2006/05 The Wild

The Wild is a 2006 animated adventure film produced by Walt Disney Pictures and animated by Canadian studio C.O.R.E. Feature Animation. Directed by Steve "Spaz" Williams, the film follows Samson, a lion from the New York Zoo, who sets out on a daring rescue mission when his son, Ryan, is accidentally shipped to the wilds of Africa. Alongside a quirky group of animal friends—including a giraffe, koala, snake, and squirrel—Samson faces challenges that reveal the true meaning of courage and identity. The film was often compared to DreamWorks’ Madagascar (2005) due to similar zoo-to-wild themes, though development for The Wild began earlier. Despite Disney’s involvement, the film received mixed reviews, with praise for its animation quality but criticism for its storyline. Though it didn't achieve major box office success, The Wild remains a notable example of mid-2000s CGI animation and marked one of Disney’s final collaborations with outside animation studios before the Pixar merger. ...Show More