Picture this: the Golden Gate Bridge lies submerged, its rusted towers barely peeking above the waves, while whales glide overhead like ghosts of a drowned world. A robot cradles a gosling, teaching it to survive a storm unlike any other. This isn't some grim eco-thriller—it's The Wild Robot, a DreamWorks animated feature that's snagged a Best Animated Feature nod at the 2025 Oscars. And here's the kicker: it's the only nominee this year to look climate change square in the eye and say, “Yeah, you're real, and we're dealing with you.” In a Hollywood that often sidesteps the big, messy truths, this film feels like a quiet revolution.
A Climate Test Hollywood Mostly Flunked
Let's rewind a bit. Last year, a non-profit called Good Energy rolled out a clever twist on the Bechdel Test—this time for climate change. Their rules? A film qualifies if it's set on Earth and unfolds in the present, recent past, or near future. From there, it's got to do two things: show that climate change exists and have a character who knows it. Simple, right? You'd think so, but out of 30 Oscar-nominated features in 2025, only 11 even made it to the starting line. And just one—The Wild Robot—crossed the finish.
The film's world-building is subtle but stunning. There's that haunting shot of the Golden Gate underwater, a visual gut-punch that needs no narration. Then there's a moment where Roz, our robot hero (voiced with soul by Lupita Nyong'o), picks up a soggy pamphlet that reads, “Florida — More Shoreline Than Ever!” It's a dark little giggle, sure, but Good Energy loved how the animators mapped it to real sea-level rise projections. This isn't preachy—it's sly, weaving climate impacts into the story like threads in a tapestry.
Contrast that with the other 10 qualifiers—like Inside Out 2, Conclave, or Anora. They're set in recognizable worlds, sure, but none of them nod to the climate crisis. Even heavy-hitters like Dune: Part Two and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes flirt with eco-themes but didn't meet Good Energy's criteria. Last year, Barbie and Mission: Impossible squeaked by, but 2025? It's The Wild Robot or bust.
Roz and the Storm: A Story That Hits Home
Directed by Chris Sanders and adapted from Peter Brown's book, The Wild Robot follows Roz, a stranded robot who learns to mother an orphaned gosling named Brightbill (Kit Connor). The island they inhabit is wild and alive—until a storm rolls in, “the worst I've ever seen,” as the animals put it. They band together, and Roz figures out that “collaboration and compassion are the way to survive our climate future.” The words “climate change” never drop, but they don't need to. The film's heart beats in its visuals and its quiet insistence that survival means adapting together.
That's what makes it special. It's not an environmental parable shouting from the rooftops—it's a story about love and resilience that just happens to unfold in a world shaped by rising tides and shifting shores. Other nominees might dazzle with introspection (Inside Out 2) or epic scope (Dune: Part Two), but they don't ground themselves in this reality. The Wild Robot does, and it's all the richer for it.
Hollywood's Big Chance—and Bigger Silence
Anna Jane Joyner, Good Energy's founder, gets it. She's tired of seeing climate change boxed into eco-terrorist clichés or recycling nag-fests. “After a harrowing year where we all felt the climate crisis,” she says, “we need stories that help us find meaning and courage.” The Wild Robot delivers—an enchanting tale of overcoming fear and building community in an uncertain world. But why is it the lone ranger?
Hollywood's got the power to shape how we see reality, yet it's been hitting the snooze button on this one. As hurricanes howl louder and summers scorch hotter, cinema could be a mirror—or a wake-up call. The Wild Robot proves you don't need to sacrifice artistry or fun to reflect the times. So what's the holdup? Will other filmmakers step up, or will this stay a solo act? For now, Roz and her gosling are carrying the torch alone—and damn, do they carry it well.
Personal Impressions: A Critic's Take
Let's be real: climate change is the elephant in the room, and Hollywood's been tiptoeing around it like it's got muddy boots. The Wild Robot grabs that elephant by the trunk and says, “Sit down, we're talking.” I've watched countless films dodge the big stuff for escapism, and I get it—movies are a getaway. But this one? It's a breath of fresh air, proving you can tackle the tough stuff without losing the magic. I'm thrilled it's got Oscar buzz, but I'm scratching my head wondering why it's the only one. Is it audience backlash they're scared of? Or just a lack of guts? Either way, The Wild Robot is a gem that shows the future doesn't have to be bleak—it can be beautiful, too.
What Do You Think?
Do you reckon more films should weave climate change into their stories? Or is Hollywood better off keeping it light? Drop your thoughts—I'm all ears.
