DreamWorks Animation presented The Wild Robot with great fanfare at the Annecy Animation Festival on Tuesday, leaving audiences captivated. Directed by Chris Sanders and featuring a stellar voice cast including Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, and Kit Connor, this animated film is set to hit theaters on September 20.
The presentation included speeches by three-time Oscar-nominated director Sanders and DreamWorks Animation president Margie Cohn, alongside the unveiling of two extended clips and a second trailer. We are almost finished—very, very close,
Sanders shared about the film’s progress in adapting Peter Brown’s bestselling book series.
The story centers on ROZZUM unit 7134, known as Roz (voiced by Oscar-winner Nyong’o), who finds herself stranded on an uninhabited island. Initially mistrusted by the local animals, she must learn to bond with them to help an orphaned gosling prepare for migration.
Combination of Analog Warmth and Cutting-Edge CG
Sanders highlighted that his team strived to evoke analog warmth and soul,
reminiscent of hand-drawn animation. We start by doing these inspirational paintings,
he explained, with the intent that the final product mirrors the initial development artwork.
A Star-studded Cast Elevates the Movie
The voice cast brings these characters to life with remarkable depth:
- Lupita Nyong’o as Roz
- Pedro Pascal as Fink the fox
- Kit Connor as Brightbill the goose
Tia Carrere and Amy Hill round out a talented ensemble that also includes Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, Matthew Berry, and Ving Thames. Sydney Agudong mentioned that The project ‘The Wild Robot’ had me immediately hooked.
Impactful Clips Shown at Annecy
The debut clip showcased Roz exploring her new surroundings, eliciting laughter from the audience. In contrast, the second clip—a heartwarming sequence between the maturing Brightbill and Roz—had viewers tearing up and led to a standing ovation. Sanders was visibly moved by this reception.
A Director’s Vision Brought to Life
The audience also heard from Cohn: We think it’s a DreamWorks classic in the making, and we hope you do too.
An Ensemble for Today’s Imagination
The film credits Jeff Hermann as producer and Dean DeBlois as executive producer. The Annecy Animation Festival continues through Saturday in Annecy, France.
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