‘The Wild Robot: Collector’s Edition’ 4K Ultra HD movie review

Children’s book author Peter Brown’s beloved mechanized humanoid starred in a blockbuster animated film earlier this year, and it’s now available on the 4K disc format in The Wild Robot: Collector’s Edition (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, rated PG, 2.39:1 aspect ratio, 102 minutes, $29.99)

Brought to the screen by the man who created Disney’s iconic extraterrestrial Stitch and taught filmgoers how to train a dragon, Chris Sanders, the adaptation focuses on one member of Universal Dynamics’ ROZZUM robotic line and its attempt to stay functioning after a typhoon strands it on a remote island.

Specifically, Unit 7134, nicknamed Roz (voiced by Lupita Nyong’o) must learn to survive and coexist with animals, with help from its universal translator and advanced technologies, in a lush wilderness after being activated by some of the indigenous creatures.

Roz’s attempt to assimilate first fails badly after it accidentally destroys a nest, killing a mother goose and leaving an unhatched egg.

The robot decides to help hatch and adopt the surviving runt gosling named Brightbill (Kit Connor) who grows up with the same mannerisms as Roz but which make him an outcast from his species.

Roz must work with new friends, such as the wily and perpetually hungry fox Fink (Pedro Pascal), opossum mother Pinktail (Catherine O’Hara), peregrine falcon Thunderbolt (Ving Rhames), persnickety beaver Paddler (Matt Berry) and goose leader Longneck (Bill Nighy) to help Brightbill become part of his flock and prepare to leave the island for the winter migration.

As important, Roz must protect its furry pals from the Universal Dynamics Corp. now hunting for the precious robot and teach them to survive a vicious winter.

Suffice it to report, viewers do not only get a wonderful and sometimes heartbreaking (get ready for some teary eyes) story about adaptation, sacrifice, friendship and loss, but Mr. Sanders and his team offer a computer animation style rebuking photorealism and instead create a painted style wonderland boosted by artisans having the latest digital tools at their disposal.

For families who relish classics such as “The Iron Giant,” and “WALL-E,” they will not be disappointed with “The Wild Robot.”

4K in action: By far one of the best-looking movies mastered to the ultra-high definition disc format this year, “The Wild Robot” shines not only for the detail afforded to the layered three-dimensional character models with fur and feathers that look daubed on by a brush, but also the watercolor-looking terrain and backdrops reminiscent of very early Disney films.

Although filmmakers were looking for a softer hand-drawn feel, clarity and detail still abound to examine bright-orange light streams bursting from Roz, a gaze of raccoons catapulted into the sea and a roaring forest fire.

Colors often burst from the screen as witnessed by a neon-green field of grasses; patches of emerald moss and wildflowers growing on Roz’s upper body and legs; a flock of red and yellow butterflies; a neon-purple wall of wisteria that looks like craft paper; and a geese migration moving toward a pinkish dawn sky.

Best extras: Universal overloads with goodies starting with an informative and welcomed optional commentary track with Mr. Sanders; producer Jeff Hermann; editor Mary Blee; production designer Raymond Zibach; head of story Heidi Jo Gilbert; and head of character animation Jakob HjortJensen.

All of those big guns deliver an enthusiastic, nonstop and loving chronicle of the film with plenty of design detail. The group provides layers of verbal notes for each scene while dissecting the classic in which every shot looks like a painted storybook.

Next, fans of the film get four featurettes (roughly 30 minutes) about the production covering the voice-over cast; the musical score (with composer Kris Bowers and songwriter Maren Morris); and a look at the original book and its themes with help even from Mr. Brown.

Best of the bunch is a far-too-brief overview with Mr. Sanders and select animators in the studio commenting on the creative and technological process of bringing the world to life including using painted brush styles and new techniques to build groundbreaking visuals.

Now, in a first that I can ever remember for an artist interacting with an actor in a featurette, Mr. Sanders instructs Ms. Nyong’o on how to draw Roz.

While at separate tables, each completes a pencil version of the robot in a tutorial that will certainly afford inspiration for budding artists in the family.

Also, character designer Genevieve Ysai instructs viewers how to draw Fink, Baby Brightbill and Pinktail.

Finally, young creators get 10 minutes of detailed instructions on building a Brightbill kite. The instructions cover the supplies needed, the seven steps to get the project finished and in the air, and even a mention of safe kite-flying protocols.