Recommended from 6 years
once: Wild Robot follows the incredible epic tale of a robot – unit ROZZUM 7134 aka “Roz” who, after being shipwrecked on a desert island, must learn to adapt to the hostile environment, gradually establishing a relationship with the island’s animals. She eventually adopts a young goose, Gozl, who turns out to be an orphan.
What they love: Fourteen years after the book Dragons came to life brilliantly”How to train your dragon By Cressida Cowell, director Chris Saunders – also known for The Croods and Lilo & Stitch – is adapting Bestseller By Peter BrownA wild robot“, for DreamWorks Animation Studios. Published in 2016, the illustrated novel is the first volume in a trilogy and was a #1 bestseller on release. New York Times.
The novel touches on many of the themes that the filmmaker portrays in his film and that speak to both adults and children. Because the strength of this work with its amazing graphics is that it has several levels of reading: children will see a fantastic story about a robot forced to adapt and raise a duckling, parents will see a film rich in emotions about parents (and the fact that a person does not is born a mother), while others will see masterful work on change and evolution, difference, rejection, ecology and empathy. All of these themes make Wild Robot a film full of sensitivity and subtlety, and prove that post-Wall-E robots still have a lot to learn.
The feature film tells the story of Rose, a robot meant to help people, who finds herself alone on an island inhabited by animals. The heroine (yes, Rosie is a female robot, dubbed in the original version by Lupita Nyong’o and in the French version by Sarah Martins) will therefore adapt and learn to interact with the different species that live on the island. And although he tries to help them, everyone rejects him and sees him as an intruder.
Forced to raise Gosling, Rose will have to constantly adapt to ensure her protégé survives and flies… and if the other geese reject her at first, it’s her difference from Jolly-Bick that makes her a force. But the other animals are not left behind, as Rose will be supported by the fox and create a strange mixed family with him. A mother opossum and her 7 babies will entertain both parents and children, each of whom will see a different subtext.
A painting in motion
Another feature of this very gentle film: its graphics. From the beginning, Chris Sanders wanted the wild robot to stand out visually from what was already done. During the meeting with the film director, the latter told us: “I was convinced that we needed a level of subtlety for people to get the story right, because it’s a very strong story with a lot of complex elements. I wanted people to see it like I did when I read the book.”
As soon as the project was developed, the artists focused on graphics and developed a revolutionary style. “I guarantee you that no one has ever seen anything like it. This is a painting in motion.– the filmmaker tells us before adding: “A lot of that comes from our visual development artist, who was one of the main creators, doing the color studies and sketches from the beginning. His style, impressionistic and very free, immediately appealed to me. I quickly realized that this style was something I wanted in the film. study, hoping that our final product would be inseparable from his study of colors.
When you look closely at this type of painting, it seems that it is just a mass of colors. But when you step back, it all comes together to create a brilliant picture. So in this film we have what we call “dimensional painting”. Instead of building structures like a classic animated film, we created realistic dimensional drawings. Although they are digital, they are entirely created by the artist, which gives that unique analog warmth a human touch and adds emotional weight to the film. The importance of this factor in bringing the emotional impact of this film to the screen cannot be overstated. ”
What might be bothering them: The unusual graphics may initially surprise younger children. When Rosie arrives on the island, the animals are suspicious and certain behaviors or appearances may initially frighten the youngest.
Later, when the AI returns to find Rosie, a certain fight sequence may impress the youngest rather briefly.
The sometimes complex topics covered may not be fully understood by the youngest, but they should not be discouraged.
What they will keep deep: The whole strength of Robot Sauvage lies in its ability to reach audiences of all ages, everyone can find a message that resonates with them. Children see it as a call for acceptance of others and the idea that differences can be a real strength. They will learn from Jolie-Beck’s story that diversity and compassion are essential values.
Older children who are aware of bullying at school see the rejection of the little duck as an illustration of their judgment of difference. They will realize the severity of prejudice, as well as the importance of supporting family and friends in the face of adversity.
Adults will find a broader reflection on the balance between nature and technology and the adaptations necessary to coexist harmoniously with different environments. Parents see it as a profound reflection on parenthood and motherhood in particular. You are not born a mother, motherhood is not innate, but learned over time. You have to adapt, evolve, and when the baby leaves the nest, you have to “reprogram” yourself and learn to live without him, redefining your role.
What the director keeps deep…
During our interview with Chris Saunders, we asked him what particularly struck him about the story of Peter Brown.
“I think there are two main themes in the film. First, Peter Brown told me when I had my first conversation with him. While he was writing the book, an idea that came to me as a guiding principle. The idea that kindness can be a survival skill, and that’s one of the One thing that changes the island is because Rosie, the robot, is programmed that way, which goes against how the island works.
But the other thing that comes with it is the idea that sometimes we have to change our programming in order to survive. It’s all about change. In fact, the definition of a story is change. And the idea that we are creatures of habit. I know it’s my job. The period in my life when I had to change my thinking was difficult. But later, I was definitely grateful. I think I’ve grown as a person because I’ve been through all that. I think these two topics are particularly related and very powerful. “
Wild Robot can be seen in theaters this Wednesday, October 9.
Source: Allocine
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
