“The Wild Robot” is a remarkably unique film, telling the story of a robot and an island filled with animals, and it unexpectedly yet powerfully explores what it means to be human. Set on a small island, the story follows a shipwrecked robot named Roz as she learns to adapt to her new environment and forms connections with the animals around her.

As someone who read the book first, I initially questioned how the book’s simple, cut-out style would be translated into a full-length movie. Roz’s design and the visual style were slightly altered, but the core emotions remained. Roz’s appearance still feels soft and welcoming, with robotic features that allow her to appear strong when needed.

When I saw this movie for the first time, the entire theater was silent – no murmurs, rustling, or distractions. The film had several scenes that took place in near silence. The only sounds were purely atmospheric, rustling leaves and babbling brooks. Sitting there, the entire experience felt almost surreal. Every person in the room had been absorbed, myself included. The characters’ emotions—joy, pain, and relief—seemed to resonate collectively through the theater.

This film differs from others because much of the story is shown, not told. The world is built through brief instances and flashes of scenery that allow the viewer to draw their own conclusions– like when The Golden Gate Bridge sunk under the water, for example. Emotions aren’t directly expressed but instead are shown. Additionally, although the word love is only mentioned twice, its presence is felt throughout the film. The film portrays emotions like loss, joy, relief, and fear. the parallels in the story to reality are never explicitly spoken, and yet, universal themes like parenthood, love, loneliness, isolation, and unity resonate with people of all ages.

There were a multitude of themes relevant to today such as climate change. There’s a moment in the movie where some robots classify Brightbill, Roz’s son, as vermin. Even though it’s not explicitly spoken, there is an interesting idea there, on how someone beloved could be seen as insignificant to another.  The ideas discussed between Roz and Brightbill, on being told they belong in different areas, yet feeling at home with each other. Roz’s acquisition of Brightbill, tragic as the incident was, altered both of their lives positively. This story ties in both the view of the child and the parent. The feelings of gratitude, joy sadness, apprehension, excitement, and loneliness all play a role here. 

I would give The Wild Robot five stars. It has been a long time since a movie drew me in as much as this one.