DreamWorks Animation has officially greenlit a sequel to Chris Sanders' surprise hit, The Wild Robot, a film that's turned heads with its global earnings of $107 million. In a year dominated by animated releases, The Wild Robot has emerged as a rare original success, boasting an impressive 85 on Metacritic and a near-perfect 98% on Rotten Tomatoes. But will the upcoming sequel continue to impress, especially with Pixar's Inside Out 2 looming on the horizon for the Oscars?
The first Wild Robot follows Roz, a highly intelligent robot stranded on an uninhabited island, where she learns to survive by forming bonds with the island's wildlife. This unique premise captivated audiences, blending a heartfelt narrative with environmental themes, all brought to life by an A-list voice cast, including Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, Catherine O'Hara, Bill Nighy, and even Mark Hamill. With Sanders, known for Lilo & Stitch and How to Train Your Dragon, at the helm, the storytelling and animation were top-tier, giving the film its critical edge.
Looking ahead, the big question is whether the sequel can build on this momentum. Given Sanders' track record and the sheer talent involved, the future looks promising. But it's clear that the competition, particularly from Pixar's upcoming Inside Out 2, is fierce. For animation fans, this rivalry makes for an exciting awards season.
As we await more details about the sequel's plot and release date, it's clear DreamWorks is betting big on The Wild Robot. What do you think? Will the sequel outperform its predecessor and stand tall against Pixar's giant?
What excites you most about the sequel to The Wild Robot?
I'm very excited for the sequel to The Wild Robot, as a fan of that book. A thoughtful narrative mixed with mind blowing visuals and a strong emotional core set it apart from the crowd in a crowded animation world. It was not another feel good family movie — it had tons of dark themes that spoke to surviving, connecting, sometimes not even with technology but with nature. The film reads like an an animated story telling treat that felt fresh, and Chris Sanders certainly proved over the years that he knows how to outfit the right stories for the right audiences across the board.
However, a prospect of sequel raises some interesting questions. The original being so well-contained in itself, it could be a gamble as to what to do with Roz's journey. However, sequels often lack the initial originality and heart that made the establishing stories so fantastic to begin with — but I hold out hope that Sanders can develop the same success with How to Train Your Dragon. He has learned how to create characters and worlds that would make any audience interested without it feeling like wasted effort.
However, what I am really curious about is how the sequel will delve into a bit darker or much deeper. There is so much potential of the idea of a robot that learns and grows with nature. But I'm curious: Will the sequel live up to anything in the coming awards season, against juggernauts like Inside Out 2? So DreamWorks will have to overcome the emotional depth created by Pixar.
In the end, I'm hopeful. The Wild Robot combines all of the ingredients you want in a standout and if they can achieve the same magic in expanding the story of the Wild Robot we might be in for another big animated classic.
