PG Proposal: Roz (The Wild Robot)

Who says a robot shouldn't grow beyond their programming?

There are three characters I feel count in this movie. Of course, one of them will be handled by Nigel. And so, I shall discuss one of the other two right now.

What's The Work?

The Wild Robot is Dreamworks' last in-house animated movie about a robot that ends up lost on an island resulting in her becoming a mother to a goose.

Who is Roz? What Does She Do?

Universal Dynamics had managed to create a new line of robots fit to serve humanity. These robots were known as the Rozzums, and they are capable of fulfilling any task given to them... well, except for killing. UD has other robots for that. Rozzums are made specifically to help, not to harm. Much like all big companies, Universal Dynamics shipped these robots out. However, one of their shipments ended up lost with all of the Rozzums inside destroyed... all but one. This was ROZZUM unit 7134. We'll just call her Roz.

Upon awakening, Roz believed the animals to be the ones that had purchased her and made an effort to help them as per her programming. However, all the animals did was run away in fear of her. She does eventually realize that she is lost, but she also deems it necessary to learn the language of the animals to overcome the communication barrier between them. After spending time learning, Roz would eventually come to where she would continue trying to help animals out before getting attacked by a bear which results in her falling on a goose nest (and her tracking beacon being destroyed during the whole rabble), killing the mother and smashing all but one of the eggs. When the egg hatched after Roz spent time protecting it from a sneaky fox, the baby saw her as his mother due to her being the first thing he saw (like most babies birds do). It's there that Roz is given a directive from a possum who explains to her what it means to be a mother. Roz states she doesn't have the programming to be a mother, but Pinktail informs her that... nobody does. It's something that is developed. She has to make sure to feed him, teach him to swim, and teach him to fly. It is especially important she achieves this before winter as he would not survive otherwise.

And wouldn't you know it? Roz meets the fox again who offers to help her out in raising the gosling (though it is clear he initially wants to take advantage of her abilities, he does grow to care for the little bird himself). Of course, the fox, whose name if Fink, informs Roz that the gosling's chances of survival are not great due to him being a runt. This does not deter Roz as she works toward raising the little gosling whom she names Brightbill.

Of course, being raise by a robot isn't exactly what you would call normal. As Brightbill grew up, he picked up Roz's robotic characteristics, making him comes off as a weirdo to the other geese. He also wasn't swimming like the other geese either (makes sense when you consider Roz taught to swim how humans do rather than how geese do). There also ends up being a struggle when Brightbill gets attacked by a pike. Roz notices this and is quick to go and save her kid, losing a foot in the process. It is then that the other geese reveal to Brightbill how Roz killed his family, causing Brightbill to reject his adoptive mother.

Guilt-ridden, Roz deems it necessary to seek out help, so she goes back to the wreckage where she woke up and rebuilds one of the Rozzums, names her Rummage, and asks for assistance with looking after a kid. Rummage, however, realizes there is something unusual about Roz. Roz assures her that she feels fine, but Rummage tells her that she shouldn't feel anything. Rummage concludes that Roz is defective and gives Roz her tracking beacon before shutting down.

Of course, Roz had no intent on going back until her task to help Brightbill learn to fly was complete. However, it was clear she needed help, so she got a falcon named Thunderbolt to assist Brightbill in his training. During this, she is visited by a goose named Longneck who admits to having been watching her and is happy for her progress. He even gives her advice to train Brightbill's stamina if she wants him to make it.

Roz took the advice to heart as she continued to help Brightbill until it was time for him to go. She of course gave him a boosting start before seeing him off. With her task complete, Roz activated her tracking beacon... but she didn't want to leave. And it's a good thing she decided too. This turned out to be the worst winter on the island as all of the animals have become trapped in the snow and at risk of dying. With the help of Fink, Roz sets out on a rescue mission, saving almost all of the animals (I say almost, because we do get one scene during the montage indicating that they were unsuccessful in saving every single animal they found). They also brought them to the hut they built to raise Brightbill in to serve as shelter. Of course, the animals don't get along, and there is especially concern when she brings the bear in, but she asks Fink to calm them down before she powers down, which Fink does and gets the animals to come to an agreement with even the bear agreeing to do no harm to anybody as long as they are in there, grateful toward Roz saving him.

It's also important to note how it is Brightbill does discover how lucky he was to be raised by Roz as if not for the accident that killed his family, Brightbill himself would have died (which is also true with birds as the runts tend to get left for dead). Once winter passed and all the geese (except for Longneck who sacrificed himself) return to the island, Roz finds a Universal Dynamics ship approaching. The one in command is a robot named Vontra, who had come to take Roz back while making note of how hard it was to find Roz due to the fact she had turned her beacon off.

However, Roz realized that she still can't go back. Unfortunately, Vontra wasn't having any of it and was determined to capture Roz even if it meant burning the whole forest down. Roz of course did what she could to protect the animals, but she is eventually captured. Brightbill manages to get aboard the ship and save her, but the two are cornered by Vontra who states her intent to kill and examine both of them. She doesn't get that chance of course as Roz uses a magnet to pull Vontra apart. However, as Vontra points out and Roz realizes, UD will keep coming for her. After returning to the island and ensuring Brightbill's safety once more, Roz informs them all that she would be leaving for their sake. She also promises not to forget them. Activating her beacon, Roz is taken away where she starts working with the other Rozzums.

True to her word though, she doesn't forget as she notices a goose walk up to her, and she states that he can call her Roz.

Mitigating Factors

When it comes down to it, there is but one thing that could have prevented her from being pure. That is moral agency. At the start of the film, she is merely a robot who is trying to follow her programming, unaware that she was doing more harm than good. One she realizes she can't communicate with the animals, she takes time to learn to speak their language and effectively overrides her programming. After this, it becomes clear that she no longer has issues with moral agency as she learns to be a mother to Brightbill and shows concern for the wellbeing of the other animals. If that isn't enough of an indicator, then there is the fact that she starts out talking very robotic like yet starts sounding more human and sapient and the film progresses.

Also, I feel like going over the Roz killing Brightbill's family in much detail isn't necessary given how often of a reminder we get of it being an accident. Roz raising Brightbill was initially just a task given, but it eventually became her way of atoning for said accident as she grew to genuinely care for him.

Admirable Standard

Now as I said, there are three characters I feel could count. The other two being Brightbill and Longneck. As such, it is necessary to compare Roz to them... Fink will also be included in the comparison as I feel he is just as admirable, but he is too much of a jerk to count as PG.

Now first off, Longneck had been watching Roz's progress in raising Brightbill and was the only goose supportive of them. Not just that, but he sacrifices his life to ensure all of the other geese would be able to escape UD alive. Brightbill put up quite the struggle, but he is the one to lead the other geese out of danger thanks to knowing that the Rozzums can't hurt anybody. Then we have Fink who helped Roz raise Brightbill and assisted in saving the animals during winter. He also got the animals to form a truce during their toughest time.

Roz? Well, as stated, she is the reason Brightbill ultimately gets a chance at life. She raised him and gave him the life he wouldn't have if she hadn't accidentally killed his family (the movie does acknowledge this bit of irony). She's also the one who initiates the rescue mission and helps the animals in the defense against Vontra's attack. She even gives herself up when she realizes her presence would only put the animals in danger again, showing she is willing to sacrifice herself for their safety. As such, she is definitely admirable.

Verdict

Giving Roz a Huge yes!