Released Date: 10 March 2005

Synopsis:

The same team that brought you the hilarious Ice Age, now takes you to a world populated solely by mechanical beings. Our hero is a robot named Rodney, a teenager and aspiring inventor. Rodney is voiced by Ewan McGregor. Rodney leaves his home in Rivet Town, and makes for the big Robot City with dreams of working alongside his hero, Big Weld. Big Weld is a larger than life creative genius business tycoon, whose motto, “see a need, fill a need” inspires Rodney.

Twentieth Century Fox and Academy Award winning director Chris Wedge, who last joined forces on the blockbuster animated hit ICE AGE, now team to create another visually spectacular, three-dimensional world, with an all-star, award-winning cast, in ROBOTS. Beyond the scope, freshness and vibrancy of an incredible world populated solely by mechanical beings, Wedge and his team are creating memorable robots, each with “his” / “her” own distinct personality. The result is a timeless tale that pushes the boundaries of animation, while introducing characters rich with whimsy, heart and soul. Based on author/animator William Joyce’s “Roly, Poly Olie.”

Movie Review:

The trailer itself didn't give much away or should I say it wasn't able to leave any deep impression other than it's just another animation movie.

Now after watching the finished product. The second animated full length feature from Blue Sky Studio did in fact offered an amazing array of endless thrills and surprises from start to end. The movie opens where our young hero Rodney Copperbottom (voiced by Ewan "Obi-Wan" McGregor in his adult years) is "born". The process of how robots are "born" is pretty interesting and well, innovative.

Since young, Rodney inspired to be an inventor. Encouraged by his father, he is determined to do his father who is a dishwasher bot proud. Thus begins his adventure in the larger than life, Robot City where he gets to know a bunch of wacky new friends, Fender (Robin Williams in his crazy, neurotic best), Piper, Crank, Lug, Diesel and Aunt Fanny. Throw in a corporate tyrant Ratchet (Greg Kinnear from “Stuck On You”) who is ironically ruled by his authoritarian mother (Jim Broadbent in a voice cross-over) himself. The group is ready to save the Robots World from the ruthless pair who are depriving the robots population from getting spare parts. Either they get themselves upgraded or face the ultimate destiny of being chopped!

The pair of screenwriters, Lowell Ganz and Babaloo Mandel (“Splash”, “A League of Their Own”) has filled up “Robots” with enough charm and wits to entertain both adults and kids. Spoofing anything from “Star Wars” to Gene Kelly’s infamous Dancing In the Rain to Britney Spears. There is plenty of laugh-out moments splattered throughout. Most of them courtesy of Williams’ Fender, literally speaking a robot that can’t seem to keep his hands and legs firmly rooted.

Of course when it comes to animation, the majority of the credit has to go to the animators and backend crew for creating a believable world of robots. Every screw, nuts, bolts and metallic pieces are rendered ingeniously on the screen. In fact the detailed, colourful CG characters, background will instantaneously capture your attention once the Fox logo fade out. The sequence of Rodney and Fender onboard the ride across the city will have you tightly on the seat. It is not just an ordinary vehicle they are boarding but a series of spins and flings on the most peculiar metal parts you will ever imagined. Compared to “Ice Age” where the colour white forms the majority of the background, here we have layers and tonnes of mechanical buildings and characters looming onscreen. Lampposts that walk, pigeons that behaved like wind-up toys and a talking fire hydrant.

There are plenty of "Stars" voices, Halle Berry (in a rather wasted role) who played Rodney's love interest Cappy, Jay Leno, James Earl Jones, Stanley Tucci, Drew Carey and the American Idol Judges who played "Watches". Perk up your ears to hear if you can spot them.

20th Century Fox and Blue Sky has a winner on their hands. “Robots” is simply an entertaining tale of how one can achieve their deepest dreams and desires. But it’s Blue Sky’s remarkable animation skill that leaves you rooted for their next animated outing. Look out Pixar, you have met a worthy opponent and we are in for more treats!

Movie Rating: A-

Review by Linus.T.