Line #8 RidiculouslyHumanRobots/WesternAnimation


1	* In the future setting of ''WesternAnimation/BatmanBeyond'', building robots like this is illegal, and in the episode "Terry's Friend Dates a Robot", it becomes obvious why. After Terry's geeky friend Howard finds an engineer who is willing to build and sell such a robot on the black market, he buys one that looks like a beautiful woman, whom he names Cynthia and has programmed to be "totally into me". Problem is, she is [[{{Yandere}} scarily possessive]] and has [[SuperStrength superhuman strength]]. She nearly kills a couple of people who bully Howard, and Batman has to step in. When Howard decides they should see other people, she explodes - ''literally''.
2	* Elsewhere in the ''DCAU'', the android duplicate of Batman in the ''WesternAnimation/BatmanTheAnimatedSeries'' episode "His Silicon Soul" was created by H.A.R.D.A.C. as its all-purpose contingency plan, to [[KillAndReplace take Batman's place]] and download the last remnants of H.A.R.D.A.C. into the Batcave's computers, reviving the villain. But H.A.R.D.A.C.'s mistake, which led to its final defeat, was making the android ''too'' human. With [[GoneHorriblyRight Batman's moral and ethics built in]], it [[MyGodWhatHaveIDone couldn't handle the guilt of thinking it had killed someone]], and [[DrivenToSuicide self-terminated]], [[NiceJobFixingItVillain destroying the threat of H.A.R.D.A.C. forever.]]
3	* Speaking of "Computer"s, ''WesternAnimation/DextersLaboratory'' AI is a feminine presence in most of the facility, and sometimes surprises Dexter with [[ServileSnarker quips and logic counter to his commands]]. Where it (she?) is not, there are rejected, obsoleted experiments, that are dejected, if not vengeful, over Dexter's negligence of them.
4	** In ''WesternAnimation/SpongebobSquarepants'', Plankton's computer wife, Karen, is a similar example.
5	* While BOYD from ''WesternAnimation/DuckTales2017'' is more parrot than human (since there are no humans at all), he [[Administrivia/TropesAreFlexible qualifies for this trope]]. He looks like an offspring of Mark Beaks, but has advanced weaponry such as laser eyes. However, his personality is able to help him pass off as a "definitely real boy" (which he often refers himself as).
6	* ''WesternAnimation/{{Futurama}}''
7	** The main example is the robot society in the show itself, which peddles this trope to the point of comic redundancy, complete with separate-from-human Robot Hospitals, Robot Pornography and even Robot Insane Asylums for Robot Criminals. In a show that's ostensibly a science fiction satire, it fits in quite well as a subtle RunningGag.
8	** Not to mention Jewish Robots who believe that Robot Jesus was constructed, and was a very well programmed robot, but was not their messiah.
9	** Robots even have their own Hell with a Robot Devil. ...Which is located in [[PlaceWorseThanDeath New Jersey]], making it easy to escape.
10	** Seemingly taken to its absurd comedic conclusion with Hedonismbot, a robot grafted into a permanently reclining position with a roman couch as its legs, programmed for no purpose beyond its own earthly pleasures, but then taken to even further extremes once the viewer learns that Hedonismbot is "Your Tax Dollars at Work." In the DVD commentary, the writers kind of lampshade it, pointing out that the funniest things about robots like Hedonism-bot is that someone, somewhere, for some reason, decided to build and program them that way.
11	** Perhaps even better is Roberto, a robot programmed to be an unstable criminal nutjob with a [[PsychoKnifeNut passion for stabbing]].
12	*** Roberto was built by a research team attempting to create an insane robot. According to [[AxCrazy Roberto]]... [[BlatantLies they failed]].
13	** The Don Bot and his Robot Mafia. Not only does a robot mafia exist, but someone built robots for the purpose of working in/running it.
14	** Taken to extremes in the episode where Mom tries to take over the world with a robot uprising. It is revealed that almost every electronic device has a sentient AI, from the television to a ceiling fan and even a musical card. Another episode also had a sentient dumpster.
15	*** A robot [[TrashcanBonfire burn barrel]] has also appeared, warming its own hands over a smaller burn barrel.
16	** Tinny Tim, the robot StreetUrchin with a crutch for an arm and one short leg. Someone built a homeless disabled robot.
17	** Robots are even able to [[MechanicalLifeforms reproduce sexually]], though the show's TokenRobot Bender is a first-generation factory robot built on an assembly line (although he does refer to the robotic arm that constructed him as his mom on occasion). This feature is [[HandWave Hand Waved]] as helping to meet a level of demand that factories can't supply.
18	** The ShowWithinAShow "All My Circuits" has made numerous references to its robot characters getting cancer... somehow. Also amnesia, but that one's much easier to justify (just ask anyone who's ever lost an important file to a malfunctioning storage device).
19	* The Robot in the "So Beautiful, So Dangerous" segment of ''WesternAnimation/HeavyMetal'', while obviously a robot, actively makes a play for the human woman accidentally sucked up into his starship (this being typical robot behavior, according to one of his coworkers). After seducing her he wants to go steady. Also, he shows an essentially flawless grasp of colloquial speech, sarcasm, deceit (with conspiratorial wink), and profanity.
20	* The Humanoids from ''WesternAnimation/IlEtaitUneFois'' Space have, as the name implies, very human aspect -in fact, in one flashback we see how the scientist who build them tells the first it's made in human image-. Many other robots of the same faction, however, just look humanoid.
21	* Parodied in ''WesternAnimation/InvaderZim'' with the eponymous character's robot henchman, GIR. He eats, drinks, sleeps, cries, parties down and basically acts like a human child. He is also assembled from random bits of garbage, is dangerously (and often explosively) defective and is the most insane recurring character in the series, which is quite a feat. The only other machines that even ''speak'' are a ship that had its owner's personality deliberately downloaded into it for security purposes and Zim's other robotic servants, which also seem to have been [[GoAmongMadPeople infected with his mania]].
22	** The apathetic and lazy "Computer," Zim's house AI. Though the least humanoid of robots -- he's a glowing green house, after all -- he ironically seems to be the most rational of Zim's servants, and thus one of the most "normal" characters on the show.
23	** Heck, the Irkens ''themselves'' are arguably this; robotic "[=PAKs=]" attached to their backs house their personalities and memories, effectively functioning as their brains. WordOfGod has it that the "Control Brain" computers that run Irken society are actually Irkens without organic bodies.
24	* ''WesternAnimation/{{King}}'' has Vernon. Vernon is an android who moves around on wheeled feet, and has a personality, the ability to think up lots of wacky inventions, and can eat food.
25	* ''WesternAnimation/LegionOfSuperHeroes2006'''s Brainiac 5 might qualify. He's actually part of a robot race, but broke away from the hive mind for unknown reasons and acts like a normal obnoxious genius kid (who [[HoYay/LegionOfSuperHeroes may or may not have a crush on Superman]]).
26	* Mega Man is this in ''WesternAnimation/MegaManFullyCharged'', looking and acting like a human boy. Robots in general are very anthropomorphic in this series, with even [[TinCanRobot Tin Can Robots]] seen going to school alongside humans.
27	* This is pretty much the core concept of ''WesternAnimation/MyLifeAsATeenageRobot'', featuring a superheroic DoAnythingRobot built to protect the world from threats from outer space, who happens to be programmed with the personality of a teenage girl. Why Dr. Wakeman felt XJ-9 needed such a frequently rebellious, attitude-prone personality isn't explored that much, and Dr. Wakeman sometimes questions this herself.
28	** It is implied however that Dr. Wakeman, perhaps even subconsciously, created Jenny as a substitute daughter of sorts, which would explain at least some of her personality traits.
29	** It is possible Jenny was designed to be human in order to keep her from having the same problems as [[GoneHorriblyRight her predecessor Armmagedroid]]; Armmagedroid had no capacity for independent/humanlike thought, following his original programming without question (to destroy all enemy weapons), but eventually attacking his allies/creator as his intent on doing ''exactly what he was created to do'' reached a larger scale than Dr. Wakeman intended. [[spoiler: Jenny exploits this weakness in their second encounter and convinces him to self-terminate by convincing him that he "is a weapon and must be destroyed"]]
30	* [[spoiler:Zane]] of WesternAnimation/{{Ninjago}} is so ridiculously human that even he didn't know he was a robot until he saw his own blueprints.
31	* ''WesternAnimation/PhineasAndFerb'': Seeking a way to defeat his nemesis Perry the Platypus, Dr. Doofenshmirtz discovers in an old newsreel that "the enemy of the platypus...is MAN." So, he builds Norm, a 10 foot robot that looks like a man wearing a suit and that, while trying to demolish Perry, spouts lines like "We should bring our wives next time" and "Secretly, I'm very lonely".
32	* PlayedForLaughs in ''WesternAnimation/QuackPack'' in the episode "The Unusual Suspects". To the observer, they appear human, but at home, it becomes plainly obvious they are roboticised and a military commander's project (or rather more, his weapon). The StandardFiftiesFather of the family shows his robot traits. Also HilariousInHindsight as the girl robot looks like [[WesternAnimation/FamilyGuy Meg Griffin]] with a PaletteSwap (but speaks less snarkily).
33	* In the ''WesternAnimation/RickAndMorty'' episode "[[Recap/RickAndMortyS1E9SomethingRickedThisWayComes Something Ricked This Way Comes]]", Rick builds a robot to pass the butter, which is self-aware enough to ask why it exists and to become depressed on learning the reason.
34	* WesternAnimation/{{Robotboy}}. He speaks in robot-tone but he's curious about the human condition and seeks counsel from his interim owner Tommy.
35	* ''WesternAnimation/TheSimpsons''
36	** Parodied on one episode, where a burning robot screams "Why? Why was I programmed to feel pain!?"
37	** And in another when a peek into the future reveals robots that are so advanced they can even cry... except [[NoWaterProofingInTheFuture they're not waterproof and the tears make their heads catch fire and melt down]].
38	** Remarked upon by a scientist disassembling a robot at Itchy and Scratchy Land:
39	--->''[removing robot's face]''\
40	'''Robot:''' AAH!\
41	'''Scientist #1:''' I really wish they wouldn't scream.
42	** In [[WesternAnimation/TheSimpsonsMovie The Movie]], a bomb-dismantling robot cracks under the pressure and shoots itself in the head. Chief Wiggum comments that "he always talked about it, but I never thought he'd go through with it."
43	** Referenced but not used in an episode that involved robot fighting.
44	--->'''Announcer #1:''' Can robots actually feel pain?\
45	'''Announcer #2:''' If so, then we are horrible, horrible people.
46	* Mocked in ''WesternAnimation/SouthPark'', where AWESOM-O is, according to naive little Butters, a robot buddy. He's actually Cartman in disguise trying to recover an embarrassing video. Butters, a movie studio, and the military all firmly believe he's a robot despite having creativity and breathing air and draw the line only after "AWESOM-O" farts.
47	* [[https://www.cbr.com/steven-universe-crystal-gems-robots/ According to Rebecca Sugar]], the [[SufficientlyAdvancedAliens Gems]] from ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' are actually a case of both this trope and MechanicalLifeforms, which explains some weird things about their lore.[[note]]such as why they're all StarfishAliens with NoBiologicalSex yet they all insist on identifying as female, or why they have no need for eating food yet are capable of doing so, and so on[[/note]]
48	* ''WesternAnimation/SuperGiantRobotBrothers'': Although he's a [[HumongousMecha 300 foot tall fighting robot]], Shiny's personality is more human than anything. He's even been shown to be ticklish, bad at math, capable of dreaming, feeling pain and getting sparkly-eyed despite the fact that his eyes are camera apertures.
49	* In ''WesternAnimation/SupermanTheAnimatedSeries'', Toyman built one of these and he regretted it. The female android Darci Mason was based on a doll and built to be his companion. She apparently got tired of being treated like a toy (well, who wouldn't?) and double crossed him; at the end of her initial appearance, she was at a train station leaving Metropolis.
50	** However, her desire for a normal life wouldn't last. When both the villain and Superman appeared as [[SpecialGuest guest stars]] on ''WesternAnimation/StaticShock'', she was back with Toyman again, who promised to make her a truly human, and ''actually'' tried to keep said promise. He had Static's friend Daisy kidnapped and created a "nanite duplicate" of her (sort of a clone), which he downloaded Darci's mind into. [[spoiler:Unfortunately, Darci double-crossed him a second time, and ''this'' time in a far more evil way, deciding to "break the mold" by killing Daisy. Fortunately, the Toyman was smart enough to install a failsafe this time. He was able to activate it, causing his creation to melt into inert sludge. (She did beg forgiveness and claim she loved him, but he refused to fall for ''that'' again.)]]
51	* Octus from ''WesternAnimation/SymBionicTitan''. Whenever his human behavior is brought up he appears to get offended and replies with, "I'm not your average robot!"
52	* Bot from ''WesternAnimation/TeamUmizoomi'' who can eat, cry and feel just like his humanoid companions.
53	* ''Franchise/{{Transformers}}''. [[http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Humanization Their own wiki details how ridiculously human they can get]], despite being not even human-made, but ''[[MechanicalLifeforms alien robots]]''.
54	** It also bears mentioning that, despite what FanFic writers would tell you, they diverge from humans in that two transformers reproducing isn't exactly as exciting or pleasurable as it is for us - what we evolved sex to accomplish, they accomplish by drawing up blueprints and maybe filling out forms for MacGuffin use, which doesn't exactly scream "hot eroticism."
55	*** Though [[WesternAnimation/BeastWars Blackarachnia and Silverbolt's]] secret meet-ups suggest that there's ''something'' sexlike going on there, and that it's pretty pleasurable.
56	** The franchise’s tendency towards this is parodied in one ''WesternAnimation/RobotChicken'' skit, with Optimus Prime dying from prostate cancer. Not some [[DoesThisRemindYouOfAnything robotic equivalent]], actual cancer, complete with real symptoms like blood in urine. [[spoiler:And then subverted when the whole thing turns out to be a PSA the Autobots are doing. Optimus even [[LampshadeHanging points out]] at the end how ridiculous the idea of a robot getting sick is.]]
57	* The title character of ''WesternAnimation/WhateverHappenedToRobotJones'' is often portrayed this way. He is attracted to a human girl named Shannon, he is seen consuming an ice slushie with his friends in "Hookie 101", and in "Family Vacation", his need for an oil change is treated like having a PottyEmergency.
58	* ''WesternAnimation/TheZetaProject'' has Zeta himself, for various reasons:
59	** A soft spoken, innocent, and trusting naive robot who doesn't want to hurt anyone and can't resist helping people, Zeta is not only more emotional than most humans on the show, but he's also a better person than most of them. The amazing thing is, he was supposed to be a mindless killing machine, not an ActualPacifist with a heart of gold, meaning Zeta is one of few examples on this list to be here by accident.
60	** ...which makes Zeta the most ridiculous example on this list. Though his appearance has an in-canon explanation, his full range of emotions, human-like body language and expressions don't make sense once you realize he's not supposed to have them. At least everybody else on this list was programmed/designed deliberately to be Ridiculously Human.
61	** Zeta's creator didn't want to be building weapons systems, and included Zeta's conscience in an attempt to subvert his original purpose - "Selig never had the heart for creating a weapon, so he secretly created a module in Zeta without the NSA's knowledge that acted as a conscience, hoping that Zeta would evolve as a person."
62	** Zeta also had to be able to mimic humans enough to infiltrate them for long periods of time - It's stated that he once killed a man, and then posed as him for several months. (Including to his family, and ''wife''.)

Context RidiculouslyHumanRobots / WesternAnimation