5 Reasons Why “The Wild Robot” Deserves to Win Oscars Over “Inside Out 2”

SPOILER ALERT FOR THE WILD ROBOT

2024 has been a pretty exciting year for animated films. We’ve seen sequels, reboots, and some new ideas that have had audiences talking. For a while, Pixar’s Inside Out 2 was considered the frontrunner for Best Animated Feature, and rightfully so—it had a lot of heart, tackling tough themes like anxiety and growing up.

But hold on—something has come along and completely turned the tables: The Wild Robot, DreamWorks’ latest animated masterpiece. What was once a quiet contender has now completely taken over the animated movie scene.

With stunning animation, a heartwarming and original story, and characters you can’t help but fall in love with, The Wild Robot is proving to be the underdog we never saw coming. This film follows a robot named Roz, who crash-lands on a remote island and has to figure out how to survive in a wild, animal-filled environment.

Along the way, she learns how to care for an orphaned gosling, Brightbill, and together, they form an unlikely family. It’s a blend of humor, adventure, and some really emotional moments that will leave you thinking long after the credits roll.

The movie has received a ton of praise, and with its growing hype, it’s making a serious push for the top spot in the race for Best Animated Feature. But what makes The Wild Robot so special, and why does it deserve to win an Oscar over Inside Out 2? Let’s break it down.

DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot Brings Heartfelt Book to Life

First things first, this movie isn’t just some random idea DreamWorks pulled out of a hat. No, The Wild Robot is based on Peter Brown’s critically acclaimed book series. If you’ve read it, you’ll know how much heart it has—Brown’s story about Roz, the robot learning to survive in a wilderness full of animals, is a pure masterpiece.

DreamWorks totally nailed it with this adaptation. They took the magic of the books and made it bigger, bolder, and way more emotional. For context, some of DreamWorks’ best films (Shrek and How to Train Your Dragon) were also adaptations of books, and they turned out to be total game-changers in animation.

This trend continues with The Wild Robot. The film cleverly merges elements from the first and second books of the series, so even if you’re new to the story, you’ll be hooked right from the start. 

The movie captures the same sense of wonder, survival, and unlikely friendships that made the books so special. What’s even cooler is that The Wild Robot stays true to the heart of the source material, while also adding a new dimension to the story.

Roz, who starts off as a cold robot programmed to do chores, slowly evolves into this incredibly relatable, quirky mother figure. As she learns to care for Brightbill (the adorable gosling), you can see the journey mirrored in the book—except now, it’s brought to life on screen in the most beautiful way possible. 

DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot Makes Stunning Comeback in 2024

DreamWorks has been in a bit of a slump recently, with a few films not exactly hitting the mark (Orion and the Dark and Megamind vs. the Doom Syndicate). The Wild Robot, however, is the complete opposite—it’s everything DreamWorks has ever done right, times a hundred.

The animation? Gorgeous. The story? Heartfelt. The characters? Chef’s kiss. If this is the future of DreamWorks, sign us up for every single movie from here on out. While Inside Out 2 may have held the crown for a while, The Wild Robot is quickly catching up. No joke, The Wild Robot has a strong chance of being named DreamWorks’ greatest animated film of the year.

It’s been topping the charts on Rotten Tomatoes with a 98% score, as well as on IMDb and Letterboxd, making it a serious contender against Pixar’s Inside Out 2. With a mix of humor, action, and heart, DreamWorks has definitely set the bar high with The Wild Robot.

Astounding Themes of Parenthood and Found Family Shine Through

Animated movies have always been about family, right? Whether it’s a mom, dad, or some wacky sidekick, family is the core of most animated films. But The Wild Robot takes the concept of family and flips it on its head in the most touching way possible.

This movie is about a robot who crashes on a remote island, and instead of focusing on her survival alone, she ends up creating a family with the animals around her. At the heart of the story is Roz’s relationship with Brightbill, a little gosling she finds after a crash.

Though Roz is a robot with no experience in parenting, she takes on the role of a mother figure to Brightbill and learns what it means to be a parent through trial and error. There’s something truly special about this storyline because it shows that family isn’t just about blood.

Roz, a machine who was only programmed to assist, ends up teaching us a beautiful lesson: sometimes, family is about the love and responsibility you choose to give, even when you’re not “ready” for it.

As Roz learns what it means to care for Brightbill, she also finds her own sense of purpose. Her journey as a parent is as messy as it is heartwarming, and watching her grow into her role is incredibly moving. What makes this even more special is the addition of other characters like Fink, the sassy fox, and Pigtail, the wise possum.

The dynamic between these characters creates a found family that may not look traditional, but it’s real and genuine. Watching these characters, who have their differences, come together to support each other is truly heartwarming. If you’ve ever felt the joy of finding your own “chosen family,” this movie will hit home.

Chris Sanders Delivers Stunning Visuals and Heartfelt Story in The Wild Robot

Let’s take a moment to talk about Chris Sanders, the director of The Wild Robot. If you don’t know his name, you definitely know his work. Sanders is a legend in the animation world.

He worked on some of Disney’s biggest hits like Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Mulan before making his directorial debut with Lilo & Stitch, where he also voiced the beloved character Stitch.

Sanders’ reputation as one of animation’s top talents only grew after co-directing How to Train Your Dragon and its sequels, as well as The Croods. Now, with The Wild Robot, Sanders brings his unique touch to DreamWorks.

His experience shows in every frame of the film—whether it’s in the detailed character animation or the lush backgrounds, Sanders knows how to make animation feel alive. What’s even more impressive is how the film blends 2D and 3D animation in a way that hasn’t been done before.

The result is a stunning visual style that feels both fresh and nostalgic. If you’re a fan of movies like Spider-Verse or Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, you’ll absolutely appreciate the look of The Wild Robot.

Sanders is great at balancing the humor with heart, and in The Wild Robot, he perfectly nails the moments that’ll make you laugh and cry in equal measure. It’s no wonder this movie is making waves in the animation world—it has the talent of one of the best directors in the business behind it.

Emotional Moments and Heartfelt Goodbyes Make The Wild Robot Unforgettable

Finally, let’s talk about what makes The Wild Robot truly unforgettable: the emotional moments. Every great animated film has to hit you in the feels, and The Wild Robot does this better than most.

From Roz’s awkward first steps as a parent to her heartwrenching goodbyes, this movie will tug at your heartstrings. One of the most emotional scenes happens when Brightbill learns to fly.

Watching Roz say goodbye to Brightbill as he migrates is one of those scenes that will have you in tears, no matter how tough you think you are. The film’s score, composed by Kris Bowers, elevates these emotional scenes even further.

The Wild Robot is available to watch on Apple TV!