DreamWorks' 97% RT Animated Movie Marks A Very Important First For The Studio
The Wild Robot is a win for DreamWorks Animation, but it also marks a surprising first for the studio with a clever reference. Chris Sanders delivers yet another touching story after having directed Lilo & Stitch, How to Train Your Dragon, and The Croods in the past. The movie follows Roz, a serviceable robot who defies her programming when she becomes a gosling’s mother. The Wild Robot’s amazing reviews prove it even has the potential to win the studio’s third Academy Award.
The Wild Robot’s ending makes a strong case for the relationship between motherhood and nature, as Roz’s nurturing and self-sacrificing qualities shock her hostile animal neighbors and motivate them to work together. The Wild Robot benefits from a star-studded cast and features behind-the-scenes work by some of the most influential artists and storytellers. With The Wild Robot, CalArts alumni Chris Sanders and Heidi Jo Gilbert join in on a popular trend among Pixar’s animators.
The Wild Robot Is The First Time A DreamWorks Movie Has Made An A113 Reference
A113 Is Commonly Hidden As An Easter Egg By CalArts Alumni In Pixar Movies
Not only does The Wild Robot combine some popular Disney robots, but it also presents a reference commonly featured in Pixar movies. Notably, the sequence “A113” has become a popular trademark in Pixar’s works, as animators hide it in objects or props that audiences then proudly expose. The Wild Robot is the first DreamWorks movie to include the popular Easter egg, which can be found in two places throughout the story.
At the beginning of the movie, a close-up of Roz’s face reveals A113 is written on the edge of her eye. As the story progresses, it is revealed that the main processing unit used for Roz is called Alpha-113. It may come as a surprise, but the A113 Easter egg has appeared in non-Pixar movies, and it’s an inside joke started by animators who studied at CalArts. Notably, Chris Sanders and The Wild Robot’s Head of Story, Heidi Jo Gilbert, both attended the California Institute of the Arts.
DreamWorks Is Now Participating In A113's Very Unique Mythos In Pop Culture (Which Exists Largely Because Of Pixar)
Dreamworks Could Invent Their Own Set Of Easter Eggs Now
The trend to hide the sequence “A113” as an Easter egg in every Pixar movie was started by Brad Bird in the CBS series Family Dog. Bird was inspired by the American caricaturist Al Hirschfeld, who would hide his daughter’s name, Nina, in his drawings. Other alumni adopted the tradition, as the A113 sequence refers to a classroom number many of the previous students studied in at CalArts. Some popular directors who have used the popular Easter egg include Toy Story’s John Lasseter, Finding Nemo’s Andrew Stanton, and Inside Out’s Pete Docter.
Chris Sanders had previously included the A113 Easter egg in his Disney movie Lilo & Stitch. In the popular hit, A113 can be found in all the cars and spaceships.
Over the years, Pixar has created other Easter eggs like the Luxo ball that populate their movie catalog. These consist of creative references to characters and popular elements, like the Pizza Planet truck. Sander’s inclusion of the A113 sequence in The Wild Robotis a nice nod to his alma mater and recognizes CalArts alumni who don’t work at Pixar. The hidden detail could even be the start of DreamWorks’ own popular set of Easter eggs, which would connect and honor its movies in a fun way.
The Wild Robot
- Release Date
- September 27, 2024
- Runtime
- 101 Minutes
- Director
- Chris Sanders
- Writers
- Chris Sanders, Peter Brown
Cast
Lupita Nyong’o
The Wild Robot is an animated drama film based on a series of books by Peter Brown. The adaptation is written and directed by Chris Sanders and stars Lupita Nyong'o, Pedro Pascal, and Catherine O'Hara. The Wild Robot centers on a robot named Rozzum 7134, who becomes stranded on a deserted island and the guardian of a young orphan.
- Studio(s)
- Dreamworks
- Distributor(s)
- Universal Studios
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