Robots

This little animated film from 2005 is the second film to be released by Blue Sky Animation Studios, who you all know for the degrading Ice Age franchise. In fact, it was the first Ice Age that was released before Robots, but I digress. When it came out, the film received rather mixed reviews, but it became a Box-Office success since it made way more money than the budget it was on and the advertising of the movie was basically everywhere, not to mention this is the first animated movie directed by William Joyce, who directed other animated films like Disney's Meet the Robinsons, Dreamworks' Rise of the Guardians, and another Blue Sky film, Epic, which was unfortunately the final movie he directed since he died before it was released. But getting back to Robots, can this movie still shine no matter what it's made of or has the past decade or so made it an outmode? Let's find out.

The Story: The film stands out from other original Blue Sky films with no sequel, since Horton Hears a Who seems dragged out for a film based on a Dr. Suess story, Epic, as good as it is, seems similar to Ferngully, The Peanuts Movie, again, is good, but it tries to captures the heart of an already existing property, Ferdinand feels like an Ice Age sequel, and Spies in Disguise feels like a rip-off of The Emperors New Groove. With Robots however, it feels like all originality went into the movie as it is about this small town guy going to a big city in order to be a big shot but soon tries to help a group of underprivileged robots who are struggling to get by. I just want to say that, as strange as this sounds, the entire story seems relatable. I mean, who in the world wouldn't wish to be famous and help out a bunch of poor people? But I will say that this really doesn't have too much focus as it also tries to teach two morals. One of which is your typical 'follow your dreams' lesson that, while formulaic and predictable, I actually find to be believable in this film due to the fact it came out in the mid-2000s, and the secondary moral is actually the more stronger for being subtle and obvious at the same time, what is it you ask? Well, I'll let Glenn Quagmire explain. (cut to Glenn Quagmire from the Family Guy episode "Jerome is the New Black", saying 'How big business is crushing the underclass.') Thank you Quagmire. Anyway, since this film is also categorized as a comedy, I will say that some of the humor and jokes the characters dish out are decently funny while other jokes just seem juvenile like there is one seen where the character are having an armpit-fart contest. Thankfully though, the humor doesn't really overshadow the film's morals. Whether you watch it for either the humor or the messages, the film acts like it has all its screws tightly together.

The Animation: I will give the filmmakers credit that the animation is very impressive. To get this out of the way, the settings of the movie have a rather somewhat cartoony and abstract feel to it. The greatest example of this is the Crosstown Express scene. All the backgrounds and maybe the forms of transportation the robots use really give out an abstract vibe in order to fit in the robot world. As for how the characters look, it is just as abstract as the backgrounds since we see the various parts each robot has in order to stay intact and the different parts they use like how Bigweld's legs are just one giant ball. Also, we get see how the robots that are distinguished from each other like the rusty-looking outmodes and the slick and shiny robots who prefer to use upgrades. This really goes to show how much the animators paid attention to details on the backgrounds and the characters. As for the character animation, it ironically has a down-to-earth feel on some robots like Rodney while characters like Fender and Wonderbot have a cartoony-edge to them. Whether it's abstract or realistic, the animation here is something that Blue Sky loved inventing.

The Characters: Hopefully, the characters can be just as well-made like the story and the animation. Starting things off with the main character, Rodney Copperbottom, he's the standard dreamer who wishes to become a successful inventor. At first, he may seem like a bland character who just wants to complete his mission, but as the movie goes on, he actually prove himself to be more than just a generic protagonist as he is shown to have a strong sense of what is right and actively tries to do it. Whether it be helping the other outmodes in Robot City or even trying to find Bigweld, he ironically becomes a role-model to the people watching the movie. You also have the outmodes that Rodney befriends, which consist of Fender, the comic-relief who has these running gags of how his body parts are falling off him and pulling off eccentricities that someone like Robin Williams can do, Piper, Fender's bossy sister, Crank, a cynical outmode, Lug, a giant robot, Diesel, who's only character trait is that he is in need of a voice-box, and Aunt Fanny, who's only joke is that, well, I think her name and figure says it best. Although these characters aren't too fleshed out, they are nonetheless likable and develop loyalty towards Rodney for showing compassion to them and other outmodes. As for the villains, Ratchet is your typical corrupt business executive who wishes to undermine Bigweld's name by having his company put more focus on upgrades and money while his mother, Madame Gasket, is actually a more enjoyable villain due to her over-the-top mannerisms, her dastardly plan to get rid of every outmode in Robot City, and the fact that she's voiced by a male actor, Jim Broadbent. As for the rest of the characters, they seem like a mixed-bag. Some like Cappy, Bigweld, Wonderbot, and Rodney's father Herb are more enjoyable due to having their own developments and contributions to the story while others like Tim the Gate Guard and Rodney's mother feel like they are there just to advance the story. Beyond that though, I will say that the characters can shine no matter what they're made of.

Well Blue Sky, you managed to make a very good second film after Ice Age. Robots is a very enjoyable family film that teaches very good messages, has very fun animation, and loveable characters. If you are looking for a film that manages to a balance humor and heart, then I would highly recommend this film. Compared to the other Blue Sky films, like the Ice Age franchise, the Rio franchise, and even the rest of the original features, I would have to say that, next it the original Ice Age, this is my favorite. The film may be considered underrated to some people, but to guys like me this is to Blue Sky what Missing Link is to Laika, an underrated gem.

Story: 7/10

Animation: 8/10

Characters: 7/10

Score: 8/10