A lesson that we all tend to learn quite late in life is that friends are not always meant to be with us forever – those childhood companions were our closest confidantes and with whom we shared some of our most personal moments during our formative years tend to disappear as we grow older, usually being replaced by new social partners who likely will eventually move on as time progresses. Friendship is not always permanent, and as the adage tends to go “Some friends come for a reason, others come for a season” – we’ve seen a few recent works targeted at younger viewers that are designed to show that lifelong friendships, as beautiful as they may be, are not always possible, and that drifting apart from someone with whom you previously had some sense of closeness is not a sign of failure, but rather a natural occurrence. Chris Sanders uses this concept as the foundation for his adaption of Peter Brown’s novel, The Wild Robot, an enormously ambitious animated epic in which he tells the story of a robot that is caught in a typhoon, washing up on a remote island where she is initially viewed as an outsider by the animal residents, but eventually wins their trust and friendship as she soon starts to show that she is not there to cause harm, but rather willing to learn their ways and adapt to their way of life. Nicknamed “Roz” by her new companions, she sees her daily routine as a series of tasks, the biggest one being the raising of Brightbill, an orphaned gosling who she takes under her metaphorical wing as her adopted son, preparing him for the imminent migration that will inevitably force them apart, a fact that both of them struggle to accept as being a reality. A beautiful, engaging film that tackles important themes that will stir an emotional reaction in absolutely every viewer, The Wild Robot is an extraordinary piece of cinema that finds Sanders once again proving that he is one of the most compassionate and brilliantly inventive filmmakers working in contemporary animation and a film that has already garnered praise as one of the best-animated works of the current century, which is certainly difficult to contest.

One just needs to look at Sanders’ previous work to realize that there are a few themes that are consistent throughout his work, and which he has seemingly mastered. Between exceptional works like Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon, as well as the noble efforts that were The Call of the Wild and The Croods, he has a penchant for stories of unconventional friendships, particularly those between entirely different species, proving that coming from entirely different backgrounds should not preclude the forging of meaningful connections. The Wild Robot is most certainly a continuation of these themes, and perhaps even the most thorough examination considering how much of the story centres around the connection formed between two unlikely companions. A good film should be able to summarize its themes in a single sentence but be capable of inspiring broader conversations around what they represent, and this is something that the director takes very seriously here, telling the story of a robot learning the true scope of empathy and emotional complexity through real-life experiences, garnered by engaging with the wider world and its many unexpected twists and turns. Having a robot – specifically one designed to exist in a futuristic world as an assistant to the human race – as the protagonist seems like an obvious choice, since these are entities that are designed to contain all the efficiency and intelligence of humanity, but the obedience and subservience of domesticated animals, which adds layers of nuance to the story as we find Roz developing her personality and realizing that she is not beholden to any commands other than those of her desires, something that does not exist in her programming but only begins to emerge through opening her non-existent heart up to those who surround her. It’s a beautiful, complex story that Sanders pieces together incredibly well, never leaning into cliches and instead choosing to craft something utterly memorable from a very simple premise.

In addition to being a magnificent storyteller (which we’ll get back to in a moment), another skill that Sanders has demonstrated over the years that is worth noting is his ability to create stunningly beautiful worlds through animation. He has a particular eye for detail that has been showcased in his skills as both an animator on projects such as Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King and Mulan, and then his directorial endeavours over the years, rising to the point of being perhaps one of the greatest living masters of the craft, and certainly one of the most unheralded (likely due to him mostly working under the studio system, rather than forging his path as an independent auteur), which will hopefully change when more people realize his vision is what drove all of his films to be so incredibly successful. The Wild Robot is a magnificent piece of filmmaking, and Sanders is in control of every aspect, adapting the novel himself and taking on the responsibility of helming the production on his own, with the assistance of several other talented individuals (including his creative partner Dean DeBlois, who serves as a producer), meaning that there was an abundance of support for the director as he plunges us into this story. The film is one of the most beautifully animated of the past few years, using a unique style to bring the story to life – rendered using computer-generated imagery, but in a way that evokes traditional hand-drawn animation, something that Sanders has often cited as being very close to his heart, the film takes place in a sprawling environment where absolutely every detail is intentional and placed there for a reason. Each frame of this film could be a painting on its own, and the sheer amount of detail that goes into every shot is astonishing – and how he managed to create something so stunningly beautiful while making sure the story was still strong and heartfelt, is a testament to his skill and willingness to work laboriously to bring a story to the screen in a way that will be remembered long after the film has ended.

Coupled with the gorgeous landscapes and stunning character design that draws us into the world of The Wild Robot, the film features an exceptional voice cast. There has been a trend in recent years of peppering these films with well-known names, who see animated films as an easy paycheque, especially since many of these films are marketed based on the presence of certain actors more than driven by the strength of their performance. This is not the case here – there are some exceptionally notable actors playing these roles, but absolutely all of them are delivering performances that can stand as some of their best work. Lupita Nyong’o is central to the film, playing the titular role – and it’s difficult to imagine someone better suited to the part of Roz, since her voice has a very particular quality, one that can be rigid and academic at first, but has a certain warmth to it that gradually begins to emerge the more the character grows and becomes more aware of her individuality and develops an understanding of the world that surrounds her, realizing that she is not merely a servant but rather capable of love and compassion, which defies her embedded programming. Kit Connor continues to ascend to the status of one of the most promising young actors in the normally thankless role of the secondary protagonist Brightbill, an orphaned gosling adopted by Roz, and Pedro Pascal is tremendous as her lovable sidekick, a mischievous fox with a heart of gold. Veterans like Bill Nighy and Catherine O’Hara have terrific supporting parts and enrich the film with their lovely performances, and the entire cast works together to create a sense of comfort and warmth that perfectly summarizes the underlying themes of the film, proving that voice acting is an art like any other and one that can make an enormous difference, especially when dealing with a story as complex and daring as the one being told throughout this film.

How is it possible that a film where the human characters appear only briefly on screen and do not have any dialogue proves to be one of the most compassionate, humane works of the past decade? The answer lies in the storytelling, and how Sanders adapts this novel to be more than just a charming parable, but instead a fully-formed, engaging existential epic that is as moving to adults as it is to children. We can think of films like The Iron Giant and last year’s Robot Dreams, which (in addition to centring around friendships between robots and living beings) were focused on exploring genuine emotions. Mainstream animation has evolved into a competition to see which studio can stir the most intense emotional reaction, which has made it a genre that is veering towards manipulation at times – so it is refreshing to see a work like The Wild Robot that is focused instead on authenticity, in terms of both its story and how it is realized. The themes are strong, but they can only have meaning if there is an effort behind them, and as a veteran of the industry and someone who has made a name for himself as a master storyteller, Sanders was undeniably the right person to bring this story to life. There are certain points in the film where the emotions become almost overwhelming, but they nonetheless feel entirely genuine and earnest in a way that is not to be underestimated at all, primarily because they all carry meaning that goes back to the message of the film, which is constantly revisited throughout the narrative, never being too far out of reach and rarely being derailed by the wacky antics that entertain but don’t distract from the more impactful elements that drive the story forward and make it so incredibly moving.

The Wild Robot is an absolute wonder of a film, and perhaps the first animated American masterpiece of the current decade, which has seen some impressive works produced, but none as daring and complex as this incredible piece of storytelling. This film is destined to become an immediate classic of the genre for numerous reasons, many of which have to do with the blend of visual and narrative cues that make for a superb experience, with the striking imagery coupled with the heartfelt, meaningful story being a perfect combination that pushes the film to new heights, allowing it to be more than just a delightful science fiction romp, but rather a complex examination of the human condition, as told from the perspective of characters entirely separate from us, and yet still very much driven by our principles and values in a significant way. There are many elements that drive The Wild Robot to avoid convention and defy expectation, but its heart and soul more than anything else are what defines it as a true masterpiece, a film that will be cherished for generations to come, representing the future of animation through being a perfect collision of the past and present of the medium. Artistically profound and deeply captivating, it’s a true spectacle, and a film that proves that some of the simplest concepts can make for truly extraordinary viewing, and that there are still films that can unite us all under a single principle, touching on universal themes in a manner that is profoundly moving and deeply genuine from the very start.