REVIEW: THE WILD ROBOT

4/5

The Iron Migrant

102 Mins. Starring: Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Matt Berry, Ving Rhames, Mark Hamill & Catherine O'Hara. Screenplay: Chris Sanders. Director: Chris Sanders. In: Theatres.

Do androids dream of frolicking with sheep—electric or otherwise? Either way, in the face of fears about an A.I.-dominated planet, 'The Wild Robot' combines elements from the fellow animated great roboteer 'The Iron Giant', integrates last year's Illumination film 'Migration', and includes an 'Eden' project similar to Netflix's Japanese anime, where robots harvest the remaining natural resources. This Chris Sanders ('Lilo & Stitch', 'How To Train Your Dragon', 'The Call Of The Wild') written and directed dream is a sure fire hit for Best Animated Feature Oscar at the March of the forthcoming Academy Awards, next month. No matter how good 'Flow', 'Memoir Of A Snail', 'Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl', and of course Disney Pixar's 'Inside Out 2' sequel are. As a matter of fact, it may just be one of DreamWorks best dips in the ocean, digitally drawn or otherwise, for one of the most atmospheric  animations of all time. 

All as the young boy from the Dream logo gets up from his lazy fishing expedition under the moon and rides the crest through the workings of hallmarked history for a new I.D. Passing the stardust of some 'Bad Guys' as a trained dragon flies past. Receiving a bow from a 'Kung Fu Panda', a wink from a 'Boss Baby' and some love from the 'Trolls'. All before 'Shrek' and company wave him on as he heads back home, up in the stars for DreamWorks 30th anniversary. A theatrical opener of greatest hits to rival Disney's new star wished upon the waterfalls that cascade from the castle. All for their wildest film yet in this robotic age. Finally making its way to Japan (a place where they have a robot called Pepper greeting you in some shops). This Universal animation, based on Peter Brown's book series, is for all to see. Nurturing nature, but also juxtaposing it with the world of tomorrow, and how we can all co-exist with a little more understanding and meeting of the minds.

'The Wild Robot' in question is ROZZUM Unit 7134, but you can call her "Roz" with a bird in the hand. Voiced by '12 Year A Slave', 'Black Panther' and 'Us' actress Lupita Nyong'o (or 'The Legend and Butterfly', 'Our Little Sister' and UNIQLO and Panasonic commercial actress Haruka Ayase), this is one of Lupita's legendary roles to date. And she's already shown the power of her voice in the CGI creations of both 'Star Wars' and Disney's live-action look in 'The Jungle Book'. Add the powerful performance in 'A Quiet Place: Day One', for an incredible 2024, and it's clear to see she's not like us with how she bowls us over with her super talent. On display yet again here with a truly animated and accented performance, giving heart to the robotic smarts and voice of the best Roz since the one that manned the controls for one Dr. 'Frasier' Crane. Shipwrecked and cast away on an uninhabited island, like all those FedEx packages Tom Hanks found, Roz must be of satisfying care service, like 'Big Hero 6's' Baymax. Believe us, she would like a hug too.

And she may find it in a foxy friend voiced with sly spunk by 'The Mandalorian', 'The Last Of Us' and forthcoming Mr. 'Fantastic Four' star Pedro Pascal. Stretching his talent even further in an instantly recognizable, but surprisingly different note for the 'Gladiator II' warrior. Yet it's 'Rocketman' and 'Get Santa' star Kit Conner who will really imprint on you as Brightbill, an orphaned Canadian goose raised by this robot, ay! Add the legend of old bird Bill Nighy, 'Everything Everywhere All At Once' scene stealer Stephanie Hsu, an always hilarious Matt Berry (as a beaver), the unmistakable voice of Ving Rhames, and Catherine O'Hara up a different kind of creek with no paddle, and you're in for a treat...no s###! Oh, and Luke Skywalker himself Mark Hamill shows up as a grizzly bear as you play hunt the voice actors with your mind's memories against the speed of your smartphones search on IMDB.

Classic Disney and Studio Ghibli's Hayao Miyazaki are also nodded to with this movie's watercolour aesthetic, which may watermark the next 'Best Animated Feature' "and the winner is" envelope after 'The Boy And The Heron'. Joining its nine Annie Awards and BAFTA and Golden Globe nominations. No wonder this movie has a second film green lit, in this age of the sequel, after making good on it's budget three times over. From the 'WALL-E' sanitized greenhouse, to the real world and earth of the wild, this robot will show you there's nothing to fear from A.I. when the intelligence evolves from the artificial. Nyong'o's nuanced vocal delivery offers so much emotion to a now cult character that doesn't even possess any facial articulation. Whereas, a devastating forest fire scene is even more poignant and powerful now months after its release, showing heart to Hollywood. Taking inspiration from everything from 'Bambi' (is that her?) to 'My Neighbour Totoro', Sanders' "Monet painting in a Miyazaki forest" is actual art. The animation is amazing, but the heart hits even harder. Walking like a robot on the wild side. TIM DAVID HARVEY.

Further Filming: 'The Iron Giant', 'Migration', 'Eden'.