What is it that connects us? What is it that gives us purpose? The new animated film, The Wild Robot, certainly asks some of those questions. It does so in a thoughtful, poignant, and often beautiful way.

The film begins with a lone robot—Roz (Lupita Nyong’o)—who washes up on an island. She was part of a shipment that got lost in a typhoon. Waking, she follows her programming and tries to find the client she’s meant to serve. The creatures of the island don’t take kindly to the stranger.

After a bit of learning and observation, Roz begins to understand her new environment. When an accident leads to a lone egg, Roz becomes its caretaker, finally given a task. When the egg hatches, out pops Brightbill (Kit Conner). With the help of a wily fox named Fink (Pedro Pascal), Roz sets about helping Brightbill learn, grow, and prepare for migration.

Finding Brightbill gives Roz a purpose, but soon the connection grows beyond that and beyond what she initially expected. The question becomes can Roz and Brightbill find the place where they truly belong? And is that place closer than they might have imagined?

This is a unique and beautifully crafted animated feature. The story from Chris Sanders and Peter Brown is deep and emotionally rich. Sanders serves as director here, giving this film a strong and unique animated style. But it’s really about the story—and this unconventional family and the way it changes everyone involved.

The voice cast is great here. Ving Rhames, Mark Hamill, Bill Nighy, Matt Berry, and Catherine O’Hara are among the supporting characters. But it’s the lead trio of Pascal, Conner, and Nyong’o that really make it work. I love their dynamics and interaction, and the raw emotion of this journey.

It’s been a slower year for animated films, full of a lot of entries to long-running franchise. But this is an original concept and film that really works beautifully. It’s worth taking time to seek out in theaters this weekend.

The Wild Robot is now playing.

Matthew Fox is a graduate of the Radio, Television and Film program at Biola University, and a giant nerd. He spends his free time watching movies, TV, and obsessing about football. He is a member of the FSWA. You can find him @knighthawk7734 on Twitter and as co-host of the Fantasy Football Roundtable Podcast.