When director Chris Sanders decided to take on The Wild Robot, the script had been at DreamWorks Animation for a few years. In what he deems to be a stroke of luck, Sanders came in at the perfect ...

Roz's initial isolation opens the floodgates on the first of The Wild Robot many sob-worthy moments. I dare you not to hear her confused plea, "Did anyone order me?" without your heart breaking.

The difference is that “The Wild Robot” accomplishes this feat with an intention that is rare and a humor that is drawn from perceptive insight instead of plucked low-hanging fruit.

There’s much more to the story beyond that brief sketch (including some well-executed action sequences), but that would be telling. And “The Wild Robot” deserves to surprise you.

A version of this article appears in print on Sept. 22, 2024, Section AR, Page 10 of the New York edition with the headline: Refining a Wild Robot, but With Soul.

The plot of “ The Wild Robot ” answers this in a dramatic, metaphorical way, once Roz is stranded on an island with no humans to care for but nonetheless stumbles her way into rearing a ...

Lupita Nyong’o (as Roz, voice): “Do you need … assistance?” In “The Wild Robot,” Lupita Nyong’o plays Roz, a droid who’s been shipwrecked on a deserted island.

‘The Wild Robot’ follows the journey of a robot –– Rozzum unit 7134, “Roz” (Lupita Nyong’o) for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the ...

The Wild Robot follows Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), a robot stranded on an uninhabited island who soon finds herself responsible for taking care of Brightbill (Kit Conner), a baby goose.

DreamWorks’ The Wild Robot — from How to Train Your Dragon director Chris Sanders — is the best animated movie of the year.

The Wild Robot follows Roz (Lupita Nyong’o), a robot stranded on an uninhabited island who soon finds herself responsible for taking care of Brightbill (Kit Conner), a baby goose.