TIFF REVIEW: The cast of ‘Wild Robot’ shines effortlessly, capturing the essence of love, perseverance and sacrifice in this animated coming-of-age film

Peter Brown’s 2020 novel comes to life in animated film adaptation Wild Robota funny, yet evocative story about trust, friendship and sacrifice in the bosom of nature.

This article contains spoilers for the film The Wild Robot.

Directed by: Chris Sanders (Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods), the film is far from your average animated comedy for kids. From its incredibly vivid setting to its impactful presentation of both a hysterical and heartwarming plot, Wild Robot turns out to be a story that will appeal to people of all ages.

Lupita Nyong’o voices the lead character, an eccentric robot named ROZZUM unit 7134 – or Roz for short. Shipwrecked after a storm, Roz finds herself among the beasts of an uninhabited, forested island. As curious otters approach the disturbance, the initially dazed robot quickly perks up, telling them it’s ready for its first task.

Hailing from a line of service robots that were selected to service humans (as she discovers only later), Roz tries to do what she was programmed to do: help her clients with their tasks. She seeks out clients among the forest animals, who often cruelly rebuff her. After repeated attacks of being kicked by deer and snorted by skunks, Roz recognizes the distinct language barrier between herself and the noisy beasts and chooses instead to sit and watch them in a system setting called “learning mode.”

Finally able to communicate with the others, she learns that they believe she is a monster trying to kill them. A series of attacks by frightened animals leads to a literal fight to the death, and unfortunately the bird’s nest is caught in the brutal crossfire. Inadvertently destroying the nest and most of the life within it, one lucky egg is saved. Once hatched, awe-inspiring oohs and aahs rip through the audience as the gosling and Roz appear to have a delicate bonding experience… until Roz dispassionately asks the newborn to fill out a customer satisfaction review for her.

Star cast Wild Robot doesn’t take away from the film’s brilliance, but instead weaves seamlessly into the plot.

Toronto’s Catherine O’Hara gives a passionate performance as Pinktail, an intelligent and witty possum who offers motherly advice to Roz after her failed attempt to place her chick with a family of marsupials.

“I’m not cut out to be a mother!” Roz complained frustratingly.

“Nobody does that,” Pinktail replied firmly.

To Roz’s delight, Pinktail gives her her most difficult task yet: the gosling must learn to eat, swim, and fly on its own by the fall migration season.

The excellent Pedro Pascal appears as the cunning and generally unlikable foe-turned-friend fox, Fink, to aid Roz in her new mission. Although he offers to eat the bird at several points, he encourages her to give the gosling a name. After a few nonsensical, numerical variations, Roz lands on the name Brightbill. Together, Roz and Fink work to prepare it to fly south for the winter.

Brightbill, played by up-and-coming British actor Kit Connor, is raised like Roz – robotic and highly analytical. When he eventually meets other geese like him, they don’t accept him, especially since Roz is his adoptive mother.

The embarrassing interaction leaves Brightbill feeling outcast, unbelonging, and resentful — painful growing-up experiences that many children and adults know all too well.

Eventually, Brightbill, with the help of Roz and the falcon Thunderbolt, played by Ving Rhames, learns to soar through the sky, persistently hovering from dusk to dawn, even as his wings grow tired. He quickly earns the respect of Long Neck, the elderly leader of the migration, who also praises Roz for her efforts in teaching Brightbill how to be a goose.

As he prepares to head into the unknown this season, Fink gives Brightbill some important advice that will give him confidence and resonate with many: “Fly like you, not them,” Fink said encouragingly.

As the geese fly away, Roz feels something inexplicable, a process she has never been given the code to decipher before: love. Unfortunately, it is too late before she can tell Brightbill how she feels.

However, with this newfound affection, Roz saves the animals in the forest, protecting them from the freezing cold during hibernation. To their surprise, even when they were so against her presence, she chose kindness.

As spring approaches, the geese return and Brightbill becomes a hero in his community. His desire to reconnect with Roz is nearly cut short when a shipload of robots is sent to take her back to corporate headquarters.

“I am a wild robot!” Roz shouts to the mothership, resisting their force as the animals join her on the front lines.

Unfortunately, technological interference burns the forest, but this does not change the animals’ faith. The beasts, now friends with Roz and with each other, learn that the symbolic circle of life is less about survival between predator and prey and more a constant loop dependent on their connection and trust.

Roz and Brightbill finally exchange the long-awaited “I love yous,” and the reunion between mother and son is so touching that even the dramatic destruction can’t derail them.

With a duration of 101 minutes, Wild Robot effortlessly manages to draw viewers into a tearful and believable story of parental love, hope and self-belief. The main character Roz shows a growth in emotion, from initial cold calculation to final warm tenderness. The film is replayable, so viewers could watch it over and over again and still connect with many of the characters – through Pinktail’s maternal instincts, Fink’s supportive friendship and Brightbill’s journey of growing up.

The film premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and will premiere in cinemas worldwide on September 27.