Line #35 Main/ForgotHeWasARobot


1	[[quoteright:140:[[ComicBook/TheTransformersMarvel https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rumble_6.png]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:140:A bad time to have a lens wiper self-test, Mr. Robot...]]
3
4	->''"Huff Huff Huff"''
5	-->-- '''Oon''', the magically animated armour from ''WesternAnimation/JayceAndTheWheeledWarriors''
6
7	A robot is fleeing, or just running, and, what's this? ''It's out of breath''? Ooops, it banged its head! We'd better put a bandage on that! The trope for robots whose writers ''forgot they were robots'', just didn't care, or thought it would be useful to give mechanical characters unexplained human traits, perhaps as a way of humanising them. This may be {{Hand Wave}}d (he's not out of breath, his cooling fan is cycling) or in comedies just put down to the RuleOfFunny.
8
9	Not to be confused with RidiculouslyHumanRobots, where the traits are deliberate and are all about making the robot [[ArtificialHuman as human as possible]], nor with one of the [[RoboticReveal android-related scenarios]] which could give rise to the character in question realizing he's the TomatoInTheMirror. This trope is about [[TinCanRobot the more obvious robots]]. Compare IWouldSayIfICouldSay.
10
11	----
12	!!Examples:
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14	[[foldercontrol]]
15
16	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
17	* ''Anime/CaptainFuture'' has both an obvious robot and an android in his crew. In one scene where there is a risk of depressurization in the ship, the latter is seen wearing a space helmet.
18	* Lampshaded in ''[[Anime/SpaceBattleshipYamato Star Blazers]]''. Just for the heck of it, I.Q.-9 programs himself to be able to hiccup, like a human being. Then he can't figure out how to get rid of them, and spends the HIC! whole HIC! episode HIC! hiccuping HIC!
19	* ''Manga/FullmetalAlchemist'': Not exactly a robot, but Alphonse Elric tends to make weeping or out-of-breath noises a lot. He's a disembodied soul bound to a suit of armor. He should not need to do that. Despite making the sounds, however, he can exercise for hours without rest or sleep.
20	[[/folder]]
21
22	[[folder:Comic Books]]
23	* The page image is from Marvel's ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'', and it's immediately lampshaped.
24	-->'''Shockwave:''' Oh, and one last thing, Rumble--have your gasketronic system checked--your head module seems to be leaking lubricant...
25	* In one issue of Marvel's ''ComicBook/MachineMan'', the eponymous robotic hero is in his human guise of insurance investigator Aaron Stack at a company party. One of his co-workers spikes the punch, and Aaron drinks some -- and promptly ''gets drunk!'' Much later, this quirk of Machine Man's would be enshrined by ''Comicbook/{{Nextwave}}'', which gave him the catchphrase "My robot brain needs beer!"
26	[[/folder]]
27
28	[[folder:Fanfic]]
29	* Exploited in ''Fanfic/NoStarsInSight''. While exploring the navigation deck of a derelict ColonyShip, Ikharos is jumped by an [[KillerRobot ExSec Exo]] armed with a knife. Right before he was attacked, he heard the Exo [[HellIsThatNoise make breathing noises]] and deduced that it was still stuck in the mindset of an organic. During their fight, he takes advantage of this by putting the Exo into a stranglehold and slitting its throat. Just as he predicted, the Exo instinctively panics and clutches its artificial throat while hacking for air, forgetting that it doesn't need oxygen to live.
30	* Justified in ''Fanfic/TantabusMarkII''. Moondog is a dream-based EnergyBeing, but being formed from the mind of a living pony and spending a lot of time in ponies' dreams means she's picked up some of their quirks, such as taking a breath to psych herself up or gulping in shock. The narration occasionally mentions how unnecessary this is for her.
31	[[/folder]]
32
33	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
34	* Pinocchio in [[WesternAnimation/{{Pinocchio}} Disney's adaptation]] is seen blushing, turning green from cigar smoke, and shedding tears (among other things) while he's still a puppet. Probably justified by [[AWizardDidIt the Blue Fairy's magic]] making him almost human.
35	[[/folder]]
36
37	[[folder:Literature]]
38	* The novelization of ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'' includes one line mentioning that Threepio is ''smiling.''
39	[[/folder]]
40
41	[[folder:Live-Action TV]]
42	* The robots on ''Series/MysteryScienceTheater3000'' switch between needing air and not needing air, depending on the situation. Like C-3P0, Tom Servo sometimes had references in the script to smiling or, worse, having a look in the eyes... that he hasn't got. To say nothing of them eating, their apparent ability to cry and get sick, [[Recap/MysteryScienceTheater3000S01E07RobotMonster Servo sneezing at one point]], Gypsy's inexplicable fixation with Creator/RichardBasehart, etc. [[MST3KMantra Remember the mantra...]]
43	* K9 in the ''Series/DoctorWho'' story "Destiny of the Daleks" comes down with LampShaded but unexplained laryngitis. (''This'' form of laryngitis explains a change of voice actor later.)
44	* The opening of ''Series/KamenRiderZeroOne'' shows the [[SlidingScaleOfRobotIntelligence android]] assistant [[RobotGirl Is]] with a single tear running down her cheek. The story proper lampshades it by having [[DoAndroidsDream Jin]] wonder if she is leaking coolant. It was a real tear, but a moot point anyways as [[spoiler: the whole scene turns out to be Is' simulation]].
45	[[/folder]]
46
47	[[folder:Multimedia]]
48	* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}'' frequently has instances of the Cybertronians performing humanlike actions for no discernable reason. The [[Website/TFWikiDotNet Transformers Wiki]] has [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Humanization a page of considerable size]] dealing with the matter, but as for specific examples:
49	** In one episode of ''WesternAnimation/TransformersAnimated'', Bumblebee starts panting heavily while trying to chase down someone with SuperSpeed powers despite saying in an earlier episode that he doesn't need to breathe.
50	** Starscream has a takedown animation in ''[[VideoGame/TransformersFallOfCybertron Fall of Cybertron]]'' where he performs a GroinAttack, even though the target lacks any anatomy that should be affected by a kick to the crotch.
51	** ''WesternAnimation/TransformersPrime'' has a scene where Starscream coughs after escaping a mine collapse; Bulkhead says later in ''the same episode'' that they don't need to breathe.
52	[[/folder]]
53
54	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
55	* In ''TabletopGame/DungeonsAndDragons'', constructs are immune to a lot of things because of their type. ''TabletopGame/{{Eberron}}'''s Warforged, being made for player characters (and intelligent unlike almost all other constructs), lack many of the immunities for balance purposes.
56	* While fleeing some singularly nasty adversaries in ''TabletopGame/VampireTheRequiem'', Solomon Birch has to remind himself that he's [[TheUndead undead]], his body hasn't functioned for centuries, and therefore his muscles should ''not'' be burning from exertion.
57	[[/folder]]
58
59	[[folder:Video Games]]
60	* The ''VideoGame/{{Borderlands}}'' series:
61	** Subverted in [[VideoGame/Borderlands1 the first game]]: Some of the more [[AIIsACrapshoot neurotic]] Claptraps (for example, the one outside Dr. Zed's surgery in New Haven) can be heard saying, "Oh my god, I can't breathe!" then following it up with, "It's just a recording!".
62	** ''VideoGame/Borderlands2'':
63	*** The main Claptrap accidentally talks several bandits beating him up into ''continuing'' by pointing out that while it's fun for them, any pain he feels isn't real so they have the moral high ground in doing so.
64	*** Loaders. Damage them and you'll hear cries of pain in robotic monotone.
65	** A Claptrap in ''VideoGame/BorderlandsThePreSequel'' says that people only ''think'' robots can't feel pain, when not only can they feel it, the intensity of the pain is amplified significantly for them, ''and'' they feel it in slow motion!
66	* Wheatley is somehow out of breath after being chased by a bird in ''VideoGame/Portal2''.
67	* In the ''VideoGame/MegaManX'' games, when X (or Zero) is low on energy, he clutches his chest and pants hard.
68	* In the ''VideoGame/MegaManClassic'' series, Mega Man blinks every few seconds. ''Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' could provide an explanation, in that Data, who is also a robot, blinks as a means to avoid UncannyValley.
69	** In ''VideoGame/MegaMan8'' and ''VideoGame/MegaManAndBass'', Mega Man clutches his neck and starts panting. Bass does something similar.
70	** In ''[[VideoGame/MegaManZX ZX Advent]]'', Grey complains that the heat is unbearable and starts panting in one level.
71	** The examples from ''[[VideoGame/MegaManX X]]'' and later may be justified in that the robots are [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot incredibly human like]] or, in ''VideoGame/MegaManLegends''' case, [[spoiler: the people are all artificial humans and the ones that aren't, the System, are similar to Reploids.]]
72	* Because all the squadmates in ''VideoGame/MassEffect2'' have the same animations, [[spoiler:Legion]] will often be hunched over and out of breath, or leaning against something, scratching, rolling his shoulders, or whatever else organic squadmates do.
73	** This turns out to be a case of FridgeBrilliance however, as [[spoiler:Legion]] is intended to help the [[spoiler:geth]] understand organics and help build relationships with them. By mimicking these kinds of actions, [[spoiler:Legion]] appears more 'human/turian/asari' and stops the uncanny valley effect.
74	* In ''Videogame/StarWarsTheOldRepublic'', Sith Warrior players are fully capable of Force Choking a droid. How, precisely, one induces a robot to ''choke in agony'' is not really explored, but a strong, crushing force damaging internal hardware isn't too much of a stretch.
75	** Same with Trooper's StickyBomb, which can cause merciless assassin droids and rabid animals alike to flail helplessly until it detonates.
76	** Apparently all droids have a full set of male genitalia installed, because smuggler's GroinAttack stuns them as well as it stuns organic men.
77	* Not robots but undead, the draugr in ''VideoGame/TheElderScrollsVSkyrim'' (basically [[Literature/TheLordOfTheRings barrow wights]]) can frequently be heard ''breathing''. Then again, some of them do use the same [[WordsCanBreakMyBones Shouts]] as the main character, and probably need air to use them.
78	* In ''VideoGame/DisgaeaHourOfDarkness'', robotic character Thursday can be poisoned and put to sleep just like anyone else (applies to zombies, vampires, and living puppets as well). On the plus side, you can heal and resurrect him just like anyone else as well (though he alone cannot reincarnate).
79	** He can reincarnate in later games. Upgrade?
80	* The robot Pal-18 from ''VideoGame/{{Anachronox}}'' can get poisoned, confused, and any other {{Status Effect\|s}}, just like his living party members; he can also get healed and resurrected with items. (Justified because healgrease contains nanobots capable of repairing both robotic and organic bodies, and timeminder tears mess around with time and essentially snatch you back from just before you were killed.) In a related case, all these things also count for Democratus, who is not a robot but a miniaturised ''planet''. Please don't think too deeply what it means when it takes damage, or when you pour healgrease on it.
81	* [[RoboticPsychopath WX-78]] from ''VideoGame/DontStarve'' is an EatingMachine who runs on a chemical engine; this explains why they have a hunger meter, but not why their cheeks bulge the same way as the organic characters' do when they cram a meal into their mouth. When they're overheating they pant and wipe away sweat (or condensation on their chassis, possibly), they stagger around slowly and woozily while recovering from being forcibly put to sleep in ''Don't Starve Together'', and they react to taking damage from DeadlyGas getting into their ventilation system by making coughing noises.
82	* The Future Pokémon from ''VideoGame/PokemonScarletAndViolet'' are all robotic counterparts to present-day Pokémon, but they can be subject to anything their flesh-and-blood versions can go through. Barring elemental immunities, these robotic Pokémon can be poisoned, put to sleep, suffer burns in the same way animals do, get confused, eat sandwiches (Miraidon in particular ''really'' [[TrademarkFavoriteFood likes sandwiches]]), flinch from surprise, get scared, get distracted, disobey inexperienced trainers and loaf about, and develop loyalty towards strong trainers. They also have dot-matrix displays for eyes with animations for blinking and a full range of emotions.
83	[[/folder]]
84
85	[[folder:Web Comics]]
86	* In ''Webcomic/BobAndGeorge''. It is pretty ambiguous just what the main cast '''is'''. One the one hand, we see Mega Man with his head opened for repairs, cut in half and ending up fine, and we actually get to see him get built. On the OTHER, he eats ice cream and is apparently [[http://www.bobandgeorge.com/archives/020509c affected by drugs]].
87	* {{Justified\|Trope}} in ''Webcomic/{{Freefall}}'', Florence explains to a robot how while it doesn't need to breathe, the cooling fan in its body needs air. Therefore, robots need air, too. She is, however, worried that Helix (the aforementioned robot) needs to [[OverlyLongScream pause for breath while screaming]] sooner than Sam.
88	* Some robots in the universe of ''Webcomic/SchlockMercenary'' can feel pain. Lampshaded by one, who mentions they were told feeling pain would cut maintenance costs... but not how much it would ''hurt''.
89	* Androids in the world of ''Webcomic/CommanderKitty'' are [[RidiculouslyHumanRobot incredibly lifelike]] at all times, but BigBad Zenith seems to ''literally'' forget. In addition to possibly eating and being out of breath from running, her entire first evil plan relied on her [[spoiler:bearing children]], which as a machine she's completely unable to do.
90	[[/folder]]
91
92	[[folder:Western Animation]]
93	* ''WesternAnimation/JayceAndTheWheeledWarriors'' has Oon, the magically animated armour, who apparently breathes (though only when running).
94	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}'':
95	** Taken to the extreme when the Brain Spawn wipes intelligence from the planet:
96	--->'''Bender:''' Fry, help me! My heart stopped beating!\
97	'''Fry:''' You don't have a heart; you're a robot.\
98	'''Bender:''' Sure... right. Robot! ''[looks at his arms]'' Oh, Fry! My skin's all dry and clanky.\
99	'''Fry:''' Well, yeah. Robots are made of metal.\
100	'''Bender:''' Am ''I'' a robot?\
101	'''Fry:''' Bender, if this is some kind of scam, I don't get it. You already have my power of attorney. ''[leaves]''\
102	'''Bender:''' Fry! ''Gasp!'' My skin!
103	** {{Lampshade\|Hanging}}d in another episode where Bender says he longs for a world without high-tech machines, which Leela points out he is.
104	** On several occasions, it's been stated that as a robot, Bender lacks the ability to taste, which is why he's a LethalChef, but we see him visibly cringe upon trying anchovies, and when he first tries Slurm, he notes that it's not that bad.
105	** Bender also makes huffing noises when the crew are running for their lives (which is quite often). When it's revealed that his model has functional immortality via BrainUploading and he's asked why he always acts scared in life-threatening situations, he replies, "[[HandWave I never said I wasn't a]] DramaQueen."
106	** In "Benderama", as Fry and Bender watch an episode of ''[[Franchise/TheTwilightZone The Scary Door]]'' involving a robot:
107	--->'''Fry:''' Man! I wish ''we'' had a robot to do stuff.\
108	'''Bender:''' [[LazyBum I know, right?]]
109	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons'' parodies this with a robot running from a burning scientist's lab, saying "Why, Why was I programmed to feel pain!?"
110	* An episode of ''WesternAnimation/SamuraiJack'' featured a group of metal-eating robots who, of course, forgot they were robots (thanks to synthetic skin). They're defeated when, in their frenzy, they tear the skin off each other, and, seeing metal, consume each other.
111	* Averted in ''WesternAnimation/GreenLanternTheAnimatedSeries'', and lampshaded at one point.
112	-->'''Kilowog:''' How're you gonna get in [that tiny gap a good ways off the ground]?\
113	'''Aya:''' With ease. ''[dissipates her construct body and enters the gap as her individual components]''\
114	'''Kilowog:''' Forgot she could do that...
115	[[/folder]]

Context Main / ForgotHeWasARobot