Review by Milagros & Patrick H. Detry, Heart & Soul
This is great story of survival and adaptation in nature. An epic movie of adapting and adjusting to your environment and overcoming great odds. Essentially it shows what caring and love can do.
We highly recommend this truly important family movie.
Shipwrecked on a deserted island, a robot named Roz, played by Lupita Nyong’o, must learn to adapt to its new surroundings. Building relationships with the native animals, Roz soon develops a parental bond with an orphaned gosling.
The movie premieres Friday, September 27.
The theme reminds us somewhat of Migration, but much more layered.
Roz is feared, by the inhabitants of the island because she is somewhat of an anomaly, she is different, the gosling, thinks she is his mother because she is the first thing he sees when he is born. Of course, Roz doesn’t want any of this, she is not programmed for this task. The Fox , befriends her because it too is also an outcast and feared, because it is a predator. And, really wants to eat the gosling, or just want food.
The Wild Robot is a film that almost anyone will enjoy, we believe it is one of the year’s best animated movies. Some of in the film might actually be slightly too intense for young viewers — a body horror-esque sequence of Roz being dissected by hungry raccoons comes to mind — The Wild Robot‘s overall sweetness and affinity for laugh-out-loud moments will surely win the hearts of children and adults alike.
Although Roz is feared, she gets tips from the various animals on parenting, and becomes more respected and teaches the gosling survival skills on swimming and flying, with assists from all the animals. This is a truly outstanding cast and shows how Roz moving past her programming to becoming the Wild Robot and being successful in task and staying on the island because of love and helping the animals on through a brutal Winter, surviving.
Our nine year old granddaughter enjoyed the movie and plans to tell her friends.
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Featuring
LUPITA NYONG’O
PEDRO PASCAL
KIT CONNOR
BILL NIGHY
STEPHANIE HSU
MATT BERRY
VING RHAMES
with MARK HAMILL
and CATHERINE O’HARA
Produced by
JEFF HERMANN, p.g.a.
Based on The Wild Robot novel by
PETER BROWN
Written and Directed by
CHRIS SANDERS
From DreamWorks Animation comes the eagerly anticipated adaptation of a literary sensation, PETER BROWN’s beloved, award-winning, #1 New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot.
The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot—ROZZUM unit 7134, “Roz” for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.
The Wild Robot stars Academy Award® winner LUPITA NYONG’O (Us, The Black Panther franchise) as robot Roz; Emmy and Golden Globe nominee PEDRO PASCAL (The Last of Us, The Mandalorian) as fox Fink; Emmy winner CATHERINE O’HARA (Schitt’s Creek, Best in Show) as possum Pinktail; Oscar® nominee BILL NIGHY (Living, Love Actually) as goose Longneck; Emmy winner KIT CONNOR (Heartstopper, Rocketman) as gosling Brightbill and Oscar® nominee STEPHANIE HSU (Everything Everywhere All at Once, The Fall Guy) as Vontra, a robot that will intersect with Roz’s life on the island.
The film also features the voice talents of Emmy winning pop-culture icon MARK HAMILL (Star Wars franchise, The Boy and the Heron) as grizzly bear Thorn, MATT BERRY (What We Do in the Shadows, The SpongeBob Movie franchise) as beaver Paddler and Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee VING RHAMES (Mission: Impossible films, Pulp Fiction) as falcon Thunderbolt.
A powerful story about the discovery of self, a thrilling examination of the bridge between technology and nature and a moving exploration of what it means to be alive and connected to all living things, The Wild Robot is written and directed by three-time Oscar® nominee CHRIS SANDERS—the writer-director of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods, and Disney’s Lilo & Stitch—and is produced by JEFF HERMANN (DreamWorks Animation’s The Boss Baby 2: Family Business; co-producer, Kung Fu Panda franchise).
Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot, an illustrated middle-grade novel first published in 2016, became a cultural phenomenon, rocketing to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. The book has since inspired a trilogy that now includes The Wild Robot Escapes and The Wild Robot Protects. Brown’s work on the Wild Robot series and his other bestselling books have earned him a Caldecott Honor, a Horn Book Award, two E.B. White Awards, two E.B. White Honors, a Children’s Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year, two Irma Black Honors, a Golden Kite Award and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award.
The original score for The Wild Robot is by Oscar® winning composer KRIS BOWERS (Green Book, The Last Repair Shop) and the editor is MARY BLEE (Boss Baby: Family Business; associate editor on the How to Train Your Dragon series). The film’s production designer is RAYMOND ZIBACH (The Kung Fu Panda series; The Boss Baby 2: Family Business) and the head of character animation is JAKOB HJORT JENSEN (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish; The Croods: A New Age). The head of story is HEIDI JO GILBERT (Puss in Boots: The Last Wish; story artist on The Croods: A New Age); the visual effects supervisor is JEFF BUDSBERG (head of look on The Bad Guys; effects lead on The Croods; Kung Fu Panda 3) and the head of look is BAPTISTE VAN OPSTAL (lead effects artist on How to Train Your Dragon 2; visual effects lead on The Croods: A New Age). Heather Lanza (associate producer on Puss in Boots: The Last Wish) serves as co-producer. DreamWorks Animation’s The Wild Robot is distributed worldwide by Universal Pictures.
THE CHARACTERS and Actors
rozzum 7134, aka “roz”
lupita nyong’o
Rozzum 7134, known as “Roz,” is voiced by Academy Award® winner Lupita Nyong’o. Designed by Universal Dynamics, Roz is a sophisticated robot who becomes stranded on an uninhabited island without human guidance, leading her to forge her own purpose. Her purpose becomes clear when she discovers a goose egg, prompting her to nurture and raise the gosling.
The artists and animators integrated Roz’s behaviors based on Nyong’o’s insights, encompassing qualities like innocence, agency, difficulty in understanding and honesty. “Lupita’s input was pivotal in quickly discovering Roz’s character,” director Chris Sanders says. “Her attention to detail in every aspect was invaluable. Every scene recording was preceded by extensive discussions and brainstorming sessions with Lupita, leading to rewrites that consistently enhanced the scenes. Lupita’s talent lies in her profound understanding of characters and their narrative impact, ensuring they drive the story rather than merely being passengers.”
Sanders and Nyong’o collaborated on finding Roz’s voice, gradually transforming it from robotic to emotive throughout the film. “Finding Roz’s voice was quite the journey,” Nyong’o says. “It all started with a debate about the role of emotion in a robot. Roz, being a robot, has to learn how to access the spontaneity of emotion, which doesn’t come naturally to a programmed entity. So, how does that philosophical, cerebral debate translate into a performance? What choices do you make to convey the lack of emotion and then her adaptation to the world to express emotion? We started with a more disembodied voice and what I call the ‘programmed optimism’ that comes with robotic figures like Siri or Alexa. There’s this optimism, but you can’t really feel the soul of Siri. Roz starts in that realm and then, as she adapts to the world and becomes more of a mother in raising Brightbill, she reprograms herself to access something more akin to human empathy, expression and emotion. By the end of the film, she’s a fully three-dimensional, well-rounded figure.”
Nyong’o felt the passion and commitment of everyone on the filmmaking team throughout the recording process. “There was a level of collaboration that left me feeling inspired every time I left the recording booth,” Nyong’o says. “Chris Sanders and Jeff Hermann are so collaborative. Chris is the kind of director who doesn’t let his ego get in the way. Whenever I got into the booth and had questions or was debating him on something, he was ready for that. The whole team behind this project was so adaptable and collaborative. It felt like we were all getting our hands in the dough, and we were going to bake this cake together. Every time I left the booth, I felt empowered, highly valued and definitely inspired by the work that we’d done.”
Roz’s journey on the island is one of self-discovery and adaptation. Initially confined by her programmed design and structure, Roz learns to navigate her new environment. Over time, she embraces the instincts of the wild, gathering invaluable wisdom from the island’s diverse inhabitants and the natural world. For Nyong’o, taking on the role of Roz marked a major milestone in her career. “Working with DreamWorks has been a dream, and I say that with my full chest,” Nyong’o says. “When I started this process, I was cautious. Yes, there was a book, but a good book doesn’t automatically make a good adaptation, you know? I had seen Chris Sanders’ work, like How to Train Your Dragon, and I knew he had a very special way with animation and the kinds of stories he wants to tell. But this medium was still relatively new to me. I’ve dabbled in it, but I’d never taken on a lead role in animation before this. So, I was cautious because I wanted to know what it was going to be and what I could lend it. It involved lengthy conversations with Chris and doing my best to imagine all the corners of what this project could be. When you sign on to do an animated film, you’re committing to something for a number of years. The process is very slow, and it’s hard to feel the momentum when you come in every six months to work on it. So, there is a lot of faith that goes into signing onto a project like this, and definitely a whole lot of patience. But I am very happy to say it all paid off.”
Soon, Roz transitions from a machine restricted by engineering and detached, rational programming, into a compassionate and empathetic being. Her interactions with the island’s wildlife shape her understanding of kindness and empathy. “I hope that audiences relish the beauty, adventure and emotion of this movie,” Nyong’o says. “It’s not afraid to pull at your heartstrings, and I hope audiences enjoy that ride. Ultimately, the message of The Wild Robot, both the book and the film, is that kindness is an innate quality we should hone, and there’s value in staying true to yourself while embracing change.”
fink
pedro pascal
Fink, a hunter in the form of a red fox, is portrayed by Pedro Pascal in his first animated feature film. Fink is highly intelligent, driven and clever, with a natural sense of independence and discernment in his choice of companionship. “Recording my first DreamWorks Animation movie was incredibly fun yet challenging,” Pascal says. “I’ve always had an idea of the amount of work involved in such experiences, but I’m continually fascinated by the technical, creative and physical aspects of it all. There’s a lot of vocal performance capture involved, and I couldn’t have done it without Chris Sanders and everyone on the other side of the glass contributing so much heart, brainpower and effort to bring a character like Fink to life.”
Fink’s life of solitude is amplified by the island’s perception of him as a villain. Initially focused on stealing Roz’s precious gosling egg, Fink’s dynamic with Roz transitions from foe to friend as he experiences her unprecedented kindness. Throughout their evolving friendship, Fink teaches Roz invaluable lessons of survival. As they spend more time together, Fink’s self-preservation instincts give way to reveal a witty, inventive and fiercely loyal character.
Pascal greatly valued his collaboration with Sanders. “I’ve seen a lot of Chris’ movies, and I’ll embarrassingly admit that, as a grown adult, I once wished for my birthday to see How to Train Your Dragon on IMAX,” Pascal says. “Birthdays aren’t my thing, but that was my excuse to indulge. I know how essential Chris is in creating entire worlds and infusing performances with color. He was an incredible guide, sometimes even running through scenes to help me find my way. He’s not just thinking about the character’s roots but also about bringing them to life authentically.”
As Pascal recorded for the character, the team discovered new layers to Fink that weren’t initially apparent in the script. “Pedro’s portrayal brought out an impish quality in Fink, almost like a mischievous child at times,” Sanders says. “He started delivering his lines with a blend of toughness, cleverness and an occasional childlike curiosity, which allowed this hint of innocence to come through in the character. This new angle really resonated with Pedro, and he said that Fink felt more like himself than many other roles that he’d played.”
Finding the voice for Fink was surprisingly enlightening for Pascal. “Initially, I approached it with ideas of sounding cool and funny, like how you’d imagine a fox would be,” Pascal says. “But Chris helped me move away from those artificial ideas and encouraged me to embrace my own sense of humor, color and ability to be ridiculous. He gave me permission to take big swings and go for it, which was liberating.”
brightbill
kit connor
Brightbill, a goose nurtured from egg to adulthood by his robotic guardian Roz, embodies a resilient spirit amidst adversity. Voiced by actor Kit Connor, Brightbill evolves from a curious and vulnerable gosling to a determined adolescent on the brink of maturity. Despite his small stature and unconventional upbringing, Brightbill navigates challenges of belonging and identity with earnestness, honesty and optimism.
Brightbill’s experiences, learning from a non-traditional parent in Roz and navigating teenage emotions, showcase his depth as he strives to find his place in a world that often misunderstands him. “Brightbill is on a journey of self-discovery,” Connor says. “At the start of the film, Roz is an unfeeling robot. Brightbill teaches her about kindness and love, and in turn, their mother-son relationship continues to grow stronger as the story progresses. Their evolving connection not only brings warmth to the story but also emphasizes the power of empathy and understanding in overcoming challenges. And that love and kindness that Roz learns eventually helps them both succeed. Throughout the film, we see him growing more confident and learning to love the things that make him different.”
Connor faced a challenging task voicing Brightbill, whose earnestness and innocence presented an opportunity for Connor’s performance to bring depth and complexity to the character. “During our first recording session, I was amazed by Kit’s ability to infuse genuine emotion into Brightbill’s voice,” director Chris Sanders says. “He brought the character to life in a remarkably authentic way, really making Brightbill come alive on screen. Kit’s performance gave our animators a rich foundation to explore the nuances of Brightbill’s relationship with Roz far beyond our initial expectations.”
pinktail
catherine o’hara
Pinktail, voiced by Emmy Award winner Catherine O’Hara, is a mother possum and the first animal Roz successfully communicates with. She navigates motherhood with a blend of pragmatism, maternal instinct and a touch of worldly wisdom, managing her hyperactive brood of baby possums with finesse. Despite her patience and kindness, Pinktail, having birthed and raised multiple litters, is a pro at being a mom and can easily discern between a kid seeking attention and one in genuine distress. Her humorous responses to her kids are tinged with maternal weariness and a subtle sadness that make her deeply relatable. “Pinktail is a mom who’s been through multiple litters each year, with each litter ranging from seven to 25 kids, which has made motherhood more of a practical duty than a novelty to her,” director Chris Sanders says. “She loves her kids, but she doesn’t sugarcoat anything. I had a lot of fun writing her scenes because of her no-nonsense approach, which was refreshing to explore in animation where maternal characters often lean towards overt sweetness.”
When Pinktail observes that Brightbill is imprinting on Roz, she bluntly tells Roz that she’s stuck with him, whether she likes it or not. “Pinktail won’t let Roz get away without embracing motherhood and teaches her the role every day,” O’Hara says. “Pinktail’s strength is in her innate mothering instincts, approaching the role with a matter-of-fact attitude while giving Roz the space to learn through experience, intervening only when needed. Pinktail mothers with a sense of humor, which is a quality my own mother, who raised seven of us, believed to be essential.”
O’Hara appreciated Sanders’ clear vision and his infectious humor. “Chris continuously elevated my role, making it funnier and more dynamic with each line,” O’Hara says. “His ability to infuse humor and poignancy made the sessions incredibly fun and rewarding. I think audiences will be swept away by the film’s beauty and depth. The artistry in every frame, the meticulous attention to detail in sound and dialogue—none if it is there by chance. And in its message, the film is a beautiful reminder of the blessings of family. It’s clear that this film has been crafted with love and dedication by a team who truly cares about their work.”
longneck
bill nighy
Longneck, voiced by Oscar® nominee Bill Nighy, is the oldest and wisest leader of the island’s geese. Entrusted with the safety of thousands during the annual migration, Longneck exudes a natural grace, wisdom and affability that set him apart. His openness to change and his willingness to treat everyone with respect, including Roz, underscores his esteemed position in the flock. “Being part of this film was a big deal for me because DreamWorks has such an impressive history of gorgeous animation,” Nighy says. “It was humbling and incredible to see the transformation from my voice recordings to fully animated scenes. The first time I saw the film’s trailer, I was proud to be part of it.”
Longneck’s discerning eye recognizes Brightbill’s strengths where others see only shortcomings, which leads him to take the young goose under his wing and integrate him into the migration. “One of my favorite lines from Longneck, straight from the book, highlights Brightbill’s uniqueness among the geese,” director Chris Sanders says. “Bill Nighy’s portrayal of Longneck is captivating, and every moment his character is on-screen feels magical. Writing lines for him and then hearing him bring them to life was incredibly rewarding and fun to see.”
Nighy is impressed by the refined visual experience The Wild Robot presents. “It combines impressionistic backgrounds with highly defined creatures, creating a killer combination and a very cool look,” Nighy says. “The story itself is deeply inspiring and powerful, and the creators spent years designing it specifically for an immersive, collective experience unique to the cinema. A film of this scale and grandeur truly shines on the big screen.”
vontra
stephanie hsu
In The Wild Robot, we encounter a variety of robotic entities manufactured by Universal Dynamics, each with distinct missions and traits. Rozzums, like Roz, are helper robots adept at seamlessly integrating into human society. In contrast, Recos are military-grade security robots known for their larger size and assertive nature. Vontra, voiced by Academy Award® nominee Stephanie Hsu, is a specialized administrative robot tasked with evaluating situations and making decisions on behalf of Universal Dynamics. She’s the robotic equivalent of that vaguely scary coworker who does whatever the boss says – a little too enthusiastically – with no questions asked.
For Hsu, the opportunity to work on the film was pure bliss. “Not to be super cliché, but being part of the DreamWorks family feels pretty dreamy,” Hsu says. “This movie, in particular, is exciting because I grew up loving films like this. Animation has a way of stretching the heart open in a unique way, allowing us to feel big emotions through softer and more colorful expressions. I feel incredibly grateful to be part of it.”
What distinguishes Vontra is her human-like personality and expressive voice. Although initially warm and upbeat, she subtly conveys malevolent undertones. “Stephanie’s talent is exceptional,” director Chris Sanders says. “Vontra is designed to be as straightforward as any other robot in the story, but with a personality that’s larger-than-life compared to her robotic counterparts. But beneath her cheerful façade, she’s completely unfeeling. Stephanie’s portrayal of Vontra is both unpredictable and highly impactful. Watching her bring the character to life often inspired us with new ideas and enriched our scenes.”
As Vontra leads the mission to retrieve Roz from the island, Roz’s defiance challenges Vontra’s directives, causing her initially bright demeanor to gradually erode, revealing her true character. “Vontra is like a futuristic version of Siri turned ultra-god,” Hsu says. “She’s very by-the-book and doesn’t go beyond the user manual. She’s so chipper that it’s unsettling, which was an interesting contrast to explore. But beyond my character, it’s really exciting to be part of a project with so much heart and to be part of such a talented team.”
Hsu appreciates how The Wild Robot’s animation style combines the heart and spirit of traditional animation with a modern touch. “It’s textural and old-school yet fresh and new, which is crucial for capturing the organic nature of the story,” Hsu says. “Instead of adding all these new bells and whistles to meet robots where they’re at, it brings robots into our world, and I think that’s really beautiful.”
thorn
mark hamill
Thorn, the formidable grizzly bear and primary predator on the island, is portrayed by Emmy-winning pop-culture icon Mark Hamill. Thorn’s imposing presence makes him the most feared character among the island’s animals, yet he will eventually prove to be a crucial ally in the island’s survival. “It’s not every day that you get to work with someone of Mark Hamill’s stature, and I must admit, I had moments of star-struck awe during his recording sessions,” director Chris Sanders says. “Casting him was a truly special and remarkable moment. Despite the initial intimidation of directing someone I’ve admired for so long, he made the experience truly fantastic and effortless.” Producer Jeff Hermann adds: “Our entire crew was thrilled with this casting decision because we all grew up watching Mark’s iconic career. His roles and characters have played such a significant role in our lives and inspired many of us to pursue careers in filmmaking.”
Hamill took thorough measures to prepare for the role. “I read the entire book, all 279 pages, and then studied the script, which captured the essence of the story while allowing for adaptation to the screen,” Hamill says. “The advantage was having several sequences finished, which gave me a visual sense of the movie’s direction.”
Hamill anticipates that audiences will be surprised by the emotional depth in The Wild Robot. “I personally found the scene where Brightbill goes off to migrate and leaves Roz to be very emotional in the book,” Hamill says. “And seeing it in the movie adds a whole new level of depth. The expressions, especially in the eyes, convey so much emotion even without the context of music or sequence. It’s incredibly powerful and reminds me of the kind of movies I loved taking my kids to when they were younger. Finding a film with universal appeal is rare and valuable, and this movie is definitely a gem in that regard.”
paddler
matt berry
Paddler, voiced by actor Matt Berry, is a grumpy and reclusive beaver known for his meticulous craftsmanship and penchant for control. While this trait can trigger some explosive reactions, Paddler’s workmanship proves instrumental when it unexpectedly becomes the key to the island’s salvation. “Paddler’s character evolved significantly after we cast Matt in the role,” director Chris Sanders says. “The character was initially intended for some quick comedic moments, but the role grew substantially. We fine-tuned some of Paddler’s lines to fit Matt’s larger-than-life style. Matt’s fantastic performance even led us to add an extra scene with Paddler at the end of the credits because we couldn’t get enough of him.”
thunderbolt
ving rhames
Thunderbolt is a commanding and intimidating predatory falcon, renowned for his prowess in the skies. Despite his imposing nature, Thunderbolt takes on the role of an in-air flight instructor for Brightbill. The role required a particularly booming voice, which the filmmakers found in actor Ving Rhames. “Thunderbolt needed to be larger-than-life, memorable and immediately recognizable as someone capable of giving Brightbill the flight instruction he needs,” director Chris Sanders says. “With Ving Rhames’ voice, Thunderbolt’s character becomes crystal clear from the moment he speaks. He exudes confidence, effectiveness and a no-nonsense attitude while remaining enjoyable and fun.”
