{"id":18330,"date":"2024-10-18T12:54:52","date_gmt":"2024-10-18T12:54:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/khabarok.com\/entertainment\/18330\/"},"modified":"2024-10-18T12:54:52","modified_gmt":"2024-10-18T12:54:52","slug":"the-wild-robot-interview-chris-sanders-on-a-return-to-animation-roots","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/khabarok.com\/?p=18330","title":{"rendered":"\u2018The Wild Robot\u2019 interview: Chris Sanders on a return to animation roots"},"content":{"rendered":"

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\n(from left) Roz (Lupita N\u2019yongo), and Brightbill (Kit Connor) in DreamWorks Animation\u2019s \u2018The Wild Robot\u2019
\n| Photo Credit: DreamWorks Animations\n<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Chris Sanders has brought another beloved book to screen following How to Train Your Dragon <\/i>with The Wild Robot<\/i>, based on the eponymous Peter Brown book. The animated film, which opened on October 17, boasts a phenomenal voice cast including Lupita Nyong\u2019o, Pedro Pascal, Kit Connor, Bill Nighy, Mark Hamill and Ving Rhames. <\/p>\n

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\u201cWe have an incredible cast, full credit to our casting director, Christi Soper,\u201d says Sanders speaking over a video call from New York City. \u00a0\u201cEvery one of our very first choices said yes. They liked the story very much. Working with them allowed me to meet actors that I never expected to meet my whole life (laughs). It\u2019s exciting and intimidating because I wanted to do a good job as a director, and wanted to be clear with my direction.\u201d<\/p>\n

Once the voice cast was finalised, Sanders says, the script was customised to fit the actors. \u201cIt is truly a collaboration, because I want improvisation and input. I want those changes, so the actors feel like they are the characters. A great example would be Pedro Pascal (who plays a mischievous red fox, Fink). He said the character of Fink is more him than other characters he\u2019s ever done before.\u201d <\/p>\n

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\nRoz (Lupita N\u2019yongo), and Brightbill (Kit Connor) in DreamWorks Animation\u2019s \u2018The Wild Robot\u2019
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\nDreamWorks Animations\n<\/p>\n

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Describing Sanders as an incredible director, Pascal has said, \u201cHe is a great scene partner and guide into not just the root of the character, but the root of what you have to do to make the character come alive.\u201d<\/p>\n

Lupita Nyong\u2019o, who voices the lead character, Roz, a robot shipwrecked on a deserted island, also praised Sanders, describing him as \u201chighly imaginative, deeply talented, wildly intelligent and receptive to what you have to offer. He was influential to my creative process, giving notes that weren\u2019t prescriptive. He would give me notes that would inspire new thought and new performances in the booth.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Sanders has described the animation style of The Wild Robot<\/i>, as a Monet painting in a Miyazaki forest. \u201cThis film is a technological breakthrough. We got to the point where we could return to animations\u2019 roots. When I was a kid, I watched Bambi<\/i>, and it was the most beautiful thing I\u2019ve ever seen. We also are big fans of Miyazaki (Hayao Miyazaki, the award winning Japanese animator, filmmaker, and manga artist) and his hand-illustrated backgrounds.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\nRoz (Lupita N\u2019yongo), and Brightbill (Kit Connor) in DreamWorks Animation\u2019s \u2018The Wild Robot\u2019
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\nDreamWorks Animations\n<\/p>\n

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Up until The Wild Robot<\/i>, Sanders says, geometry was wrapped with textures. \u201cThere was a computerised geometry under everything. The best we could do is make a painting and wrap it around things. In the case of The Wild Robot<\/i>, however, it is literally a moving painting. Our artists can now paint in space, dimensionally. I saw a demonstration of that when an artist at a station with a stylus was moving their hand, and on the screen was paint.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Not only is every environment hand painted, Sanders says, but every character is also surfaced with paint. \u201cAll the fur and feathers are big, wide brushstrokes. When the characters get near the screen, it\u2019s not what we\u2019re used to, where you see every little blade of fur. It\u2019s completely different. And the effect is truly groundbreaking.\u201d<\/p>\n

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