So whilst there’s little argument that Pixar really upped the ante when it launched Toy Story others have not been slow in catching up and occasionally overtaking. Inside Out 2 has been the years biggest earner but arguably the strongest contender for Best Animated Film in 2025’s Oscars is The Wild Robot. Based on the books by Peter Brown we encounter Rozzum 7134 somehow alone on a deserted island looking for a customer to do tasks. But the island is bereft of humans with only animals to serve and this is a robot built for better things than clearing up animal droppings.
Eager to please it’s an engaging first part as Rozz ( as she becomes known) does her best to assist the animals who are generally terrified of the robot no matter how good her intentions are and catastrophe strikes when she falls on a nest of eggs killing the mother bird and all but one of her eggs which hatches shortly after with a runt gosling. Setting eyes on Rozz identifies her as mother and in that respect we can only assume that Gemma Collins was born in a Krispy Kreme café. It’s a possum (voiced by Catherine O’Hara) with her own brood who makes it clear to Rozz that she is now the goslings mum and her task now is to each the gosling to swim and fly in order to escape the islands impending harsh winter that’s shortly to arrive. It’s all accelerated when Rozz’s robot masters locate her on the island and return to collect her when the animals have now accepted her as one of their own.
Everything is perfectly in order in this film – the voices are great (Pedro Pascal, Mark Hamill, Bill Nighy, Matt Berry, Ving Rhames are pitch perfect none more so than Lupita N’yongo whose robot voice which could be so cold becomes more human and empathetic as Rozz develops emotion. The story is beat perfect building to a lump in your throat moment that every parent has to face which, in the words of Geordie warbler and wasp enthusiast, Sting, ‘If you love somebody let them go’. That idea of acceptance of those different from ourselves is especially important today. Written and directed by Chris Sanders this is a superb addition to an already impressive back catalogue of animated films he has helmed which includes Lilo & Stitch & How to train your dragon, The quality of the animation is superbly detailed and like the very best of Pixar, ‘The Wild Robot’ is one that will appeal to every demographic.
related feature : How to Train your Dragon The Hidden World – REVIEW
related feature : Chris Hemsworth pays homage to Peter Cullen, the original voice of Optimus Prime
Here’s the The Wild Robot trailer…..
