The Best Animated Movie of 2024 Is Officially Getting a Sequel, Starting a New Sci-fi Franchise

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It’s common for successful children’s movies to launch into larger franchises, often even before their box office performance is certain. We’ve seen this recently with films like The Bad Guys, which quickly expanded into a sequel, a TV show, and special TV episodes. Last summer’s KPop Demon Hunters is another great example – the film and its soundtrack were so popular that it’s definitely becoming a full-fledged franchise. While not every animated movie that tries to build a franchise also appeals to dedicated fans of the genre, recent news confirms that at least one is on its way.

Following the success and Oscar nomination of 2024’s The Wild Robot, Dreamworks Animation has announced a sequel. According to The Wrap, the new film will be titled The Wild Robot Escapes, mirroring the title of the second book in Peter Brown’s series. Similar to the follow-up to The Mitchells vs The Machines, this sequel is exciting news for both animation and science fiction fans, as The Wild Robot has quickly become a standout example of the genre. However, there will be some new people working on the project behind the scenes.

The Wild Robot Sequel Officially Confirmed

While a sequel to The Wild Robot is in the works, there will be some changes in who’s making the film. Chris Sanders, who directed the first movie, won’t be directing this one, but he is writing the script. Troy Quane (known for Nimona and Spies in Disguise) will take on directing duties, with Heidi Jo Gilbert – who previously worked on story for The Wild Robot – as co-director. This isn’t necessarily a cause for concern, as Sanders rarely directs sequels to his own films. He’s currently very busy and may even direct the live-action sequel to Lilo & Stitch.

The movie The Wild Robot features Lupita Nyong’o as Roz, a robot who ends up on a remote island filled with animals. The story explores the question of whether upbringing or natural instincts are more important, as Roz tries to raise a gosling and also learns what it means to be a robot.

Not only did The Wild Robot anticipate current interests, but its unique visual style – reminiscent of hand-painted artwork and building on the look of Dreamworks’ Puss in Boots: The Last Wish – helped it stand out from other animated films. This approach proved successful, with the movie earning over $330 million worldwide, receiving a 97% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and earning three Academy Award nominations.

News about the upcoming Wild Robot Escapes movie suggests it will closely follow Peter Brown’s books, continuing the story of Roz and Brightbill’s journey to return to the island. With a third book in the series available, there’s potential for a sequel, possibly titled The Wild Robot Protects. For fans of animation and science fiction, a successful film often leads to more installments, and we hope this is the start of a long-running Wild Robot franchise.

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2026-03-05 22:20