Synopsis
Meet the Robinsons is an animated film filled with warmth and humor surrounding the ideas of family, belonging, and the power of moving on. The film elaborates on the family aspect of moving on with one’s life. This animated feature, produced by Walt Disney Animation Studios, is based on the children’s book A Day with Wilbur Robinson by William Joyce and takes us on an exhilarating journey through time. Unlike most children’s books, this one offers a children’s book with a compelling message.
The story introduces Lewis, a gifted young orphan, inventor, and gadget creator. Lewis dreams of the day he will find a family while constantly being rejected by prospective adoptive parents. Lewis’s eccentric devices and inventions cause mayhem during the parent interviews. This is a main factor, but not the only one, in Lewis’s inability to be adopted. Lewis, constantly rejected and an orphan, uses the advanced technology to create a memory scanner in hopes of remembering the mother he has not seen since being a baby. He believes it will allow him to find and eventually form the family he has dreamed of all his life.
The situation changes unexpectedly during a school science fair when he tries to present his invention a memory scanner. Wilbur Robinson, a peculiar boy, shows up claiming to be from the future and warns Lewis about a shady character he calls the Bowler Hat Guy. This bizarre villain, along with a robotic bowler hat called Doris, intends to steal Lewis’s invention and pervert the future.
Suddenly, before Lewis fully grasps the situation, Wilbur drags him on an adventure. The two go to the future, an adventure he Lewis will always remember because of the myriad of fascinating innovations, flying automobiles, and the peculiar inventions. This is the future Wilbur claims to be from. Here Lewis is introduced to the peculiar Robinson family, because of an extended family, Lewis is called peculiar. The Robinson clan, he learned, is frolicsome and exuberant, a family Lewis has never had.
While captivated by the kindness of a prospective family, Lewis is ignorant of a crucial fact—his bond with the family is deeper than he knows. As he becomes more accustomed to the family’s universe, he begins to appreciate the idea that the future may rest in the balance of the decisions he makes in the present.
At the same time, the Bowler Hat Guy is relentless in his attempts to thwart Lewis. Although he is first depicted in a comedic, bumbling way, he turns out to have a deeper, more personal, and emotional reason regarding the ‘antagonism’ he shows toward Lewis. Doris, the robotic hat, has a more direct evil plan to use manipulation to control events for herself and try to turn the future to a more sinister version.
With the family Robinson and Wilbur, Lewis discovers that every failure has a lesson to teach. He learns that the most important idea of the film is contained in the words: “Keep moving forward.” It is a poignant lesson, implying that failures are not the endpoints, but are guideposts on the way to achievement.
In the final act, Lewis realizes he will be the future patriarch of the Robinson family. Wilbur will be his son, and the whole quirky family he met will be his own family, growing from the life he has yet to live. It is the revelation that brings everything full circle. Lewis returns to the present, infused with hope, and is ready to face the future, no longer with fear, but with joy and confidence.
Lewis, instead of trying to find his birth mother, decides to look to the future and the life he is destined to build. He finishes his memory scanner, forgives the Bowler Hat Guy who pursued him, and accepts the optimism that awaits him in the future.
Cast and Crew
Voice Cast
- Jordan Fry as Lewis (young inventor)
- Daniel Hansen as Lewis (early voice work)
- Wesley Singerman as Wilbur Robinson
- Stephen J. Anderson as Bowler Hat Guy / Grandpa Bud / Cousin Tallulah / and others
- Angela Bassett as Mildred (orphanage caretaker)
- Tom Selleck as Cornelius Robinson (adult Lewis)
- Laurie Metcalf as Lucille Krunklehorn
- Nicole Sullivan as Franny Robinson
- Harland Williams as Carl the Robot
- Adam West as Uncle Art
Director: Stephen J. Anderson
Producer: Dorothy McKim
Composer: Danny Elfman
Director Stephen J. Anderson has brought personal experience to the film as he also grew up in foster care. This foster care experience has greatly contributed to the emotional depth in Lewis’s story. There is a nice balance between heart and futuristic fun in the film. Danny Elfman shaped the film’s many emotional and exhilarating moments with a score that strikes a sense of magic and wonder.
IMDb Ratings
Meet the Robinsons currently holds a rating of 6.8/10 on IMDb.
The film was recognized for its unique perspective and sincere emotional depth. Many audiences praised the film for the appreciation it had towards the audiences for the thematic elements present for audiences to focus on and discuss. The quote “Keep moving forward” repeatedly heard throughout the film, was taken inspiration from a Walt Disney quote. This familial quote was accepted with appreciation, spanning all ages of the audience.
The future world was creatively praised with it’s advancements of the imaginary technologies world. To which character models were vibrant and contributed to the character design. The emotional heaviness was counter balanced with the clever and quirky comic relief throughout the film.
To some, the film’s storyline lacked originality by the use of more typical ideas. This was easily overlooked due to the film’s strong and genuine ideas, which made it unique. It was more than just a a story with a time traveling device. It was a story that inspired purpose, hope, and the bravery it takes to determine one’s future.
Conclusion
Meet the Robinsons is an animated adventure that highlights the significance of family, the power of self-belief, and the importance of perseverance. More than just a narrative about futuristic gadgets and inventions, the film celebrates self-acceptance, the learning potential of one’s history, and the audacity of ambitious dreams.
The film’s vibrant characters and the childlike encouragement to follow interests — regardless of accompanying challenges — resonate with adults, too. The story of the main character, Lewis, the lonely orphan, who grows into a revered family man and inventive highlight, is one that encourages the viewer to embrace optimism and determination.
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