Watch Kids' Reviews of
WILD ROBOT, THE

The Wild Robot delivers family-friendly entertainment through a robot stranded on an island that makes us experience the journey of connection, acceptance, and belonging. This animated film is heartwarming and laugh-out-loud fun.

When a shipping container is lost at sea during a typhoon, Roz the Robot (Lupita Nyong'o), emerges as the sole survivor on an island with nothing but wildlife. Programmed to complete a task, she has to learn to understand and interact with the animals there and she struggles with connecting and acceptance. Her journey takes a turn when she assists an orphaned goose, Brightbill, (Kit Connor) and gets help from a fox named Fink (Pedro Pascal). Every new and confusing experience shifts Roz's programming as she experiences things she was never programmed to imagine and finds a new way to live.

I enjoyed the humor of this film from DreamWorks Animation. The writing is great. The absurd, yet accurately dark humor, parental comments from Pinktail, a mother opossum, (Catherine O'Hara) are so relatable. Her shocking statements make her character so enjoyable. The animators illustrate the emotional reactions of island animals to perfection. Roz's help initially causes more chaos than assistance. When Roz sees a beaver building a damn, rather than help build it, her programming tells her it's an obstacle and she destroys it. The beaver's response is priceless. The confusion and disbelief when Roz provides a sticker communicating that the task is complete is hysterical. These moments contribute to the humor and build on the character development of The Wild Robot as we watch her struggle to connect with the animals on the island. Her adventures with Fink and Brightbill create bonding moments and we see how belonging, acceptance and connection can be influenced by kindness.

The Wild Robot provides an uplifting message of how belonging and acceptance come from one's heart. It successfully shows how kindness and caring are valued by all. Parents and viewers should be aware there are flashing and strobe lighting effects, loud noises and dark humor, which may be unsuitable for some viewers.

I give The Wild Robot 4 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 8 to 12, plus adults. The Wild Robot releases in theatres on September 27,, 2024.

Emma O., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 12

I love The Wild Robot. It is beautifully animated, heartwarming and has powerful messages about stepping out of your comfort zone, being brave, kind, and showing compassion for others.

From DreamWorks Animation comes a new 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 named Roz, that is shipwrecked on an 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.

This movie is amazing. I really love that it explores the importance of self-discovery, the bridge between technology and nature and the question of what it means to be alive and connected to all living things. The film has the most beautiful animation I have ever seen. The colors of the island and forest look so realistic and I like the way the animals talk. I appreciate the scene when Roz is teaching the orphaned gosling how to fly. The music goes so well with this particular scene and clearly emphasizes the idea of learning how to soar on your own and doing things you did not think were possible. The Wild Robot stars Lupita Nyong'o as Roz the robot. It's remarkable how she is able to change her voice to sound like a robot, but with feeling and so much emotion. Pedro Pascal voices Fink the fox and he is devious and incredibly loving. Catherine O' Hara voices an opossum, Pinktail and she mothers with a sense of humor. Kit Connor voices BrightBill, the gosling who is adorable and so funny.

The Wild Robot is full of comedy, heart, bravery and incredible animation. It is a heartwarming movie with powerful messages about trying new things, showing compassion for others and how a mother's love is unconditional.

I give The Wild Robot 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18, plus adults. This film has something for everyone. It made me leave the theater with a smile on my face and wanting to see it again immediately. You can watch The Wild Robot in theaters September 27, 2024.

By Carter P., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

The beloved award-winning children's book, The Wild Robot, comes to life in a visually stunning feature film. The Wild Robot movie highlights what it really means to be alive and connected to others in a family and in a greater community. This animated drama is sure to become a classic in the family genre and appeals to young and old alike.

The Wild Robot is an animated drama that tells the tale of Roz (Lupita Nyong'o), a robot who finds itself stranded on a remote island inhabited only by animals as Roz searches to find a purpose. Roz is programmed to find a task, and without humans to direct it, activates "learning mode" so the animals or organisms in that environment can be understood. Along the journey of self-discovery, Roz becomes the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling (Kit Connor). In accepting the task to take care of the gosling "unit," Brightbill, Roz connects with both predators and prey in the island eco-system and, in turn, finds the home where she belongs. Even though Roz doesn't have the programming to be a mother, she learns that there is no manual or predetermined path to nurture another life.

DreamWorks Animation has done it again, adapting a wonderful book to the big screen. There are many fun and delightful characters which bring to life the humorous situations that develop in this story. I really enjoyed the interaction between Roz and her new fox friend, Fink (Pedro Pascal). The cleverness in their developing relationship is shown by both Lupita and Pedro, along with other talented cast members including opossum Pinktail (Catherine O'Hara), goose Longneck (Bill Nighy) and my favorite, the curmudgeon beaver Paddler (Matt Berry). My favorite scenes and ensemble cast interaction is when Roz teaches Brightbill how to fly and when the diverse animals work together on the island. The voice contributions of the entire cast match the quality of the animation in this production and that is praise indeed. The Wild Robot is written and directed by Chris Sanders and he really builds the emotion and characters as he masterfully creates this memorable film. The film's production is really beautiful - I would be remiss if I did not mention the Art Direction by Ritchie Sacilioc as well as everyone who contributed to the art, sound, music, animation and visual effects in this movie.

The film's message is that kindness is a survival skill; and isn't that a timely message. Roz becomes more than what she was programmed to be; after all she was not meant to ever feel anything. The Wild Robot is an interesting exploration about the adaptation of technology in the natural world and how life evolves through adaptation. Roz discovers love and a sense of community which helps Roz truly find her way home.

I give The Wild Robot 4.5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 5 to 18 and, of course, adults will enjoy the message and storyline as well. It is available in theaters September 27, 2024, so don't miss this heart-warming tale!

By Selene W., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

This has got to be my favorite animated film this year. Wow! What a beautiful story, beautifully told. Roz the robot is the sole survivor when a shipping container is lost at sea. To survive, she has to adapt to the environment and learn to connect with the animals living there.

Lupita Nyong'o's voiceover as Roz is right on target for her character, portraying a being who morphs from sounding and acting like a, well, a robot, to developing characteristics of empathy and caring. Kit Connor as the orphaned goose steals the day in his ultimate cuteness and Pedro Pascal, as the tricky fox, Fink, earns our distrust until even his colors turn. Catherine O'Hara, as the motherly opossum, Pinktail, reeks of wisdom and love which she multiples for all her children and the community. I hadn't read the book, so I didn't know quite what to expect and was just delighted in watching this sweet drama with a message roll out. At a time when love and kindness seem to be in short supply, this hits the heart with a big thump and I walked out the theater with a little more of a smile on my face. The thoughtful lessons throughout, the sweetness of their interaction when faced with destruction of their island - are all examples of how we really can live in harmony with each other.

The film's message is about belonging and adapting, even when it seems so out of character for us. I give The Wild Robot 5 out of 5 stars and hope it takes home an Oscar in multiple categories - writer, director, animation design, voice acting. By Julie S., KIDS FIRST!

After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island's animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose.