Disney has undoubtedly cemented itself as one of the most successful animation studios of all time, especially when it comes to kids' films. With its whimsical charm and effortless storytelling techniques, this franchise has allowed children to slip into an abundance of fantasy worlds for decades. But, as the franchise continues to release a plethora of movies each year, some of its classics slip into a nostalgic abyss.

Meet the Robinsons is an off-beat animated film that transformed a variety of tropes in order to offer audiences a truly unique film. Alongside the use of a time machine and a pet T. rex, this film also offered a variety of ways that it could make fans tear up. But what happens in Meet the Robinsons and is a sequel on the horizon?

What's Meet the Robinsons About?

• In Lewis' orphanage, there are pictures of Walt Disney.
• When renowned director John Lasseter saw the first screening of the movie, he demanded that 60% of it be changed or scrapped.
• Many of the inventions shown throughout this film are similar to attractions seen in Tomorrowland in the Disney Parks.

Meet the Robinsons first introduces us to Lewis, a budding inventor desperately trying to find his birth mother while navigating life in an orphanage. During a visit to his school science fair, Lewis meets Wilbur Robinson, a young man who claims to be a mysterious time cop. He recruits Lewis to help him find his time machine, which has been stolen by the Disney villain known as the Bowler Hat Guy. As Lewis continues to showcase his memory scanner at the fair, it suddenly explodes and is stolen by the Bowler Hat Guy. Thus, the two young boys form a deal to help each other in their respective ventures. Lewis promises to help Wilbur find his time machine if Wilbur promises to help him find his birth mother. As the pair zoom off into the future, they quickly realize that their off-beat villain is a lot more sinister than they bargained for.

When Meet the Robinsons was initially released in 2007, it just managed to break even at the box office. With an impressive budget of $150 million, the film only managed to gain a gross revenue of $169.3 million. As such, this nuanced film was brushed off by critics, but commercial audiences adored its complex plots and heart-warming relationships. Surprisingly, the film was loosely based on the hit children's book A Day with Wilbur Robinson, so critics were expecting big things from this film.

Lewis and Wilbur’s Relationship Defies the Conventions of Male Friendships

Notable Members of Wilbur Robinson's Family:

There's no denying that Wilbur and Lewis' relationship is extremely complicated, especially when audiences learn that they're actually father and son. But, their initial friendship is quite compelling and certainly goes against the conventions created by toxic male relationships. Even when Wilbur is showing off his eccentric house and family, he doesn't do it in a way that makes Lewis feel ashamed or uncomfortable. In fact, Wilbur's typical laid-back tone gives this entire sequence a sense of elegance, and the audience isn't forced to sit through an element of underlying tension. Admittedly, the two do share some tense moments, calling each other immature names. But these names are not necessarily cruel and don't go too far. Thus, even in their hardest moments, Disney showcases these boys having a sense of respect for each other, which gives the entire film the essence of companionship and love.

Wilbur and Lewis are at different ends of the socio-economic spectrum, but Disney uses these differences to showcase the love between the two rather than using it as a political statement. Lewis resides in an orphanage, meaning that he has to share all of his worldly possessions with others. Plus, his living situation often means that he has to fight for attention. Wilbur, on the other hand, has it all, including a very loving adoptive family. Yet, despite their differences, Wilbur doesn't go out of his way to make his friend feel jealous. Thus, the audience quickly sees them on the same playing field, meaning that they can identify the antagonist as the Bowler Hat Guy. In turn, fans do not believe that these two young boys are in competition with each other but believe that they're trying to work together to defeat a common enemy.

Surprisingly, This Film Teaches Viewers That They Aren’t That Special

• The original voice actors of Lewis and Wilbur had to be recast because their voices broke during recording.
• The science fair is held at Joyce Williams Elementary School, which is a link to the author of the story, William Joyce.
• On the DVD rendition of this film, there is a bonus feature that allows viewers to experience the whole movie with only sound effects.

Although Disney is commonly linked with messages of hope and prosperity, Meet the Robinsons teaches the audience that no one is exceptional. Key characters, including Wilbur, Carl the Robot, and Cornellius, keep repeating the phrase "Keep Moving Forward." Though this motto could be seen as a sense of encouragement, in the wider context of this film, it seems that this phrase aims to teach audiences that no matter how many hardships they face, they just have to dust themselves and move on. Thus, it seems that the creative team behind this movie didn't want to make Lewis seem like a victim and give him the confidence to get over his past trauma.

In addition, Lewis is very keen to find and impress his birth mother, a trait that deeply affects his self-confidence. He spends a large portion of the film wondering why his birth mother left him, only to learn that it doesn't really matter in the grand scheme of things. The audience learns that Lewis grows up to be an ingenious man with a family of his own, without the help of his birth parents. As such, it could be said that Disney was keen to push away from its typical fairy tale format and showcase that even during the toughest battles, a person's life is no better and no worse than anyone else's.

What's Next for Meet the Robinsons?

• In the 3D screenings, the credits are all presented in 2D, except for the names of those who worked in 3D production.
• Frankie's singing parts are performed by hit jazz singer Jamie Cullum.
• Tobey Maguire, Zac Efron, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were just some of the actors considered to play Wilbur before Wesley Singerman secured the role.

Meet the Robinsons is teeming with strong subliminal messages and charming characters, but it just couldn't defeat the competition at the box office. Though it was the fourth highest-grossing animated film of 2007, Meet the Robinsons was up against some strong contenders, including The Simpsons Movie and Ratatouille. Thus, it's clear that although the younger audience reveled in its absurdity and kindness, the film was destined to fade into the audience's memories.

Meet the Robinsons did produce an array of accompanying material, including some novels and a few video game adaptations, but as technology developed, these items were seen as obsolete. But, as streaming platforms like Disney+ become more widespread, it seems that classic 2000s Disney movies are quickly making a huge comeback. Thus, although a sequel called Meet the Robinsons 2: First Date was promptly scrapped, Disney may consider adding this film to its wide range of live-action remakes in the future.