Jakarta. DreamWorks’ latest film “The Wild Robot” proves that animated movies are not just for kids and they are something that can even take adults on an emotional roller coaster.

Meet Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) -- an all-purpose robot stranded on a forest island. As she gets chased by the grizzly bear Thorn (Mark Hamill), Roz accidentally crushes a goose nest, leaving only one egg. Roz tries to save the egg from being eaten by the hungry mischievous red fox Fink (Pedro Pascal). The egg eventually hatches into the runt goose Brightbill (Kit Connor). Roz at first considers raising Brightbill just as another task to accomplish, and Fink decides to help prepare the runt goose for winter migration after realizing he can benefit from the robot. 

Directed by Chris Sanders, the beautifully cinematic “The Wild Robot” explores the theme of motherhood. What starts out as a robot just trying to do its job now turns into a mother caring for her son. The complex relationship between the robot mother and the goose son -- both very different in their own ways --becomes the driving force of the almost two-hour-long animation. 

Roz portrays all the mothers out there, and the ups and downs of motherhood. Despite all the robotic skills that she possesses, Roz still has so many things to learn as a parent, but the man-made machine is willing to overcome the challenges by overwriting her program to adapt to the newfound life as a mother

“The Wild Robot” has a nice pace, and shows almost all stages of motherhood. 

It starts out slow with Roz turning into a “door-to-door sales robot” as she tries to advertise her services to the animals. “The Wild Robot” also makes use of this part to introduce the island’s wildlife to the audience. As we get to know the fauna, here comes the conflict: Brigtbill’s hatching.

Things get complicated as Brightbill grows up. Brightbill gets bullied by his peers for being raised by Roz whom most animals consider a monster. Fink, who also plays a parental role to Brightbill, is not exactly the most liked on the island either. The fact that Roz accidentally killed Brightbill’s biological family also makes their relationship even more complicated. 

The story does not stop after Brightbill’s migration. The audience gets a glimpse of Roz struggling with the empty nest syndrome -- the loneliness that parents feel when their children move out of their home e-- after Brightbill joins the flock to migrate. Roz feels she has already completed her task (and lost her purpose) after seeing that the once-unpopular Brightbill has found his new “home” with his fellow geese. 

“The Wild Robot” lets the local wildlife get their share of character development. Fink initially decides to tag along with Roz just to take advantage of the machine’s super skills. The fox turns out to be a good storyteller and also genuinely cares for the young goose. Not to mention how he agrees to help Roz save the other animals during the winter. The animals on the island also agree to set aside their predatory instincts to survive the cold. This moment turns Roz into a mother figure for the other animals who will eventually save the robot from her manufacturer --who wants to claim her-- in a surprisingly action-packed rescue scene. 

The tear-jerking movie ends with Roz making the final sacrifice as a mother. Roz decides to depart from the island -- her home -- to her manufacturer just to save everyone on the island. 

“The Wild Robot”,  which is now playing in Indonesian theaters, is a truly moving roller coaster ride about motherhood -- all wrapped in visually stunning animation. It delivers a strong message of a mother’s unconditional love and sacrifices for both the young and old audience. It should be no surprise if the movie gets an Oscar nomination or even wins.

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