The Wild Robot (Mark Kermode’s animated scifi movie review).
Here’s Mark Kermode’s take on the animated science fiction film, The Wild Robot. You can watch it above. For our thoughts on the movie, here’s a few observations. If you’ve been waiting for a feel-good animated survival story where a robot becomes a mother to an orphaned goose—while also dodging grizzly bears, building animal friendships, and fighting off evil robots—then The Wild Robot is here to fulfil that oddly specific wish. Directed by How to Train Your Dragon’s Chris Sanders, this DreamWorks film has it all: robot moms, talking animals, and emotional breakdowns (the good kind).
Roz: The Robot with a Heart (And a Broken Transponder)
Let’s break it down: Roz, a service robot voiced by the ever-amazing Lupita Nyong’o, washes up on a deserted island and immediately starts scaring the wildlife because that’s how you introduce yourself to new friends, right? As she adjusts to the island life, Roz adopts a baby goose, learns about motherhood from an opossum, and deals with a grumpy fox sidekick voiced by Pedro Pascal—because who else could make a fox sound that cool?
Adventure, Heart, and a Few Robot Smackdowns
But don’t think it’s all about changing robot diapers. There’s action too! Evil RECO robots sent by Roz’s not-so-friendly manufacturers show up, and let’s just say things get wild (pun fully intended). The island animals band together to fend them off in a fight that’s part Bambi and part Terminator—with a side of Mother Goose for good measure.
Cast of Legends: From Grizzly Bears to Beavers
You’ve got an all-star cast backing up Roz, including Mark Hamill as Thorn, a bear who’s having a really bad day, and Matt Berry as Paddler, a beaver who seems to have some serious tree-chopping anxiety. And of course, there’s Kit Connor as Brightbill, Roz’s goose-son who goes from fluffy gosling to winged hero in record time. It’s like watching your kid grow up, but with more feathers and fewer temper tantrums.
Animation Style: Hand-Painted Perfection
The film’s animation is inspired by the classics, with a painterly style that looks like a Studio Ghibli film wandered into a Monet painting. Every scene is visually stunning—whether it’s Roz building her home with the help of some very confused animals or facing off against high-tech robots with laser eyes (because of course, they have laser eyes).
Emotional Damage (In a Good Way)
Sure, it’s a family movie, but be prepared for some serious emotional moments. Roz isn’t just any robot—she’s on a journey of self-discovery, parenthood, and learning that sometimes, you’ve got to break a few transponders to become who you’re meant to be. Also, you might cry about a goose. I’m not saying you will, but… you definitely will.
The Takeaway
At its heart, The Wild Robot is about kindness, survival, and figuring out how to raise a goose in the middle of nowhere while fending off killer robots. It’s a beautifully crafted story that’ll make you laugh, cry, and maybe rethink your stance on robots taking over the world.
