In this episode, we take a deep dive into The Wild Robot, a film that unexpectedly balances simplicity with profound themes. Based on the book by the same title, The Wild Robot is a charming family movie, but beneath its vibrant animation and engaging soundtrack lie moral and philosophical undertones that offer a rich discussion for both children and adults. From questions of parenthood to the essence of hospitality, and even the boundaries of programming and free will, the film gives us much to ponder.
Initial Impressions
First, it’s impossible to ignore the aesthetic appeal of The Wild Robot. The animation, reminiscent of a soft watercolor palette, lends a gentle, dreamlike quality to the visuals. It’s the kind of art that draws you in, making the environment feel alive yet accessible, a fitting backdrop for the film’s deeper themes. The soundtrack also deserves recognition. Chris Bowers’ score, with its soft, sweeping melodies, complements the movie’s emotional core perfectly. Maren Morris’ vocals, unfamiliar to some of us, stand out in key moments, adding layers of emotion and depth that help tell the story in a way that transcends words.
The film opens with Roz, a robot who finds herself stranded on a remote island, awakening for the first time. Initially, her journey seems straightforward—survival in an unfamiliar environment—but it soon evolves into something far more significant. What sets The Wild Robot apart is its ability to tell a complex, morally rich story while remaining approachable for young audiences. It’s rare in today’s entertainment landscape to find a family movie that doesn’t rely on cheap jokes or unnecessary elements to engage viewers. Instead, The Wild Robot offers a tale of growth, responsibility, and community, all wrapped in a visually stunning package. We were impressed that it did not shy away from hard things, in much the same way as we noted in the movie IF.
One prominent element that stood out to us was the way the film anthropomorphizes animals. This device, common in children’s stories, allows the animals to take on human traits, making them characters with complex thoughts, emotions, and motivations. However, in The Wild Robot, this anthropomorphism goes beyond mere storytelling convenience. It becomes a mechanism through which deeper philosophical questions are explored. What does it mean to have a “nature”? Can individuals, be they humans or animals, transcend the instincts or programming they are born with? These questions are introduced through the characters’ interactions with Roz and each other, and they continue to echo throughout the movie.
Parenting Doesn’t Come with Instructions
The anthropomorphism of animals led us into a discussion about the theme of parenting, which is central to Roz’s journey. Roz, a machine programmed for utility, unexpectedly becomes a mother figure when she inadvertently becomes responsible for Brightbill, a young gosling. In many ways, this is the heart of the story—Roz’s evolution from a robot simply fulfilling tasks to a caregiver with emotional ties and responsibilities. The moment she takes on the task of raising Brightbill is pivotal, but it’s not without its challenges. Roz has no inherent knowledge of how to parent. She is, after all, a machine.
This is where one of the most memorable lines in the movie comes in. When Roz expresses confusion about her ability to parent, the possum, a character who becomes a sort of maternal mentor to Roz, says, “No one has the programming to be a parent; we just make it up as we go.” It’s a humorous moment, but it’s also a deeply relatable truth. Parenting is not a formula; it’s a process of learning, adapting, and often stumbling along the way. Every parent, whether human or robot, must navigate the complexities of raising a child without a perfect manual.
The biblical perspective on parenting aligns closely with this theme. The Scriptures emphasize that parenting is about much more than simply meeting a child’s physical needs. It’s about imparting wisdom, guidance, and a foundation of faith.
These words that I am giving you today are to be in your heart. Repeat them to your children. Talk about them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).
This passage serves as a reminder that raising children is a holistic responsibility that extends into all aspects of life. Just as Roz learns that parenting is not a task that can be completed, we too are called to guide our children continuously, ensuring that they grow not only physically but also spiritually.
Fathers, don’t stir up anger in your children, but bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. (Ephesians 6:4)
Fathers, do not exasperate your children, so that they won’t become discouraged. (Colossians 3:21)
As Roz takes on the role of a mother to Brightbill, we see a shift in her understanding of purpose and responsibility. She begins to see her relationship with Brightbill as something more than just a task. This transformation is reflected in her actions throughout the movie. At first, she approaches the role with a sense of obligation, but as she spends more time with Brightbill, she becomes deeply invested in his well-being. This evolution from task-oriented care to emotional attachment mirrors the journey many parents go through, and it resonates with the idea that love and responsibility often grow hand in hand.
Hospitality
From parenting, we naturally transitioned into the theme of hospitality. This concept is beautifully illustrated in a key moment of the film when Roz opens her home to the island’s animals during a particularly harsh winter. In an act of compassion, she invites both predator and prey to take refuge in her dwelling, ensuring their survival. This act of hospitality goes beyond providing physical shelter—it becomes a symbol of unity and community.
Hospitality is a deeply biblical principle, one that extends beyond the mere act of opening one’s home. It’s about welcoming others, caring for their needs, and creating a space where they can feel safe and valued.
For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you took me in; I was naked, and you clothed me; I was sick, and you took care of me; I was in prison, and you visited me. (Matthew 25:35-36).
This passage highlights the heart of Christian hospitality—it is an act of service, a way to show God’s love through practical care for others.
Roz’s hospitality toward the animals is not just about survival. It’s about breaking down barriers and building trust. In a world where survival often pits creatures against one another, Roz brings them together, showing that even natural enemies can coexist when given the opportunity. This act of bringing together predators and prey, each with their own instincts and survival strategies, reflects a deeper message about overcoming division. Just as Roz steps outside of her programming to offer hospitality, we, too, are called to step outside our comfort zones to serve others.
When an alien resides with you in your land, you must not oppress him. You will regard the alien who resides with you as the native-born among you. You are to love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God. (Leviticus 19:33–34)
Let brotherly love continue. Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it. Remember those in prison, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as though you yourselves were suffering bodily. (Hebrews 13:1–3)
“Which of these three do you think proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?” “The one who showed mercy to him,” he said. Then Jesus told him, “Go and do the same.” (Luke 10:36–37)
As the conversation on hospitality continued, we found ourselves reflecting on how this principle plays out in our own lives. Hospitality, in its truest form, is more than just offering a meal or a place to stay. It’s about creating an environment of care and safety, where others can experience not just physical provision but also spiritual nourishment. We cannot as Christians divorce the meeting of physical needs from our number one task of spreading the gospel of Christ.
Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, to bring the poor and homeless into your house, to clothe the naked when you see him, and not ignore your own flesh and blood? (Isaiah 58:7).
This verse reminds us that true hospitality is about more than meeting material needs—it’s about seeing and honoring the image of God in others.
Unintentional Sin
The idea of unintentional harm also plays a significant role in The Wild Robot. Early in the film, Roz accidentally kills Brightbill’s family when she crashes into their nest. This moment of unintentional harm lingers with Roz throughout the story, and it brings to light the biblical concept of unintentional sin. The Bible makes a distinction between actions of harm that are intentional and those that occur by accident, offering guidance on how to address both.
We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28).
This verse, often quoted in times of difficulty, serves as a reminder that even in our mistakes, God can bring about good.
In Roz’s case, her unintended actions ultimately lead to a profound relationship with Brightbill. Although the loss of his family is tragic, the bond that forms between Roz and Brightbill is something neither of them would have experienced otherwise. This reflects the idea that even in the midst of suffering or unintended consequences, there is potential for growth, healing, and redemption. The film uses this relationship to illustrate how responsibility and care can emerge from even the most unexpected circumstances.
In our discussion of the Old Testament’s cities of refuge, Eve and I explored how these cities exemplify the balance of justice and mercy in God’s law. These cities, described in Numbers 35, were designated as safe havens for individuals who had accidentally killed someone, providing them with a place to flee from the “avenger of blood” until they could stand trial. This system protected those responsible for unintentional harm while ensuring that justice was still pursued. It recognized the difference between accidental manslaughter and premeditated murder, underscoring God’s provision for mercy even in instances of unintended wrongdoing.
The LORD said to Moses, “Speak to the Israelites and tell them: When you cross the Jordan into the land of Canaan, designate cities to serve as cities of refuge for you, so that a person who kills someone unintentionally may flee there. You will have the cities as a refuge from the avenger, so that the one who kills someone will not die until he stands trial before the assembly…“But if anyone suddenly pushes a person without hostility or throws any object at him without malicious intent or without looking drops a stone that could kill a person and he dies, but he was not his enemy and didn’t intend to harm him, the assembly is to judge between the person who kills someone and the avenger of blood according to these ordinances. The assembly is to protect the one who kills someone from the avenger of blood. Then the assembly will return him to the city of refuge he fled to, and he must live there until the death of the high priest who was anointed with the holy oil. (Numbers 35:9–12, 22-25)
Our conversation delved into how the cities of refuge provided a path for atonement and eventual freedom, particularly after the death of the high priest, which symbolized the end of their confinement. This notion of mercy alongside justice reflects the greater biblical narrative that points toward the ultimate redemption found in Christ. As we noted, this ancient system of refuge serves as a profound reminder that even in a fallen world where harm can occur unintentionally, God’s justice includes both accountability and compassion.
Change your programming
Perhaps the most significant theme in the movie is the idea of changing one’s programming. Roz, designed to follow orders and complete specific tasks, finds herself repeatedly forced to “overwrite” her code in order to fulfill her new responsibilities. This notion of breaking free from one’s programming serves as a powerful metaphor for spiritual transformation. In the Christian faith, transformation is a key element of discipleship.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away, and see, the new has come! (2 Corinthians 5:17)
But that is not how you came to know Christ, assuming you heard about him and were taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus, to take off your former way of life, the old self that is corrupted by deceitful desires, to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, the one created according to God’s likeness in righteousness and purity of the truth. (Ephesians 4:21-24)
Just as Roz evolves beyond her original design, Christians are called to undergo a transformation through Christ, leaving behind old patterns and stepping into a new identity rooted in faith and love. But we don’t change ourselves. God transforms us.
The fallen nature of nature
One quick journey through the origin of the animal nature we see today takes us back to creation in Genesis.
God also said, “Look, I have given you every seed-bearing plant on the surface of the entire earth and every tree whose fruit contains seed. This will be food for you, for all the wildlife of the earth, for every bird of the sky, and for every creature that crawls on the earth—everything having the breath of life in it—I have given every green plant for food.” (Genesis 1:29-30)
God created animals (and man) to be vegetarian, but after Adam and Eve sinned, all of creation was cursed with death. This means that animals started eating other animals. After the flood, God gave man permission to also eat animals.
The fear and terror of you will be in every living creature on the earth, every bird of the sky, every creature that crawls on the ground, and all the fish of the sea. They are placed under your authority. Every creature that lives and moves will be food for you; as I gave the green plants, I have given you everything. (Genesis 9:2-3
In the New Testament, we are reminded that all of Creation has been subjected to the curse and that all of it awaits God’s redemption of man (and a future consummation).
For the creation was subjected to futility—not willingly, but because of him who subjected it—in the hope that the creation itself will also be set free from the bondage to decay into the glorious freedom of God’s children. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together with labor pains until now. (Romans 8:20-22)
The wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the goat. The calf, the young lion, and the fattened calf will be together, and a child will lead them. (Isaiah 11:6)
God is the source of transformation
Roz’s programming is initially rigid, defined by a set of instructions, but as she encounters new challenges and relationships, she learns to adapt. However, this does not mirror the Christian experience of sanctification. We cannot change our programming by ourselves. We require the action of our Programmer to transform us and sanctify us to become more like Christ. As we grow in our faith, God “overwrites” through the work of the Holy Spirit the parts of our lives that no longer align with his will, transforming us into vessels of His love and service. Those who attempt to change themselves without the benefit of the transforming power of the Holy Spirit often (if not always) find themselves depressed and broken in their failure to meet their own goals of enlightenment.
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, first to the Jew, and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith, just as it is written: The righteous will live by faith. (Romans 1:16-17)
For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift—not from works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)
Conclusion
Ultimately, The Wild Robot is far more than a simple family movie. Its exploration of themes like parenthood, hospitality, unintentional harm, and personal transformation offers rich material for reflection. The film invites us to consider how we, too, can grow beyond the limitations we place on ourselves, whether through societal “programming” or personal habits. Just as Roz learns to care, protect, and serve beyond her original design, we are called to embrace the transformation that comes through faith in Christ. It’s a reminder that no matter how we are “programmed,” we are capable of change, growth, and love when we allow God to guide our steps.
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