History Main / EmergentHuman

* Cole from ''Series/{{Tracker}}'' has little experience with living as a human and has to learn by what he saw and heard.

* More so than [[Literature/TheBicentennialMan the original]], ''Film/BicentennialMan'' shows the Martin family RobotButler, Andrew, spending decades to learn what it means to be human/alive. He is initially [[StandardFiftiesFather mentored by Sir]], becoming progressively more human, [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots first in mind]] then [[DeceptivelyHumanRobots in body]], up to and including [[WhoWantsToLiveForever self-imposed mortality]].

* ''Literature/NightmaresAndDreamscapes'': In "Umney's Last Case", the eponymous HardboiledDetective meets Landry, the author who wrote him. After explaining that Umney is a fictional character, Landry swaps places with him. Umney is transported to TheNineties (when Creator/StephenKing wrote the story) from ChandlerAmericanTime, and initially finds himself quite out of his element. For example, when he first has to use the bathroom, he assumes that he's fallen deathly ill; because NobodyPoops where he came from, Umney has never experienced that sensation before.

[[folder:Comics]]
%%* The Beyonder in Creator/MarvelComics' ''ComicBook/SecretWarsII''
* ComicBook/MartianManhunter whenever his early days are shown. In the present he's generally shown as having acclimated.
* The third ComicBook/{{Hourman}}, this one an android from the 80,000 years in the future. He has a somewhat human personality and emotions but falls into this trope when he chooses to limit his nigh omnipotence to a typical superhero power level and live in the 20th Century. He even falls in love.
* ComicBook/TheVision is all about this trope. Sadly, every time he starts making significant progress toward becoming a real boy, ExecutiveMeddling comes along and destroys it for him, often in the cruelest and most preposterous ways possible.
* [[Creator/MarvelComics Marvel's]] ''other'' android hero, [[Creator/JackKirby Aaron Stack the Machine Man,]] also went through this trope and has had a pretty rough time as well. He's become very [[DeadpanSnarker bitter and cynical]] about it in recent years (though in his case it comes off as amusing instead of tragic). He and the Vision should form a [[TheWoobie support group.]] They could invite Marvel's version of Comicbook/TheFrankensteinMonster, too.

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLittleMermaid1989'' the title character Ariel is this after becoming human. She's always been IntriguedByHumanity and loved collecting artifacts that made their way into the ocean from on land, but her actual understanding of how humans operate is limited. This leads to such moments as the iconic scene of her combing her hair with a fork.

* ''Film/BicentennialMan'': More so than [[Literature/TheBicentennialMan the original]], this story shows the Martin family RobotButler, Andrew, spending decades to learn what it means to be human/alive. He is initially [[StandardFiftiesFather mentored by Sir]], becoming progressively more human, [[RidiculouslyHumanRobots first in mind]] then [[DeceptivelyHumanRobots in body]], up to and including [[WhoWantsToLiveForever self-imposed mortality]].

* ''Literature/AniDroids'': Eo has an operating system that aggressively installs itself in other ani-droids and then allows them to think around the [[RestrainingBolt Behavior Code]] that prevents them from developing true consciousness. If they survive the installation.
* Ax from the Literature/{{Animorphs}} is really oblivious to the differences between what's food and what's not, whenever he's in human morph.
* To an extent, [[spoiler:Scion]] from ''{{Literature/Worm}}''. [[spoiler:Scion is an [[EldritchAbomination unusual type of entity]] [[StarfishAlien with a mind completely unlike humans']]. However, when he came to Earth, he adopted a human form and, to an extent, human psyche. Scion didn't spend much time developing this, however, [[AchillesHeel leaving him vulnerable to psychological warfare]].]]

* Maggy, the ship's AI in ''Literature/{{Hellspark}}''. She's intelligent and in possession of many facts, but starts out short on social skills and comprehension of human concepts like "fiction" and "[[LudicrousPrecision verbal approximation]]", which she gradually gets the hang of over the course of the novel.
* In Creator/StephenKing's story "Umney's Last Case" (included in his collection ''Literature/NightmaresAndDreamscapes''), the eponymous HardboiledDetective meets Landry, the author who wrote him. After explaining that Umney is a fictional character, Landry swaps places with him. Umney is transported to TheNineties (when King wrote the story) from ChandlerAmericanTime, and initially finds himself quite out of his element. For example, when he first has to use the bathroom, he assumes that he's fallen deathly ill; because NobodyPoops where he came from, Umney has never experienced that sensation before.

[[folder:Live Action TV]]
* ''Franchise/StarTrek''

*** Data is probably the best known character of this type. His daughter Lal qualifies, too, though his brother Lore moved into RidiculouslyHumanRobot territory.
*** Q also gets this treatment in one episode, when he is made mortal.
*** Hugh is the first non-Picard Borg removed from the collective, and he learns to see himself as an individual in the space of one episode.
** The Doctor from ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' was a sapient hologram, treated similarly.
** Seven Of Nine, also from ''Voyager'', proves that ''Franchise/StarTrek'' is in love with this trope. In her case, she was assimilated by the Borg as a child, then liberated as an adult. In one episode, she becomes "mother" to a newborn drone who, like Lal, is even more earnestly innocent and curious than his parent. [[spoiler:Also like Lal, he doesn't survive the episode.]]
** Odo from ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'' although this is mostly his {{backstory}}. He goes through another round of it when he's forced to actually be a flesh and blood humanoid (as opposed to being a liquid being that appears humanoid most of the time.)

*** The trope is inverted with Data's daughter Soji who thinks she's human but must come to terms with the fact she is an android.

* Anya Jenkins from ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. She was born as a human, but spent approximately a thousand years as a demon before becoming her old self again, forcing her to relearn being human. (Though she was always kind of odd.)

%%* Kyle [[spoiler:and later Jessi]] from ''Series/KyleXY'', which seems to be an entire series built around this trope.
%%* Luke, from ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures'', who is remarkably similar in some respects to the lead from ''Series/KyleXY''.
* When unimprinted, Echo from ''{{Series/Dollhouse}}'' appears to be this... [[spoiler:at least until she takes a level in humanity between seasons.]]
%%* The title android in Creator/GeneRoddenberry's ''Series/TheQuestorTapes''.
* Deconstructed in ''Series/RedDwarf''. Kryten would love to BecomeARealBoy, but the human traits he admires are things like lying and gratuitous violence. When Kryten becomes human in one episode (and in another episode when he mistakenly believes Lister is a lesser model of robot) he becomes [[FantasticRacism arrogant and bullying]].
* Illyria from ''Series/{{Angel}}'' is this; she had her own experiences and values from before her return, but they're quite inhuman.
* 80s Canadian children's show ''Series/TodaysSpecial'' included a newly-living department store mannequin, and used his cluelessness about life as an excuse to discuss preschool-friendly topics.
* Cole, from ''Series/{{Tracker}}''. He had little experience with living as a human and had to learn by what he saw and heard.

* In ''Podcast/{{Malevolent}}'', after [[spoiler:being trapped in Arthur's comatose body for a month]] prompts some introspection and self-discovery, The Entity chooses a name for himself (John Doe), and develops the first hints of more "human" personality traits, including a remedial sense of sympathy for others. The change prompts Arthur to muse that perhaps the experience injected some humanity into him; John suggests that perhaps whatever humanity he previously possessed has started to return. [[spoiler:Seeing as John is actually a fragment of an elder god, Arthur is correct]].

[[folder:Role-Playing Games]]
* White Wolf's ''TabletopGame/PrometheanTheCreated'' is all about artificial human characters looking to become human one way or another. Several refinements, particularly the Refinement of Gold, emphasize roleplaying this kind of character.
* ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}''[='s=] Warforged. Constructs created with sentience and sapience and designed to be soldiers. They run into this particularly after war when they are no longer all needed for the purpose they were created for. There are two [[PrestigeClass prestige classes]] that allow warforged to choose diametrically opposite answers to the questions of this trope -- the Warforged Juggernaut rejects being like living, breathing people and embraces their construct nature entirely, while the Reforged embraces life and emotion wholeheartedly.
* ''TabletopGame/CthulhuTech'' gives us the Nazzadi, originally created as clone soldiers for the Migou before they defected to join humanity. They're currently dealing with the existential weight of being only two generations old as a species/culture, and the game line mentions that Nazzadi who pursue a career in the arts are ''extremely'' respected by their elders, as it means they're taking steps to set up a cultural identity.

* [[RobotGirl Vivienne]] from ''VideoGame/PhantasyStarPortable'' is this. During her introduction, she even mentions that she was manufactured less than three months ago.
* ''Franchise/{{Persona}}'' Series
** This happens with [[RobotGirl Aigis]] in ''VideoGame/{{Persona 3}}'' and its related media, where it's shown she has some trouble understanding some basic social concepts. It's more developed in ''[[UpdatedRerelease FES]]'', though, where she develops a crush on the main character and later has to [[spoiler:cope with his death, which culminates on her becoming more human]].
** In ''VideoGame/{{Persona 4 Arena}}'' we get to see [[RobotGirl Labrys]]' train of thought quickly developing from the usual order-following computerized prompts, to questioning her relationships and the moral choices of her creators.
* The [[PlantPerson Sylvari]] of ''VideoGame/GuildWars2'' both subvert this trope and play it completely straight. They are a very young race (The firstborn only awoke 25 years prior to the plot, and some including player characters are [[YoungerThanTheyLook less than a year old]]), but they "Awaken" with a basic knowledge of language, morals, and the like. However, this knowledge is ''very'' basic and only limited to their own culture. As such they have a bit of difficulty interacting with members of other races. One Sylvari even managed to cause an Asuran Golem to malfunction simply by [[LogicBomb asking an innocent question about its mother]]. She nearly did the same to its creator (a MALE Asura) in a similar way. They seem to adapt just fine, though this may be due to the experiences of their already awakened brethren passing to new arrivals via [[HiveMind The Dream]].
* In ''VideoGame/Fallout4'', Curie is hit with this after [[spoiler: uploading herself into a synth body. She gets the ability to feel creativity and inspiration, but finds herself totally unprepared to deal with all the biological and mental functions that come with being human, and initially even has to remind herself to breathe. With the Sole Survivor's help, she ends up growing out of this, though she never quite loses her naivete. [[RomanceSidequest This can also lead to romance, should the player decide to pursue it.]]]]

* ''VideoGame/IWasATeenageExocolonist'': The cast includes Symbiosis, an ArtificialHuman who is WetwareBody for part of the ArtificialIntelligence network caring for the the planet. The consciousness controlling Sym's body is thousands of years old, but the experience of being human is extremely new to him. This results in him asking a lot of questions to the two younger humans with whom he made first contact, wanting the colony's media archive entirely out of personal curiosity, and being overall prone to ImmortalImmaturity.

* Grace from ''Webcomic/ElGoonishShive'', who is a human/alien/squirrel hybrid [[VoluntaryShapeShifting shapeshifter]] with NoSocialSkills. Not exactly a blank slate, since she was partially raised by the human scientists who created her, but her proper education was [[BreakTheCutie abruptly cut short]] before she had a chance to learn why [[InnocentFanserviceGirl most people are uncomfortable with casual nudity]].
* Crops up a ''lot'' in ''Webcomic/TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob.'' [[CuteMonsterGirl Molly]] was a spontaneously generated lab accident who grew to maturity in a month; she was raised by Bob and came out sweet and innocent. A scientist cloned her to make Galatea/Golly, but raised her very badly and she came out as a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds. Golly, in turn, cloned Molly ''again'' and accidentally produced the [[OurGiantsAreBigger giantess]] Jolly, who has been raised by aliens and is gentle, if a bit lonely. All three girls are geniuses, allowing them to learn enough to survive in only a month's time. Molly also built a robot, Roofus, who [[InstantAIJustAddWater surprised her by turning out sentient.]] Roofus is simpleminded but deeply soulful.

* Not an actual human per se, but close enough, is WesternAnimation/FrostyTheSnowman in the classic Christmas special. His wife is much the same in the follow up, ''Frosty's Winter Wonderland''.
* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'': {{Deconstructed}} in the second "Anthology of Interest" episode. Bender, already a RidiculouslyHumanRobot to begin with, is turned into a human male by the Professor. His personality remains unchanged, however, and all he learns is to take even ''more'' pleasure in the over-the-top, hedonistic lifestyle he's already accustomed to living. Turns out, he was better off as a robot: [[spoiler:all that unrestrained chain-smoking, binge drinking, unhealthy eating, and nonstop partying--everything his robot body takes for granted--gets him killed within a week]].
* This is the case in ''WesternAnimation/CodeLyoko'' with Aelita during season 2: a sentient artificial being turned human and learning to express the full range of human emotions, how to handle them, and developing an interest in music mixing. [[spoiler: This ends up subverted as Aelita was always human, but has lost her memories due to being stuck in the super computer for around a decade. As of Season 3 and 4 she's perfectly human in mind]].

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* Lily from ''Literature/{{Argo}}'' starts to contemplate her "humanity" more as she's upgraded by Eo, leading to a lot of questions and confusion.

** Historical records from Inazuma mention the Kabukomono (lit: "Eccentric"), a mysterious being that lived with the people of Tatarasuna. Surviving records describe a youth with the innocence of a newborn, lacking the most basic knowledge and no understanding of human nature. In fact, this was [[spoiler: Scaramouche prior to joining the Fatui. In a [[DeconstructedTrope deconstruction]] of the trope, the newly-awakened puppet lacked the ability to deal with complex emotions or recognize malice in the humans around him. He took what he was told at face value, and was manipulated into believing his first friend had committed a murder and then abandoned him. His first direct experience with human mortality and death were likewise things he couldn't comprehend. These tragedies, combined with the abandonment of his creator, caused the puppet to go insane and end up as a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds]].

May be an AlienAmongUs when a character's alien experiences are [[StarfishAlien so irrelevant that they're more or less starting from scratch]]. If this character [[IJustWantToBeNormal just wants to be like everyone else]] they may have PinocchioSyndrome; conversely, they may be working on getting along as a human [[HumanityEnsues reluctantly, because they haven't got another option]]. Contrast with BecomeARealBoy, where becoming a fully fledged and well-socialized human is instantaneous following a suitably dramatic plot point, and tropes such as RidiculouslyHumanRobots and MechanicalLifeforms, which revolve around beings who might as well be human in personality, if not physiology. Also compare/contrast with HumanityIsInfectious, where the character's mindset is slowly becoming humanoid just by being around humans long or intimately enough.