How do you go 30 minutes without dialog and still manage character development? Just ask Pixar. With their talented team of animators who practically have to be actors themselves, and the sound expertise of Ben Burt who crafted R2-D2’s emotional trills and whistles, they make a winning combination pumping vibrant life into a little lonely robot.

Set centuries from now, Wall•E is a lonely trash compactor tasked with fixing up the planet which has become unable to sustain life. After a ship lands and deploys another little robot who is on a search mission, Wall•E falls photoreceptors-over-treads in love which puts him on track for an adventure that is out of this world.

Wall•E is a sound flick all around. The character development using only sounds and action is nothing short of amazing. The background detail has been taken to a new level with this movie. From the garbage piles on the planet to soaring through the stars, the visuals are a feast for the eyes.

The other robot characters were another delightful aspect. Their singular purpose combined with interesting personality quirks make for some really fun encounters. The only thing I was not a fan of was my first impression of the design of Wall•E himself. He bears an extreme resemblance to Johnny-5 from Short Circuit fame. To the credit of the animators, after about five minutes I was looking at the little boxy robot as his own being and not as influenced by the other movie as I originally thought.

The main story behind this film is based on falling in love. It’s a simple theme that works incredibly well with the wacky little robots. There are also plenty of other commentaries, a first for Pixar, that address concerns of human society and the environment. This is great because the earlier we can get kids engaged in such topics the better their chances for improving this world.

The success of Pixar comes from a simple philosophy they follow when constructing their 3D tales. Story comes first. Characters come second. Animation innovation is the third. It’s as genius as it is simple and the success of their films prove it.

This film is a can’t-miss while it’s in the theater. The amazing animation and wonderful sound engineering behind this makes it the total movie experience worthy of the money for admission plus soda and popcorn!

Verdict | Watch It!