Aah yes, The Iron Giant! That robot was a truly heartwarming character. It's a classic animated film from the late '90s that touched the hearts of many kids and adults alike. It tells a story about an unlikely friendship between a young boy and his toy-like giant robot amidst war hysteria, in which both are essentially alienated outsiders trying to bond with each other on earth. So you weren't far off saying it reminded you of some old Disney movie... close enough indeed ;)