Yahoo Lifestyle ‘The Wild Robot’ Composer Kris Bowers Breaks Down How He Created a Score That Made Us All Cry
There were five of us in the studio with Kris Bowers during this recording of Variety’s Behind the Song, and by the time he finished taking us through “I Could Use a Boost,” there wasn’t a dry eye in the room. It was a testament to the emotional impact of his score—one that resonated just as deeply with audiences worldwide.
DreamWorks’ “The Wild Robot” became a widely acclaimed success, thanks in large part to its emotional storytelling and a powerful score that left a lasting impression on audiences. “I Could Use a Boost” underscores one of the film’s most poignant moments, capturing the profound emotions of love, loss, and growth. Reflecting on his initial approach to the film’s sound, Bowers shared how personal the project became for him. “My daughter was six months old when I got the call [to do this film], and so I was reading the book in a weekend, mostly to her.” The themes of parental love and letting go resonated with Bowers, shaping his musical direction from the very start.
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When it came to composing, Bowers sought out moments in the film that elicited a visceral emotional reaction. “This [scene] is the one that just spoke to me emotionally very clearly right away,” he explained. “The sequence feels like sending your kid off to college.”
Bowers’ composition process involved improvising at the piano, channeling his own feelings of parenthood. “I was thinking about how I’m going to fail [my daughter] and how there’s going to be moments where she feels like even though I tried my best, I fell short,” he shared. These reflections translated into the film’s tender, yet heartrending score. Director Chris Sanders highlighted the emotional weight of the moment, calling it “the most emotionally complex moment in the movie.” The scene captures Roz preparing Brightbill for life on his own, a departure filled with unspoken love and goodbyes.
Initially writing to black-and-white storyboards, Bowers later took Sanders’ advice to compose independently. “Chris actually suggested that I write away from picture,” he noted. “That doesn’t happen really ever, and it felt very freeing.”
Bowers explained that the arrangement is “mostly live instrumentation, over a hundred pieces in total when you add the choir.” The choir, a rare but powerful presence in the score, was also strategically used. “I wanted to try to be as intentional as possible with when we use the voice,” Bowers explained. “If we’re making commentary on this robot becoming more human-like, then that being a texture that we hear should be something that’s used very sparingly.” The decision to keep the choir wordless added to the universality of the emotion, avoiding any geographical or linguistic ties.
The emotional power of the score hit home for Bowers when he shared it with his wife and daughter. “My wife started crying watching it. And then my daughter asked, ‘Why are you crying? Is it because the baby bird left the mama?’” In that moment, Bowers felt the weight of the music’s impact, realizing how deeply it resonated not just with him, but with those he loved most.
Ultimately, “I Could Use a Boost” stands out as an orchestral masterpiece that captures the core themes of “The Wild Robot.” As the final sequence of the scene unfolds, Bowers layers melodies and rhythms, creating a swelling, heartbreaking conclusion. “The melody starts to double up,” he described, reinforcing the sense of time slipping away. It’s a deeply felt, beautifully crafted piece that ensures the audience experienced the same emotional journey as Roz and Brightbill—one of love, farewell, and inevitable change.
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