They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but feel free to judge this magnificent film by its spellbinding still above.

A perfect animated film should draw a balance, blending something for the little ones and something for the adults in the theater. By that standard, The Wild Robot, the latest project by DreamWorks Animation directed by the genre’s wonder Chris Sanders, is the perfect animated film.

But the film, which is drawn — yes I went there! — from the first of three books for young readers written and illustrated by Peter Brown, is also such a visually stunning piece of animation that it has managed to unify and convince serious film critics, adult audiences and “cartoons” naysayers alike. The Wild Robot is a winner of a film, voiced by an ensemble cast headed by Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong'o, with a soundtrack by Bridgerton composer Kris Bowers and production design by Raymond Zibach, who also worked on all three Kung Fu Panda movies. That the film also boasts as producer Jeff Hermann, one of the kindest people in Hollywood — and one who embodies the “kindness is a survival tactic” motto maintained throughout the story of the film — is just icing on the cinematic cake.

The film opens with a storm at sea, where a Universal Dynamics cargo ship is destroyed, dispersing the crates carrying its precious ROZZUM utilitarian robots. One lands in the midst of a family of otters and is activated by their curiosity. ROZZUM unit 7134, “Roz” for short “wakes up” in an unfriendly, unfamiliar territory for a robot designed to be assigned tasks and the first thing she does, after being attacked by nearly every creature in the forest, is hunker down and learn their language. Because yeah, another great message here is that communication is key.

Voiced by Nyong’o, Roz is at once robotic and warm, lost and bossy and when she encounters the fox Fink, voiced by the perfectly irreverent Pedro Pascal, we are in for great things. As Roz becomes the reluctant parent to a baby gosling, who then develops into “teenage” gosling Brightbill, voiced by Kit Connor, the wilderness turns into a village. And unlikely allies like the bear Thorn, voiced by Star Wars icon Mark Hamill, a mother possum named Pinktail voiced by the inimitable Catherine O’Hara, along with the wise goose Longneck, the legendary Bill Nighy, and Ving Rhames as the falcon Thunderbolt, they all come together to form such a warm story and unforgettable film that I wouldn’t mind watching this one again, and again. And then once more.

So what is the secret of The Wild Robot? How did a film that is groundbreaking in terms of animation techniques and artistic beauty also manage to capture our hearts and never let go of them? The secret is in the kindness. And the talent of those kind people who collectively made this gorgeous work of the Seventh Art. Because let’s face it, as beautifully drawn as an animated film can be, if the story and the characters don’t connect with the audience to create a sense of change within them after viewing it, the project isn’t really a success.

Animation is a means to teach the young ones to face their approaching adulthood, and bring adults back to their youth, by helping them to reconnect with their inner child. The Wild Robot does all that and more.

The lessons learned from The Wild Robot are so many that perhaps some are still being processed within this writer’s inner core. Like Roz, I need time to process and my task may be completed once I write up this review, but my heart is still working through the emotional nuances of this beautiful film. The story’s dharma, that kindness is a superpower, is unavoidable and perhaps the film should be shown to political leaders and diplomats around the world, while I vote for Roz as president. But that’s a conversation for another time, another place.

There is also an emphasis on adaptability as an important skill and the idea that sometimes changing the way we do things, but also our intentions, helps to change the world around us — for the better. This hit home for me, as journalists struggle to compete with influencers in the changing entertainment media landscape. Perhaps instead of questioning why we are increasingly being left out of the conversation, we could simply change our task, our approach… Again, discussions to be had, revolving around this incredibly insightful film.

And finally, The Wild Robot is about universal motherhood. Because although Roz becomes Brightbill’s mother by accident, an accident she is responsible for, as one of the wise animals in the wilderness points out to the gosling, he probably would never have made it in the big world, had it not been for the kind robot’s intervention. Roz’s successful mothering instincts go even deeper, as once the geese have flown south for the winter taking Brightbill with them, she also mothers the entire “village” of wild animals and teaches them a lesson in co-habitation and collaboration in the process. She saves them, basically. And that’s the kind of mother we can all be, by showing kindness to our fellow humans.

OK, I know I wrote finally, but one more thing. The voices in this film are so perfect, so touching and perfectly cast that a soulful chat between Brightbill and Longneck halfway through brought me to tears. Not once, but both times I watched the scene. And there is an extra layer of brilliance in The Wild Robot, as the film deals with death, a very adult subject, in a bright, inventive way, one that makes the adults go “awww” and the kids laugh.

And that’s why I hope that DreamWorks Animation, celebrating their 30th anniversary this year, goes on to celebrate another 30, plus 30, plus 30 years of wonderfully innovative filmmaking using the latest techniques to tell perfectly human stories.

The film is now showing in US cinemas and kicks off in UK cinemas on October 18th. And yes, it’s a must-watch.

Images courtesy of the BFI London Film Festival, used with permission.