View source for WALL-E

{{Short description|2008 film by Andrew Stanton}}
{{About|the animated film|the title character|WALL-E (character)|other uses|WALL-E (disambiguation)|and|Walle (disambiguation){{!}}Walle}}
{{pp-sock|small=yes}}
{{Good article}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2017}}
{{Infobox film
| name           = WALL-E
| image          = WALL-E poster.jpg
| caption        = Theatrical release poster
| director       = [[Andrew Stanton]]
| producer       = [[Jim Morris (film producer)|Jim Morris]]
| screenplay     = {{Plainlist|
* Andrew Stanton
* [[Jim Reardon]]
}}
| story          = {{Plainlist|
* Andrew Stanton
* [[Pete Docter]]
}}
| starring       = {{Plainlist|
* [[Ben Burtt]]
* [[Elissa Knight]]
* [[Jeff Garlin]]
* [[Fred Willard]]
* [[John Ratzenberger]]
* [[Kathy Najimy]]
* [[Sigourney Weaver]]
}}
| music          = [[Thomas Newman]]
| cinematography = {{Plainlist|
* Jeremy Lasky
* [[Danielle Feinberg]]
}}
| editing        = [[Stephen Schaffer]]
| production_companies = [[Pixar Animation Studios]]
| distributor    = [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures|Walt Disney Studios<br />Motion Pictures]]{{efn|name=Disney|Distributed by [[Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures]] through the [[Walt Disney Pictures]] banner}}<!--Text wrap is used in this link to ensure correct formatting at all screen resolutions.-->
| released       = {{Film date|2008|6|23|[[Greek Theatre (Los Angeles)|Greek Theatre]]|2008|6|27|United States}}
| runtime        = 97 minutes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://catalog.afi.com/Film/55499-WALL-E?sid=8f622ebf-dcd2-4b1f-8a28-be9c4d211c86&sr=4.0206413&cp=1&pos=4|title=WALL-E|publisher=[[American Film Institute]]|access-date=March 11, 2019|archive-date=December 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201222081924/https://catalog.afi.com/Film/55499-WALL-E?sid=8f622ebf-dcd2-4b1f-8a28-be9c4d211c86&sr=4.0206413&cp=1&pos=4|url-status=live}}</ref>
| country        = United States
| language       = English
| budget         = $180&nbsp;million<ref>{{cite news|author=Brooks Barnes|title=Disney and Pixar: The Power of the Prenup|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=June 1, 2008|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/business/media/01pixar.html|access-date=January 12, 2009|archive-date=January 29, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129133239/https://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/01/business/media/01pixar.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
| gross          = $532.5&nbsp;million<!-- When updating this figure, please update the access-date field in the following citation --><ref name="BOM">{{cite web|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=wall-e.htm|title=WALL-E (2008)|publisher=Box Office Mojo|access-date=December 30, 2020|archive-date=August 6, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100806015631/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=wall-e.htm|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="NUM">{{cite web|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/WALL-E#tab=summary|title=WALL-E|publisher=The Numbers|access-date=December 1, 2017|archive-date=November 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181123154257/https://www.the-numbers.com/movie/WALL-E#tab=summary|url-status=live}}</ref>
}}
<!--Please do not change the hyphens in the film or title character's name. Consensus and Wikipedia guidelines have determined that it should be kept as "WALL-E", and any edits changing the hyphen to an interpunct, bullet or other such character will be reverted. Thank you. The discussion where the consensus was achieved can be found at the "Official Wikipedia naming?" thread in the first Archive on the talk page.-->

'''''WALL-E''''' (stylized with an [[interpunct]] as '''''WALL·E''''') is a 2008 American animated [[Romance film|romantic]] [[science fiction film]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=Wall-E Review: One of the Best Sci-Fi Movies in Years, Disguised as a Cartoon|url=https://gizmodo.com/wall-e-review-one-of-the-best-sci-fi-movies-in-years-5020237|date=June 27, 2008|website=gizmodo.com|access-date=May 22, 2020|archive-date=July 1, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701135011/https://gizmodo.com/wall-e-review-one-of-the-best-sci-fi-movies-in-years-5020237|url-status=live}}</ref> produced by [[Pixar Animation Studios]] for [[Walt Disney Pictures]]. The film was directed by [[Andrew Stanton]], produced by [[Jim Morris (film producer)|Jim Morris]], and written by Stanton and [[Jim Reardon]], based on a story by Stanton and [[Pete Docter]]. It stars the voices of [[Ben Burtt]], [[Elissa Knight]], [[Jeff Garlin]], [[John Ratzenberger]], [[Kathy Najimy]], and [[Sigourney Weaver]], with [[Fred Willard]] in a live-action role. The film follows a solitary robot named [[WALL-E (character)|WALL-E]] on a [[Future of Earth|future]], [[Planetary habitability|uninhabitable]], deserted [[Earth]] in 2805, left to clean up garbage. He is visited by a robot called EVE sent from the [[starship]] ''Axiom'', with whom he falls in love and pursues across the galaxy.

After directing ''[[Finding Nemo]]'', Stanton felt Pixar had created believable simulations of underwater physics and was willing to direct a film set largely in space. ''WALL-E'' has minimal dialogue in its early sequences; many of the characters in the film do not have voices, but instead communicate with [[body language]] and robotic sounds that were designed by Burtt. The film incorporates various topics including [[consumerism]], [[corporatocracy]], [[nostalgia]], [[waste management]], [[human impact on the environment|human environmental impact and concerns]], [[obesity]]/[[sedentary lifestyle]]s, and [[global catastrophic risk]].<ref name="Murray and Heumann, 2009">{{cite journal|last=Murray|first=Robin L.|author2=Heumann, Joseph K.|title=WALL-E: From Environmental Adaptation to Sentimental Nostalgia|journal=Jump Cut: A Review of Contemporary Media|date=Spring 2009|series=No. 51|url=http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc51.2009/WallE/text.html|access-date=November 16, 2012|archive-date=October 21, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121021222552/http://www.ejumpcut.org/archive/jc51.2009/WallE/text.html|url-status=live}}</ref> It is also Pixar's first animated film with segments featuring live-action characters. [[Thomas Newman]] composed the film's musical score. The film cost $180&nbsp;million to produce, a record-breaking sum for an animated film at the time. Following Pixar tradition, ''WALL-E'' was paired with a short film titled ''[[Presto (film)|Presto]]'' for its theatrical release.

''WALL-E'' premiered at the [[Greek Theatre (Los Angeles)|Greek Theatre]] in Los Angeles on June 23, 2008, and was released in the United States on June 27. The film received critical acclaim for its animation, story, voice acting, characters, visuals, score, sound design, screenplay, use of minimal dialogue, and scenes of romance.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-10-16|title=WALL-E: No 15 best romantic film of all time|url=http://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/16/wall-e-romance|access-date=2020-09-20|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=December 10, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201210040846/https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/16/wall-e-romance|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Hodgson|first=Claire|date=2014-04-27|title=Why Pixar's WALL-E is the greatest love story ever told in 11 heart warming GIFs|url=http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/pixars-wall-e-greatest-love-story-3439138|access-date=2020-09-20|website=mirror|archive-date=April 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210424233114/https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/pixars-wall-e-greatest-love-story-3439138|url-status=live}}</ref> It was also commercially successful, grossing $521.3&nbsp;million worldwide and becoming the [[2008 in film#Highest-grossing films|ninth-highest grossing film of 2008]]. It won the 2008 [[Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film]], the 2009 [[Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation#Long Form|Hugo Award for Best Long Form Dramatic Presentation]],<ref name="Hugo">{{cite web|url=http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2009-hugo-awards/ |title=2009 Hugo Awards |publisher=The Hugo Awards |access-date=April 22, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110507164818/http://www.thehugoawards.org/hugo-history/2009-hugo-awards/ |archive-date=May 7, 2011 |df=mdy }}</ref> the final [[Nebula Award for Best Script]],<ref name="Nebula">{{cite web|url=http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Nebula2009.html |title=Nebula Award winners for 2008 announced |publisher=LOCUS |access-date=September 4, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605231125/http://www.locusmag.com/SFAwards/Db/Nebula2009.html |archive-date=June 5, 2011 }}</ref> the [[Saturn Award for Best Animated Film]] and the [[Academy Award]] for [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature|Best Animated Feature]] with five additional Oscar nominations. The film was widely named by critics and organizations, including the [[National Board of Review]] and [[American Film Institute]], as one of the best films of 2008,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://criticstop10.com/best-of-2008/|title=Best of 2008|website=Criticstop10.com|date=January 7, 2013 |access-date=November 26, 2018|archive-date=August 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180819221541/https://criticstop10.com/best-of-2008/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Top 100 Animation Movies – Rotten Tomatoes|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_animation_movies/|access-date=2020-11-03|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|archive-date=June 9, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210609084412/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/top/bestofrt/top_100_animation_movies/|url-status=live}}</ref> and is considered among [[List of films considered the best#Animation (shorts and features)|the greatest animated films ever made]].<ref>{{Cite magazine|url = https://www.rollingstone.com/movies/movie-lists/40-greatest-animated-movies-ever-19817/pixar-wall-e-2008-208968/|title = 40 Greatest Animated Movies Ever|magazine = [[Rolling Stone]]|date = October 13, 2019|access-date = December 15, 2021|archive-date = September 23, 2023|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230923142416/https://gum.criteo.com/syncframe?origin=publishertag&topUrl=www.rollingstone.com|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://time.com/4609386/best-animated-films/|title=The 25 All-TIME Best Animated Films|access-date=December 15, 2021|archive-date=September 26, 2021|archive-url=https://archive.today/20210926104304/https://time.com/4609386/best-animated-films/|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stacker.com/stories/2471/best-animated-films-all-time-according-critics|title=Best animated films of all time, according to critics|access-date=December 15, 2021|archive-date=September 23, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923142333/https://stacker.com/movies/best-animated-films-all-time-according-critics|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2021, ''WALL-E'' became the second Pixar feature film (after ''[[Toy Story]]''), as well as the second animated film in the 21st century after ''[[Shrek]]'', to be selected for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref name="Tartaglione">{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/12/national-film-registry-2021-list-star-wars-return-of-the-jedi-fellowship-of-the-ring-sounder-nightmare-on-elm-street-wall-e-1234890666/|title=National Film Registry Adds ''Return Of The Jedi'', ''Fellowship Of The Ring'', ''Strangers On A Train'', ''Sounder'', ''WALL-E'' & More|date=December 14, 2021|first=Nancy|last=Tartaglione|website=[[Deadline Hollywood]]|access-date=December 14, 2021|archive-date=July 2, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220702231423/https://deadline.com/2021/12/national-film-registry-2021-list-star-wars-return-of-the-jedi-fellowship-of-the-ring-sounder-nightmare-on-elm-street-wall-e-1234890666/|url-status=live}}</ref> In September 2022, at the request of Stanton, Disney licensed ''WALL-E'' to [[The Criterion Collection]], which re-released the film as a special edition [[Ultra HD Blu-ray|4K Blu-Ray]]-standard [[Blu-ray]] combo pack on November 22, 2022, marking the first Pixar film to ever receive such an honor.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Clark |first=Mitchell |date=2022-09-10 |title=WALL-E is rolling his way into the Criterion Collection |url=https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/10/23345385/wall-e-criterion-collection-4k-blu-ray |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=The Verge |language=en-US |archive-date=September 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923142332/https://www.theverge.com/2022/9/10/23345385/wall-e-criterion-collection-4k-blu-ray |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=WALL·E |url=https://www.criterion.com/films/33246-walle |access-date=2023-01-04 |website=The Criterion Collection |language=en |archive-date=January 4, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230104074048/https://www.criterion.com/films/33246-walle |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Plot ==
<!-- Per [[WP:FILMPLOT]], plot summaries for feature film articles should be between 400 and 700 words. -->
In the 29th century, Earth is a garbage-strewn wasteland due to an [[ecocide]] caused by rampant [[consumerism]], corporate greed, and environmental neglect. Humanity was evacuated to space by the [[megacorporation]] Buy n Large (BnL) on giant spaceships 700 years earlier, leaving trash-compacting robots to clean up the planet. All but one of the robots have stopped functioning; the last remaining active robot, [[WALL-E (character)| WALL-E]] (Waste Allocation Load Lifter: Earth-class), has developed a personality. WALL-E remains active by salvaging parts from inactive robots, with his pet cockroach Hal as his only companion.

One day, WALL-E's routine of compressing trash and collecting interesting objects is broken by the arrival of a robot called EVE (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator), which scans the planet for sustainable life. WALL-E is smitten by the sleek, futuristic robot, and the two begin to connect, until EVE goes into standby mode when WALL-E shows her his most recent find: a living seedling. EVE is collected by a large [[unmanned]] rocket; with WALL-E clinging on, it returns to its mothership, the starliner ''Axiom''.

In the centuries since the ''Axiom'' left Earth, its passengers have degenerated into helpless obesity due to [[microgravity]] and laziness, with robots catering to their every whim. Captain B. McCrea sits back while his robotic [[Artificial Intelligence|AI]] autopilot helm, nicknamed AUTO, pilots the ship. McCrea is unprepared for the positive probe response, but discovers that placing the plant in the ship's Holo-Detector will trigger a [[warp drive|hyperjump]] back to Earth so that humanity can begin recolonization. When McCrea inspects EVE's storage compartment, the plant is missing, and EVE blames WALL-E for its disappearance.

EVE is deemed faulty and taken to diagnostics. WALL-E intervenes and inadvertently releases the other faulty bots, causing him and EVE to be designated rogue robots. EVE tries sending WALL-E home in an escape pod, but the two witness McCrea's first mate robot, GO-4, stowing the plant in a pod set to self-destruct. WALL-E enters the pod to retrieve the plant just as it launches, and he and the plant survive the pod's destruction. EVE catches up to him and they reconcile, celebrating with a dance in space around the ''Axiom''.

EVE brings the plant to McCrea, who watches her recordings of Earth, concluding that they must save it. AUTO reveals that secret no-return directive [[A113]] orders them to not return to Earth, on account of toxicity levels making Earth unlivable. When McCrea tries overriding the directive, AUTO electrocutes WALL-E, throws WALL-E and EVE down a garbage chute, and confines McCrea to his quarters. EVE and WALL-E are nearly ejected into space with the ''Axiom's'' garbage, but cleaning robot Microbe Obliterator (M-O) inadvertently jams the airlock and rescues them.

As humans and robots help to secure the plant, McCrea and AUTO fight for control of the ''Axiom''. AUTO crushes WALL-E using the Holo-Detector, but McCrea overpowers and deactivates AUTO. EVE inserts the plant into the Holo-Detector, initiating the hyperjump back to Earth.

Arriving on Earth, EVE repairs WALL-E, but his memory and personality have been erased. EVE gives WALL-E a goodbye "kiss", which releases a static electricity shock, restoring him. WALL-E and EVE reunite as the ''Axiom'' inhabitants take their first steps on Earth. Humans and robots work to restore the ravaged planet, and the plant grows into a tree, beneath which WALL-E and EVE rest.

== Cast ==
=== Voice cast ===
* [[Ben Burtt]] as [[WALL-E (character)|WALL-E]] (Waste Allocation Load Lifter: Earth-class),<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,1813964,00.html|title=WALL-E: Pixar's Biggest Gamble|last=Corliss|first=Richard|date=June 12, 2008|magazine=Time|access-date=September 23, 2017|issn=0040-781X|archive-date=October 2, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171002025914/http://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,1813964,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> a compactor robot who has achieved [[sentience]], he is the only one still functioning on Earth. He is a small mobile compactor box accompanied by his cockroach friend Hal. He collects trinkets from the garbage and displays them at his home, where he watches a [[video cassette]] of 20th Century Studios' ''[[Hello, Dolly! (film)|Hello, Dolly!]]'', mimicking the dance sequences.
** Burtt also voices M-O (Microbe-Obliterator), a cleaning robot.
* [[Elissa Knight]] as EVE (Extraterrestrial Vegetation Evaluator),<ref name=":0" /> a glossy white egg-shaped probe robot with blue LED eyes, whose directive is to verify the habitability of planets for humans. She moves using [[antigravity]] and is equipped with scanners, specimen storage, and a [[Plasma weapon (fiction)|cannon]] which she is quick to use.
* [[Jeff Garlin]] as Captain B. McCrea, the captain of the ''Axiom''. (While McCrea's name was never spoken, it does appear on a portrait of him in his quarters. He is only ever referred to as the Captain.)
* [[PlainTalk|MacInTalk]], the text-to-speech program for Apple [[Macintosh]] computers, is the voice of AUTO, the ''Axiom''{{'}}s villainous [[artificial intelligence|AI]] autopilot which handles command functions of the ship. Loyal only to directive [[A113]], he and GO-4 are the only computers not influenced by WALL-E.
* [[John Ratzenberger]] and [[Kathy Najimy]] as John and Mary, who live on the ''Axiom'', so dependent on their automatic services as to be oblivious to their surroundings. They are brought out of their trances by encounters with WALL-E and [[Love at first sight|fall in love]] with each other.
* [[Sigourney Weaver]] as the ''Axiom''{{'}}s computer. Stanton joked to Weaver: "You realize you get to be 'Mother' now?"<ref name=notes /><ref name="dvd-mother">DVD. Scene 16. "Captain on Deck". Audio commentary by Director Andrew Stanton. 52:01–52:09.</ref> referring to the ship's computer in the film ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]'', starring Weaver.<ref name="dvd-mother" />

=== Live-action cast ===
* [[Fred Willard]] as Shelby Forthright, CEO of the Buy n Large Corporation and President of Earth. The only major live-action character, appearing only in videos recorded around the time of the ''Axiom''{{'}}s launch in the 22nd century. Forthright proposed the plan to evacuate Earth's population and then clean up the planet so they could return within five years. Discovering that Earth had become too toxic to support life, the cleanup and recolonization were abandoned. Forthright issued directive [[A113]] preventing anyone from returning to Earth. As of {{currentyear}}, Forthright is the only live-action character with a speaking role in any Pixar film.
* [[Michael Crawford]] and [[Marianne McAndrew]] appear in an archival recording performing "It Only Takes a Moment" from ''[[Hello, Dolly! (film)|Hello, Dolly!]]''.

== Production ==
=== Writing ===
{{quote box|<poem>
BACK ON M-O AND WALLY{{sic}}

M-O just finishes cleaning the floor.
Wally is fascinated.
Impishly makes another mark.
M-O compulsively cleans it. Can't resist.

::::::::::::M-O (bleeps):
:::::::[Look, it stays clean. You got that?]

Wally wipes the bottom of his tread on M-O's face.
M-O loses it.
Scrubs his own face.</poem>|source= —Stanton wrote the screenplay to focus on the visuals<br />and as a guide to what the sound effects needed to convey<ref name=screenplay />}}

As depicted in the teaser trailer, Andrew Stanton conceived ''WALL-E'' during a lunch with fellow writers [[John Lasseter]], [[Pete Docter]], and [[Joe Ranft]] in 1994. ''[[Toy Story]]'' was near completion and the writers brainstormed ideas for their next projects—''[[A Bug's Life]]'', ''[[Monsters, Inc.]]'', and ''[[Finding Nemo]]''—at this lunch. Stanton asked, "What if mankind had to leave Earth and somebody forgot to turn off the last robot?"<ref name=notes>{{cite web|title=Production notes|url=http://adisney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/wall-e/media/downloads/WALLEProductionNotes.pdf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110711103245/http://adisney.go.com/disneyvideos/animatedfilms/wall-e/media/downloads/WALLEProductionNotes.pdf|publisher=[[Walt Disney Pictures]]|access-date=July 19, 2008|archive-date=July 11, 2011}}</ref> Having struggled for many years with making the characters in ''Toy Story'' appealing, Stanton found his simple ''[[Robinson Crusoe]]''-esque idea of a lonely robot on a deserted planet strong.<ref name=awn>{{cite news|author=Bill Desowitz |title=Stanton Powers Up WALL•E |work=[[Animation World Network]] |date=April 7, 2008 |url=http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=3601&page=1 |access-date=November 23, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301043642/http://mag.awn.com/index.php?ltype=pageone&article_no=3601&page=1 |archive-date=March 1, 2009 }}</ref><ref name=avclub>{{cite news|url=https://www.avclub.com/content/interview/andrew_stanton |title=Andrew Stanton |work=[[The A.V. Club]] |author=Tasha Robinson |date=June 26, 2008 |access-date=November 3, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080908045321/http://www.avclub.com/content/interview/andrew_stanton |archive-date=September 8, 2008 |df=mdy }}</ref> Stanton made [[WALL-E (character)|WALL-E]] a [[waste collector]] as the idea was instantly understandable, and because it was a low-status menial job that made him sympathetic.<ref name=world /> Stanton also liked the imagery of stacked cubes of garbage.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.html?id=398f8b3e-09c9-45e1-b705-c0ba4691bc47 |author=Jamie Portman |title=The last robot left has to put out the trash |work=[[The Vancouver Sun]] |date=June 25, 2008 |access-date=July 21, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080702061126/http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/arts/story.html?id=398f8b3e-09c9-45e1-b705-c0ba4691bc47 |archive-date=July 2, 2008 }}</ref> He did not find the idea dark because having a planet covered in garbage was for him a childish imagining of disaster.<ref name=screenwriting>{{cite web|url=http://creativescreenwritingmagazine.blogspot.com/2008/12/andrew-stanton-wall-e-q.html|title=Andrew Stanton: Wall-E Q&A|work=Creative Screenwriting|date=December 16, 2008|format=QuickTime audio|access-date=January 4, 2009|archive-date=May 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511123257/http://creativescreenwritingmagazine.blogspot.com/2008/12/andrew-stanton-wall-e-q.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Stanton and Docter developed the film under the title of ''Trash Planet'' for two months in 1995, but they did not know how to develop the story and Docter chose to direct ''Monsters, Inc.'' instead.<ref name=total>{{cite news | author = James White | title = How We Made WALL-E | work = [[Total Film]] | date = April 2008 | pages=113–116}}</ref><ref name=hauser11>Hauser, p. 11.</ref> Stanton came up with the idea of WALL-E finding a plant, because his life as the sole inhabitant on a deserted world reminded Stanton of a plant growing among pavements.<ref name=ball>{{cite news|author=Sarah Ball |title=Mr. Oscar, Tear Down This Wall! Andrew Stanton on How Animated Films are Pigeonholed&nbsp;– and How Wall-E Is Every Man |work=[[Newsweek]] |date=January 23, 2009 |url=http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/popvox/archive/2009/01/23/breaking-out-of-the-box-wall-e-director-andrew-stanton-on-the-oscars-the-blurring-of-the-line-between-animation-and-film-and-writing-strong-female-characters.aspx |access-date=January 26, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204034311/http://blog.newsweek.com/blogs/popvox/archive/2009/01/23/breaking-out-of-the-box-wall-e-director-andrew-stanton-on-the-oscars-the-blurring-of-the-line-between-animation-and-film-and-writing-strong-female-characters.aspx |archive-date=February 4, 2009 }}</ref> Before they turned their attention to other projects, Stanton and Lasseter thought about having WALL-E fall in love, as it was the necessary progression away from loneliness.<ref name=screenwriting /> Stanton started writing ''WALL-E'' again in 2002 while completing ''Finding Nemo''.<ref name=usatoday>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-06-24-wall-e-main_N.htm|author=Marco R. della Cava|title='WALL-E' focuses on its hero's heart|work=[[USA Today]]|date=June 24, 2008|access-date=July 21, 2008|archive-date=August 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110820043315/http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-06-24-wall-e-main_N.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> Stanton formatted his script in a manner reminiscent of [[Dan O'Bannon]]'s ''[[Alien (film)|Alien]]''. O'Bannon wrote his script in a manner Stanton found reminded him of ''[[haiku]]'', where visual descriptions were done in continuous lines of a few words. Stanton wrote his robot "dialogue" conventionally, but placed them in brackets.<ref name=avclub /> In late 2003, Stanton and a few others created a [[story reel]] of the first twenty minutes of the film. Lasseter and [[Steve Jobs]] were impressed and officially began development,<ref>{{cite news|author=Alex Billington|publisher=FirstShowing.net|date=June 23, 2008|url=http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/06/23/interview-wall-es-writer-and-director-andrew-stanton/|title=Interview: Wall-E's Writer and Director Andrew Stanton|access-date=November 22, 2008|archive-date=May 15, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515235428/http://www.firstshowing.net/2008/06/23/interview-wall-es-writer-and-director-andrew-stanton/|url-status=live}}</ref> though Jobs stated he did not like the title, originally spelled "''W.A.L.-E.''"<ref>''Title Animation Test'', 2008 DVD, [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]]</ref>

While the first act of ''WALL-E'' "fell out of the sky" for Stanton,<ref name=screenwriting /> he had originally wanted aliens to plant EVE to explore Earth and the rest of the film was different. When WALL-E comes to the ''Axiom'', he incites a ''[[Spartacus (film)|Spartacus]]''-style rebellion by the robots against the remnants of the human race, which were cruel alien Gels (completely devolved, gelatinous, boneless, legless, see-through, green creatures that resemble [[Jell-O]]). James Hicks, a physiologist, mentioned to Stanton the concept of [[atrophy]] and the effects prolonged [[weightlessness]] would have on humans living in space for an inordinately extended time period.<ref name=notes /><ref>{{cite news|url=http://cinechew.com/the-science-of-wall-e/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150208013846/http://cinechew.com/the-science-of-wall-e/|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 8, 2015|title=The Science of 'Wall-E'|date=December 9, 2008|access-date=February 7, 2015|author=James Hicks}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.today.uci.edu/Features/profile_detail.asp?key=369 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080726230400/http://today.uci.edu/Features/profile_detail.asp?key=369 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 26, 2008 |title=James Hicks, Ecology & evolutionary biology professor |publisher=Today@UCI |date=July 23, 2008 |access-date=January 14, 2009 |df=mdy }}</ref> Therefore, this was the inspiration of the humans degenerating into the alien Gels,<ref name=deleted>Deleted scenes with introductions by Andrew Stanton, 2008 DVD, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment</ref> and their ancestry would have been revealed in a ''[[Planet of the Apes (1968 film)|Planet of the Apes]]''-style ending.<ref name=newsarama2 /> The Gels also spoke a made-up gibberish language, but Stanton scrapped this idea because he thought it would be too complicated for the audience to understand and they could easily be driven off from the storyline.<ref name=evolution>''Captain's Log: The Evolution of Humans'', 2008 DVD featurette, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment</ref> The Gels had a royal family, who host a dance in a castle on a lake in the back of the ship, and the ''Axiom'' curled up into a ball when returning to Earth in this incarnation of the story.<ref name=evolution /> Stanton decided this was too bizarre and unengaging, and conceived humanity as "big babies".<ref name=newsarama2 /> Stanton developed the metaphorical theme of the humans learning to stand again and "grow[ing] up",<ref name=newsarama2>{{cite news|url=http://www.newsarama.com/film/080704-wall-e-stanton-2.html|author=Steve Fritz|title=How Andrew Stanton & Pixar Created ''WALL*E''&nbsp;– Part II|work=[[Newsarama]]|date=July 4, 2008|access-date=November 4, 2008|archive-date=November 22, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081122092351/http://www.newsarama.com/film/080704-wall-e-stanton-2.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>DVD. Scene 16. "Captain on Deck". Audio commentary by Director Andrew Stanton. 48:56–50:37.</ref> wanting WALL-E and EVE's relationship to inspire humanity because he felt few films explore how [[utopia]]n societies come to exist.<ref name=aicn>{{cite news|url=https://www.aintitcool.com/node/37209|author=Steve "Capone" Prokopy|title=Andrew Stanton Gives Up the Goods on WALL-E and JOHN CARTER to Capone!|work=[[Ain't It Cool News]]|date=June 24, 2008|access-date=November 22, 2008|archive-date=December 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219171619/https://www.aintitcool.com/node/37209|url-status=live}}</ref> The process of depicting the descendants of humanity as the way they appear in the movie was slow. Stanton first decided to put a nose and ears on the Gels so the audience could recognize them. Eventually, fingers, legs, clothes, and other characteristics were added until they arrived at the concept of being fetus-like to allow the audience to see themselves in the characters.<ref name="evolution" />

In a later version of the film, AUTO comes to the docking bay to retrieve EVE's plant. The film would have its first cutaway to the captain, but Stanton moved that as he found it too early to begin moving away from WALL-E's point-of-view. As an homage to ''[[Get Smart]]'',<ref name=comingsoon>{{cite news|url=https://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=45885|author=Joshua Starnes|title=WALL•E Writer/Director Andrew Stanton|publisher=ComingSoon.net|date=June 13, 2008|access-date=November 22, 2008|archive-date=August 17, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080817131043/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=45885|url-status=live}}</ref> AUTO takes the plant and goes into the bowels of the ship into a room resembling a brain where he watches videos of Buy n Large's scheme to clean up the Earth falling apart through the years. Stanton removed this to keep some mystery as to why the plant is taken from EVE. The captain appears to be unintelligent, but Stanton wanted him to just be unchallenged; otherwise he would have not been sympathetic.<ref name=deleted /> One example of how unintelligent the captain was depicted initially is that he was seen to wear his hat upside-down, only to fix it before he challenges AUTO. In the finished film, he merely wears it casually atop his head, tightening it when he really takes command of the ''Axiom''.<ref name=evolution />

Stanton also moved the moment where WALL-E reveals his plant (which he had snatched from the self-destructing escape pod) from producing it from a closet to immediately after his escape, as it made EVE happier and gave them stronger motivation to dance around the ship. Originally, EVE would have been electrocuted by AUTO, and then be quickly saved from ejection at the hands of the ''Waste Allocation Load Lifter: Axiom-class'' (WALL-A) robots, by WALL-E. He would have then revived her by replacing her power unit with a cigarette lighter he brought from Earth. Stanton reversed this following a 2007 test screening, as he wanted to show EVE replacing her directive of bringing the plant to the captain with repairing WALL-E, and it made WALL-E even more heroic if he held the holo-detector open despite being badly hurt.<ref name=deleted /> The idea of WALL-E losing his memory and personality came after the braintrust team abandoned a scene where EVE had been shot in her heart battery and WALL-E gave her his own battery instead.<ref>{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/10/17/second-act-twist |title=Second-Act Twist |magazine=The New Yorker |date=October 10, 2011 |access-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-date=February 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230208065947/https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2011/10/17/second-act-twist |url-status=live |last1=Friend |first1=Tad }}</ref> Stanton felt half the audience at the screening believed the humans would be unable to cope with living on Earth and would have died out after the film's end. [[Jim Capobianco]], director of the ''[[Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]'' short film ''[[Your Friend the Rat]]'', created an end credits animation that continued the story—and stylized in different artistic movements throughout history—to clarify an optimistic tone.<ref>{{cite news|title=Andrew Stanton and Ben Burtt talk WALL-E |author=Joanna Cohen |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=September 17, 2008 |url=http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e/news/1756410/rt_au_interview_andrew_stanton_and_ben_burtt_talk_wall_e |access-date=November 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090311134949/http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e/news/1756410/rt_au_interview_andrew_stanton_and_ben_burtt_talk_wall_e |archive-date=March 11, 2009 }}</ref>

=== Design ===
''WALL-E'' was the most complex Pixar production since ''Monsters, Inc.'' because of the world and the history that had to be conveyed.<ref name=awn /> Whereas most Pixar films have up to 75,000 [[storyboard]]s, ''WALL-E'' required 125,000.<ref>{{cite news|author=Derek Thompson |title=The Storyboards of ''WALL-E'' |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=July 17, 2008 |url=http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e/news/1741889/2/exclusive_the_storyboards_of_wall_e |access-date=November 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301120838/http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e/news/1741889/2/exclusive_the_storyboards_of_wall_e |archive-date=March 1, 2009 }}</ref> [[Production designer]] [[Ralph Eggleston]] wanted the lighting of the first act on Earth to be romantic, and that of the second act on the ''Axiom'' to be cold and sterile. During the third act, the romantic lighting is slowly introduced into the ''Axiom'' environment.<ref name=notes /> Pixar studied [[Chernobyl]] and the city of [[Sofia]] to create the ruined world; art director Anthony Christov was from [[Bulgaria]] and recalled Sofia used to have problems storing its garbage.<ref>Hauser, p. 39.</ref><ref>Hauser, p. 71.</ref> Eggleston bleached out the whites on Earth to make WALL-E feel vulnerable. The overexposed light makes the location look more vast. Because of the haziness, the cubes making up the towers of garbage had to be large, otherwise they would have lost shape (in turn, this helped save rendering time). The dull tans of Earth subtly become soft pinks and blues when EVE arrives. When WALL-E shows EVE all his collected items, all the lights he has collected light up to give an inviting atmosphere, like a [[Christmas tree]]. Eggleston tried to avoid the colors yellow and green so WALL-E—who was made yellow to emulate a tractor—would not blend into the deserted Earth, and to make the plant more prominent.<ref name=eggleston />

[[File:Wall-E lighting.png|thumb|left|alt=WALL-E holding a bra|[[WALL-E (character)|WALL-E]] finds a bra. [[Roger Deakins]] and [[Dennis Muren]] were consulted on realistic lighting including backgrounds that are less focused than foregrounds.]]

Stanton also wanted the lighting to look realistic and evoke the science fiction films of his youth. He thought that Pixar captured the physics of being underwater with ''[[Finding Nemo]]'' and so for ''WALL-E'', he wanted to push that for air. While rewatching some of his favorite science fiction films, he realized that Pixar's other movies had lacked the look of [[70 mm film]] and its barrel [[distortion (optics)|distortion]], [[lens flare]], and [[racking focus]].<ref name=awn /> Producer Jim Morris invited [[Roger Deakins]] and [[Dennis Muren]] to advise on lighting and atmosphere. Muren spent several months with Pixar, while Deakins hosted one talk and was requested to stay on for another two weeks. Stanton said Muren's experience came from integrating computer animation into live-action settings, while Deakins helped them understand not to overly complicate their camerawork and lighting.<ref name=aicn /> 1970s [[Panavision cameras]] were used to help the animators understand and replicate handheld imperfections like unfocused backgrounds in digital environments.<ref name=notes /> The first lighting test included building a three-dimensional replica of WALL-E, filming it with a 70&nbsp;mm camera, and then trying to replicate that in the computer.<ref name=ign>{{cite news | author1 = Steven Horn | author2 = Eric Moro | name-list-style = amp | title = Wall•E Preview | work = [[IGN]] | date = April 7, 2008 | url = http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/865/865021p1.html | access-date = November 23, 2008 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080412104219/http://uk.movies.ign.com/articles/865/865021p1.html | archive-date = April 12, 2008 | df = mdy-all }}</ref> Stanton cited the shallow lens work of [[Gus Van Sant]]'s films as an influence, as it created intimacy in each close-up. Stanton chose angles for the virtual cameras that a live-action filmmaker would choose if filming on a set.<ref name=screenwriting />

Stanton wanted the ''Axiom''{{'}}s interior to resemble Shanghai and [[Dubai]].<ref name=awn /> Eggleston studied 1960s NASA paintings and the original concept art for [[Tomorrowland (Disney Parks)|Tomorrowland]] for the ''Axiom'', to reflect that era's sense of optimism.<ref name=notes /> Stanton remarked "We are all probably very similar in our backgrounds here [at Pixar] in that we all miss the Tomorrowland that was promised us from the heyday of [[Disneyland]]," and wanted a "[[jet pack]]" feel.<ref name=awn /> Pixar also studied the [[Disney Cruise Line]] and visited [[Las Vegas]], which was helpful in understanding artificial lighting.<ref name=notes /> Eggleston based his ''Axiom'' designs on the futuristic architecture of [[Santiago Calatrava]]. Eggleston divided the inside of the ship into three sections; the rear's economy class has a basic gray concrete texture with graphics keeping to the red, blue, and white of the BnL logo. The coach class with living/shopping spaces has "S" shapes as people are always looking for "what's around the corner". Stanton intended to have many colorful signs, but he realized this would overwhelm the audience and went with Eggleston's original idea of a small number of larger signs. The premier class is a large [[Zen]]-like spa with colors limited to turquoise, cream, and tan, and leads on to the captain's warm carpeted and wooded quarters and the sleek dark bridge.<ref name=eggleston>{{cite web|url=http://www.animationartconservation.com/?c=art&p=wall_e_design_with_a_purpose|title=Design With a Purpose: An interview with Ralph Eggleston|work=Animation Art Conservation|author=Ron Barbagallo|date=January 2009|access-date=February 12, 2009|archive-date=April 14, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414150036/http://www.animationartconservation.com/?c=art&p=wall_e_design_with_a_purpose|url-status=live}}</ref> In keeping with the artificial ''Axiom'', camera movements were modeled after those of the [[steadicam]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://mag.awn.com/article_view.php?id=3682&page=all|format=Printable version|date=June 27, 2008|title=Hello, WALL•E!: Pixar Reaches for the Stars|work=[[Animation World Network]]|author=Bill Desowitz|access-date=February 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090720073659/http://mag.awn.com/article_view.php?id=3682&page=all|archive-date=July 20, 2009}}</ref>

The use of live action was a stepping stone for Pixar, as Stanton was planning to make ''[[John Carter (film)|John Carter of Mars]]'' his next project.<ref name=awn /> Storyboarder Derek Thompson noted introducing live action meant that they would make the rest of the film look even more realistic.<ref name=ripple /> Eggleston added that if the historical humans had been animated and slightly caricaturized, the audience then would not have been able to recognize how serious their devolution was.<ref name=eggleston /> Stanton cast [[Fred Willard]] as the historical Buy n Large CEO because "[h]e's the most friendly and insincere car salesman I could think of."<ref name=newsarama2 /> The CEO says "[[stay the course]]", which Stanton used because he thought it was funny and a "natural thing to say at the time".<ref name=moviesonline /> [[Industrial Light & Magic]] did the visual effects for these shots.<ref name=notes />

=== Animation ===
''WALL-E'' went undeveloped during the 1990s partly because Stanton and Pixar were not confident enough yet to have a feature-length film with a main character that behaved like [[Luxo Jr. (character)|Luxo Jr.]], the [[Balanced-arm lamp|Pixar lamp]] or [[R2-D2]].<ref name=avclub /> Stanton explained there are two types of robots in cinema: "human[s] with metal skin", like the [[Tin Woodman|Tin Man]], or "machine[s] with function" like Luxo and R2. He found the latter idea "powerful" because it allowed the audience to project personalities onto the characters, as they do with babies and pets: "You're compelled … you almost can't stop yourself from finishing the sentence 'Oh, I think it likes me! I think it's hungry! I think it wants to go for a walk!'"<ref name=newsarama1>{{cite news|author=Steve Fritz|title=How Andrew Stanton & Pixar Created ''WALL*E''&nbsp;– Part I|work=[[Newsarama]]|date=July 1, 2008|url=http://www.newsarama.com/film/080701-wall-e-lasseter.html|access-date=November 4, 2008|archive-date=May 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520045734/http://www.newsarama.com/film/080701-wall-e-lasseter.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He added, "We wanted the audience to believe they were witnessing a machine that has come to life."<ref name=notes /> The animators visited recycling stations to study machinery, and also met robot designers, visited [[NASA]]'s [[Jet Propulsion Laboratory]] to study robots, watched a recording of a [[Mars rover]],<ref name=usatoday /> and borrowed a [[Remote control vehicle#Military and law enforcement|bomb detecting robot]] from the [[San Francisco Police Department]]. Simplicity was preferred in their performances as giving them too many movements would make them feel human.<ref name=notes />

Stanton wanted WALL-E to be a box and EVE to be like an egg.<ref name=duo>''WALL-E and EVE'', 2008 DVD, [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]]</ref> WALL-E's eyes were inspired by a pair of [[binoculars]] Stanton was given when watching the [[Oakland Athletics]] play against the [[Boston Red Sox]]. He "missed the entire inning" because he was distracted by them.<ref name=planet>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/25/DDEN11CQ3M.DTL&type=movies|author=Peter Hartlaub|title=Planet WALL-E|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|date=June 25, 2008|access-date=November 3, 2008|archive-date=March 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315222638/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2008%2F06%2F25%2FDDEN11CQ3M.DTL&type=movies|url-status=live}}</ref> The director was reminded of [[Buster Keaton]] and decided the robot would not need a nose or mouth.<ref name=nydn /> Stanton added a [[zoom lens]] to make WALL-E more sympathetic.<ref name=nydn /> [[Ralph Eggleston]] noted this feature gave the animators more to work with and gave the robot a childlike quality.<ref name=eggleston /> Pixar's studies of trash [[compactor]]s during their visits to recycling stations inspired his body.<ref name=notes /> His tank treads were inspired by a wheelchair someone had developed that used treads instead of wheels.<ref name=duo /> The animators wanted him to have elbows, but realized this was unrealistic because he is only designed to pull garbage into his body.<ref name=notes /> His arms also looked flimsy when they did a test of him waving.<ref name=duo /> Animation director Angus MacLane suggested they attach his arms to a track on the sides of his body to move them around, based on the [[inkjet printer]]s his father designed. This arm design contributed to creating the character's posture, so if they wanted him to be nervous, they would lower them.<ref name=better>{{cite news|author=Peter Debruge|title=How to build a better robot|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=June 18, 2008|url=http://variety.com/2008/digital/news/how-to-build-a-better-robot-1117987668/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151107045937/http://variety.com/2008/digital/news/how-to-build-a-better-robot-1117987668/|archive-date=November 7, 2015}}</ref> Stanton was unaware of the similarities between WALL-E and Johnny 5 from ''[[Short Circuit (1986 film)|Short Circuit]]'' until others pointed it out to him.<ref name=avclub />

Stanton wanted EVE to be at the higher end of technology, and asked [[iPod]] designer [[Jonathan Ive]] to inspect her design. He was very impressed.<ref name=awn /> Her eyes are modelled on [[Lite-Brite]] toys,<ref name=nydn /> but Pixar chose not to make them overly expressive as it would be too easy to have her eyes turn into hearts to express love or something similar.<ref name=duo /> Her limited design meant the animators had to treat her like a drawing, relying on posing her body to express emotion.<ref name=notes /> They also found her similar to a [[manatee]] or a [[narwhal]] because her floating body resembled an underwater creature.<ref name=duo /> Auto was a conscious homage to [[HAL 9000]] from ''[[2001: A Space Odyssey (film)|2001: A Space Odyssey]]'',<ref name=avclub /> and the usage of ''[[The Blue Danube]]'' when Captain McCrea observes his daily tasks, also [[Also sprach Zarathustra (Strauss)|''Also sprach Zarathustra'']] for the showdown between Captain McCrea and Auto furthers that.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/wall-e-easter-eggs-enrich-movie-1122455 |title='Wall-E' References That Need to Be Revisited |author=Richard Newby |date=June 27, 2018 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=December 28, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415034703/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/wall-e-easter-eggs-enrich-movie-1122455 |url-status=live }}</ref> The manner in which he hangs from a wall or ceiling gives him a threatening feel, like a spider.<ref name=robot>''Robo-everything'', 2008 DVD featurette, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment</ref> Originally, Auto was designed entirely differently, resembling EVE, but masculine and authoritative and SECUR-T was also a more aggressive patrol steward robot.<ref name=deleted /> The majority of the robot cast were formed with the Build-a-bot program, where different heads, arms and treads were combined in over a hundred variations.<ref name=notes /> The humans were modelled on sea lions due to their [[blubber]]y bodies,<ref name=eggleston /> as well as babies. The filmmakers noticed baby fat is a lot tighter than adult fat and copied that texture for the film's humans.<ref>Hauser, p. 132.</ref>

To animate their robots, the film's story crew and animation crew watched a Keaton and a [[Charlie Chaplin]] film every day for almost a year, and occasionally a [[Harold Lloyd]] picture.<ref name=avclub /> Afterwards, the filmmakers knew all emotions could be conveyed silently. Stanton cited Keaton's "great stone face" as giving them perseverance in animating a character with an unchanging expression.<ref name=nydn>{{cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2008/06/22/2008-06-22_walle_is_a_real_character.html|author=Joe Strike|title='WALL-E' is a real character|work=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]]|location=New York|date=June 22, 2008|access-date=July 19, 2008|archive-date=March 10, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310213845/http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/movies/2008/06/22/2008-06-22_walle_is_a_real_character.html|url-status=live}}</ref> As he rewatched these, Stanton felt that filmmakers—since the advent of sound—relied on dialogue too much to convey exposition.<ref name=avclub /> The filmmakers dubbed the cockroach WALL-E keeps as a pet "Hal", in reference to silent film producer [[Hal Roach]] (as well as being an additional reference to HAL 9000).<ref name=notes /> They also watched ''2001: A Space Odyssey'', ''[[The Black Stallion (film)|The Black Stallion]]'' and ''[[Never Cry Wolf (film)|Never Cry Wolf]]'', films that had sound but were not reliant on dialogue.<ref name=ripple>{{cite news|author=Joe Utichi |title=The World of WALL-E |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=July 16, 2008 |url=http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e/news/1741516/exclusive_the_world_of_wall_e |access-date=November 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081201043530/http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e/news/1741516/exclusive_the_world_of_wall_e |archive-date=December 1, 2008 }}</ref> Stanton acknowledged ''[[Silent Running]]'' as an influence because its silent robots were a forerunner to the likes of R2-D2,<ref name=aicn /> and that the "hopeless romantic" [[Woody Allen]] also inspired WALL-E.<ref name=total />

=== Sound ===
Producer Jim Morris recommended [[Ben Burtt]] as [[sound design]]er for ''WALL-E'' because Stanton kept using [[R2-D2]] as the benchmark for the robots.<ref name=comingsoon /> Burtt had completed ''[[Star Wars: Episode III&nbsp;– Revenge of the Sith]]'' and told his wife he would no longer work on films with robots, but found ''WALL-E'' and its substitution of voices with sound "fresh and exciting".<ref name=notes /> He recorded 2,500 sounds for the film, which was twice the average number for a ''[[Star Wars]]'' film,<ref name=usatoday /> and a record in his career.<ref name=notes /> Burtt began work in 2005,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2008-jun-30-et-burtt30-story.html|title=Ben Burtt: The man behind R2-D2 and Wall-E's beeps|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|author=Tom Russo|date=June 30, 2008|access-date=November 3, 2008|archive-date=May 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511085638/http://articles.latimes.com/2008/jun/30/entertainment/et-burtt30|url-status=live}}</ref> and experimented with filtering his voice for two years.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2008/07/03/bob-thompson-bet-on-burtt-to-get-the-right-wall-e-sounds.aspx|author=Bob Thompson|title=Bet on Burtt to get the right Wall-E sounds|work=[[National Post]]|date=July 3, 2008|access-date=November 3, 2008|archive-url=http://archive.wikiwix.com/cache/20110722163841/http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/theampersand/archive/2008/07/03/bob-thompson-bet-on-burtt-to-get-the-right-wall-e-sounds.aspx|archive-date=July 22, 2011|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Burtt described the robot voices as "like a [[toddler]] … [[universal language]] of [[intonation (linguistics)|intonation]]. 'Oh', 'Hm?', 'Huh!', you know?"<ref>{{cite news|agency=[[Associated Press]]|title=Voice of 'WALL-E': Robot sounds toddler-inspired|work=[[The Arizona Republic]]|date=June 28, 2008|url=https://www.azcentral.com/ent/movies/articles/2008/06/28/20080628wallevoice.html|access-date=November 3, 2008|archive-date=September 19, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110919175626/http://www.azcentral.com/ent/movies/articles/2008/06/28/20080628wallevoice.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

During production Burtt had the opportunity to look at the items used by [[Jimmy MacDonald (sound effects artist)|Jimmy MacDonald]], Disney's in-house sound designer for many of their classic films. Burtt used many of MacDonald's items on ''WALL-E''. Because Burtt was not simply adding sound effects in post-production, the animators were always evaluating his new creations and ideas, which Burtt found an unusual experience.<ref name=sound>''Animation Sound Design: Building Worlds From The Sound Up'' featurette, 2008 DVD featurette, [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]]</ref> He worked in sync with the animators, returning their animation after adding the sounds to give them more ideas.<ref name=notes /> Burtt would choose scientifically accurate sounds for each character, but if he could not find one that worked, he would choose a dramatic and unrealistic noise.<ref name=sound /> Burtt would find hundreds of sounds by looking at concept art of characters, before he and Stanton pared it down to a distinct few for each robot.<ref name=awn />

Burtt saw a hand-cranked electrical generator while watching ''[[Island in the Sky (1953 film)|Island in the Sky]]'', and bought an identical, unpacked device from 1950 on [[eBay]] to use for WALL-E moving around.<ref>{{cite news|title=Q&A With WALL•E's Ben Burtt|publisher=Pixar Planet|date=November 13, 2008|url=http://pixarplanet.com/blog/qa-with-walles-ben-burtt|access-date=January 12, 2009|archive-date=July 22, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722083818/http://pixarplanet.com/blog/qa-with-walles-ben-burtt/|url-status=live}}</ref> Burtt also used an [[Starter (engine)|automobile self-starter]] for when WALL-E goes fast,<ref name=sound /> and the sound of cars being wrecked at a [[demolition derby]] provided for WALL-E's compressing trash in his body.<ref name=shot /> The [[Macintosh]] computer [[Chime (Macintosh)|chime]] was used to signify when WALL-E has fully recharged his battery. For EVE, Burtt wanted her humming to have a musical quality.<ref name=sound /> Burtt was only able to provide neutral or masculine voices, so Pixar employee Elissa Knight was asked to provide her voice for Burtt to electronically modify. Stanton deemed the sound effect good enough to properly cast her in the role.<ref name=moviesonline>{{cite web | url=http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_14899.html | title= Andrew Stanton Interview, WALL-E | author= Sheila Roberts | work=MoviesOnline | access-date=January 12, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080626061223/http://www.moviesonline.ca/movienews_14899.html <!-- Bot retrieved archive --> |archive-date = June 26, 2008}}</ref> Burtt recorded a flying {{convert|10|ft|m|adj=mid|-long}} radio-controlled jet plane for EVE's flying,<ref name=notes /> and for her plasma cannon, Burtt hit a [[slinky]] hung from a ladder with a [[timpani]] stick. He described it as a "cousin" to the [[blaster (Star Wars)|blaster]] noise from ''Star Wars''.<ref name=slinky>{{cite news|author=Ben Burtt |title=WALL-E Sound Masterclass |work=[[Rotten Tomatoes]] |date=July 18, 2008 |url=http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e/news/1742259/2/exclusive_ben_burtts_wall_e_sound_masterclass |access-date=November 27, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305025521/http://uk.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e/news/1742259/2/exclusive_ben_burtts_wall_e_sound_masterclass |archive-date=March 5, 2009}}</ref>

[[PlainTalk|MacInTalk]] was used because Stanton "wanted Auto to be the epitome of a robot, cold, zeros & ones, calculating, and soulless [and] [[Stephen Hawking]]'s kind of voice I thought was perfect."<ref name=aicn /> Additional sounds for the character were meant to give him a clockwork feel, to show he is always thinking and calculating.<ref name=sound />

Burtt had visited [[Niagara Falls]] in 1987 and used his recordings from his trip for the sounds of wind,<ref name=shot>''List of a Shot: Deconstructing the Pixar Process'', 2008 DVD featurette, Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment</ref> and ran around a hall with a [[canvas]] bag up to record the sandstorm.<ref name=notes /> For the scene where WALL-E flees from falling shopping carts, Burtt and his daughter went to a supermarket and placed a recorder in their cart. They crashed it around the parking lot and then let it tumble down a hill.<ref name=ears>{{cite news|url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/27/PKA711B9NF.DTL|author=Peter Hartlaub|title=All Ears on 'WALL-E'|work=[[San Francisco Chronicle]]|date=June 29, 2008|access-date=November 3, 2008|archive-date=March 15, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120315223244/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2008%2F06%2F27%2FPKA711B9NF.DTL|url-status=live}}</ref> To create Hal (WALL-E's pet cockroach)'s skittering, he recorded the clicking caused by taking apart and reassembling [[handcuffs]].<ref name=notes />

=== Music ===
{{See also|WALL-E (soundtrack)|l1=''WALL-E'' (soundtrack)}}
<!--I think we may want to insert something about the BNL jingle.-->
[[Thomas Newman]] recollaborated with Stanton on ''WALL-E'' since the two got along well on ''Finding Nemo'', which gave Newman the Annie Award for Best Music in an Animated Feature. He began writing the score in 2005, in the hope that starting this task early would make him more involved with the finished film. But, Newman remarked that animation is so dependent on scheduling he should have begun work earlier on when Stanton and Reardon were writing the script. EVE's theme was arranged for the first time in October 2007. Her theme when played as she first flies around Earth originally used more orchestral elements, and Newman was encouraged to make it sound more feminine.<ref>{{cite news|title=ScoreKeeper Chats With Composer Thomas Newman!!|work=[[Ain't It Cool News]]|date=September 16, 2008|url=https://www.aintitcool.com/node/38356|access-date=September 17, 2008|archive-date=September 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080919163255/http://www.aintitcool.com/node/38356|url-status=live}}</ref> Newman said Stanton had thought up many ideas for how he wanted the music to sound, and he generally followed them as he found scoring a partially silent film difficult. Stanton wanted the whole score to be orchestral, but Newman felt limited by this idea especially in scenes aboard the ''Axiom'', and used electronics too.<ref>{{cite news|author=Daniel Schweiger|title=E-notes: Thomas Newman gives a chilling workout in 'Revolutionary Road' and some robotic impulses in 'WALL-E'|work=iF Magazine|date=January 19, 2009|url=http://ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=3193|access-date=January 20, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100102204821/http://ifmagazine.com/feature.asp?article=3193|archive-date=January 2, 2010}}</ref>

[[File:WALL-E-Only-Takes-a-Moment.jpg|thumb|left|alt=[[WALL-E (character)|WALL-E]] watching a clip from Hello, Dolly!|A live-action clip from the ''[[Hello, Dolly! (film)|Hello, Dolly!]]'' song "It Only Takes a Moment" inspires WALL-E to hold hands with EVE]]
Stanton originally wanted to juxtapose the opening shots of space with 1930s French [[swing music]], but changed his mind after seeing ''[[The Triplets of Belleville]]'' (2003), not wanting to appear as if he were copying it.<ref name=EW /> Stanton then thought about the song "Put On Your Sunday Clothes" from ''[[Hello, Dolly! (film)|Hello, Dolly!]]'', since he had portrayed the sidekick Barnaby Tucker in a 1980 high school production.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://oscar.com/oscarnight/winners/?pn=detail&nominee=Wall-E%20-%20Best%20Animated%20Feature%20Film%20Nominee|title=Best Animated Feature Film Acceptance Speech|publisher=Oscar.com|access-date=January 17, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090226054230/http://oscar.com/oscarnight/winners/?pn=detail&nominee=Wall-E%20-%20Best%20Animated%20Feature%20Film%20Nominee|archive-date=February 26, 2009}}</ref> Stanton found that the song was about two naive young men looking for love, which was similar to WALL-E's own hope for companionship. [[Jim Reardon]], storyboard supervisor for the film, suggested WALL-E find the film on video, and Stanton included "It Only Takes a Moment" and the clip of the actors holding hands, because he wanted a visual way to show how WALL-E understands love and conveys it to EVE. ''Hello, Dolly!'' composer [[Jerry Herman]] allowed the songs to be used without knowing what for; when he saw the film, he found its incorporation into the story "genius".<ref name=EW>{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2008/07/14/wall-e-how-he-found-hello-dolly/|title=WALL-E Meets Dolly!|magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]]|author=Chriss Willman|date=July 10, 2008|access-date=January 17, 2018|archive-date=January 20, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120150651/http://ew.com/article/2008/07/14/wall-e-how-he-found-hello-dolly/|url-status=live}}</ref> Coincidentally, Newman's uncle [[Lionel Newman|Lionel]] worked on ''Hello, Dolly!''<ref name=notes />

Newman travelled to London to compose the end credits song "[[Down to Earth (Peter Gabriel song)|Down to Earth]]" with [[Peter Gabriel]], who was one of Stanton's favorite musicians. Afterwards, Newman rescored some of the film to include the song's composition, so it would not sound intrusive when played.<ref name=notes /> [[Louis Armstrong]]'s rendition of "[[La Vie en rose]]" was used for a montage where WALL-E attempts to impress EVE on Earth. The script also specified using [[Bing Crosby]]'s "[[Stardust (1927 song)|Stardust]]" for when the two robots dance around the ''Axiom'',<ref name=screenplay>{{cite news|url=http://disneystudiosawards.movies.go.com/wall-e_script.pdf|publisher=Disney|title=WALL-E screenplay|access-date=June 1, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306103001/http://disneystudiosawards.movies.go.com/wall-e_script.pdf|archive-date=March 6, 2009}}</ref> but Newman asked if he could score the scene himself. A similar switch occurred for the sequence in which WALL-E attempts to wake EVE up through various means; originally, the montage would play with the instrumental version of "[[Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head]]", but Newman wanted to challenge himself and scored an original piece for the sequence.<ref name=commentary>[[Andrew Stanton]]'s Blu-ray and DVD audio commentary, 2008, Walt Disney Home Entertainment</ref>

== Themes ==
The film is recognized as a [[social criticism]]. Katherine Ellison asserts that "Americans produce nearly 400 million tons of [[solid waste]] per year but recycle less than a third of it, according to a recent Columbia University study." [[Landfill]]s were filling up very rapidly worldwide, and predictions were made that the UK could run out of landfill space by 2017.<ref name="Ellison, 2008">{{cite journal|last=Ellison|first=Katherine|title=Talking Trash|journal=Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment|date=October 2008|volume=6| issue =  8|jstor=20440969|pages=456|doi=10.1890/1540-9295(2008)6[456:TT]2.0.CO;2| issn=1540-9295}}</ref>

=== Environment, waste, and nostalgia ===
{{Further|Pollution}}
In the DVD commentary, Stanton said that he has been asked if it was his intention to make a movie about consumerism. His answer was it was not; it was a way to answer the question of how would the Earth get to the state where one robot would be left to continue the cleanup by itself. Nevertheless, some critics have noted an incongruity between the perceived pro-environmental and anti-consumerist messaging of the film, and the environmental impacts in the production and merchandising of the film.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://governmentcheese.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14:test&catid=11&Itemid=111 |title=Wall-E (2008) and the Ecological Footprint of Animation Production |access-date=January 29, 2019 |archive-date=January 29, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190129064032/https://governmentcheese.ca/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=14:test&catid=11&Itemid=111 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In "''WALL-E'': from environmental adaption to sentimental [[nostalgia]]," Robin Murray and Joseph Heumann explain the important theme of nostalgia in this film. Nostalgia is clearly represented by human artifacts, left behind, that WALL-E collects and cherishes, for example [[Zippo]] lighters, hubcaps, and plastic sporks. These modern items that are used out of necessity are made sentimental through the lens of the bleak future of Earth. Nostalgia is also expressed through the musical score, as the film opens with a camera shot of outer space that slowly zooms into a waste filled Earth while playing "Put on Your Sunday Clothes", reflecting on simpler and happier times in human history. This film also expresses nostalgia through the longing of nature and the natural world, as it is the sight and feeling of soil, and the plant brought back to the space ship by EVE, that make the captain decide it is time for humans to move back to Earth. WALL-E expresses nostalgia also, by reflecting on romantic themes of older Disney and silent films.<ref name="Murray and Heumann, 2009" />

Stanton describes the theme of the film as "irrational love defeats life's programming":<ref name=newsarama2 />
<blockquote>I realized the point I was trying to push with these two programmed robots was the desire for them to try and figure out what the point of living was&nbsp;… It took these really irrational acts of love to sort of discover them against how they were built&nbsp;… I realized that that's a perfect metaphor for real life. We all fall into our habits, our routines and our ruts, consciously or unconsciously to avoid living. To avoid having to do the messy part. To avoid having relationships with other people or dealing with the person next to us. That's why we can all get on our cell phones and not have to deal with one another. I thought, 'That's a perfect amplification of the whole point of the movie.' I wanted to run with science in a way that would sort of logically project that.<ref name=newsarama2 /></blockquote>

=== Technology ===
Stanton noted many commentators placed emphasis on the environmental aspect of humanity's complacency in the film, because "that disconnection is going to be the cause, indirectly, of anything that happens in life that's bad for humanity or the planet".<ref>{{cite news|author=Jonathan L'Ecuyer |title=An Oscar shout-out |work=[[Gloucester Daily Times]] |url=http://gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_054221319.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120527035746/http://gloucestertimes.com/punews/local_story_054221319.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 27, 2012 |date=February 23, 2009 |access-date=March 3, 2009 }}</ref> Stanton said that by taking away effort to work, the robots also take away humanity's need to put effort into relationships.<ref name=robot />

Christian journalist [[Rod Dreher]] saw technology as the complicated villain of the film. The humans' artificial lifestyle on the ''Axiom'' has separated them from nature, making them "slaves of both technology and their own base appetites, and have lost what makes them human". Dreher contrasted the hardworking, dirt covered WALL-E with the sleek clean robots on the ship. However, it is the humans and not the robots who make themselves redundant. Humans on the ship and on Earth have overused robots and the ultra-modern technology. During the end credits, humans and robots are shown working alongside each other to renew the Earth. "''WALL-E'' is not a [[Luddite]] film," he said. "It doesn't demonize technology. It only argues that technology is properly used to help humans cultivate their true nature—that it must be subordinate to human flourishing, and help move that along."<ref name=dreher />

=== Religion ===
[[File:Dove Sent Forth from the Ark.png|thumb|upright|The ''Axiom'' and EVE have been compared to the legend of [[Noah's Ark]] and the dove that [[Noah]] sets forth from the Ark.]]

Stanton, who is a [[Christianity in the United States|Christian]],<ref name=world>{{cite news|author=[[Megan Basham]]|date=June 28, 2008|title=WALL-E world|work=[[World (magazine)|World]]|url=http://www.worldmag.com/articles/14127|access-date=February 19, 2009|archive-date=July 3, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703233252/http://www.worldmag.com/articles/14127|url-status=live}}</ref> named EVE after [[Eve|the Biblical figure]] because WALL-E's loneliness reminded him of [[Adam]], before God created his wife.<ref>{{cite news|author=Mark Moring|title=The Little Robot That Could|work=[[Christianity Today]]|date=June 24, 2008|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/interviews/andrewstanton.html|access-date=November 26, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080731105235/http://www.christianitytoday.com/movies/interviews/andrewstanton.html |archive-date = July 31, 2008}}</ref> Dreher noted EVE's biblical namesake and saw her directive as an inversion of that story; EVE uses the plant to tell humanity to return to Earth and move away from the "[[false god]]" of BnL and the lazy lifestyle it offers. In cohesion with the classical Christian viewpoint, WALL-E shows that work is what makes humans human. Whereas other sources would say that laziness and pleasure is paradise, WALL-E tries to show that that is not true. Dreher emphasized the false god parallels to BnL in a scene where a robot teaches infants "B is for Buy n Large, your very best friend", which he compared to modern corporations such as [[McDonald's]] creating [[brand loyalty]] in children.<ref name="dreher">{{cite web | url=http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2008/07/walle-aristotelian-crunchy-con.html | title="Wall-E": Aristotelian, crunchy con | work=[[Beliefnet]] | date=July 5, 2008 | access-date=January 15, 2009 | author=Rod Dreher | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080708131939/http://blog.beliefnet.com/crunchycon/2008/07/walle-aristotelian-crunchy-con.html | archive-date=July 8, 2008 | url-status=unfit}}</ref> Megan Basham of ''[[World (magazine)|World]]'' magazine felt the film criticizes the pursuit of leisure, whereas WALL-E in his [[stewardship]] learns to truly appreciate God's creation.<ref name=world />

During writing, a Pixar employee noted to [[Jim Reardon]] that EVE was reminiscent of the [[dove]] with the [[olive branch]] from the story of [[Noah's Ark]], and the story was reworked with EVE finding a plant to return humanity from its voyage.<ref>Hauser, p. 83.</ref> WALL-E himself has been compared to [[Prometheus]],<ref name=comingsoon /> [[Sisyphus]],<ref name=dreher /> and [[Butades]]: in an essay discussing WALL-E as representative of the artistic strive of Pixar itself, [[Hrag Vartanian]] compared WALL-E to Butades in a scene where the robot expresses his love for EVE by making a sculpture of her from spare parts. "The [[Ancient Greece|Ancient Greek]] tradition associates the birth of art with a [[Corinth]]ian maiden who longing to preserve her lover's shadow traces it on the wall before he departed for war. The myth reminds us that art was born out of longing and often means more for the creator than the muse. In the same way Stanton and his Pixar team have told us a deeply personal story about their love of cinema and their vision for animation through the prism of all types of relationships."<ref>{{cite web|author=Hrag Vartanian|title="Wall-E" as a Return to the Promise of Animation|work=His blog|date=October 21, 2008|url=http://hragvartanian.com/2008/10/21/wall-e/|access-date=February 19, 2009|archive-date=July 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110712230656/http://hragvartanian.com/2008/10/21/wall-e/|url-status=live}}</ref>

== Release ==
''WALL-E'' premiered at the [[Greek Theatre (Los Angeles)|Greek Theatre]] in Los Angeles on June 23, 2008.<ref>{{cite news|title=Disney-Pixar's WALL-E World Premiere Saturday, June 21 at the Greek Theatre|work=Reuters|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS95494+20-Jun-2008+BW20080620|access-date=January 12, 2009|date=June 20, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304125730/http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS95494+20-Jun-2008+BW20080620|archive-date=March 4, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref> Continuing a Pixar tradition, the film was paired with a [[short subject|short film]] for its theatrical release, ''[[Presto (film)|Presto]]''. The film is dedicated to [[Justin Wright]] (1981–2008), a Pixar animator who had worked on ''[[Ratatouille (film)|Ratatouille]]'' and died of a heart attack before ''WALL-E''{{'}}s release.<ref name=notes /> However, ''WALL-E'' is the first Pixar film to stop using the 1995 Pixar exclusive [[Walt Disney Pictures]] logo customized for the studio since ''[[Toy Story]]'' (1995).

[[Walt Disney Imagineering]] (WDI) built animatronic WALL-Es to promote the picture, which made appearances at [[Disneyland Resort]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Peter Sciretta|title=Animatronic WALL-E Spotted in LA|date=May 14, 2008|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/2008/05/14/must-watch-animatronic-wall-e-spotted-in-la/|access-date=November 4, 2008|work=/Film|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120527035754/http://www.slashfilm.com/must-watch-animatronic-wall-e-spotted-in-la/|archive-date=May 27, 2012}}</ref> the [[Franklin Institute]], the [[Miami Science Museum]], the [[Seattle Center]], and the [[Tokyo International Film Festival]].<ref name=jim /> Due to safety concerns, the 318&nbsp;kg robots were always strictly controlled and WDI always needed to know exactly what they were required to interact with. For this reason, they generally refused to have their puppets meet and greet children at the theme parks in case a WALL-E trod on a child's foot. Those who wanted to take a photograph with the character had to make do with a cardboard cutout.<ref>{{cite news|author=Jim Hill|title=Why For: isn't WALL•E rolling around the Disney theme parks yet?|work=Jim Hill Media|date=February 6, 2009|url=http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hilll/archive/2009/02/06/test.aspx|access-date=February 7, 2009|archive-date=March 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312070734/http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hilll/archive/2009/02/06/test.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref>

The film was denied a theatrical release in [[China]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=Zhou|first1=Zhao|title=《机器人总动员》无缘内地 《木乃伊》档期待定 (Wall-E not allowed to be screened in China. Theatrical release for "Mummy" yet to be confirmed)|url=http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/f/2008-06-27/11222077753.shtml|access-date=January 16, 2017|work=Sina.com (via Xinwen Wubao)|date=June 27, 2008|archive-date=January 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118032750/http://ent.sina.com.cn/m/f/2008-06-27/11222077753.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, Jim Morris noted that the studio has no plans for a sequel, as they consider ''WALL-E'' a finished story with no need for continuation.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1529870/why-wall-e-2-wont-happen-according-to-pixar|title=Why WALL-E 2 Won't Happen, According To Pixar|date=2016-07-02|website=CINEMABLEND|access-date=2019-12-09|archive-date=December 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209132152/https://www.cinemablend.com/news/1529870/why-wall-e-2-wont-happen-according-to-pixar|url-status=live}}</ref>

To promote the film, a website was created for Buy n Large, the featuring megacorporation. This website had fake press releases beginning in 2057, including "Wisconsin Mall Granted City Status," "BnL Announces Police Select." These fictional reports also quotes "analyst Richard Greenberg," which ''[[Multichannel News]]'' said sounds like Richard Greenfield who has analysed Disney. Greenfield said that "I would be sincerely flattered if there is a connection between anything Pixar creates and our research work."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=14 July 2008 |title='Buy n Large' Spoof Trashes Cable News. |work=[[Multichannel News]] |url=https://www.nexttv.com/news/buy-n-large-spoof-trashes-cable-news-130165 |access-date=16 October 2023}}</ref>

=== Merchandise ===
Small quantities of merchandise were sold for ''WALL-E'', as ''[[Cars (film)|Cars]]'' items were still popular, and many manufacturers were more interested in ''[[Speed Racer (film)|Speed Racer]]'', which was a successful product line despite the film's failure at the box office. Thinkway, which created the ''WALL-E'' toys, had previously made ''[[Toy Story]]'' dolls when other toy producers had not shown an interest.<ref name=jim>{{cite news|author=Jim Hill|title=When it comes to the retail world, Speed Racer whomps WALL-E|work=Jim Hill Media|date=June 18, 2008|url=http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2008/06/18/when-it-comes-to-the-retail-world-speed-racer-whomps-wall-e.aspx|access-date=November 4, 2008|archive-date=March 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312093232/http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hill/archive/2008/06/18/when-it-comes-to-the-retail-world-speed-racer-whomps-wall-e.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> Among Thinkway's items were a WALL-E that danced when connected to a music player, a toy that could be taken apart and reassembled, and a groundbreaking remote control toy of him and EVE that had motion sensors that allowed them to interact with players.<ref name=penn>{{cite news|url=http://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/patriotnews/index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1213815343204660.xml&coll=1|author=Kira L. Schleiter|title=Off-the-wall gimmicks keep Wall-E in view|work=[[The Patriot-News]]|date=June 22, 2008|access-date=July 19, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090301051914/http://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/patriotnews/index.ssf?%2Fbase%2Fentertainment%2F1213815343204660.xml&coll=1|archive-date=March 1, 2009|df=mdy-all}}</ref> There were even plushies.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/2008/05/24/cool-stuff-thinkways-wall-e-toys/|author=Peter Sciretta|title=Cool Stuff: Thinkway's WALL-E Toys|work=/Film|date=May 24, 2008|access-date=January 13, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120527035746/http://www.slashfilm.com/cool-stuff-thinkways-wall-e-toys/|archive-date=May 27, 2012}}</ref> The "Ultimate WALL·E" figures were not in stores until the film's home release in November 2008,<ref name=jim /> at a retail price of almost $200, leading ''The Patriot-News'' to deem it an item for "hard-core fans and collectors only".<ref name=penn /> On February 4, 2015, [[Lego]] announced that a WALL-E custom built by lead animator [[Angus MacLane]] was the latest design approved for mass production and release as part of [[Lego Ideas]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Lego Ideas|url=https://ideas.lego.com/blogs/1-blog/post/26|title=LEGO Ideas Second 2014 Review Results: Announcing LEGO Ideas #011 and #012|date=February 4, 2015|access-date=July 2, 2015|archive-date=June 4, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160604022907/https://ideas.lego.com/blogs/1-blog/post/26|url-status=dead}}</ref>

=== Manga ===
A manga adaptation of the film was written by Shiro Shirai and was originally released on December 15, 2008 in Japan to tie in to the film's Japanese release and later on April 10, 2018 in the US.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-05 |title=『ニモ』を超えるピクサー初日興収No.1の新作『WALL・E／ウォーリー』がお目見え |url=https://www.oricon.co.jp/news/57068/full/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=ORICON NEWS}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=「WALL・E／ウォーリー」監督が会見。「ピクサーのDNAが詰まった作品」 : 映画ニュース |url=https://eiga.com/news/20081009/1/ |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=映画.com |language=ja}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Disney Manga: Pixar's WALL-E |url=https://tokyopop.com/products/9781427857743_disney-manga-pixars-wall-e |access-date=2024-08-08 |website=TOKYOPOP Store |language=en}}</ref>

=== Video game ===
A [[Platform game|platform]] [[video game]] based [[WALL-E (video game)|on the movie]], published by [[THQ]] and developed by [[Heavy Iron Studios]] for the [[PlayStation 3]], [[Xbox 360]], [[Wii]] version, [[Asobo Studio]] for the [[PlayStation 2]] and [[Personal computer|PC]] version, [[Savage Entertainment]] for the [[PlayStation Portable]] version as well as a [[Nintendo DS]] game developed by [[Helixe]].<ref name="WALL-E video game">{{cite web |title=WALL·E 360 |url=http://www.thq.com/games/gameinfo.php?id=1321 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716022830/http://www.thq.com/games/gameinfo.php?id=1321 |archive-date=2011-07-16 |access-date=2008-07-16 |publisher=THQ}}</ref> The PlayStation 3, Wii and Xbox 360 versions feature nine explorable levels. The Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions feature twenty-four levels, and the Nintendo DS features fourteen explorable worlds. The Wii is the only version of the game that features 3 head-to-head multiplayer modes,<ref name="WALL-E Wii">{{cite web |author=THQ |title=WALL-E (Wii) |url=http://www.thq.com/games/gameinfo.php?id=1321&upc=30145 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716022830/http://www.thq.com/games/gameinfo.php?id=1321&upc=30145 |archive-date=2011-07-16 |access-date=2008-07-16 |publisher=THQ}}</ref> while the Nintendo DS version features co-op modes playable as WALL-E or [[EVE (WALL-E)|EVE]]. As the player plays through the levels of the Nintendo DS version, they unlock clips from the movie viewable at any time. The Microsoft Windows, Mac OS X, PlayStation 2 and PlayStation Portable versions allow the player to use music to summon reject bots throughout the game. The story mode is based on an earlier version of the film with some creative liberties also taken, as the character's roles are different from the movie. GO-4 survives and tries to steal the plant when the Axiom lands on Earth, EVE is tasered by AUTO, WALL-E repairing EVE (EVE tries to repair WALL-E in the original) and WALL-E survives from getting crushed by the Holo-Detector. The reversal of EVE and WALL-E being damaged was actually intended to occur in the movie, but was later changed.<ref>{{Citation |title=Wall-E Deleted Scenes | date=February 25, 2009 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm0XGKq3x-Q |access-date=2022-12-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221225045358/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fm0XGKq3x-Q |archive-date=2022-12-25 |url-status=live |language=en}}</ref>

=== Home media ===
The film was released on [[Blu-ray]] Disc and [[DVD-Video|DVD]] by [[Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment]] on November 18, 2008. Various editions include the short film ''[[Presto (film)|Presto]]'', another short film ''[[BURN-E]]'', the [[Leslie Iwerks]] documentary film ''[[The Pixar Story]]'', shorts about the history of Buy n Large, behind-the-scenes special features, and a [[digital copy]] of the film that can be played through [[iTunes]] or [[Windows Media Player]]-compatible devices.<ref name="film">{{cite news|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/2008/10/31/3-disc-special-edition-of-wall-e/|title=3-Disc Special Edition of WALL-E|author=Peter Sciretta|work=/Film|date=October 31, 2008|access-date=January 22, 2009|archive-url=https://archive.today/20130104205224/http://www.slashfilm.com/3-disc-special-edition-of-wall-e/|archive-date=January 4, 2013}}</ref> This release sold 9,042,054 DVD units ($142,633,974) in total becoming the second-best-selling animated DVD among those released in 2008 in units sold (behind ''[[Kung Fu Panda (film)|Kung Fu Panda]]''), the best-selling animated feature in sales revenue, and the third-best-selling among all 2008 DVDs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/WALE-DVD.php|title=WALL-E|website=The Numbers|access-date=April 19, 2011|archive-date=September 3, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903152201/http://www.the-numbers.com/movies/2008/WALE-DVD.php|url-status=live}}</ref>

''WALL-E'' was released by Disney on [[Ultra HD Blu-ray|4K Ultra HD Blu-ray]] on March 3, 2020.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Heller |first1=Emily |title=A bunch of Pixar movies, including Up and A Bug's Life, come to 4K Blu-ray |url=https://www.polygon.com/deals/2020/3/3/21162925/disney-pixar-4k-uhd-blu-ray-collectors-edition-amazon-best-buy-steelbook |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |access-date=April 22, 2021 |language=en |date=March 3, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200304022027/https://www.polygon.com/deals/2020/3/3/21162925/disney-pixar-4k-uhd-blu-ray-collectors-edition-amazon-best-buy-steelbook |archive-date=March 4, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>

At the request of Stanton, Disney licensed ''WALL-E'' to [[The Criterion Collection]] in September 2022, which created a special [[Ultra HD Blu-ray|4K Blu-ray]]-Blu-ray combo edition of the film that was released on November 22, 2022, featuring the same 4K digital master used for Disney's original 4K Blu-ray release, but now presented in [[Dolby Vision]] and [[HDR10+]] as approved by Stanton, along with additional special features. This makes it both the first Pixar and Walt Disney Pictures feature films released under the Criterion label.<ref name=":1" /> In its description for the release, Criterion viewed the film as an important work of both the animation medium and of cinema itself, saying that while "Transporting us simultaneously back to cinema’s silent origins and light-years into the future, ''WALL-E'' is a soaring ode to the power of love and art to heal a dying world."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.criterion.com/films/33246-wall-e|title=WALL-E (2008) – The Criterion Collection|website=criterion.com|access-date=September 8, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=September 8, 2022 |title='Wall-E' to Get 4K Blu-ray Release From Criterion |work=Variety |url=https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/wall-e-criterion-4k-blu-ray-release-1235364680/ |access-date=September 8, 2022 |archive-date=September 8, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220908170814/https://variety.com/2022/digital/news/wall-e-criterion-4k-blu-ray-release-1235364680/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |last=Ebiri |first=Bilge |date=November 23, 2022 |title=Andrew Stanton Remembers When 'Nobody Wanted to Make' Wall-E |work=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |url=https://www.vulture.com/2022/11/wall-e-director-on-his-criterion-debut-and-john-carter.html |access-date=November 22, 2022 |archive-date=November 22, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221122192513/https://www.vulture.com/2022/11/wall-e-director-on-his-criterion-debut-and-john-carter.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

== Reception ==

=== Box office ===
''WALL-E'' grossed $223.8&nbsp;million in the United States and Canada and $308.7&nbsp;million overseas, for a worldwide total of $532.5&nbsp;million,<ref name="BOM" /> making it the ninth-highest-grossing film of 2008.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2008/ | title = 2008 Worldwide Box Office | publisher = Box Office Mojo | access-date = August 3, 2021 | archive-date = August 3, 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20210803020549/https://www.boxofficemojo.com/year/world/2008/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

In the US and Canada, ''WALL-E'' opened in 3,992 theaters on June 27, 2008.<ref name=BOMOpen>{{cite web |url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=wall-e.htm |title=''WALL-E'' (2008)&nbsp;– Weekend Box Office Results |access-date=June 29, 2008 |publisher=[[Box Office Mojo]] |archive-date=December 17, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081217090015/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=weekend&id=wall-e.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The film grossed $23.1&nbsp;million on its opening day, the highest of all nine Pixar titles to date.<ref name=DeadlineOpen>{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2008/06/wall-e-and-wanted-open-big-at-box-office-6180/ |author=Nikki Finke |title=Filmgoers Wild For 'Wall-E' And 'Wanted': Angelina Jolie Posts Best Opening Ever; Lonely Droid Debut Is Pixar's 3rd Biggest |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=June 27, 2008 |access-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415024854/https://deadline.com/2008/06/wall-e-and-wanted-open-big-at-box-office-6180/ |url-status=live }}</ref> During its opening weekend, it topped the box office with $63,087,526.<ref name=BOMOpen /> This was the third-best opening weekend for a Pixar film after ''[[Finding Nemo]]'' and ''[[The Incredibles]]'', and the second-best opening weekend among films released in June, behind ''[[Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (film)|Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban]]''.<ref name=DeadlineOpen /> The film grossed $38&nbsp;million the following weekend, losing its first place to ''[[Hancock (film)|Hancock]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://deadline.com/2008/07/will-smiths-hancock-soars-to-fast-start-6210/ |author=Nikki Finke |title=Will Smith's 'Hancock' Ups Its Fast Pace: Dramedy Speeds To $60.1M In 3.5 Days; Predicted $105M High For July 4th Wkd |work=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |date=July 2, 2008 |access-date=December 30, 2020 |archive-date=April 15, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415034703/https://deadline.com/2008/07/will-smiths-hancock-soars-to-fast-start-6210/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''WALL-E'' crossed the $200&nbsp;million mark by August 3, during its sixth weekend.<ref>{{cite journal | last = McClintock | first = Pamela | title = Dark Knight" narrowly slays "Dragon | journal = [[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] | date = August 3, 2008 | url = https://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=print_story&articleid=VR1117989981&categoryid=13 | access-date = December 19, 2008 | archive-date = February 28, 2009 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090228181917/http://www.variety.com/index.asp?layout=print_story&articleid=VR1117989981&categoryid=13 | url-status = live }}</ref>

''WALL-E'' grossed over $10&nbsp;million in Japan ($44,005,222), UK, Ireland and [[Malta]] ($41,215,600), France and the [[Maghreb]] region ($27,984,103), Germany ($24,130,400), [[Mexico]] ($17,679,805), Spain ($14,973,097), Australia ($14,165,390), Italy ($12,210,993), and Russia and the [[Commonwealth of Independent States|CIS]] ($11,694,482).<ref>{{cite web|title=''WALL-E'' (2008)&nbsp;– International Box Office Results|work=[[Box Office Mojo]]|url=https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=wall-e.htm|access-date=February 13, 2011|archive-date=May 14, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514032625/http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=intl&id=wall-e.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Critical response ===
<!-- Please note, when updating Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic ratings, you should also update the "access-date" field within the citation tags to reflect the date on which you have updated them. -->
The [[American Film Institute]] named ''WALL-E'' as one of the best films of 2008;<ref>{{cite web|title=AFI Awards 2008|url=http://www.afi.com/afiawards/AFIAwards08.aspx|publisher=American Film Institute|access-date=December 31, 2015|archive-date=March 16, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150316211706/http://afi.com/afiawards/AFIAwards08.aspx|url-status=live}}</ref> the jury rationale states:

<blockquote>''WALL-E'' proves to this generation and beyond that the film medium's only true boundaries are the human imagination. Writer/director Andrew Stanton and his team have created a classic screen character from a metal trash compactor who rides to the rescue of a planet buried in the debris that embodies the broken promise of American life. Not since Chaplin's "[[The Tramp|Little Tramp]]" has so much story—so much emotion—been conveyed without words. When hope arrives in the form of a seedling, the film blossoms into one of the great screen romances as two robots remind audiences of the beating heart in all of us that yearns for humanity—and love—in the darkest of landscapes.</blockquote>

{{RT prose|95|8.6|262|''Wall-E''{{'}}s stellar visuals testify once again to Pixar's ingenuity, while its charming star will captivate younger viewers—and its timely story offers thought-provoking subtext.}}<ref name="rt">{{cite web|url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e|title=WALL-E|website=[[Rotten Tomatoes]]|publisher=[[Fandango Media|Fandango]]|access-date={{RT data|access date}}|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230629082955/https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/wall_e|archive-date=June 29, 2023|url-status=live}}{{RT data|edit}}</ref> At [[Metacritic]], which assigns a normalized rating to reviews from mainstream critics, the film has an [[weighted mean|average]] score of 95 out of 100 based on 39 reviews, indicating "universal acclaim".<ref name="meta">{{cite web | url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/wall-e | title=WALL-E: Reviews | publisher=[[Metacritic]] | access-date=July 28, 2017 | archive-date=August 17, 2023 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230817035559/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/wall-e | url-status=live }}</ref> Audiences polled by [[CinemaScore]] gave the film an average rating of "A" on an A+ to F scale.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Rich |first1=Joshua |title='WALL-E' beeps and bops to the bank |url=https://ew.com/article/2008/06/29/wall-e-beeps-and-bops-bank/ |magazine=[[Entertainment Weekly]] |access-date=June 14, 2022 |date=June 29, 2008 |archive-date=June 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220614201317/https://ew.com/article/2008/06/29/wall-e-beeps-and-bops-bank/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''[[IndieWire]]'' named ''WALL-E'' the third-best film of the year based on their annual survey of 100 film critics, while Movie City News shows that ''WALL-E'' appeared in 162 different top 10 lists, out of 286 different critics lists surveyed, the most mentions on a top 10 list of any film released in 2008.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://moviecitynews.com/awards/2009/top_ten/00scoreboard.htm|year=2008|author=David Poland|title=The 2008 Movie City News Top Ten Awards|access-date=January 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090206014238/http://moviecitynews.com/awards/2009/top_ten/00scoreboard.htm|archive-date=February 6, 2009}}</ref>

[[Richard Corliss]] of ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' named ''WALL-E'' his favorite film of 2008 (and later of the decade), noting the film succeeded in "connect[ing] with a huge audience" despite the main characters' lack of speech and "emotional signifiers like a mouth, eyebrows, shoulders, [and] elbows". It "evoke[d] the splendor of the movie past" and he also compared WALL-E and EVE's relationship to the chemistry of [[Spencer Tracy]] and [[Katharine Hepburn]].<ref>{{cite news|author=Richard Corliss|title=Top 10 Movies|magazine=Time|date=December 9, 2008|url=https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1855948_1863826_1863827,00.html|access-date=July 28, 2017|archive-date=April 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170430152033/http://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1855948_1863826_1863827,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Other critics who named ''WALL-E'' their favorite film of 2008 included Tom Charity of [[CNN]],<ref>{{cite news|author=Tom Charity|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/31/best.2008/|title=The best (and worst) films of 2008|publisher=CNN|date=December 31, 2008|access-date=January 8, 2009|archive-date=March 4, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304030448/http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Movies/12/31/best.2008/|url-status=live}}</ref> Michael Phillips of the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'', Lisa Schwarzbaum of ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'', [[A. O. Scott]] of ''[[The New York Times]]'', [[Christopher Orr (film critic)|Christopher Orr]] of ''[[The New Republic]]'', [[Ty Burr]] and [[Wesley Morris]] of ''[[The Boston Globe]]'', [[Joe Morgenstern]] of ''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'', and [[Anthony Lane]] of ''[[The New Yorker]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2008/toptens.shtml |title=Metacritic: 2008 Film Critic Top Ten Lists |access-date=December 30, 2008 |publisher=Metacritic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100224083805/http://www.metacritic.com/film/awards/2008/toptens.shtml|archive-date=February 24, 2010}}</ref>

Todd McCarthy of ''[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]'' called the film "Pixar's ninth consecutive wonder", saying it was imaginative yet straightforward. He said it pushed the boundaries of animation by balancing esoteric ideas with more immediately accessible ones, and that the main difference between the film and other science fiction projects rooted in an [[apocalypse]] was its optimism.<ref name="var">{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/VE1117937536.html |author=Todd McCarthy |title=WALL-E Review |work=Variety |date=June 26, 2008 |access-date=June 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080805073200/http://www.variety.com/VE1117937536.html |archive-date=August 5, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref> Kirk Honeycutt of ''[[The Hollywood Reporter]]'' declared that ''WALL-E'' surpassed the achievements of Pixar's previous eight features and probably their most original film to date. He said it had the "heart, soul, spirit and romance" of the best [[silent film]]s. Honeycutt said the film's definitive stroke of brilliance was in using a mix of archive film footage and computer graphics to trigger WALL-E's romantic leanings. He praised Burtt's sound design, saying "If there is such a thing as an aural sleight of hand, this is it."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/wall-e-review-2008-movie-1016979 |title=WALL-E |author=Kirk Honeycutt |date=June 25, 2008 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=June 26, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080630095618/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/film/reviews/article_display.jsp?JSESSIONID=stXDLjWG25pv31dwl2yynPgffjhWyvSk96w52TwNp9jZphdLSkRG%21-209288430&&rid=11329 |archive-date=June 30, 2008 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

[[Roger Ebert]] of the ''[[Chicago Sun-Times]]'' named ''WALL-E'' "an enthralling animated film, a visual wonderment, and a decent science-fiction story" and said the scarcity of dialogue would allow it to "cross language barriers" in a manner appropriate to the global theme, and noted it would appeal to adults and children. He praised the animation, describing the color palette as "bright and cheerful … and a little bit realistic", and that Pixar managed to generate a "curious" regard for the WALL-E, comparing his "rusty and hard-working and plucky" design favorably to more obvious attempts at creating "lovable" lead characters. He said ''WALL-E'' was concerned with ideas rather than spectacle, saying it would trigger stimulating "little thoughts for the younger viewers."<ref>{{cite news | url=http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080626/REVIEWS/963071290 | title=WALL-E review | author=Roger Ebert | work=Chicago Sun-Times | date=June 26, 2008 | access-date=June 30, 2008 | archive-date=December 27, 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121227195358/http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=%2F20080626%2FREVIEWS%2F963071290 | url-status=live }}</ref> He named it as one of his twenty favorite films of 2008 and argued it was "the best science-fiction movie in years".<ref>{{cite news|author=Roger Ebert|title=The best films of 2008... and there were a lot of them|date=December 5, 2008|url=https://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/the-best-films-of-2008-and-there-were-a-lot-of-them|access-date=December 9, 2008|work=Chicago Sun-Times|archive-date=April 23, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130423065240/http://www.rogerebert.com/rogers-journal/the-best-films-of-2008-and-there-were-a-lot-of-them|url-status=live}}</ref>

The film was interpreted as tackling a topical, [[ecologically]]-minded agenda,<ref name="rt" /> though McCarthy said it did so with a lightness of touch that granted the viewer the ability to accept or ignore the message.<ref name="var" /> [[Kyle Smith (critic)|Kyle Smith]] of the ''[[New York Post]]'', wrote that by depicting future humans as "a flabby mass of peabrained idiots who are literally too fat to walk", ''WALL-E'' was darker and more cynical than any major Disney feature film he could recall. He compared the humans to the patrons of [[Disney Parks, Experiences and Products|Disney's theme parks and resorts]], adding, "I'm also not sure I've ever seen a major corporation spend so much money to issue an insult to its customers."<ref>{{cite web | url=http://kylesmithonline.com/?p=1319 | title=Disney's "Wall-E": A $170 Million Art Film | author=Kyle Smith | publisher=kylesmithonline.com | date=June 26, 2008 | access-date=July 1, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511055731/http://kylesmithonline.com/?p=1319 | archive-date=May 11, 2011 | url-status=dead | df=mdy-all }}</ref> Maura Judkis of ''[[U.S. News & World Report]]'' questioned whether this depiction of "frighteningly obese humans" would resonate with children and make them prefer to "play outside rather than in front of the computer, to avoid a similar fate".<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/fresh-greens/2008/6/30/will-wall-e-make-us-greener.html | title=Will 'WALL-E' Make Us Greener? | author=Maura Judkis | work=U.S. News & World Report | date=June 30, 2008 | access-date=July 2, 2008 | archive-date=July 3, 2008 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080703193316/http://www.usnews.com/blogs/fresh-greens/2008/6/30/will-wall-e-make-us-greener.html | url-status=live }}</ref>

A few notable critics have argued that the film is vastly overrated,<ref name="forward.com">{{cite web|url=http://www.forward.com/articles/13740/|title=Thumbs Up for 'Wall-E'? Ed Kooch Dissents|date=July 10, 2008|access-date=October 6, 2009|author=Daniel Treiman|work=[[The Jewish Daily Forward]]|archive-date=December 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217093743/http://www.forward.com/articles/13740/|url-status=dead}}</ref> claiming it failed to "live up to such blinding, high-wattage enthusiasm",<ref name="ft.com">{{cite web |url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/31d5fa26-539b-11dd-8dd2-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1 |title=Everyday tale of droid meets probe |work=Financial Times |date=July 17, 2008 |access-date=April 22, 2010 |archive-date=August 24, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080824183755/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/31d5fa26-539b-11dd-8dd2-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> and that there were "chasms of boredom watching it", in particular "the second and third acts spiraled into the expected".<ref>{{cite web |title=Is 'Wall-E' overrated?|url=http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/mo/entries/2008/07/25/is_walle_overrated.html|author=Matthew Odam|access-date=October 6, 2009|date=July 25, 2008|publisher=[[Austin American-Statesman]] blogs|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110513214852/http://www.austin360.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/mo/entries/2008/07/25/is_walle_overrated.html|archive-date=May 13, 2011}}</ref> Other labels included "preachy"<ref name="forward.com" /> and "too long".<ref name="ft.com" /> Child reviews sent into [[CBBC (TV channel)|CBBC]] were mixed, some citing boredom and an inadequate storyline.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7500000/newsid_7504500/7504559.stm|title=Film review: WALL-E|access-date=October 6, 2009|publisher=CBBC|date=October 1, 2008|archive-date=May 11, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511120100/http://news.bbc.co.uk/cbbcnews/hi/newsid_7500000/newsid_7504500/7504559.stm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Several [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] commentators criticized the film. [[Shannen W. Coffin]] of ''[[National Review]]'' said that ''WALL-E'' is "leftist propaganda about the evils of mankind"''.'' [[Greg Pollowitz]] of ''National Review'' called the film "a 90-minute lecture on the dangers of over consumption, big corporations, and the destruction of the environment". [[Jonah Goldberg]] said that while the film was "fascinating and at-times brilliant", he added that it is also "[[Malthusianism|Malthusian]] fear mongering". [[Glenn Beck]] said that "I can't wait to teach my kids how we've destroyed the Earth … Pixar is teaching. I can't wait. You know if your kid has ever come home and said, 'Dad, how come we use so much [[styrofoam]],' oh, this is the movie for you."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Frick |first=Ali |date=2008-07-01 |title=Right-Wing Apoplectic Over Pixar's WALL-E: 'Malthusian Fear Mongering,' 'Fascistic Elements' |url=https://archive.thinkprogress.org/right-wing-apoplectic-over-pixars-wall-e-malthusian-fear-mongering-fascistic-elements-92e1523a8a6e/ |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=[[ThinkProgress]] |language=en-US |archive-date=January 27, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220127053048/https://archive.thinkprogress.org/right-wing-apoplectic-over-pixars-wall-e-malthusian-fear-mongering-fascistic-elements-92e1523a8a6e/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Suellentrop |first=Chris |date=2008-06-30 |title=Another Brick in the 'WALL-E' |url=https://archive.nytimes.com/opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/another-brick-in-the-wall-e/ |access-date=2023-08-07 |website=The New York Times Opinionator |language=en |archive-date=September 23, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230923142331/https://archive.nytimes.com/opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/30/another-brick-in-the-wall-e/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Patrick J. Ford of ''[[The American Conservative]]'' said ''WALL-E''{{'}}s conservative critics missed lessons in the film that he felt appealed to [[traditional conservatism]]. He argued that the mass [[consumerism]] in the film was not shown to be a product of [[big business]], but of too close a tie between big business and [[big government]]: "The government unilaterally provided its citizens with everything they needed, and this lack of variety led to Earth's downfall." Responding to Coffin's claim that the film points out the evils of mankind, Ford argued the only evils depicted were those that resulted from losing touch with our own humanity and that fundamental conservative representations such as the farm, the nuclear family unit, and "wholesome entertainment" were seen as "beautiful and desirable." by the human characters. He concluded, "By steering conservative families away from ''WALL-E'', these commentators are doing their readers a great disservice."<ref name="ford">{{cite journal | author = Patrick J. Ford | title = WALL-E's Conservative Critics | journal=The American Conservative | date =June 30, 2008 | url=http://www.amconmag.com/blog/2008/06/30/wall-es-conservative-critics/ | access-date=July 2, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514094858/http://www.amconmag.com/blog/2008/06/30/wall-es-conservative-critics/|archive-date=May 14, 2011}}</ref>

Director [[Terry Gilliam]] praised the film as "A stunning bit of work. The scenes on what was left of planet Earth are just so beautiful: one of the great silent movies. And the most stunning artwork! It says more about ecology and society than any live-action film—all the people on their loungers floating around, brilliant stuff. Their social comment was so smart and right on the button."<ref>[https://www.timeout.com/film/features/show-feature/8837/ Time Out's 50 greatest animated films: part 2] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091011205928/http://www.timeout.com/film/features/show-feature/8837/ |date=October 11, 2009 }}. ''Time Out London''.</ref>

Archaeologists have commented on the themes of human evolution that the film explores.<ref name="marwick">{{cite journal | author = Ben Marwick | title = Self-image, the long view and archaeological engagement with film: an animated case study | journal = World Archaeology | year = 2010 | url = http://faculty.washington.edu/bmarwick/PDFs/Marwick_2010_WA_Wall-E.pdf | doi = 10.1080/00438243.2010.497386 | volume = 42 | issue = 3 | pages = 394–404 | s2cid = 8949124 | access-date = September 18, 2016 | archive-date = October 24, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161024120147/http://faculty.washington.edu/bmarwick/PDFs/Marwick_2010_WA_Wall-E.pdf | url-status = live }}</ref> Ben Marwick has written how the character of WALL-E resembles an archaeologist with his methodical collection and classification of quotidian human artefacts. He is shown facing a typological dilemma of classifying a [[spork]] as either a fork or spoon, and his nostalgic interest in the human past further demonstrated by his attachment to repeated viewings of the 1969 film [[Hello, Dolly! (film)|''Hello, Dolly!'']]. Marwick notes that the film features major human evolutionary transitions such as obligate bipedalism (captain of the spaceship struggles with the autopilot to gain control of the vessel) and the invention of agriculture, as part of watershed moments in the story of the film. According to Marwick, one prominent message of the film "appears to be that the envelopment by technology that the humans in ''WALL-E'' experience paradoxically results in physical and cultural devolution." Scholars such as [[Ian Tattersall]] and [[Steve Jones (biologist)|Steve Jones]] have similarly discussed scenarios where elements of modern technology (such as medicine) may have caused [[human evolution]] to slow or stop.

In 2021, the film was selected for preservation in the United States [[National Film Registry]] by the [[Library of Congress]] as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".<ref name="Tartaglione" />

===Accolades===
{{Main|List of accolades received by WALL-E|l1=List of accolades received by ''WALL-E''}}
''WALL-E'' won the [[Academy Award for Best Animated Feature]] and was nominated for [[Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay|Best Original Screenplay]], [[Academy Award for Best Original Score|Best Original Score]], [[Academy Award for Best Original Song|Best Original Song]], [[Academy Award for Sound Editing|Sound Editing]], and [[Academy Award for Best Sound|Sound Mixing]] at the [[81st Academy Awards]].<ref name="Oscars2009">{{cite web |url=http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/81st-winners.html |title=The 81st Academy Awards (2009) Nominees and Winners |access-date=November 22, 2011 |publisher=Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences |archive-date=October 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006101405/http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/legacy/ceremony/81st-winners.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Oscars 2009: The nominees|work=[[BBC News]]|date=January 22, 2009|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7842438.stm|access-date=January 22, 2009|archive-date=February 15, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090215015708/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7842438.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> Walt Disney Pictures also pushed for an [[Academy Award for Best Picture]] nomination,<ref>{{cite news|author1=Michael Cieply|author2=Brooks Barnes|title=Studios Are Pushing Box Office Winners as Oscar Contenders|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 27, 2008|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/movies/28stud.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|access-date=October 28, 2008|archive-date=May 12, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110512094248/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/movies/28stud.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|url-status=live}}</ref> but it was not nominated, sparking controversy over whether the Academy deliberately restricted ''WALL-E'' to the Best Animated Feature category.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Bandyk |first=Matthew |title=Academy Awards Controversy: Wall-E Gets Snubbed For Best Picture Oscar |url=https://www.usnews.com/blogs/risky-business/2009/01/22/academy-awards-controversy-wall-e-gets-snubbed-for-best-picture-oscar.html |publisher=[[U.S. News & World Report]] |date=January 22, 2009 |access-date=January 22, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717180938/http://money.usnews.com/money/blogs/risky-business/2009/01/22/academy-awards-controversy-wall-e-gets-snubbed-for-best-picture-oscar |archive-date=July 17, 2011 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> Film critic [[Peter Travers]] remarked, "If there was ever a time where an animated feature deserved to be nominated for best picture it's {{nowrap|''Wall-E''}}."<ref>{{Cite book |title=Academy accused of snubbing Dark Knight, Wall-E |url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/23/2473002.htm?section=entertainment |publisher=[[ABC News (Australia)|ABC News]] |date=January 22, 2009 |access-date=January 22, 2009 |archive-date=March 2, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100302061451/http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/23/2473002.htm?section=entertainment |url-status=dead }}</ref> 1991's ''[[Beauty and the Beast (1991 film)|Beauty and the Beast]]'' was the first and only animated film nominated for Best Picture at the time.{{citation needed|date=February 2025}} A reflective Stanton stated he was not disappointed the film was restricted to the Best Animated Film nomination because he was overwhelmed by the film's positive reception, and eventually "The line [between live-action and animation] is just getting so blurry that I think with each proceeding year, it's going to be tougher and tougher to say what's an animated movie and what's not an animated movie."<ref name=ball />

''WALL-E'' made a healthy appearance at the various 2008 end-of-the-year awards circles, particularly in the Best Picture category, where animated films are often overlooked. It has won the award, or the equivalent of it, from the [[Boston Society of Film Critics]] (tied with ''[[Slumdog Millionaire]]''),<ref>{{cite news|author=Peter Sciretta|title=AFI's Top 10 Movies of 2008; Boston Critics Name WALL-E and SlumDog Best Picture|work=/film|date=December 14, 2008|url=https://www.slashfilm.com/2008/12/14/afis-top-10-movies-of-2008-boston-critics-name-wall-e-and-slumdog-best-picture/|access-date=December 15, 2008|archive-date=December 16, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081216014614/http://www.slashfilm.com/2008/12/14/afis-top-10-movies-of-2008-boston-critics-name-wall-e-and-slumdog-best-picture/|url-status=live}}</ref> the [[Chicago Film Critics Association]],<ref>{{cite web|author=Chicago Film Critics Association|title=WALL-E Cleans Up Chicago Film Critics Awards|url=http://www.chicagofilmcritics.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61:wall-e-cleans-up-chicago-film-critics-awards&catid=3:newsflash&Itemid=65|date=December 18, 2008|access-date=December 18, 2008|archive-date=May 10, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510001847/http://www.chicagofilmcritics.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=61%3Awall-e-cleans-up-chicago-film-critics-awards&catid=3%3Anewsflash&Itemid=65|url-status=live}}</ref> the Central Ohio Film Critics awards,<ref>{{cite news|author=Frank Gabrenya|title='WALL-E' picks up top honors|work=[[The Columbus Dispatch]]|date=January 10, 2009}}</ref> the [[Online Film Critics Society]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7839300.stm|title=Online film critics back Wall-E|work=BBC News|date=January 20, 2009|access-date=January 20, 2009|archive-date=February 14, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090214073307/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7839300.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> and most notably the [[Los Angeles Film Critics Association]], where it became the first animated feature to win the prestigious award.<ref>{{cite news|author=Justin Chang|title=L.A. critics wired for 'WALL-E'|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]]|date=December 9, 2008|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/l-a-critics-wired-for-wall-e-1117997085/|access-date=December 9, 2008|archive-date=December 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091209093135/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117997085.html?categoryid=13&ref=ra&cs=1|url-status=live}}</ref> It was named as one of 2008's ten best films by the [[American Film Institute]] and the [[National Board of Review of Motion Pictures]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117996815.html?nav=news&categoryid=1983&cs=1|title=NBR names 'Slumdog' best of year|date=December 14, 2008|work=Variety|access-date=January 13, 2009 | first=Dade | last=Hayes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025115410/http://www.variety.com/awardcentral_article/VR1117996815.html?nav=news&categoryid=1983&cs=1|archive-date=October 25, 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=AFI Awards 2008|url=http://www.afi.com/tvevents/afiawards08/default.aspx|publisher=American Film Institute|access-date=January 12, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903044309/http://www.afi.com/tvevents/afiawards08/default.aspx|archive-date=September 3, 2011}}</ref>

It won Best Animated Feature Film at the [[66th Golden Globe Awards]], 81st Academy Awards, and the [[14th Critics' Choice Awards|Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards 2008]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/index.html|title=HFPA&nbsp;– Nominations and Winners|publisher=Goldenglobes.org|access-date=January 13, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090303082505/http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/index.html|archive-date=March 3, 2009}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://variety.com/2008/film/awards/critics-choice-favors-milk-button-1117997072/|author=Dade Hayes|title=Critics Choice favors 'Milk,' 'Button'|work=Variety|date=December 9, 2008|access-date=December 9, 2008|archive-date=December 19, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081219013335/http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117997072.html?categoryId=13&cs=1|url-status=live}}</ref> It was nominated for several awards at the 2009 [[Annie Award]]s, including Best Feature Film, Animated Effects, Character Animation, Direction, Production design, Storyboarding and Voice acting (for Ben Burtt);{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} but was beaten out by ''[[Kung Fu Panda (film)|Kung Fu Panda]]'' in every category.<ref>{{cite news|author=Pete DeBruge|url=https://variety.com/2009/film/awards/kung-fu-panda-rules-annie-awards-1117999390/|title='Kung Fu Panda' rules Annie Awards|work=Variety|date=January 30, 2009|access-date=January 31, 2009}}</ref> It won Best Animated Feature at the [[62nd British Academy Film Awards]] and was also nominated there for Best Music and Sound.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=24160|work=[[Empire (magazine)|Empire]]|date=February 8, 2009|title=Slumdog Bags The BAFTAs|author=Emily Phillips|access-date=February 8, 2009|archive-date=January 19, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120119092603/http://www.empireonline.com/news/story.asp?NID=24160|url-status=live}}</ref> [[Thomas Newman]] and [[Peter Gabriel]] won two [[51st Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Awards]] for "[[Down to Earth (Peter Gabriel song)|Down to Earth]]" and "Define Dancing".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.grammy.com/grammy_awards/51st_show/list.aspx|title=51st Grammy Awards|publisher=National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences|access-date=February 9, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207085806/http://www.grammy.com/Grammy_Awards/51st_Show/list.aspx <!--Added by H3llBot-->|archive-date=February 7, 2009}}</ref> It won all three awards it was nominated for by the [[Visual Effects Society]]: Best Animation, Best Character Animation (for WALL-E and EVE in the truck) and Best Effects in the Animated Motion Picture categories.<ref>{{cite news|author=Thomas J. McLean|title=Button, WALL•E Dominate VES Awards|work=Animation Magazine|date=February 22, 2009|url=http://www.animationmagazine.net/article/9623|access-date=February 23, 2009|archive-date=June 12, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100612004125/http://animationmagazine.net/article/9623|url-status=live}}</ref> It became the first animated film to win Best Editing for a Comedy or Musical from the [[American Cinema Editors]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ace-filmeditors.org/newace/eddieNominees.html|title=59th Annual ACE Eddie Awards|publisher=American Cinema Editors|access-date=February 16, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090606034822/http://www.ace-filmeditors.org/newace/eddieNominees.html|archive-date=June 6, 2009}}</ref> In 2009, Stanton, Reardon, and Docter won the [[Nebula Award]], beating ''[[The Dark Knight]]'' and the ''[[Stargate Atlantis]]'' episode "[[The Shrine (Stargate Atlantis)|The Shrine]]".<ref>{{cite web
 |title=2008 Nebula Award Ballot
 |work=Nebula Award
 |url=http://www.nebulaawards.com/index.php/guest_blogs/2009_nebula_award_ballot/
 |access-date=March 3, 2009
 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304011727/http://www.nebulaawards.com/index.php/guest_blogs/2009_nebula_award_ballot
 |archive-date=March 4, 2009
 |url-status=dead
 |df=mdy
}}</ref><ref>{{cite news | last = Silver | first = Steven H | title = Nebula Winners | work = SF Site News | publisher = SF Site | date = April 26, 2009 | url = http://www.sfsite.com/news/2009/04/26/nebula-winners/ | access-date = April 27, 2009 | archive-date = May 15, 2011 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110515071220/http://www.sfsite.com/news/2009/04/26/nebula-winners/ | url-status = live }}</ref> It won Best Animated Film and was nominated for Best Director at the [[Saturn Award]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.saturnawards.org/nominations.html |title=Nominations for the 35th Annual Saturn Awards |publisher=Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films |access-date=March 17, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120221234527/http://www.saturnawards.org/nominations.html |archive-date=February 21, 2012 |df=mdy }}</ref>

At the British [[National Movie Awards]], which is voted for by the public, it won Best Family Film.<ref>{{cite web|title=National Movie Awards|url=http://www.nationalmovieawards.com/default.aspx?page=home|access-date=January 12, 2009 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080822174013/http://www.nationalmovieawards.com/default.aspx?page=home |archive-date = August 22, 2008}}</ref> It was also voted Best Feature Film at the [[British Academy Children's Awards]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bafta.org/awards/childrens/nominations-childrens-awards-in-2008,593,BA.html |title=Children's Awards Winners&nbsp;– Children's&nbsp;– Awards&nbsp;– The BAFTA site |publisher=Bafta.org |access-date=January 8, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120801081430/http://www.bafta.org/awards/childrens/nominations-childrens-awards-in-2008,593,BA.html |archive-date=August 1, 2012 |df=mdy-all }}</ref> WALL-E was listed at No. 63 on ''Empire''{{'}}s online poll of the 100 greatest movie characters, conducted in 2008.<ref>{{cite web|title=The 100 Greatest Movie Characters|work=Empire|url=https://www.empireonline.com/100-greatest-movie-characters/default.asp?c=63|access-date=January 12, 2009|archive-date=September 6, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906073049/http://www.empireonline.com/100-greatest-movie-characters/default.asp?c=63|url-status=live}}</ref> In early 2010, ''Time'' ranked ''WALL-E'' No. 1 in "Best Movies of the Decade".<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |last=Corliss |first=Richard |date=December 29, 2009 |title=''WALL-E'' (2008)&nbsp;– Best Movies, TV, Books and Theater of the Decade |magazine=Time |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2009/12/29/the-10-best-movies-of-the-decade/ |url-status=live |access-date=July 28, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170719105516/http://entertainment.time.com/2009/12/29/the-10-best-movies-of-the-decade/ |archive-date=July 19, 2017}}</ref> In ''[[Sight & Sound]]'' magazine's 2012 poll of the greatest films of all time, ''WALL-E'' is the second-highest-ranking animated film behind ''[[My Neighbor Totoro]]'' (1988), while tying with the film ''[[Spirited Away]]'' (2001) at 202nd overall.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sight & Sound 2012 critics top 250 films |url=http://explore.bfi.org.uk/sightandsoundpolls/2012/critics |website=BFI |publisher=British Film Institute |access-date=January 1, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131026034922/http://explore.bfi.org.uk/sightandsoundpolls/2012/critics |archive-date=October 26, 2013 |df=mdy }}</ref> In a 2016 [[BBC]] poll of international critics, it was voted the 29th-greatest film since 2000.<ref name="bbc100">{{cite web |date=August 23, 2016 |title=The 21st Century's 100 greatest films |url=http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170131124228/http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20160819-the-21st-centurys-100-greatest-films |archive-date=January 31, 2017 |access-date=October 19, 2017 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> In June 2025, filmmaker [[Max Hechtman]], actors [[Alden Ehrenreich]], [[David Krumholtz]] and [[Nathan Lane]], and comedians [[Paula Poundstone]] and [[Phoebe Robinson]], all cited the film as among their favorites of the 21st century.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/votes-movies-21st-century.html | title=Pedro Almódovar, Sofia Coppola and 121 Other Famous Names Share Their Top Movies of the 21st Century | work=The New York Times | date=June 25, 2025 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite Instagram |author-link=Max Hechtman |user=maxhechtman |postid=DLTVl2UyYmU |date=June 24, 2025 |title=The New York Times this week is ranking the 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century and you, yes you, can do your own ballot with 10 of your picks. Here’s my ballot of 10 random films from this century (a few of which influenced my filmmaking) that I submitted earlier today for the Readers Choice list. Let’s see which films you selected as among the best.|access-date=June 25, 2025 |link=https://www.threads.net/@maxhechtman/post/DLTVl2UyYmU}}</ref> It also ranked number 34 on ''[[The New York Times]]''{{'}} list of "The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century."<ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/movies/best-movies-21st-century.html | title=The 100 Best Movies of the 21st Century | date=June 26, 2025 }}</ref>

== Robotic recreations ==
In 2012, Mike McMaster,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://kotaku.com/i-cant-believe-how-human-this-wall-e-robot-seems-1034289678|title=I Can't Believe How Human This Wall-E Robot Seems|first=Patricia|last=Hernandez|work=Kotaku|date=August 5, 2013|access-date=October 11, 2013|archive-date=October 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012051358/http://kotaku.com/i-cant-believe-how-human-this-wall-e-robot-seems-1034289678|url-status=live}}</ref> an American robotics hobbyist, began working on his own model of [[WALL-E (character)|WALL-E]]. The final product was built with more moving parts than the WALL-E which roams around [[Disneyland]]. McMaster's four-foot robot made an appearance at the [[Walt Disney Family Museum]] and was featured during the opening week of Tested.com<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tomsguide.com/us/technology-robot-walle-mcmaster,news-17477.html|title=Pixar's Wall-E Brought to Life by California Farmer|website=Tom's Guide|first=Elizabeth|last=Palermo|date=September 2, 2013|access-date=October 11, 2013|archive-date=October 12, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012054635/http://www.tomsguide.com/us/technology-robot-walle-mcmaster,news-17477.html|url-status=live}}</ref> a project headed up by [[Jamie Hyneman]] and [[Adam Savage]] of ''[[MythBusters]]''. Since WALL-E's creation, Mike and the popular robot have made dozens of appearances at various events.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.actuatorzone.com/Blog/post/2013/09/17/Mike-Sennas-Wall-E-Project-Using-Linear-Actuators-from-Progressive-Automations|title=Mike Senna's Wall-E Project|website=ActuatorZone|date=September 17, 2013|access-date=October 11, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131012022114/http://www.actuatorzone.com/Blog/post/2013/09/17/Mike-Sennas-Wall-E-Project-Using-Linear-Actuators-from-Progressive-Automations|archive-date=October 12, 2013|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In the same year, Mike Senna completed his own WALL-E build.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.ew.com/article/2012/08/03/real-life-wall-e|title=An interview with Mike Senna, builder of a real-life Wall-E|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|first=Hillary|last=Busis|date=August 3, 2012|access-date=May 19, 2016|archive-date=August 9, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160809033922/http://www.ew.com/article/2012/08/03/real-life-wall-e|url-status=live}}</ref> He also created an EVE. They were present at a photo op at Disney's D23 Expo 2015.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-d23-expo-walle-eve-interactive-photoop-sneak-peek-75722/|title=D23 EXPO: WALL-E and EVE Interactive Photo-Op Sneak Peek|website=Stitch Kingdom|date=August 12, 2015|access-date=May 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150815081632/http://www.stitchkingdom.com/disney-d23-expo-walle-eve-interactive-photoop-sneak-peek-75722/|archive-date=August 15, 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[Robots (2005 film)|''Robots'' (2005 film)]]
* [[Mars Cube One]], consisting of two nanospacecraft, MarCO-A and MarCO-B, which are nicknamed WALL-E and EVE

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Bibliography==
* {{cite book |last=Hauser |first=Tim |title=The Art of WALL-E |publisher=[[Chronicle Books]] |location=San Francisco |isbn=978-0-8118-6235-6 |oclc=377889575 |year=2008}}
* {{Cite journal |last1=Mattie |first1=Sean |title=WALL·E on the Problem of Technology |journal=[[Perspectives on Political Science]] |volume=43 |issue=1 |pages=12–20 |date=Winter 2014 |doi=10.1080/10457097.2013.784576 |s2cid=144206190 |issn=1045-7097 |df=mdy-all}}

==External links==
{{Sister project links|display=''WALL-E''|d=Q104905|c=category:WALL-E|n=no|b=no|v=no|voy=no|m=no|mw=no|s=no|wikt=no|species=no}}
* {{Official website|http://movies.disney.com/wall-e}}
* {{IMDb title|0910970}}
* {{Rotten Tomatoes}}
* {{TCMDb title|662645}}

{{Navboxes
|title = ''WALL-E''
|list =
{{Wall-E|state=collapsed}}
{{Andrew Stanton}}
{{Disney theatrical animated features}}
{{Pixar Animation Studios}}
}}
{{Navboxes
|title = [[List of accolades received by WALL-E|Awards for ''WALL-E'']]
|list =
{{Academy Award for Best Animated Feature}}
{{Animation Kobe Feature Film Award}}
{{Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{BAFTA Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Film}}
{{Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Film}}
{{Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Feature}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Golden Globe Award for Best Animated Feature Film}}
{{Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form}}
{{Los Angeles Film Critics Association Award for Best Film}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Nebula Award for Best Script/Bradbury Award 2001–2020}}
{{New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Picture}}
{{Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Producers Guild of America Award for Best Animated Motion Picture}}
{{San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Satellite Award Best Animated or Mixed Media Feature Film}}
{{Saturn Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{TFCA Award for Best Animated Film}}
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Animated Feature}}
}}
{{Portal bar|2000s|Disney|Cartoon|Animation|Film|Science Fiction|United States}}
{{Authority control}}

<!--- named one of top 10 Transhumanist films in http://hplusmagazine.com/2010/11/08/top-ten-transhumanist-movies/ --->

[[Category:WALL-E| ]]
[[Category:2008 films]]
[[Category:2008 computer-animated films]]
[[Category:2000s science fiction adventure films]]
[[Category:2008 American animated films]]
[[Category:2008 science fiction films]]
[[Category:2000s romance films]]
[[Category:2000s science fiction comedy films]]
[[Category:2000s satirical films]]
[[Category:American animated science fiction films]]
[[Category:American films with live action and animation]]
[[Category:American science fiction comedy films]]
[[Category:American robot films]]
[[Category:American satirical films]]
[[Category:American animated feature films]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the future]]
[[Category:Films about archaeology]]
[[Category:Best Animated Feature Academy Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Animated Feature BAFTA winners]]
[[Category:Best Animated Feature Broadcast Film Critics Association Award winners]]
[[Category:Best Animated Feature Film Golden Globe winners]]
[[Category:American dystopian films]]
[[Category:Environmental films]]
[[Category:Films about evolution]]
[[Category:Films about consumerism]]
[[Category:2000s children's animated films]]
[[Category:Films scored by Thomas Newman]]
[[Category:Films directed by Andrew Stanton]]
[[Category:Films produced by Jim Morris]]
[[Category:Films set in the 29th century]]
[[Category:Fiction about generation ships]]
[[Category:Hugo Award for Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form–winning works]]
[[Category:Nebula Award for Best Script–winning works]]
[[Category:Pixar animated films]]
[[Category:Animated post-apocalyptic films]]
[[Category:Animated films about robots]]
[[Category:Animated films set in outer space]]
[[Category:Films set on spacecraft]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Pete Docter]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Andrew Stanton]]
[[Category:Films with screenplays by Jim Reardon]]
[[Category:American post-apocalyptic films]]
[[Category:Social science fiction films]]
[[Category:Saturn Award–winning films]]
[[Category:United States National Film Registry films]]
[[Category:American children's animated science fiction films]]
[[Category:2000s English-language films]]
[[Category:American children's animated comic science fiction films]]
[[Category:Animated films set in the 22nd century]]
[[Category:Animated films about plants]]
[[Category:Animated romance films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction comedy films]]
[[Category:English-language science fiction adventure films]]
[[Category:English-language romance films]]