Movie Review : The Wild Robot

Okay, so I just got back from seeing The Wild Robot, and I had to jump on here to talk about it. First of all – yes, it is based on the beloved kids’ book by Peter Brown. And yes, it’s just as heartwarming, weird, and surprisingly emotional as you'd hope. But what really stuck with me (and what I’m here to gush about) is the animation. Because honestly? It’s gorgeous. Like, stop and stare at the screen with your mouth open gorgeous.

The style is kind of this perfect mash-up of painterly textures and 3D smoothness. It doesn’t go full realism, but it’s not super cartoony either – it lands somewhere in between, and it works so well. The forest scenes are full of these soft, natural colours that feel like you’ve walked into a picture book come to life. Leaves flutter, water ripples, and even the way sunlight filters through the trees feels almost poetic. It’s calming but also super detailed – like you can feel the moss.

Then there’s Roz, the robot herself. Her design is simple – all clean lines and metallic surfaces – but they’ve animated her with so much subtlety it’s unreal. She starts off all stiff and mechanical, like she’s just been booted up, but as the story goes on and she learns from the animals around her, her movements get more fluid and gentle. It’s such a cool detail, and it really helps tell the story without needing loads of dialogue. Little kids might not even notice it consciously, but it works!

And let’s talk about the animals. They’ve struck this brilliant balance between stylised and realistic – they’re expressive, with big eyes and fun movements, but still totally grounded in nature. The fur, the feathers, the way they move – it all feels so lovingly crafted. Every frame just oozes attention to detail.

What I loved most is that nothing feels over-animated. They let the quiet moments breathe. You get long, sweeping shots of the island, gentle wind sounds, and scenes where you just watch Roz learning, listening, being. It’s not just pretty – it’s smart storytelling through visuals.

In short: The Wild Robot isn’t just a good animated film – it’s a visual feast with a soul. Definitely one to catch on the big screen if you can.