A scene from ‘The Wild Robot’, based on the book by Maine author Peter Brown. Photo courtesy of DreamWorks

Maine author and illustrator Peter Brown realized something really big was happening to him a few weeks ago in New York City.

He looked up and saw giant, animated billboards for the new DreamWorks movie “The Wild Robot” towering over Times Square. The film is based on his 2016 children’s novel of the same name and is in cinemas nationwide on Friday.

“It was humiliating, and I haven’t processed it all yet,” said Brown, 45, who lives on the Midcoast near Damariscotta. “That’s quite expensive advertising.”

Seeing his book turned into a Hollywood movie is exciting on several levels for Brown. The New Jersey native originally went to art school in hopes of becoming an animator for Disney. Instead, he chose the career path of an author and illustrator, creating his three New York Times best-selling “Wild Robot” novels and creating illustrations for others’ books. The latest in the robot series, ‘The Wild Robot Protects’, was released last year.

“I think DreamWorks has done a great job. It’s visually beautiful and different from many big animated films; it’s more picturesque,” ​​said Brown, who moved to Maine a few years ago. “And the story is also different. There is a lot of heart and soul in it.”

Children’s book author and illustrator Peter Brown in his home studio, near Damariscotta. Shawn Patrick Ouellette/Staff Photographer

Brown’s books focus on a robot named Roz, who was programmed to work with humans and who is shipwrecked on a forested island filled with all kinds of wildlife, but no humans. One of the things she learns from the animals is how to be a parent to a young goose. She also learns about kindness.

The voice cast includes some pretty big names, including Lupita Nyong’o as Roz and Pedro Pascal as Fink, a fox. Nyong’o won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for “Twelve Years a Slave” (2013), while Pascal starred in the recent HBO series “The Last of Us” and the Disney series “The Mandalorian.” Other cast members include Catherine O’Hara, Bill Nighy, Mark Hamill and Kit Connor. The film is written and directed by Chris Sanders, whose resume includes such successful animated films as “How to Train Your Dragon,” “The Croods” and “Lilo & Stitch.”

Natalia Winkelman wrote the film for The New York Times, writing that it was a “dazzling triumph of animation in which you feel the filmmakers’ attention to every frame. In an uplifting turn away from the joke-a-minute, computer-generated extravagances that clog the animated zoological canon, this is a work that cares most about two things: great feelings and great beauty.

Brown was not directly involved in the making of the film, but did consult with Sanders, the director. In an email Thursday, Sanders praised Brown’s writing and said their discussions were crucial in finding the right mind for the film.

A scene from ‘The Wild Robot’, based on the book by Maine author Peter Brown. Universal Images / DreamWorks

“Peter has given us a brilliant and beautiful story of motherhood, with characters with such original voices and minds, set in a story that is fresh and compelling. He provided an amazing narrative canvas for our artists to explore and create this stunning world,” Sanders wrote. “In one of our first calls to discuss the book adaptation, Peter revealed that a leading theme – even though it’s not mentioned verbatim in the book – is the idea that kindness is a survival skill. When I heard that, I immediately wrote that line down, knowing I wanted to include it in the script, and it ended up being a line from Fink, the fox.

Brown has traveled to screenings across the country in recent weeks, including some where he and Nyong’o answered questions from the audience. He said Thursday that he will soon leave for another tour to promote a movie version of the book “The Wild Robot,” which includes color photos from the film. Brown did not create the artwork used in the film, and his book illustrations are in black and white.

Lupita Nyong’o voices Roz in “The Wild Robot,” based on the book by Maine author Peter Brown. Charles W. Murphy / Universal Images

When he returns to Maine from his tour for the film tie-in, Brown will appear in Portland, at The Kids’ Lit Bookfair at Maine Lit Fest, on October 12 at the Portland Public Library from 10am to 2pm. wife, children’s book author X. Fang, will also appear. Her latest picture book, ‘We Are Absolutely Human’, was published in August.

In June, Brown plans to release a color picture book for children based on “The Wild Robot.” He said that since his new illustrations are black and white, he wanted the opportunity to bring Roz’s world to life in color.

Brown said it took a while for him to get used to the idea of ​​a movie being made based on his story, but with the art of others on screen. But he thinks the film turned out great and now sees the value in not being an exact copy of his books.

“If the movie is exactly like my book, there will be no reason for people to read my book,” Brown said. “They both serve a different purpose, and you will get something different out of each experience.”

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