THERE'S  something of the WALL-E to Chris Sanders’s latest animation, which is DreamWorks’ best in over a decade. It’s not just the story that harkens to Pixar’s past. Recognisable too are an open-book approach to emotional intelligence and the startling delivery of world-building animation.

In The Wild Robot, Lupita Nyong'o voices the all-purpose AI robot ROZZUM Unit 7134. When a devastating typhoon leaves her the sole survivor of six, mid transnational cargo ship transportation, Rox washes up and activates on an island totally scarce of human life.

Desperate to utilise her services, Roz quickly learns to communicate with the island’s animal populations but is met with rejection at every turn. It is only when, while fleeing a Mark Hamill voiced grizzly bear called Thorn, Roz accidentally crushes a goose’s nest - and the eggs within - that a mission presents itself.

A single egg survived Roz’s collision. Soon, a lonely gosling runt breaks through its shell. The little bird, who will later be played by Heartstopper’s Kit Conner, immediately imprints itself upon Roz, She alone can protect him from the wild.

Three books, from American author Peter Brown, inspire the film, which already has a sequel on order. In translation, Brown’s original designs - which rather more closely recalled Ted Hughes’ Iron Giant - are softened but gorgeously rendered. It will be no mean feat to find a more beautiful animation in 2024.

So much here impresses. There’s bravery in Sanders willingness to allow sequences of his film, particularly early on, to unfold wordlessly. When speech comes, it is delivered with painstaking eloquence. Indeed, Nyong'o’s vocal journey through the story offers nuance, conviction and delightful authenticity. It is only when her manufacturers send a second robot to the island (Stephanie Hsu) that you will notice the deftness of her oral transition.

Assembled around Nyong'o are an ensemble of delightful character performers. Catherine O’Hara proves particularly memorable, as a world-weary possum who loses one of her seven offspring mid-speech, while fellow creatures spring into life, courtesy of Bill Nighy, Pedro Pascal, Ving Rhames and Matt Berry.

In such hands, The Wild Robot achieves that elusive quality of universal appeal. It’s a very funny film but one imbued with emotional intelligence. On emerging from the wringer, you may well find yourself newly cognoscente of the human condition. Not bad for a robot.