From the creators of hit animated films like Shrek, The Boss Baby, and How to Train Your Dragon, DreamWorks Animation's latest masterpiece, The Wild Robot, is set to hit Japanese theaters on February 7.

The film has already garnered critical acclaim, earning nominations in four categories at the 82nd Golden Globe Awards and an impressive 10 nominations across nine categories at the 52nd Annie Awards. With expectations high for an Academy Award nomination at the 97th Oscars, excitement is building in Japan, where a special behind-the-scenes video featuring the Japanese dub cast has been released.

Behind-the-Scenes: Voice Acting Highlights

The video offers a glimpse into the recording process, showcasing key scenes where Roz, the assistive robot, interacts with the fox Fink, the goose Brightbill, and the opossum Pinktail. One particularly heartwarming moment features Brightbill mimicking Roz's speech, prompting a playful mimicry game from Fink.

Cast Interviews
Haruka Ayase as Roz
Ayase shared her thoughts on being cast as Roz, saying, “I was happy but also felt it would be challenging since robots don’t show much emotion. I had to carefully adjust the nuances in my performance.” She also mentioned the difficulty of conveying Roz’s character evolution, from using polite speech (desu) to more casual expressions (nano), which reflect her growing connection with others.

Tasuku Emoto as Fink
Emoto spoke about Fink’s dual nature, combining childlike playfulness with a mature edge. “I tried to balance both extremes without making them feel inconsistent,” he explained. Emoto also emphasized the challenge of matching his voice to Fink’s movements to create a seamless performance.

Fuku Suzuki as Brightbill
Suzuki described Brightbill as a kind and courageous character raised by Roz. “Brightbill knows he’s different from other geese but doesn’t let that hold him back. He embraces his uniqueness with positivity,” Suzuki said, drawing parallels between himself and the optimistic goose.

Maiko Ito as Pinktail
Ito reflected on the film’s deeper themes, saying, “This story teaches us about love through the lens of a robot.” Discussing the challenges of voice acting, she noted, “What I thought would sound natural often felt off when I listened back. But with the director’s guidance, I gradually found the right tone.”

Story Overview

Roz, a state-of-the-art assistive robot, finds herself stranded on a deserted island. With the help of the clever fox Fink and the nurturing opossum Pinktail, she raises a gosling named Brightbill. As Roz’s heart begins to awaken, the island’s animals, who once feared her as a monster, come to embrace her as part of their family.

The island becomes Roz’s home, but her peaceful life is disrupted when retrieval robots arrive to bring her back. Facing the prospect of losing her newfound family, Roz must fight alongside the animals to protect the island and the bonds they’ve formed.

Source : ORICON NEWS