"Kindness can be a survival strategy" - The Wild Robot
A conversation with director Chris Sanders - Dreamworks
Hello Hello !
What if I told you kindness could be a survival strategy?Â
Let me introduce you to The Wild RobotâŚ
Today marks the theatrical release of The Wild Robot, directed by Chris Sanders and featuring the incredible voices of Lupita Nyongâo and Pedro Pascal. Based on Peter Brownâs best-selling books, the story follows a robot raising an abandoned gosling on a secluded islandâwith the help of some unlikely animal friends.
In our conversation, Chris delved into the heart of the film and how kindness isnât just a theme, but a survival strategy for the characters. He also shared how they crafted a visual style that feels like a painting, and why simplicity in storytelling was essential to making the emotional beats really resonate.
Hereâs what we covered:
The unique challenges of adapting a best-selling novel into an animated film
Why kindness is central to the storyâs survival themes
The choice of a painting-like visual style for emotional impact
Simplicity as a key strength in storytelling
The process of storyboarding and refining through trial and error
And for aspiring filmmakers, Chrisâs advice was golden:
"Simplicity is strength. Focus on storytelling."
If youâre into animation, storytelling, or just curious about the magic behind this heartwarming movie, donât miss our full conversation. Itâs packed with insights thatâll resonate with anyone passionate about filmmaking.
Catch The Wild Robot in theaters starting today, and check out the interview.
Enjoy the conversation!
Sabry O.
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Note : This episode is in partnership with the Annecy International Animation Film Festival, the global event dedicated to Animation!