by Elia Lawatsch
As someone who has worked at Death with Dignity for over seven years, and literally talks about death for my day job, I still sometimes struggle to know how to talk about death with children—especially my own. My son, who actually turned four this week, has been no stranger to death in his short life. He’s experienced the death of family members, attended a funeral, and helped plan the memorials for two of our dear dogs who died last year. But, even as someone who feels so comfortable broaching this taboo topic in my professional role, I sometimes wonder if I am too blunt with him, without the use of euphemisms, or if we should shy away from topics like this a bit longer.
That said, when I see movies like The Wild Robot, I am reminded that children are more intuitive, empathetic, and curious about death and loss than we often give them credit for. In a world where technology and nature often clash to create cold or complex plots, The Wild Robot shines as a deeply emotional, yet tenderly crafted exploration of life, death, and the process of grieving—for children—with emotional intelligence, but also direct messaging.
Death and Grief Through a Robot’s Eyes
At its core, The Wild Robot tells the story of Roz, a robot who wakes up on a remote island and must learn to survive in a world filled with wild animals and the raw forces of nature. While this premise may sound like a typical “robot learns to be human” narrative, it quickly delves deeper into more universal themes of loss and healing that will resonate with both children and adults alike.
When a tragedy strikes on the island and their habitats are destroyed, Roz’s bond with the animals—specifically a young gosling named Brightbill—becomes the emotional crux of the story. Roz becomes a mother-like figure to him, and their odd, but heartfelt bond, plays out throughout the film, as she teaches him to fly, empowers his independence, and ultimately, learns from him what love (and loss) look like.
For children, the idea of death can often feel abstract, confusing, or even scary. Gratefully, The Wild Robot doesn’t shy away from these emotions, but instead shows them in a way that is honest and accessible. It emphasized throughout that death, while painful, is an unavoidable part of life.
The film uses Roz’s mechanical nature to reflect a child’s perspective on death—she doesn’t fully understand it. Her confusion, sorrow, and desire to protect Brightbill are depicted in such a simple, yet profound way that children watching can easily relate to her journey of emotional growth. Roz doesn’t have the language or the experience to process death the way humans do, but she learns to cope in her own robotic way, guided by instinct, compassion, and a genuine desire to care for others. Roz’s confusion surrounding death, loss, and what it means to lose someone close to you (and its permanence), hit home as I watched my son view the film. I saw so much of his own processing through her experience of grappling with the complexities of loving, losing, and accepting the impermanence of life.
As someone who advocates for medical aid in dying and has candid conversations with patients, loved ones, and yes, sometimes children, I found Roz’s journey remarkably close to how we approach death in my line of work at Death with Dignity—acknowledging its inevitability while emphasizing the critical need for personal agency, including providing space and platforms for these difficult conversations to occur.
The Healing Process: Grief as Growth
Beyond depicting death and loss, The Wild Robot introduces a subtle yet powerful narrative about the healing process. The film doesn’t present grief as something fixable or time-bound. Instead, it accurately portrays healing and acceptance as a slow, natural journey—one that is often initially confusing and unfolds in varying layers over time.
Through the experiences and lessons learned in the film, young viewers can understand that grieving doesn’t have a set timeline, nor does it need to be fixed. Healing is a personal journey, and it often involves learning to live with the memory of those we’ve lost. This theme of what I interpret to be resilience, the ability to move forward while honoring our losses, is where the film strikes such a poignant and relatable chord. It reminds us (not just kiddos), that even after death and loss, life goes on, and we can find ways to continue honoring and loving what and who we miss so dearly.
Starting Conversations with Kids About Death and Loss
Another thing I loved about this movie was the exploration of emotionally complex themes at an accessible level. The film doesn’t drown in sadness or become overly somber like some children’s movies of our past have done (I’m looking at you, Bambi, I’m still traumatized). Instead, it remains hopeful, presenting death as part of a larger, interconnected cycle. Its vibrant animation and engaging storytelling allows for younger viewers to understand that death is not something we need to fear or shy away from, and is something that we can all talk about, process, and learn from, together.
The gentle, empathetic approach to death in The Wild Robot also makes it an ideal conversation starter for parents and children alike. It opens the door for discussions about love, loss, and healing in an age-appropriate, but direct way, without overwhelming young viewers or alternatively attempting to sugarcoat it.
I left this film grateful for the opportunity to talk through death (its permanence, why it happens, how we can love each other in the present) and loss with my son directly. Not only did this bring up moments to reflect on death together, but it also helped us process the recent Hurricane Helene disaster that wreaked havoc in our community in Asheville, North Carolina. Stuck in our house for four days, as fallen large trees disabled any way to exit, and then enduring weeks without power, water, our daily schedules, and the ability to enjoy what I think is one of the most beautiful landscapes in the country, was harrowing for me—and I can only imagine what that was like for him.
As we still drive through the ravaged streets daily, we are able to talk about the grief we are experiencing, the power of nature to change everything in an instant, and how the storm has impacted us individually and collectively. Watching The Wild Robot helped us open up more about these complex emotions, and has allowed us to bond and communicate over our shared experience.
Do You Need to Start a Conversation About Death?
Do you know a young person or family with little ones that need to broach the conversation of death and loss and aren’t sure where to start? While there is no easy way to start the dialogue, and it often comes from necessity after a sudden loss, this film can help jumpstart conversations around love, loss, and recovery proactively.
At Death with Dignity, we know how important it is to have open, honest discussions, at all ages, about death, grief, and loss. Whether you’re dealing with the death of a family member (human, furry, or chosen alike), or just trying to help your little human understand some of the harsher realities we all will endure eventually, I think The Wild Robot offers you a launching pad (and please don’t forget the tissues, as ugly crying may abound!).
Consider sharing this post (with a spoiler alert disclaimer), watching this film with your loved ones, and then using it as a springboard to discuss love, loss, resilience, recovery (and everything in between) before you “need to.” Grief is hard, and very personal, and I am finding the earlier we can candidly talk to our children about it, the more equipped they can be to face the inevitable losses throughout their life. And, this movie reminds us that we can face loss head on, and the power of connecting through conversation.