That beginning encapsulates the perception of DreamWorks Animation in a nutshell — as the decidedly less ambitious, less artful cousin to Pixar. And it’s hard to say that reputation is totally unearned.

"The Wild Robot” opened No. 1 in theaters nationwide this weekend, riding in on a wave of critical acclaim. The movie's release coincides with the DreamWorks Animation's 30th anniversary.

It’s not the massive haul ($62 million) that Inside Out 2 made in its debut, but The Wild Robot deserves a little credit after a summer where most of the biggest hits were so-called “established IP.” ( Per Box Office Mojo,

It's harder these days for animated films to find an audience without a recognizable brand. But with both critic and moviegoer acclaim on its side, Universal/DreamWorks' "The Wild Robot" has the tools it needs to turn a modest $35 million domestic opening weekend into a long theatrical run that could last through the end of the year.

Undoubtedly it’s easier for animation studios to have an in-house style, but this isn’t the path DreamWorks Animation decided to take when adapting the illustrated children’s novel The Wild Robot by Peter Brown,

Nature and technology collide and then come together in the narrative of the new animated film “The Wild Robot.” That feels particularly fitting considering the visually dazzling and heartfelt movie couldn’t have been made without both the latest and greatest tech has to offer and extremely talented people.

The Wild Robot's unexpected success at the box office is great news for both the creatives behind the film and animation at large.

Lupita Nyong’o would love to make a sequel to The Wild Robot. The 41-year-old actress stars as the lovable and inquisitive android Roz in the upcoming animated DreamWorks movie — which is based on the Peter Brown novel of the same name — and has shared her excitement over a possible follow-up flick.