The Wild Robot has already impressed audiences and critics with its story, visuals, and emotional depth, earning three Oscar nominations this year for Best Animated Feature, Best Original Score, and Best Sound. But the film has also gained a quieter, though important, honor: it’s the only Oscar-nominated film this year to pass a climate storytelling test created to track how our stories reflect the reality of climate change.
The Climate Reality Check: A New Test For The Screen
Launched by the nonprofit Good Energy, the Climate Reality Check is a climate-focused version of the Bechdel Test. To pass, a film or show must take place on Earth (past, present, or future), and two things must be true: climate change exists in the story world, and at least one character knows it. Among all the Oscar nominees this year, only The Wild Robot met those simple criteria. Good Energy praised its “stunning portrayal of our watery future,” offering a vision of a planet shaped by climate change but still filled with life.
Beyond Fear: Can Climate Stories Inspire Without Alarming?
While natural disasters like wildfires and hurricanes have made climate change feel more urgent than ever, not all storytelling needs to be dark and apocalyptic. Experts believe stories can make people care about the planet by showing relatable, even joyful, ways to live responsibly. The Wild Robot offers one such path, presenting a future world where nature thrives and adaptation becomes key, without scaring audiences into despair.
Why Storytelling Matters In The Climate Conversation
According to Anna Jane Joyner, the founder of Good Energy, stories shape how we see ourselves and our world. She points to real examples—like how 1980s TV shows helped normalize the idea of designated drivers, reducing drunk driving deaths, or how LGBTQ+ representation in film has influenced public opinion. She believes climate storytelling has the same potential to normalize environmental awareness and shift cultural behavior in powerful ways.