The Wild Robot is riding a new wave of appreciation, but there are other options for people who ire its kind-hearted storytelling. Fortunately, animated movies about robots that could temporarily fill the void. While most people will know about WALL-E and The Iron Giant, there are also some hidden gems with lovable robot protagonists.

The Wild Robot uses Roz, its robot protagonist, to question what it means to be human. Although she is initially concerned with finding an assignment and an owner, Roz gradually learns what it means to be part of a community. The Wild Robot balances the heartwarming tale of her raising Brightbill with plenty of humor. Another key element to The Wild Robot's critical and commercial success is its gorgeous visuals. The vibrant art style gives The Wild Robot a unique look, and it has a wonderful sense of movement.

Robot Dreams Was Up For An Oscar In 2023

Robot Dreams Is Now Streaming On Hulu

Robot Dreams is the perfect companion piece for fans of The Wild Robot. The Spanish-French co-production was met with glittering reviews after its premiere at Cannes in 2023, and it continued to enjoy a warm response when it hit theaters later in the year. Robot Dreams was also an awards-season success, culminating in an Oscar nomination for Best Animated Feature, although it lost out to Hayao Miyazaki's The Boy and the Heron. It made just $6.2 million at the box office, meaning that it's still a hidden gem.

Robot Dreams is set in New York City in the 1980s, where an anthropomorphic dog orders a robotic best friend to spend the summer with. Robot and Dog form an immediate bond, and they go on various adventures throughout the city, but the story takes a dark turn before too long, and they are separated for months. Robot Dreams is a masterpiece of visual storytelling, since it has no audible dialogue. It seems to take inspiration from silent films, old cartoons and comic strips to get its point across, often with hilarious results.

Why Wild Robot Fans Will Love Robot Dreams

The Similarities Between The Two Movies Go Beyond The Surface

The Wild Robot and Robot Dreams have a lot in common, even beyond their superficial similarities. Of course, both movies feature lovable robot protagonists who experience the world around them for the first time, and they both focus on unexpected but deeply meaningful relationships. However, there's a lot going on beneath the surface that connects the two movies as well. Both The Wild Robot and Robot Dreams explore the sacrifice that's necessary to sustain relationships, and the ways that separation can alter both parties.

Although it might not be as eye-catching as The Wild Robot, Robot Dreams also features a quirky and unique style of animation. Based on Sara Varon's comic of the same name, Robot Dreams uses the same simplistic, colorful art style. This often makes the movie look like harmless children's entertainment, but it's more complex and emotionally intense than it appears. Robot Dreams isn't quite as child-friendly as The Wild Robot, although both movies offer a lot for adults to enjoy as well.

Robot Dreams has a great balance between humor and heart, just like The Wild Robot. Although its premise and its colorful visuals might resemble an upbeat fantasy, Robot Dreams actually finds an extremely relatable narrative by focusing on the mundane, everyday moments that make up someone's life. While The Wild Robot's ending rises to a climactic final battle and a bittersweet farewell, Robot Dreams takes a more low-key approach, but it's just as emotionally resonant. For all their differences in budget, star power and spectacle, The Wild Robot and Robot Dreams share an intelligent approach to their storytelling.