Lupita Nyong’o goes from a quiet place to a chattier one in ‘The Wild Robot’

As a voracious consumer of both literature and animation, I find myself utterly captivated by Lupita Nyong’o‘s enchanting performance as Roz in “Wild Robot.” Her voice, brimming with emotion, carries the weight of the narrative, inviting us to project our feelings onto this artificial creation. This fascination with artificial creations, I believe, stems from our innate desire to see ourselves reflected in the unlikely places – a candelabra in Beauty and the Beast or a robot on an isolated island.

Given the choice, it’s likely that Lupita Nyong’o would select Disney’s 1994 movie “The Lion King” as the one animated film to take with her if stranded on a desert island.

She remarks, during her call over Zoom while staying at a hotel in Santa Monica, “I’ve memorized several scenes from it because I’ve seen it so often. In fact, I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve watched it.

Now that the actor originally from Mexico but raised in Kenya is lending his voice to a character who ends up stranded on a secluded island, there’s a chance that Simba, Timon, Pumbaa, and their friends might face some new rivals in the animal kingdom.

In “The Wild Robot,” directed by Chris Sanders, known for his work on 2002’s “Lilo & Stitch,” the story unfolds about a talking robot named Roz (played by Lupita Nyong’o), who is a member of the ROZZUM unit. After finding herself in an unfamiliar land, she forms a strong maternal bond with an orphaned gosling named Brightbill (Kit Connor). In this future setting, humans appear to reside in isolated, domed cities. The film hits theaters on September 27.

Over time, Roz manages to build friendships with various local creatures, such as Fink (Pedro Pascal), Pinktail (Catherine O’Hara), a stressed-out possum mom, and Thorn (Mark Hamill), a solitary bear. This narrative, derived from the 2016 book by Peter Brown, presents a science fiction parable that highlights the ability for empathy to flourish, even in a setting where creatures primarily rely on their instincts.

Initially, when I was offered the opportunity for the “12 Years a Slave” project, I didn’t jump right in. Instead, I wanted to ensure that Chris was seeking a partner, not just someone to carry out his vision. That’s how I felt as a passionate movie enthusiast, reflecting on my decision-making process for this significant role.

Frankly, she wasn’t excited about joining a project that dragged on and involved people she didn’t get along with. To sidestep this, she carefully screened potential collaborators by meeting Sanders and producer Jeff Hermann numerous times, asking them detailed questions about their intentions for the film. (It’s worth noting that in 2019, Nyong’o published her own children’s book, “Sulwe,” which tackles colorism through a story about a girl who yearns for lighter skin.)

During a video call, Sanders noted that Lupita tackled the project with as much earnestness and careful consideration as she does any other role, which he, as an animator, truly admires.

The fundamental theme of “The Wild Robot,” which is about fostering harmony amidst division by means of curiosity and respect, struck a chord with the actor. Nyong’o expresses this sentiment as: “The notion that kindness can serve as a tool for survival, enabling us all to thrive despite our differences, is revolutionary, beautiful, and undeniably true.

At that stage, the script was still taking shape. The personalities and appearances of the characters were still in development too. All we had were rough outlines to guide us.

According to Sanders, when an actor fully engages, our initial step is always to revisit the script and tailor it. Then, as we reach the recording studio, it continues to change due to their instantaneous creative influence.

According to Nyong’o, they were not merely present to please him; instead, he felt that his input was truly complementing their shared vision.

As a passionate cinephile who brought the wise and nurturing character Raksha to life in Disney’s photorealistic 2016 reboot of “The Jungle Book”, I was well aware that lending my voice to “The Wild Robot” would demand a more profound level of dedication.

She points out that being the main character comes with a unique level of accountability. Moreover, she was keenly aware that she hadn’t been involved in the meticulous production process typical of animation before. (This summer has been quite eventful for Nyong’o, who also assumed the leading role in “A Quiet Place: Day One,” marking her debut as the primary lead in a large-scale Hollywood action film.)

For approximately two years starting from the end of 2022, Lupita Nyong’o and Jordan Peele carefully developed the character traits of Roz, with the animation progressing simultaneously. During each recording session, Nyong’o described it as if they were working on refining the script together.

Nyong’o describes her character as initially displaying what I call ‘pre-programmed optimism’, similar to the optimistic tone in digital assistants like Siri or Alexa. However, as the character evolves, learns from the surrounding wildlife, and matures into a mother, she develops greater depth and complexity in her speech.

The Roz robot doesn’t have facial expressions, a deliberate design decision on Sanders’ part.

He expresses a deep sense of understanding for characters like that,” he remarks, recalling being touched by other seemingly emotionless robots, including R2-D2, C-3PO, and Robby the Robot from the 1956 movie “Forbidden Planet.

In essence, Nyong’o’s voice was expected to shoulder all the emotional heaviness in the recording. As Sanders explains, “Every feeling she aims to convey and elicit must be embedded within that voice.” This is quite a significant task. It’s a delicate matter.

Nyong’o explains, “Since she lacks facial expressions, it allows us to attribute our emotions to her.

Why are humans so utterly fascinated with artificial creations like Roz?

Nyong’o jokes, yet seems sincere, “We can be quite egoistic and self-absorbed.” He continues, “From our perspective, the world revolves around us. This is why we attribute human characteristics to animals. For instance, why does the candelabra in ‘Beauty and the Beast’ have a face? It’s because we seek to recognize ourselves in things that don’t resemble us, to gain a deeper insight into our own nature.

In the animated movie “Wild Robot”, an unusual portrayal of motherhood is presented, deviating from the typical stereotypes found in children’s animations. Movies like “Chicken for Linda!” from France demonstrate a similar trend, breaking away from conventional representations.

When you’re young, it seems like your mother already knows everything, right?” She explains. “However, mothers are learning too! They’re figuring things out just as children do, and they’re growing into their roles.” In the story “The Wild Robot”, Roz embarks on a journey to prepare Brightbill for migration with his kind, a trip that mirrors her own personal growth – from bewilderment to self-assurance, and even discovering a touch of humor.

Delivering a rich, stationary act can be quite demanding for an actor, as it necessitates utilizing one’s body in manners that are typically unfamiliar or uncommon to them.

In this particular scene, Roz appears to be running, and I found myself thinking, “If I were running, I’d be out of breath, but since Roz is a robot, she wouldn’t have that problem.” As Lupita Nyong’o explains, being in the recording booth allowed her to truly embody Roz’s experience, rather than merely imagining it from an outside perspective.

Sanders, who’s familiar with being behind the microphone as the voice of Stitch, the cherished koala-like extraterrestrial character from a movie he produced, understands the demanding nature of voice acting.

He mentions that at the conclusion of these sessions, everyone should feel as if they’ve completed a marathon. In a single animated recording session, an actor might encounter ten or even fifteen scenes. The range of emotional depths you subject the actor to can be quite vast, and that intensity can be draining.

Indeed, during one of her performances, Lupita Nyong’o developed a problem with her vocal cords. This issue led to the growth of a polyp in her throat. To prevent the need for surgery, she was advised to stay silent for approximately three months.

She shares that it was challenging, yet she discovered just how essential conversation is in expressing her character. When silence was required of her, she found herself becoming more perceptive and at ease within herself.

Watching the completed movie for the first time floored her.

As I watched the animation unfold before me, I found myself whispering in awe, “This is the kind of grand, sweeping masterpiece I’ve always admired from my childhood.” The artistry they’ve managed to create, that rich, painterly style, gives it a nostalgic yet forward-thinking feel. It’s truly breathtaking.

Nyongo smiles, clearly delighted by her own passion. “Animation allows us to express intense emotions,” she explains.

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2024-09-07 14:06