Many Berkeley students may remember reading “The Wild Robot”, a sci-fi novel by Peter Brown, when they were kids. The story follows companion robot Roz, who is stranded on an island full of wild animals and adopts a duckling named Brightbill. This book contains heavy themes of love and loss that hit hard when I first read it as a kid. I remember thinking, “Everyone would benefit from reading this book sometime in their life.” 

This year, “The Wild Robot” received a film adaptation of the same name. When it came out on Sept. 27, I rushed to the theaters with my best friend and fellow Berkeley student Alessandra Verfaille ’27. After watching, she said, “It was a really emotional experience.”

 Aazeen Zafaranian ’27 also went to see “The Wild Robot.” She said, “It had me hooked from the very first moments.” 

On Letterboxd, a popular film review platform, “The Wild Robot” received a 4.3 out of five-star rating. It is clear that younger audiences and professional reviewers alike believe this movie to be of the highest quality. 

At first, it may seem that “The Wild Robot” is not intended for adult or even teenage viewers due to its simple format, animation style and animal cast. However, the way the film shows how Roz and Brightbill created a family together despite many challenges touches the hearts of viewers of all ages. Just because a piece of media is for children doesn’t mean its messages do not carry weight in the real world for all ages. Furthermore, though many are saying that the movie leaves out important parts from the book, I would argue that “The Wild Robot” is more easily digestible to younger audiences than its book counterpart because of these cuts.

I definitely recommend this movie, even if you haven’t read the book! I give it a five-star rating for the visuals, voice acting, messages and story. “The Wild Robot” is enjoyable for all ages and carries an important message about the power of love and the value of a found family.