The Wild Robot is the first animated feature in 11 years from filmmaker Chris Sanders, whose 35-year career includes working as story artist on Beauty And The Beast, Aladdin and The Lion King, and writer/director of Lilo & Stitch, How To Train Your Dragon and The Croods.

“Everything I’ve learned on those films, I bought to The Wild Robot,” says Sanders in a making-off featurette about the film, which can be watched above.

The Wild Robot is based on the books by Peter Brown, and follows a service robot (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) shipwrecked on an abandoned island. She must adapt to her surroundings and becomes adoptive mother to an orphaned goose (Kit Connor). The voice cast also includes Pedro Pascal, Bill Nighy, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, Catherine O’Hara and Ving Rhames.

Speaking about working with Sanders, Nyong’o said: “There was a level of collaboration that left me feeling inspired every time I left the recording booth.”

Raymond Zibach, the film’s production designer, added: “Chris Sanders has that great child-like wonder when you show him something that he hasn’t seen it.”

The Wild Robot was distributed by Universal Pictures, grossing $327.6m worldwide. It has been nominated for three Academy Awards, including best animated feature, and three BAFTA Awards including animated film.

View full Profile

Topics