Dose of Innovation in DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot
– DreamWorks studio flirted with a fine line between innovation and pretense in their recent animation, “The Wild Robot.”
– The animation introduces groundbreaking elements, however, there is a risk of overloading viewers with novel concepts leading to a potentially less favorable response.
– A well-structured balance of ‘new’ elements can enhance viewer attraction, yet too much revolution may lead to a lower Rotten Tomatoes score and a dismal box office performance.
Microdosing Novelty:
– DreamWorks’ approach in “The Wild Robot” involved microdosing revolutionary aspects into the narrative, thus providing a refreshing perspective without overwhelming the audience.
– This technique potentially safeguards the film from falling into obscurity by maintaining a level of familiarity while dishing out innovative content.
Exploring Known Yet Unknown Territories:
– “The Wild Robot” achieved to position itself as the best version of a familiar thing, navigating the delicate line between traditional animation aspects and the allure of novelty.
Now that we have the serious stuff out of the way, let’s hear my hot take on this. DreamWorks have tried to play it cool by brewing up a cocktail of old and new in “The Wild Robot”. Seems like they executed a delicate pas de deux on the tight rope of innovation, trying to ensure they don’t tip over into the chasm of pretentiousness or take a plunge into the sea of bland ‘been there, done that.’ The result? Voila! An animated feature with a pinch of originality, a dash of the familiar, and just the right twist of fresh air, all while trying not to stir up a Rotten Tomatoes storm. Oh, the drama of animation innovation!
© DreamWorks
How often do you stumble across genuine innovation in film? The line between an invigorating refresh and an extravagant mess is thin. Infusion of innovative elements into large-scale studio films should be done sparingly, as too much ‘newness’ could culminate in a below-average Rotten Tomatoes score and a depreciated box office return. Over 20 years ago, DreamWorks shouldered the responsibility of being pioneers, orchestrating the CG revolution and laying the foundations of a new storytelling style that resonates with audiences who anticipate their iconic logo.
DreamWorks’ latest project, The Wild Robot, carries a piece of Disney’s legacy too. It’s from the vision of Chris Sanders, a former Disney alumnus, and co-director of Lilo & Stitch, arguably his and Disney’s masterpiece. Instead of peering into the future of animation, Sanders looked back at traditional art styles as a shift towards CG narratives began. The Wild Robot is a mirror to this dichotomy – forging its path with stunning, innovative animation while rooting its narrative structure and emotional balance in age-old American animated movie traditions.
The Wild Robot shifts through three unique gears during the course of the film. In the beginning, the movie relies primarily on silence as Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o), our robotic lead, navigates her purpose on an uninhabited island. A pivotal moment occurs when Roz learns the languages of the island’s animals, giving voice to characters played by Pedro Pascal, Matt Berry, and Catherine O’Hara. In this new world, Roz forms a bond with a gosling, embarking on a quest of self-discovery and redefining her understanding of love, connection, and motherhood. The film crescendos into an explosive action-packed climax.
© DreamWorks
This unique approach of The Wild Robot will present as a double-edged sword for some. In the initial silence of the film, the story starts to explore uncharted territories. With only Roz’s standard mechanized utterances to break the calm, the editing oscillates between subtlety and intensity. The dynamic shots, and profound ideas subtly woven into the narrative start to take shape. Each moment, be it Roz mimicking a crab’s tenacity to climb a cliff or her silent interaction with a flurry of butterflies, fuels pondering questions: can a manmade object genuinely blend into nature? Can a machine appreciate beauty? What does adaptation truly entail?
Maintaining this unconventional narration for the entire movie would have been bold, but The Wild Robot chose a different path. While the movie remains humor-filled, emotive, profound, and full of meaning, it also strives for a grand scale. It delivers what American animation has perfected over time, but an underlying sense of untapped potential lingers. Sanders cites Miyazaki as a visual influencer, and it’s clear that his influence permeates the movie’s initial quiet segment. There is an abundance of subtext, but the moment the animals begin to speak, it becomes more explicit.
That said, if The Wild Robot‘s traditional storytelling supports its stunning visuals, it’s a worthy compromise. This movie is a visual buffet, arguably the most visually appealing film of 2024. The CG characters are adorned with vibrant watercolour-like textures that seem to swirl with the characters’ movements. In The Wild Robot, every surface, every object narrates a story. As the movie unfolds, Roz ages while the lush and varied flora showcases the long absence of human intervention.
© DreamWorks
DreamWorks had experimented with a more artistic style in 2023’s Puss In Boots: The Last Wish, but The Wild Robot takes it a step further. While Puss In Boots kept a CG design for the characters and foreground while painting the backgrounds, The Wild Robot makes every character, object, and background resemble a painting. This results in DreamWorks’ most visually stunning movie, which ironically is the last film from the studio’s current production team, as they transition to outsourcing.
It seems it is time for the animation industry to reassess both its human resources and storytelling approach. The Wild Robot is an outstanding rendition of a classic narrative, elevated by awe-inspiring animation. Although the stories that follow this safety net work, repetition can become mundane. The Wild Robot showcases the peak of DreamWorks’ animation prowess, perhaps it is time the same was asked from their scriptwriters?
Original article: https://www.skwigly.co.uk/the-wild-robot-review-the-best-version-of-a-familiar-thing/