Kris Bowers: Crafting Emotional Depth Through Music in The Wild Robot

A New Challenge and a Historic Nomination

Kris Bowers, a Grammy and Emmy-nominated composer, has once again proven his mastery in storytelling through music with his work on The Wild Robot, an animated film that has earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Original Score. This nomination not only solidifies his place as one of Hollywood’s most sought-after composers but also highlights his ability to adapt to new challenges. The Wild Robot marks Bowers’ first foray into composing for an animated film, and his score perfectly complements the film’s stunning visuals and emotional depth. The story follows Roz, a robot who finds herself out of place in a natural world, as she seeks to connect with the animals around her. Bowers’ score captures Roz’s journey with heart and nuance, making the film a deeply moving experience.

For Bowers, the Oscar nomination is more than just an accolade; it’s a full-circle moment. As a child, he often looked at the list of Oscar nominees to discover new composers and expand his collection of music. Now, his name is on that list, inspiring a new generation of composers. “It means something to be a part of this history,” he says. Being nominated by the Academy’s music branch, which includes composers he has admired since he was a kid, feels like a validation of his craft. No matter how his career unfolds, Bowers knows that someone will look at this year’s list and see his name, and that thought resonates deeply with him.

Tapping Into Emotion and Personal Experience

Crafting a score that resonates emotionally is never easy, but Bowers found inspiration in his personal life. As a father, he watched his wife go through the sacrifices of pregnancy, and those experiences influenced the way he approached the music for The Wild Robot. He wanted to capture the essence of parenthood—its complexity, love, and vulnerability. Bowers often tests his music on his wife, playing themes and asking her how they make her feel. When he played her a sequence from the film, she cried, even without knowing the full context of the story. “I struck a nerve,” he reflects, knowing he was on the right track.

Bowers’ process begins with immersing himself in the story. For The Wild Robot, he studied the early black-and-white sketches of the characters, which helped him connect with their emotions. From there, he sits at his piano and lets those feelings guide him, crafting a musical narrative that feels authentic and heartfelt. This approach has become a hallmark of his work, from his Oscar-winning score for the short documentary The Last Repair Shop to his contributions to films like King Richard and Green Book.

The Challenges of Animated Film Composition

Composing for an animated film like The Wild Robot presented a unique set of challenges for Bowers. Unlike live-action films, where music can come and go, animated films often require wall-to-wall scores, with music playing almost continuously throughout the film. This demands a level of creativity and precision that can be daunting. Bowers admits that the process was more challenging than his previous work, but it also allowed him to explore new ways of storytelling through music.

In the final 20-30 minutes of The Wild Robot, the score shifts into an action-packed sequence, reminiscent of iconic films like Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Bowers studied how John Williams, one of his greatest influences, handled similar moments in Star Wars. He wanted to ensure that the themes he had developed for Roz and the other characters could carry the emotional weight of the film’s climax. The result is a score that not only complements the visuals but also elevates the story, making it unforgettable.

Learning From the Masters: John Williams and Kobe Bryant

Bowers often credits John Williams, the legendary composer behind Star Wars, Harry Potter, and Indiana Jones, as a major influence on his work. Williams’ ability to create memorable, singable themes that amplify the emotional impact of a film is something Bowers admires and strives to emulate. He recalls how Williams’ themes in Star Wars return at pivotal moments, evoking powerful emotions in the audience. This approach to storytelling through music is something Bowers applied to The Wild Robot, ensuring that the themes he created for Roz and the other characters could resonate deeply with viewers.

Another significant influence in Bowers’ life and career is the late Kobe Bryant. The two collaborated on several projects, and Bryant often pushed Bowers to elevate his craft. Bryant would remind him that if a project wasn’t challenging enough to make him a better artist, it wasn’t worth pursuing. This mentality has shaped the way Bowers approaches his work, always striving to take on new challenges and grow as a composer. When Bowers wrote music for one of Bryant’s projects, the basketball legend famously told him, “This has to be better than the music for E.T.,