In 2024 so far, over 231 new movies hit theaters, including “Deadpool & Wolverine,” “Inside Out 2” and “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.” A new addition to the list, “The Wild Robot,” originally a book, captured viewers on release day September 27. The kid’s movie discussed a variety of topics that hit home to an abundance of audiences, both young and old. However, the movie highlighted the topic of family, including friends and neighbors. The book and film contain several similarities and differences, as book-to-movie adaptations typically do, but the movie captures audiences with its phenomenal animation and storyline targeted at single parents.
The movie and book begin similarly with the introduction of the character ROZZUM unit 7134, or Roz, and how she washed ashore onto an island. Roz does not understand the animals around her and does not know her purpose on the island, but tries to help in any way she can, like assisting beavers with their dams. However, the strange robot finds that the animals around her do not appreciate her presence and falls into a state of loneliness by way of alienation, creating an avenue for her to raise a gosling on her own. The story then takes viewers on Roz’s journey of becoming a single mother to a tiny gosling named Brightbill and their struggle to fit in, similar to the struggle of single parents.
“I sometimes felt alone when raising my daughter. But I found that I needed to depend on her as much as she depended on me. We needed each other and I needed to set an example for her to follow,” American Sign Language (ASL) teacher Lisa Teschke said.
Struggling to fit into their surrounding society of anthropomorphic creatures, the movie delves deeper into feelings of loneliness since the robot does not gain friends instantaneously and must raise the gosling on her own. In addition, the film takes the plot a step further leaving viewers with a bittersweet end and yearning for satisfaction due to the inability of Roz to return home.
Overall, the film and the book received high praise for the creativity and imagination author Peter Brown incorporates into his stories. The movie received a stunning 98% on Rotten Tomatoes and the book stands at a 4.15 rating on GoodReads with 44% of reviews in the five-star area, trumping the negative reviews. Nevertheless, viewers felt that the film displayed a heartfelt story; furthermore, parents felt that the movie addressed the topic of raising a child alone in a better way than the book did.
“It’s an interesting premise. I’ve seen a lot of stuff about humans getting stranded on islands but never robots. There’s a lot of a man versus nature but this is machine versus nature,” magnet junior Aundrea Brown said.
The movie displayed how parents raise children strictly through improvisation, and similarly, how parents experience the loneliness of their children’s seclusion. In comparison, the book demonstrated raising a child through improvisation but did not explain the struggles of loneliness experienced by single parents.
Not everyone, however, celebrates the success of this piece of animation: an abundance of teens and parents prefer the book, claiming it demonstrates kindness better than the movie. Some also say that the book kept readers enthralled while the movie did not when discussing certain topics, even including excessive detail on topics similar to environmental awareness and influence on nature.
While the characters indicated an abundance of kindness to Roz from the beginning of the story to its end, the film kept audiences engaged in ways the book did not. Providing fascinating graphics and impressive animation, the movie transcends the book and even exceeds the expectations set forth by the audience.
Children remained engaged due to colorful animations and intriguing dialogue while parents and adults found entertainment in the morals displayed on screen. A pinch of the lessons presented include perseverance, the power of family and the importance of kindness, while also focusing on the impact of technology on nature. “The Wild Robot” allowed children to learn about the environmental effects of technology in nature with the incorporation of a manmade object like Roz. It also presented morals that can prove beneficial in everyday life, displaying the impact of kindness on others. This quality appeared several times, granting the movie a strong gateway to surpass the book.
Parents and children alike rate the movie among the highest in the recent releases of children’s movies. Parents look forward to new releases of other children’s movies including “Moana 2.” Animation truly mesmerizes young kids and informs future generations. “The Wild Robot” exceeded expectations even compared to its book counterpart. The film will continue to engage children for years to come.
