There is something about the idea of non-emotional things becoming emotional that will always pull at my heartstrings. I guess I’m just a sucker for robots, I don’t know, but done well this trope can be one of the most impactful. Despite The Wild Robot’s predictable plot, it executes itself phenomenally and is a feast to watch on the screen.
Credit: Universal Pictures (2024)
Sorry mom
This movie is truly a shoutout to moms across the globe. It shows the dedication that mothers have for their children and everything they sacrifice. Told through the lens of an animated kids movie, the message is cut down to its core. Motherhood is difficult and hard, but any sacrifice is worth it because of what your children can become. Kids will understand the basics while the adults in the audience can fill in the gaps. I think this makes the movie more relatable for more viewers. They are able to place their own experiences on the basics of the movie’s plot to get something personable out of it. I don’t want to read into the movie too deeply because I think its message works on a surface level, but I can’t help but feel like this was somewhat allegorical for unexpecting, single moms. Having the main character be a robot (unprogrammed for parenting) who has a child thrust upon them is just a little bit too symbolic for me to not make that connection.
Credit: Universal Pictures (2024)
Animation Can do Great Things
There are many things you can do in an animated movie that just don’t work in live action. A story as simple as The Wild Robot’s just wouldn’t fly in live action without more to the characters or world building. Because this is animated, and honestly more because it’s a kids movie, we are willing to disregard these flaws and accept the message its sending. Dreamworks has also really mastered this style of animation. It is a mix of 3d and 2d, something they’ve done a lot with their recent movies. While Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse introduced this style (amazingly I might add) movies like Puss in Boots: The Last Wish and The Wild Robot have shown how far this style of animation can go. I hope that other studios like Pixar and Disney Animation don’t try and copy Dreamworks in this way. They each have their own styles to lean into that make their work stand out.
Credit: Universal Pictures (2024)
Recommendation time
Yes. Of the animated movies that have come out this year, this and Inside Out 2 take the cake. Its gorgeous to look at, has a heartwarming story, and feels genuine in a time where animated movies feel a lot like a cash grab.
Rating: 81/100
Classification: Cinema