Robot Dreams – WISE Score & Parent Review | Screenwise

Robot Dreams

Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

movie2023

81%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A wordless animated heartbreaker about a dog and his robot BFF navigating friendship, loss, and 1980s New York—bring tissues.

7.6/10

98%

8.0

→

Robot Dreams

movie

PG-13, 2023

81%

WISE Score

Avg. Tomatometer

A wordless animated heartbreaker about a dog and his robot BFF navigating friendship, loss, and 1980s New York—bring tissues.

7.6

98%

8.0

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7.6/10

98%

8.0

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Screenwise Verdict

Robot Dreams is the kind of film that'll make you ugly-cry at school pickup just thinking about it. It's a beautifully animated meditation on friendship, loss, and resilience—told entirely without words, which is either genius or a recipe for 'Mom, I'm bored' depending on your kid.

The good: It's emotionally intelligent, visually stunning, and tackles real feelings without being preachy. The bad: It's melancholy, slow-paced by modern standards, and that 102-minute runtime might test attention spans raised on TikTok. The 'misfortunes' teased in the synopsis likely mean heartache, so prep sensitive souls.

This isn't a 'throw it on while I make dinner' movie—it's a 'let's watch together and talk about it' experience. If your kid can handle Inside Out's emotional depth and appreciates artsy storytelling, this is a gem. If they need constant action and dialogue, they'll tap out by minute 20.

Age Fit

Best for ages 6–12 who can handle bittersweet emotions and appreciate slower, contemplative storytelling. Younger kids may get restless; teens might find it too simple, though the artistry could appeal to animation fans.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

A dialogue-free animated film about friendship, loss, and moving forward. The emotional arc centers on Dog and Robot's bond, separation, and acceptance—modeling healthy emotional processing without being saccharine. The 1980s NYC setting and gentle pacing create a contemplative tone. No meanness, cruelty, or chaotic overstimulation. The melancholy themes are handled with warmth and kindness.

Imaginative

A wordless narrative is inherently imaginative, requiring viewers to interpret emotions and story through visuals and music alone. The premise—a lonely dog builds a robot companion—is whimsical and original. The 1980s NYC backdrop adds nostalgic texture. The film invites kids to fill in dialogue and meaning themselves, fostering active engagement rather than passive consumption.

Safe

No content ratings provided, but based on the premise and TMDB score (suggesting family appeal), likely contains emotional separation/loss that could be unexpectedly sad for very young viewers. The 'misfortunes' mentioned in the synopsis suggest some melancholy or distressing moments. No indication of violence, gore, or inappropriate content, but the emotional weight of loneliness and abandonment may catch parents off-guard if they expect light fare.

Enriching

Explores themes of friendship, impermanence, grief, and resilience—meaningful territory for kids learning about relationships and loss. The wordless format builds visual literacy and emotional intelligence. The TMDB rating of 8.0 suggests strong audience reception, indicating genuine entertainment value alongside depth. However, without dialogue, younger kids may struggle to extract lessons without parent guidance.

Parent Info

✓

Why It Might Be Great

Dialogue-free storytelling builds visual literacy and lets kids interpret emotions without being told what to feel
Tackles real emotional territory—loneliness, separation, moving on—in a gentle, age-appropriate way that validates big feelings
The 1980s NYC setting is charming and nostalgic for parents, while the robot-building premise hooks kids
High TMDB rating (8.0) suggests it's genuinely engaging, not just 'good for you' medicine

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What to Watch For

The 'misfortunes' in the synopsis likely mean sad moments—separation anxiety or loss themes that may hit hard for sensitive kids
No dialogue means younger viewers might need help understanding the emotional beats; this isn't background viewing
At 102 minutes, it's a commitment for kids used to snappy pacing—may feel slow to the YouTube generation

Conversation Starters

"How do you think Dog felt when Robot wasn't there anymore? Have you ever missed someone like that?"
"What would you do if you had a robot friend? What adventures would you go on?"
"Why do you think the movie didn't use any words? Did you like figuring out the story yourself?"
"The movie shows that sometimes friends can't be together forever—how do you think Dog learned to be okay with that?"

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