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

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

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

“It was humbling, and I really haven’t processed it all yet,” said Brown, 45, who lives in the Midcoast near Damariscotta. “That’s some pretty expensive advertising.”

Seeing his book made into a Hollywood film is exciting for Brown on several levels. The New Jersey native originally went to art school with hopes of becoming an animator for Disney. He instead chose the career path of an author and illustrator, creating his three New York Times bestselling “Wild Robot” novels, as well as doing illustrations for other people’s books. The latest in the robot series, “The Wild Robot Protects,” came out last year.

“I think DreamWorks did a great job. It’s visually beautiful, and it’s different than a lot of the big animated films; it’s more painterly,” said Brown, who moved to Maine a couple years ago. “And the story is different too. It’s got a lot of heart and soul.”

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

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

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

Reviewing the film for The New York Times, Natalia Winkelman wrote that it was a “dazzling triumph of animation in which you feel the filmmakers’ attention on every frame. In a revivifying turn away from the gag-a-minute, computer-generated extravaganzas clogging up the animated zoological canon, this is a work that cares most about two things: big feelings and great beauty.”

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

A scene from “The Wild Robot,” based on the book by Maine author Peter Brown. Universal Pictures / DreamWorks

“Peter provided us with a brilliant and wonderful story about motherhood, with characters that have such original voices and spirit, set within a narrative that is fresh and compelling. He provided an amazing narrative canvas for our artists to explore and create this stunning world,” Sanders wrote. “In one of our early calls in discussing adapting the book, Peter revealed that a guiding theme – while not mentioned in the book verbatim – is the notion that kindness is a survival skill. Upon hearing that I immediately jotted that line down, knowing I wanted to include it in the script, and ultimately, it ended up being a line delivered by Fink, the fox.”

Brown has been traveling to screenings around the country in the past few weeks, including some where he and Nyong’o answered audience questions. He said Thursday that he’s leaving soon for another tour, to promote a movie tie-in version of “The Wild Robot” book, which includes color stills from the movie. Brown did not do the artwork used in the movie, and his book illustrations are in black and white.

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

When he comes back to Maine from his tour for the movie tie-in, Brown will be appearing in Portland, at The Kids’ Lit Bookfair at Maine Lit Fest, on Oct. 12 at the Portland Public Library from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. His wife, children’s author X. Fang, will be appearing, too. Her latest picture book, “We Are Definitely Human,” came out in August.

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

Brown said it took him a little while to get use to the idea of a movie being made based on his story but with other people’s art on screen. But he thinks the film came out great and now sees the value in it not being an exact replication of his books.

“If the movie is exactly like my book, then there’s going to be no reason for people to read my book,” said Brown. “They both serve different purposes, and you’re going to get something different out of each experience.”