Next Gen (2018)

Next Gen is one of those animated sci-fi adventures that sneaks up on you: it looks like a slick, neon-bright robot romp, then lands with real heart because it’s ultimately about a lonely kid finally feeling seen. The action is energetic and satisfyingly crunchy—laser chases, big set pieces, and clever gadgetry—yet it never loses the warmth and humor that come from watching a guarded girl and a “top-secret” robot learn how to trust each other. John Krasinski and the rest of the cast give the characters an easy charm, and the animation sells both the futuristic spectacle and the quieter, emotional beats. It’s not the gentlest family film (there’s a lot of cartoon mayhem and peril), but if you’re in the mood for something funny, fast, and surprisingly tender, it’s an easy recommendation.

Next Gen is clearly trying to be a heartfelt “kid meets weaponized robot” friendship story wrapped in slick sci-fi action, with a lonely heroine learning to reconnect with the people around her. The problem is it can’t decide if it wants to be a goofy family comedy or a darker, more intense robot thriller, and those hard tonal swerves make the plot feel busier and more exhausting than exciting. The pacing piles on villains, twists, and set pieces so quickly that the emotional beats don’t always get room to land, even though the core bond between Mai and the robot is the best thing here. If you’re after a simple, breezy animated adventure, this may feel overstuffed and oddly heavy; if you can tolerate lots of cartoon violence and a slightly chaotic story, you’ll at least get some strong action visuals and a sincere message about friendship and healing.