were programmed to be,” neatly sums up her journey. ‘The Wild Robot’ is a gentle, moving story about found family, proving that even the most unlikely trio, a robot, a goose, and a fox in this case, can belong together.
I know comparisons can be unfair, but it’s difficult to wrap my head around ‘The Wild Robot’ losing Best Animated Feature to ‘Flow’. On every level, be it animation, storytelling, or emotional resonance, ‘The Wild Robot’ outclasses its competitor. It’s a film I could revisit for years, whereas Flow tested my patience the first time around.
If one must point out flaws, ‘The Wild Robot’ does go a bit overboard with its climactic conflict, pitting Roz against a small army of robots sent to retrieve her. Having become a valuable asset thanks to her time in the wild and her ability to interpret animal behavior, the conflict escalates into something far more intense than necessary.
The result is a finale that feels over-the-top and surprisingly anxiety-inducing for a children’s film. But well, it ultimately resolves on a comforting, feel-good note. This is easily one of the best feel-good movies about AI out there.
Rating: 9 on 10. Watch ‘The Wild Robot’ on Disney+/JioHotstar or rent it on Prime.
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