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A meme I put together of some of my favorite robots and cyborg characters. Enjoy.
8-Man:
This guy deserves special mention because he is considered to be Japan's oldest cyborg superhero. First debuting in 1963, 8-Man is believed to be the inspiration for Robocop. His real name is Yokota, but often goes under the alias Hachiro Azuma. And he was originally a police detective investigating criminal activity. Much like Robocop, he was killed in the line of duty, and was then resurrected as a cyborg by Professor Tani to fight crime and the forces of evil. 8-Man has faced many different villains in his respective series. This includes Ken, Samantha 7, and Tony Glek from the 1993 OVA 8-Man After. However, in 8-Man After, Azuma was replaced with Hazama Isturu, who was more aggressive by nature, and was more like Dirty Harry in comparison. 8-Man has appeared in his own self titled manga series, a TV series that aired in the early to mid 1960s, a live action movie in 1992, and of course, the OVA 8-Man After.
Terminator:
Also known as T-101, his guy is everybody's favorite killer robot. First debuting in 1984 with the first film in the series, the Terminator was created by James Cameron, and was played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminators 1 through 3. However, in the fourth film, he did not return to reprise his role as the character, as it was another actor with CGI special effects to make him look like Arnold. But anyway, the Terminator deserves special mention because he is a character who is loved, praised, and respected right to this day after literally 30 years later. The first two movies were a hit, and the robot is most famous for his catch phrases; "Hasta la vista, baby." and "I'll be back." Because the character is so memorable, the Terminator has appeared pretty much everywhere, including the parody show Robot Chicken. And not only that, but his catch phrases have been referenced everywhere. What makes the Terminator a very special and charismatic character is that he has varying allegiances, sometimes he's good, and sometimes he's evil. In the first movie, he was programmed to kill Sarah Connor before John was born. But was destroyed at the end of the film. In the sequel, he returned as a protector for John against the T-1000, the main antagonist of Terminator 2. And in Terminator 3, he once again as a protector for John and his soon to be wife Kathrine Brewster. But no matter which side he's on, he's always determined.
Robocop:
Admittedly, this guy was one of my first childhood cyborg heroes. Little did I know however, that this guy was inspired by 8-Man, who came 20 years before him. In fact, now that I think of it, 8-Man and Robocop share so much in common despite their obvious differences; they were both human cops who got killed in the line of duty, and they were both resurrected as cybernetic superheroes to fight crime and evil wherever it is present. However, in the 80s and 90s, my generation knew almost nothing about 8-Man, and very few people are aware of his existence even today. But anyway, Robocop was pretty much America's answer to 8-Man. Since 8-Man came 20 years before Robocop, I guess America felt that the generation of the late 80s and early 90s needed their own cybernetic superhero. So they created Robocop. His real name is Alex Murphy. And like 8-Man before him, he was a police officer who fought crime. But after being brutally shot to death by a gang of criminals led by Clarence Boddicker, Officer Murphy had his brain transplanted into a cyborg body that is almost completely robotic. Armed with a powerful gun that never runs out of amo, great strength, endurance, computer sensory capabilities, great reflexes, and bullet proof titanium armor, Robocop was the perfect crime fighting machine. The cyborg super cop first debuted in 1987 with his first self-titled film directed by Paul Verhoeven, and starring Peter Weller as the cybernetic police officer. The original film even spawned two sequels, an animated TV series in 1988, and a live action TV series in 1994. And more recently in 2014, the cyborg super cop returned to the big screen with a remake of the original film with a completely different design.
Inspector Gadget:
I've known this guy my whole life. Because his show first aired in 1983. And yes, that was the year I was born in. The show lasted for 2 seasons and 86 episodes. Not quite as long as He-Man or Thundercats, but its still a good run nonetheless. So anyway, I always figured that Inspector Gadget was a robot or a cyborg. However, his true origins are unknown. Nobody knows who created him and for what purpose. Nobody even knows if he was ever human, or if he was always a robot to begin with. But it is believed that Inspector Gadget was inspired by Hanna Barberra's Dynomutt. In fact, now that I think of it, Gadget and Dynomutt share so much in common despite some of the obvious differences. However, Inspector Gadget is not very intelligent. In fact, he's probably the biggest dumb ass I've ever known. A lot like Dynomutt, Inspector Gadget has an endless number of gadgets and tools that he can produce from his robotic body. But his stupidity and inept ability to solve crime sufficiently are his most fatal flaws. And as such, he was always outdone by his niece Penny and her dog Brain, who in every episode of the series, did all the work for him while he was busy screwing up. Even Dr. Claw knew for certain that Gadget was a bit of a dope. But it's his dopiness and stupidity that defines Gadget as a character. Sure, he's downright stupid. But even so, I loved his show when I was a kid, and even after so many years later, it still has a great deal of nostalgic value for me.
Megaman:
I don't think I need to explain who Megaman is. Because I've talked about him a lot, and I've went over some of his games, the cartoon show, and the unofficial fan film. But yeah, Megaman is one of my childhood heroes, and I enjoyed pretty much all of his games. Mostly the ones that range from the classic and the X series. Known as Rockman in Japan, Megaman is one of the many robotic superheroes who has become well-known in both Japan and the United States for his high quality video games. Originally created as a lab assistant for his creator and father Dr. Light, Megaman was originally named Rock, which is a reference to Rock music. But when Dr. Wily betrayed Dr. Light and reprogrammed the first set of Robot Masters to do his bidding, Rock volunteered to be a fighter to stop the rampaging robots and to thwart Dr. Wily's diabolical schemes. And so Dr. Light rebuilt Rock, and upgraded him into Megaman; a super warrior robot clad in blue armor. Armed with a blaster and a weapons assimilation system, Megaman is quite a versatile and capable fighter. What I always loved about Megaman is his ability to learn, adapt, and to collect the powers and weapons from other robots. Megaman's color scheme changes depending on which weapon he's using. From what I've seen, Megaman can do just about anything. But of course, he's not perfect. And as such, he requires the help and assistance from his robotic dog Rush, and his mysterious but caring brother Protoman (the American cartoon doesn't count). However, Megaman will offer his enemies the chance to surrender, but he will resort to physical violence if absolutely necessary. Megaman has had numerous design changes. One of my favorite incarnations of the character is Megaman X. Now I know that Megaman and Megaman X are two separate characters, as Keiji Inafune has stated that officially. But in my point of view, Megaman and X are basically the same character. Because despite their obvious differences, they're so much alike in many ways. In fact, for the longest time, I wasn't even sure if they were the same character or not. But anyway, Megaman deserved to be mentioned here. Because he has a special place in my heart to this day after so many years later.
Optimus Prime:
Now here's a robot character who definitely deserves to be in this meme. And for good reasons. Seriously, who doesn't know about Optimus Prime? He is perhaps one of the most well-known and iconic fictional characters ever known. And even since the 80s when the original cartoon first aired, I've come to regard him as a great role model and one of my childhood heroes. Known as Convoy in Japan, Optimus Prime was voiced by Peter Cullen in English, and by Tessho Genda in Japanese. In all of his appearances, Optimus Prime is the charismatic leader of the Autobots. What makes Optimus Prime so special is his personality. Optimus is not only a great leader, but he's also like a father figure to everybody around him, regardless if they're Autobots or humans. I mean can you imagine having a robot as a father figure and mentor? I know it sounds crazy. But in the world of the Transformers, anything is possible. Another thing that defines Optimus is his lack of fear, and his determination when in the heat of battle. When faced with enemies, Optimus fights fiercely, and will stand up for those who can't defend themselves from their enemies. Optimus Prime is also wise, as he has been known to give words of advice to those who are close to him. Another defining aspect of Optimus is that he's like a robotic samurai. In other words, Optimus is not afraid of death. If its his time to die, he will die with a sense of dignity, and he will sacrifice himself for others and for the greater if he has to. And that's what I love about him. If he was real, anybody would be lucky to have him as a friend and as a father figure. Optimus Prime has died not once, not twice, but many times before. And not only that, but he always kept coming back one way or another. And because the franchise began with him, he is without a doubt one of the most well-known and respected characters in the franchise.
T-1000:
Here's another character who deserves attention. Because seriously, this guy left quite an impression on me with his appearance in Terminator 2. T-1000 was the perfect villain. He was cold, crazy, vicious, ruthless, and downright bad to the bone. In his outing in Terminator 2, he was played by Robert Patrick. Now what is it I love about T-1000 so much? Well for starters, he was a completely different kind of robot. Unlike most robots that are mechanical electronic machines, T-1000's body is a solid mass of mimetic poly alloy, or liquid metal as most people call him. In fact, as far as records go, T-1000 was the first and only one of his kind. But what makes him special was his ability to mimic the appearances of other people. Mostly of victims that he has killed. And every time he kills somebody, he always tilts his head to one side, almost as if though expressing confusion. Like in the scene where he killed a security guard at the mental institute Sarah was being kept in. And what made T-1000 terrifying as a villain is that he could shape his limbs into hammers, knives, or swords that he can use for stabbing, slashing, and hacking into his victims. And also, he was nearly indestructible. No matter what you did to him, he just wouldn't go down. And he would stop at nothing John Connor was dead at his hands. But thanks to the T-800, that never happened. And T-1000 met his end at the hands of his rival when he blasted him with a bazooka, which did him in, and he fell into a vat of molten steel where he melts away. But still, bottom line, T-1000 is a memorable character. And I think he was one of the best villains ever to be introduced to a franchise. He gave Arnold a run for his money, and he nearly succeeded in his mission. That's what I call a true villain.
T-X:
First debuting in 2003 with the release of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, TX was played by Kristina Loken. She was the main antagonist of the film. T-X is a more advanced model than either the T-800 or the T-1000. And what made her so special is that she was a robotic exoskeleton with liquid metal skin. She is more resistant to physical damage than the earlier models, and thanks to her liquid metal skin, she has the ability to mimic the appearances of her victims she comes in contact with. T-X may look like a beautiful woman who you could go out on a date with and take to the movies. But she is a deadly killing machine. And she lives up to that title quite well. She is faster, more powerful, and more intelligent than the T-800. And not only is she incredibly strong, but she is also extremely flexible and agile, and she has the ability to take control of other machines. T-X also has a built-in plasma blaster, a buzzsaw, and a flame thrower. Personally, even though some fans didn't care about her, I think T-X was an awesome villain. She was as beautiful as she was deadly. And like T-1000 before her, T-X really gave the T-800 a run for his money. And she nearly succeeded. That is until the very end of the film when she was defeated. The T-800 jammed one of his ruptured hydrogen fuel cells into her mouth, and they were both killed in the process. But still, T-X for me, was a solid character. I think she was awesome.
Dynomutt:
Surely by now everybody knows who Dynomutt is. Goofy robotic canine side kick of the Blue Falcon, who seems to be inspired by Batman and a character from the anime Gatchaman. So anyway, Dynomutt as I've already mentioned, is a robot dog. He first debuted in 1976 with his own self-titled TV series; "Dynomutt: Dog Wonder", which was created by Hanna Barberra, the same company that gave us Scooby Doo. And what makes him so special aside from his goofy and dopey personality is that he had a seemingly endless number of gadgets and tools built into his anatomy. However, much like with Inspector Gadget, the show never reveals who created Dynomutt in the first place. All we do know is that he was designed and built to by Blue Falcon's side kick. Although this is one of those instances where the side kick turns out being more interesting than the main hero himself. Not to mention Dynomutt's name is in the title. So the show was more about him than it was about Blue Falcon. It is believed by some people that Dynomutt was the inspiration for Inspector Gadget. Because now that I think of it, they both share a lot in common. Of course, the main difference being that Dynomutt usually redeems himself, as he as proven his worth and his value despite some of his obvious flaws such as his dopiness and his clumsiness. Whereas Inspector Gadget requires the help of Penny and Brain to do everything for him due to his inept ability to do his job proficiently. And that's what seperates Dynomutt from Inspector Gadget. He may be a cluts, but at least he proves himself every time. However, I didn't know who Dynomutt was until I saw him in an episode of Dexter's Laboratory. Particularly the episode titled "Dyno Might", where Dexter creates a more advanced version of Dynomutt that malfunctions and goes berserk. The original TV show however, was rather hard to come by in the 80s, and I didn't know that existed until many years later. In the past they even had crossovers with Dynomutt and Scooby Doo in a show called The Scooby Doo/Dynomutt Hour. But the robotic canine's most recent appearance was in Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated, where Dynomutt's creator was revealed to by Dr. Quest, and Blue Falcon seems to be a carbon copy of Batman in terms of his personality. In all of his appearances, Dynomutt was voiced by Frank Welker.
Jiro/Kikaider:
This guy is the main protagonist of his own self titled series. First debuting in 1973, Kikaider is believed to have been one of the inspirations for Megaman to a degree. And it is also said that Cyborg 009 was one of Kikiader's inspirations. Then again, Kikaider and Cyborg 009 were both created by Shotaro Ishinomori. So anyway, in the story of Kikaider, Jiro was the second android created by Dr. Komyoji, and the first of the Kikaider robots was Ichiro, AKA Kikaider 01. There's also Rei, AKA Kikaider 00. When first activated, Jiro had the mind of an infant and was curious about the world around him and wandered aimlessly in a remote area eventually meets his creator's daughter Mitsuko. As time went on, he became more mature and had trouble dealing with being an robot as he was shunned and ignored by society, having to live in a world that hated and feared him. While he is a machine, he acts so human, and develops emotions such as love towards Mitsuko, which the latter rejects at first, but by the end of the series fully embraces by kissing him. Throughout the story, Jiro encounters other robots and learns more about Professor Gill and the evil organization known as DARK. He also confronts the cyborg Hakaider who is revealed to have the brain of Dr. Komyoji implanted in his head. Jiro is different from his brothers Ichiro and Rei, because he has a conscience circuit called a Gemini, which gives him the ability to think for himself, feel emotions, and make his own decisions. Jiro tends to get very emotional, and a lot like Megaman X, he is very unsure of his place in the world. In fact, now that I think of it, Jiro seems so much like Megaman, that I once even thought that maybe he was one of the inspirations for Megaman since they seem so much alike. Heck, in his human form, Jiro even sports the same hairdo, and he wears blue. However, when either threatened or forced to fight, Jiro is a force to reckon. Shotaro Ishinomori used the stories of Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio, the basis for Astro Boy, as a tribute to its creator, Osamu Tezuka, Ishinomori's mentor. Cyborg 009 is an influence for this franchise. Other bases for Kikaider included Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as the inspiration for his science fiction action story.
Arcee:
This character originally debuted in 1986 with the release of the original Transformers movie, where she was voiced by Susan Blu. But for this meme, I decided to go with her Prime incarnation. Not because I like this version more, but because in Transformers Prime, Arcee was more of a serious and hardened soldier, and she was more determined than her G1 counterpart. In Transformers Prime, Arcee was voiced by Sumalee Montano. And not only that, but also unlike her G1 counterpart where she was a sports car, Arcee was a motorcycle in this show. But I have to admit I've come to love and accept this version of Arcee quite well. Arcee was also the commander of the Stealth Team, with Bumblebee and Smokescreen. Arcee was the last Autobot from the original five members of Team Prime to meet Optimus, with Ultra Magnus being the last Autobot to arrive on Earth. Arcee regards Optimus as a great leader and friend. Despite her small size, Arcee is an excellent warrior, being a melee expert and will not hesitate to fight enemies herself. Arcee was haunted by the ghosts of her deceased partners, Tailgate and Cliffjumper. Losing both of her partners has greatly shaken Arcee to the core and preferred to work alone, until she met Jack and soon realized the importance of a team. Airachnid may be the only bot who Arcee fears the most. Despite her fear and post-war trauma, Arcee has the courage to fight Airachnid head on. Arcee proves her metal in combat and she is very skilled to take any opponent no matter the situation she's in. Arcee is a part of her family which is Team Prime.
Rodimus Prime:
Come on, you knew I was going to add Rodimus here. Because he doesn't get enough love or attention as it is. Besides, outside of G1, he's practically ignored. And Transformers Animated doesn't count. So anyway, what makes Rodimus so special to my eyes might you ask? Well, Rodimus has always been an important part of my childhood. Ever since his debut in 1986 with the release of the original movie, I've always seen him as the kind of character who I could relate to in certain ways. For one, he's a young Autobot who has big dreams and big aspirations. In my point of view, Rodimus is like an inexperienced high-school student who has a lot to learn. But he has his strengths as well as his weaknesses. Even though some fans despise and hate him, I always believed that Rodimus was a special character. Because he's basically a representation of what a lot of us are, young, inexperienced, and full of dreams and aspirations. But Rodimus is also unsure himself, and is full of self doubt. And I always saw a bit of myself in him. In fact, I admit that I do have some of Rodimus in me. And it surprises me to this day why Hasbro continues to ignore and neglect him. I always keep hoping and praying that maybe someday he will gain the attention and the respect he deserves. I would like for there to exist something that would make up for the disappointment that was Transformers Animated, which came close to killing off Rodimus for good. But if not, I can always look back on his debut in the original Transformers movie where he had some importance and served a purpose to the grand scheme of things. Haters are gonna hate. But I stand by what I say when I say Rodimus deserves better treatment than what Hasbro has been giving him.
Megatron:
Megatron is one of the most recognizable faces of the Transformers universe right next to Optimus Prime, Bumble Bee, Jazz, Arcee, Starscream, Soundwave, Shockwave, and others. In most cases, Megatron is the main antagonist and the central villain of most retellings of the Transformers. Appearing in every incarnation of the franchise alongside Optimus Prime, Megatron serves as the leader of the Decepticons, and as Optimus' sworn adversary. He is also a tyrannical dictator who is cruel to even his most loyal subjects (save for Soundwave who he respects to a degree).
Bumble Bee:
Johnny 5:
Debuting in the 1986 film "Short Circuit", Johnny 5 was originally part of a line of military combat robots called the SAINTs (Acronym for "Strategic Artificially Intelligent Nuclear Transport"). And as his name suggests, he is the fifth robot from this line. However, what makes him special is that he is the only one out of his four brothers (as only five robots were ever made), Number 5 (as he was originally called) was the only robot who gained sentience. And he wasn't programmed with it. It all started when a thunder storm occurred, and a bolt of lightning struck the robot, giving him a consciousness and a conscience. So this is kind of like the story of Frankenstein if you will. After being brought to life by the storm, Number 5 begins to roam freely and at random, much to the horror of his creators and the military officers. The robot befriends a young woman named Stephanie Speck (played by Ally Sheedy), who lives out in the countryside, and is tormented by her ex-boyfriend. After spending some time with the girl, Number 5 gains more knowledge of himself, and of the world around him. After accidently crushing and killing a grasshopper, Stephanie explains to him that "When you're dead, you're dead. That's just the way life is. Death is forever." Understanding the meaning of life and death, Number 5 freaks out, and runs off. He is pursued by the company of NOVA (the creators of the SAINT robots). And soon, Number 5 must fight off his creators and his brother robots from destroying him or robbing him of his free will and sentience. Number 5 survives the events of the movie, but not without some close calls. At the end of the first movie, he creates a duplicate of himself, which he launches out into view for the army to attack and destroy. As the army take away the remains of the duplicate, Stephanie Newton Crosby mourn Number 5, who later reveals to the two that he survived and is alright. From that day on, Number 5 decided to change his name to Johnny 5. And in 1988, there was a sequel to this film titled "Short Circuit 2", which revolved around the robot's life in New York City as he tackles new challenges.
Grey Fox:
Unicron:
First debuting in 1986 with the release of the animated film "Transformers: The Movie", Unicron was voiced by the late Orson Welles (as this was his last film before his passing). Unicron is what I would like to call the Transformer personification of Satan himself. He is one of the MOST EVIL of 80s cartoon villains, and puts even Megatron to shame.
Sektor:
Bass AKA Forte:
Debuting in 1995 with the release of Megaman 7 for the SNES, Bass and his dog Treble became mainstays for the series every since. Bass, first believed to be an potential ally, was actually a double-agent who was created by Wily, and sent by him to deceive Megaman into believing they were on the same side. Later on, Bass is found in Shade Man's stage (during the second half of the game), and broods. But Megaman takes pity on Bass, and makes the unwise decision to allow him access to Dr. Light's lab; a mistake that he would soon regret. After Bass was repaired, he revealed his true colors, trashed the lab, and stole the enhancements in order to fuse with his dog Treble to battle Megaman. When the Blue Bomber arrives to Wily's fortress, Megaman and Bass clash twice. But both battles ending with Megaman giving Bass his well deserved beating. Humiliated by his defeat at the hands of Megaman, Bass grew a deep-seated and obsessive hatred for the Blue Bomber, and vowed revenge. However, as time went on, Bass' allegiance became more questionable. While he is often depicted as a villain who is vain, arrogant, and selfish, Bass became rebelious towards Wily, and would sometimes side with Megaman to overthrow him. But not for the same reasons as Megaman. But rather, for his own selfish reasons. Bass hates Wily almost as much as he hates Megaman, and wishes to do things his own way rather than taking orders from his creator. Bass ranges from being a villain to an antihero, and back again. So I guess while he's not exactly Megaman's friend, he is sometimes his ally. But mostly his rival. But he is never truly a hero. Bass is tenacious and obsessive in his desire to kill Megaman. And he is determined to have his revenge, making him a dangerous foe. But for his questionable allegiance, his persistence, his fiery temper, and his determination, I view him as one of the most important characters in the franchise. In my view, Bass is the perfect rival for Megaman. So he has earned a special place in my heart.
Zero:
Honorable mentions; Casshern (Tatsunoko), Cyborg 009 (Shotaro Ishinomori), Android 17 and Android 18 (Dragon Ball Z/Akira Toriyama), and Major Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell/ Masamune Shiro)
Dishonorable mentions; ROTOR
8-Man © Kazumasa Hirai and Jiro Kuwata.
Terminator, T-1000, and T-X © James Cameron.
Robocop © Paul Verhoeven.
Inspector Gadget © DIC Entertainment.
Megaman, Forte, and Zero © Capcom.
Optimus Prime, Megatron, Rodimus Prime, Arcee, Bumble Bee, and Unicron © Hasbro.
Dynomutt © Hanna Barberra.
Grey Fox © Konami.
Sektor © Midway.
Kikaider © Shotaro Ishinomori
8-Man:
This guy deserves special mention because he is considered to be Japan's oldest cyborg superhero. First debuting in 1963, 8-Man is believed to be the inspiration for Robocop. His real name is Yokota, but often goes under the alias Hachiro Azuma. And he was originally a police detective investigating criminal activity. Much like Robocop, he was killed in the line of duty, and was then resurrected as a cyborg by Professor Tani to fight crime and the forces of evil. 8-Man has faced many different villains in his respective series. This includes Ken, Samantha 7, and Tony Glek from the 1993 OVA 8-Man After. However, in 8-Man After, Azuma was replaced with Hazama Isturu, who was more aggressive by nature, and was more like Dirty Harry in comparison. 8-Man has appeared in his own self titled manga series, a TV series that aired in the early to mid 1960s, a live action movie in 1992, and of course, the OVA 8-Man After.
Terminator:
Also known as T-101, his guy is everybody's favorite killer robot. First debuting in 1984 with the first film in the series, the Terminator was created by James Cameron, and was played by Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminators 1 through 3. However, in the fourth film, he did not return to reprise his role as the character, as it was another actor with CGI special effects to make him look like Arnold. But anyway, the Terminator deserves special mention because he is a character who is loved, praised, and respected right to this day after literally 30 years later. The first two movies were a hit, and the robot is most famous for his catch phrases; "Hasta la vista, baby." and "I'll be back." Because the character is so memorable, the Terminator has appeared pretty much everywhere, including the parody show Robot Chicken. And not only that, but his catch phrases have been referenced everywhere. What makes the Terminator a very special and charismatic character is that he has varying allegiances, sometimes he's good, and sometimes he's evil. In the first movie, he was programmed to kill Sarah Connor before John was born. But was destroyed at the end of the film. In the sequel, he returned as a protector for John against the T-1000, the main antagonist of Terminator 2. And in Terminator 3, he once again as a protector for John and his soon to be wife Kathrine Brewster. But no matter which side he's on, he's always determined.
Robocop:
Admittedly, this guy was one of my first childhood cyborg heroes. Little did I know however, that this guy was inspired by 8-Man, who came 20 years before him. In fact, now that I think of it, 8-Man and Robocop share so much in common despite their obvious differences; they were both human cops who got killed in the line of duty, and they were both resurrected as cybernetic superheroes to fight crime and evil wherever it is present. However, in the 80s and 90s, my generation knew almost nothing about 8-Man, and very few people are aware of his existence even today. But anyway, Robocop was pretty much America's answer to 8-Man. Since 8-Man came 20 years before Robocop, I guess America felt that the generation of the late 80s and early 90s needed their own cybernetic superhero. So they created Robocop. His real name is Alex Murphy. And like 8-Man before him, he was a police officer who fought crime. But after being brutally shot to death by a gang of criminals led by Clarence Boddicker, Officer Murphy had his brain transplanted into a cyborg body that is almost completely robotic. Armed with a powerful gun that never runs out of amo, great strength, endurance, computer sensory capabilities, great reflexes, and bullet proof titanium armor, Robocop was the perfect crime fighting machine. The cyborg super cop first debuted in 1987 with his first self-titled film directed by Paul Verhoeven, and starring Peter Weller as the cybernetic police officer. The original film even spawned two sequels, an animated TV series in 1988, and a live action TV series in 1994. And more recently in 2014, the cyborg super cop returned to the big screen with a remake of the original film with a completely different design.
Inspector Gadget:
I've known this guy my whole life. Because his show first aired in 1983. And yes, that was the year I was born in. The show lasted for 2 seasons and 86 episodes. Not quite as long as He-Man or Thundercats, but its still a good run nonetheless. So anyway, I always figured that Inspector Gadget was a robot or a cyborg. However, his true origins are unknown. Nobody knows who created him and for what purpose. Nobody even knows if he was ever human, or if he was always a robot to begin with. But it is believed that Inspector Gadget was inspired by Hanna Barberra's Dynomutt. In fact, now that I think of it, Gadget and Dynomutt share so much in common despite some of the obvious differences. However, Inspector Gadget is not very intelligent. In fact, he's probably the biggest dumb ass I've ever known. A lot like Dynomutt, Inspector Gadget has an endless number of gadgets and tools that he can produce from his robotic body. But his stupidity and inept ability to solve crime sufficiently are his most fatal flaws. And as such, he was always outdone by his niece Penny and her dog Brain, who in every episode of the series, did all the work for him while he was busy screwing up. Even Dr. Claw knew for certain that Gadget was a bit of a dope. But it's his dopiness and stupidity that defines Gadget as a character. Sure, he's downright stupid. But even so, I loved his show when I was a kid, and even after so many years later, it still has a great deal of nostalgic value for me.
Megaman:
I don't think I need to explain who Megaman is. Because I've talked about him a lot, and I've went over some of his games, the cartoon show, and the unofficial fan film. But yeah, Megaman is one of my childhood heroes, and I enjoyed pretty much all of his games. Mostly the ones that range from the classic and the X series. Known as Rockman in Japan, Megaman is one of the many robotic superheroes who has become well-known in both Japan and the United States for his high quality video games. Originally created as a lab assistant for his creator and father Dr. Light, Megaman was originally named Rock, which is a reference to Rock music. But when Dr. Wily betrayed Dr. Light and reprogrammed the first set of Robot Masters to do his bidding, Rock volunteered to be a fighter to stop the rampaging robots and to thwart Dr. Wily's diabolical schemes. And so Dr. Light rebuilt Rock, and upgraded him into Megaman; a super warrior robot clad in blue armor. Armed with a blaster and a weapons assimilation system, Megaman is quite a versatile and capable fighter. What I always loved about Megaman is his ability to learn, adapt, and to collect the powers and weapons from other robots. Megaman's color scheme changes depending on which weapon he's using. From what I've seen, Megaman can do just about anything. But of course, he's not perfect. And as such, he requires the help and assistance from his robotic dog Rush, and his mysterious but caring brother Protoman (the American cartoon doesn't count). However, Megaman will offer his enemies the chance to surrender, but he will resort to physical violence if absolutely necessary. Megaman has had numerous design changes. One of my favorite incarnations of the character is Megaman X. Now I know that Megaman and Megaman X are two separate characters, as Keiji Inafune has stated that officially. But in my point of view, Megaman and X are basically the same character. Because despite their obvious differences, they're so much alike in many ways. In fact, for the longest time, I wasn't even sure if they were the same character or not. But anyway, Megaman deserved to be mentioned here. Because he has a special place in my heart to this day after so many years later.
Optimus Prime:
Now here's a robot character who definitely deserves to be in this meme. And for good reasons. Seriously, who doesn't know about Optimus Prime? He is perhaps one of the most well-known and iconic fictional characters ever known. And even since the 80s when the original cartoon first aired, I've come to regard him as a great role model and one of my childhood heroes. Known as Convoy in Japan, Optimus Prime was voiced by Peter Cullen in English, and by Tessho Genda in Japanese. In all of his appearances, Optimus Prime is the charismatic leader of the Autobots. What makes Optimus Prime so special is his personality. Optimus is not only a great leader, but he's also like a father figure to everybody around him, regardless if they're Autobots or humans. I mean can you imagine having a robot as a father figure and mentor? I know it sounds crazy. But in the world of the Transformers, anything is possible. Another thing that defines Optimus is his lack of fear, and his determination when in the heat of battle. When faced with enemies, Optimus fights fiercely, and will stand up for those who can't defend themselves from their enemies. Optimus Prime is also wise, as he has been known to give words of advice to those who are close to him. Another defining aspect of Optimus is that he's like a robotic samurai. In other words, Optimus is not afraid of death. If its his time to die, he will die with a sense of dignity, and he will sacrifice himself for others and for the greater if he has to. And that's what I love about him. If he was real, anybody would be lucky to have him as a friend and as a father figure. Optimus Prime has died not once, not twice, but many times before. And not only that, but he always kept coming back one way or another. And because the franchise began with him, he is without a doubt one of the most well-known and respected characters in the franchise.
T-1000:
Here's another character who deserves attention. Because seriously, this guy left quite an impression on me with his appearance in Terminator 2. T-1000 was the perfect villain. He was cold, crazy, vicious, ruthless, and downright bad to the bone. In his outing in Terminator 2, he was played by Robert Patrick. Now what is it I love about T-1000 so much? Well for starters, he was a completely different kind of robot. Unlike most robots that are mechanical electronic machines, T-1000's body is a solid mass of mimetic poly alloy, or liquid metal as most people call him. In fact, as far as records go, T-1000 was the first and only one of his kind. But what makes him special was his ability to mimic the appearances of other people. Mostly of victims that he has killed. And every time he kills somebody, he always tilts his head to one side, almost as if though expressing confusion. Like in the scene where he killed a security guard at the mental institute Sarah was being kept in. And what made T-1000 terrifying as a villain is that he could shape his limbs into hammers, knives, or swords that he can use for stabbing, slashing, and hacking into his victims. And also, he was nearly indestructible. No matter what you did to him, he just wouldn't go down. And he would stop at nothing John Connor was dead at his hands. But thanks to the T-800, that never happened. And T-1000 met his end at the hands of his rival when he blasted him with a bazooka, which did him in, and he fell into a vat of molten steel where he melts away. But still, bottom line, T-1000 is a memorable character. And I think he was one of the best villains ever to be introduced to a franchise. He gave Arnold a run for his money, and he nearly succeeded in his mission. That's what I call a true villain.
T-X:
First debuting in 2003 with the release of Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines, TX was played by Kristina Loken. She was the main antagonist of the film. T-X is a more advanced model than either the T-800 or the T-1000. And what made her so special is that she was a robotic exoskeleton with liquid metal skin. She is more resistant to physical damage than the earlier models, and thanks to her liquid metal skin, she has the ability to mimic the appearances of her victims she comes in contact with. T-X may look like a beautiful woman who you could go out on a date with and take to the movies. But she is a deadly killing machine. And she lives up to that title quite well. She is faster, more powerful, and more intelligent than the T-800. And not only is she incredibly strong, but she is also extremely flexible and agile, and she has the ability to take control of other machines. T-X also has a built-in plasma blaster, a buzzsaw, and a flame thrower. Personally, even though some fans didn't care about her, I think T-X was an awesome villain. She was as beautiful as she was deadly. And like T-1000 before her, T-X really gave the T-800 a run for his money. And she nearly succeeded. That is until the very end of the film when she was defeated. The T-800 jammed one of his ruptured hydrogen fuel cells into her mouth, and they were both killed in the process. But still, T-X for me, was a solid character. I think she was awesome.
Dynomutt:
Surely by now everybody knows who Dynomutt is. Goofy robotic canine side kick of the Blue Falcon, who seems to be inspired by Batman and a character from the anime Gatchaman. So anyway, Dynomutt as I've already mentioned, is a robot dog. He first debuted in 1976 with his own self-titled TV series; "Dynomutt: Dog Wonder", which was created by Hanna Barberra, the same company that gave us Scooby Doo. And what makes him so special aside from his goofy and dopey personality is that he had a seemingly endless number of gadgets and tools built into his anatomy. However, much like with Inspector Gadget, the show never reveals who created Dynomutt in the first place. All we do know is that he was designed and built to by Blue Falcon's side kick. Although this is one of those instances where the side kick turns out being more interesting than the main hero himself. Not to mention Dynomutt's name is in the title. So the show was more about him than it was about Blue Falcon. It is believed by some people that Dynomutt was the inspiration for Inspector Gadget. Because now that I think of it, they both share a lot in common. Of course, the main difference being that Dynomutt usually redeems himself, as he as proven his worth and his value despite some of his obvious flaws such as his dopiness and his clumsiness. Whereas Inspector Gadget requires the help of Penny and Brain to do everything for him due to his inept ability to do his job proficiently. And that's what seperates Dynomutt from Inspector Gadget. He may be a cluts, but at least he proves himself every time. However, I didn't know who Dynomutt was until I saw him in an episode of Dexter's Laboratory. Particularly the episode titled "Dyno Might", where Dexter creates a more advanced version of Dynomutt that malfunctions and goes berserk. The original TV show however, was rather hard to come by in the 80s, and I didn't know that existed until many years later. In the past they even had crossovers with Dynomutt and Scooby Doo in a show called The Scooby Doo/Dynomutt Hour. But the robotic canine's most recent appearance was in Scooby Doo Mystery Incorporated, where Dynomutt's creator was revealed to by Dr. Quest, and Blue Falcon seems to be a carbon copy of Batman in terms of his personality. In all of his appearances, Dynomutt was voiced by Frank Welker.
Jiro/Kikaider:
This guy is the main protagonist of his own self titled series. First debuting in 1973, Kikaider is believed to have been one of the inspirations for Megaman to a degree. And it is also said that Cyborg 009 was one of Kikiader's inspirations. Then again, Kikaider and Cyborg 009 were both created by Shotaro Ishinomori. So anyway, in the story of Kikaider, Jiro was the second android created by Dr. Komyoji, and the first of the Kikaider robots was Ichiro, AKA Kikaider 01. There's also Rei, AKA Kikaider 00. When first activated, Jiro had the mind of an infant and was curious about the world around him and wandered aimlessly in a remote area eventually meets his creator's daughter Mitsuko. As time went on, he became more mature and had trouble dealing with being an robot as he was shunned and ignored by society, having to live in a world that hated and feared him. While he is a machine, he acts so human, and develops emotions such as love towards Mitsuko, which the latter rejects at first, but by the end of the series fully embraces by kissing him. Throughout the story, Jiro encounters other robots and learns more about Professor Gill and the evil organization known as DARK. He also confronts the cyborg Hakaider who is revealed to have the brain of Dr. Komyoji implanted in his head. Jiro is different from his brothers Ichiro and Rei, because he has a conscience circuit called a Gemini, which gives him the ability to think for himself, feel emotions, and make his own decisions. Jiro tends to get very emotional, and a lot like Megaman X, he is very unsure of his place in the world. In fact, now that I think of it, Jiro seems so much like Megaman, that I once even thought that maybe he was one of the inspirations for Megaman since they seem so much alike. Heck, in his human form, Jiro even sports the same hairdo, and he wears blue. However, when either threatened or forced to fight, Jiro is a force to reckon. Shotaro Ishinomori used the stories of Carlo Collodi's Pinocchio, the basis for Astro Boy, as a tribute to its creator, Osamu Tezuka, Ishinomori's mentor. Cyborg 009 is an influence for this franchise. Other bases for Kikaider included Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, as the inspiration for his science fiction action story.
Arcee:
This character originally debuted in 1986 with the release of the original Transformers movie, where she was voiced by Susan Blu. But for this meme, I decided to go with her Prime incarnation. Not because I like this version more, but because in Transformers Prime, Arcee was more of a serious and hardened soldier, and she was more determined than her G1 counterpart. In Transformers Prime, Arcee was voiced by Sumalee Montano. And not only that, but also unlike her G1 counterpart where she was a sports car, Arcee was a motorcycle in this show. But I have to admit I've come to love and accept this version of Arcee quite well. Arcee was also the commander of the Stealth Team, with Bumblebee and Smokescreen. Arcee was the last Autobot from the original five members of Team Prime to meet Optimus, with Ultra Magnus being the last Autobot to arrive on Earth. Arcee regards Optimus as a great leader and friend. Despite her small size, Arcee is an excellent warrior, being a melee expert and will not hesitate to fight enemies herself. Arcee was haunted by the ghosts of her deceased partners, Tailgate and Cliffjumper. Losing both of her partners has greatly shaken Arcee to the core and preferred to work alone, until she met Jack and soon realized the importance of a team. Airachnid may be the only bot who Arcee fears the most. Despite her fear and post-war trauma, Arcee has the courage to fight Airachnid head on. Arcee proves her metal in combat and she is very skilled to take any opponent no matter the situation she's in. Arcee is a part of her family which is Team Prime.
Rodimus Prime:
Come on, you knew I was going to add Rodimus here. Because he doesn't get enough love or attention as it is. Besides, outside of G1, he's practically ignored. And Transformers Animated doesn't count. So anyway, what makes Rodimus so special to my eyes might you ask? Well, Rodimus has always been an important part of my childhood. Ever since his debut in 1986 with the release of the original movie, I've always seen him as the kind of character who I could relate to in certain ways. For one, he's a young Autobot who has big dreams and big aspirations. In my point of view, Rodimus is like an inexperienced high-school student who has a lot to learn. But he has his strengths as well as his weaknesses. Even though some fans despise and hate him, I always believed that Rodimus was a special character. Because he's basically a representation of what a lot of us are, young, inexperienced, and full of dreams and aspirations. But Rodimus is also unsure himself, and is full of self doubt. And I always saw a bit of myself in him. In fact, I admit that I do have some of Rodimus in me. And it surprises me to this day why Hasbro continues to ignore and neglect him. I always keep hoping and praying that maybe someday he will gain the attention and the respect he deserves. I would like for there to exist something that would make up for the disappointment that was Transformers Animated, which came close to killing off Rodimus for good. But if not, I can always look back on his debut in the original Transformers movie where he had some importance and served a purpose to the grand scheme of things. Haters are gonna hate. But I stand by what I say when I say Rodimus deserves better treatment than what Hasbro has been giving him.
Megatron:
Megatron is one of the most recognizable faces of the Transformers universe right next to Optimus Prime, Bumble Bee, Jazz, Arcee, Starscream, Soundwave, Shockwave, and others. In most cases, Megatron is the main antagonist and the central villain of most retellings of the Transformers. Appearing in every incarnation of the franchise alongside Optimus Prime, Megatron serves as the leader of the Decepticons, and as Optimus' sworn adversary. He is also a tyrannical dictator who is cruel to even his most loyal subjects (save for Soundwave who he respects to a degree).
Bumble Bee:
Johnny 5:
Debuting in the 1986 film "Short Circuit", Johnny 5 was originally part of a line of military combat robots called the SAINTs (Acronym for "Strategic Artificially Intelligent Nuclear Transport"). And as his name suggests, he is the fifth robot from this line. However, what makes him special is that he is the only one out of his four brothers (as only five robots were ever made), Number 5 (as he was originally called) was the only robot who gained sentience. And he wasn't programmed with it. It all started when a thunder storm occurred, and a bolt of lightning struck the robot, giving him a consciousness and a conscience. So this is kind of like the story of Frankenstein if you will. After being brought to life by the storm, Number 5 begins to roam freely and at random, much to the horror of his creators and the military officers. The robot befriends a young woman named Stephanie Speck (played by Ally Sheedy), who lives out in the countryside, and is tormented by her ex-boyfriend. After spending some time with the girl, Number 5 gains more knowledge of himself, and of the world around him. After accidently crushing and killing a grasshopper, Stephanie explains to him that "When you're dead, you're dead. That's just the way life is. Death is forever." Understanding the meaning of life and death, Number 5 freaks out, and runs off. He is pursued by the company of NOVA (the creators of the SAINT robots). And soon, Number 5 must fight off his creators and his brother robots from destroying him or robbing him of his free will and sentience. Number 5 survives the events of the movie, but not without some close calls. At the end of the first movie, he creates a duplicate of himself, which he launches out into view for the army to attack and destroy. As the army take away the remains of the duplicate, Stephanie Newton Crosby mourn Number 5, who later reveals to the two that he survived and is alright. From that day on, Number 5 decided to change his name to Johnny 5. And in 1988, there was a sequel to this film titled "Short Circuit 2", which revolved around the robot's life in New York City as he tackles new challenges.
Grey Fox:
Unicron:
First debuting in 1986 with the release of the animated film "Transformers: The Movie", Unicron was voiced by the late Orson Welles (as this was his last film before his passing). Unicron is what I would like to call the Transformer personification of Satan himself. He is one of the MOST EVIL of 80s cartoon villains, and puts even Megatron to shame.
Sektor:
Bass AKA Forte:
Debuting in 1995 with the release of Megaman 7 for the SNES, Bass and his dog Treble became mainstays for the series every since. Bass, first believed to be an potential ally, was actually a double-agent who was created by Wily, and sent by him to deceive Megaman into believing they were on the same side. Later on, Bass is found in Shade Man's stage (during the second half of the game), and broods. But Megaman takes pity on Bass, and makes the unwise decision to allow him access to Dr. Light's lab; a mistake that he would soon regret. After Bass was repaired, he revealed his true colors, trashed the lab, and stole the enhancements in order to fuse with his dog Treble to battle Megaman. When the Blue Bomber arrives to Wily's fortress, Megaman and Bass clash twice. But both battles ending with Megaman giving Bass his well deserved beating. Humiliated by his defeat at the hands of Megaman, Bass grew a deep-seated and obsessive hatred for the Blue Bomber, and vowed revenge. However, as time went on, Bass' allegiance became more questionable. While he is often depicted as a villain who is vain, arrogant, and selfish, Bass became rebelious towards Wily, and would sometimes side with Megaman to overthrow him. But not for the same reasons as Megaman. But rather, for his own selfish reasons. Bass hates Wily almost as much as he hates Megaman, and wishes to do things his own way rather than taking orders from his creator. Bass ranges from being a villain to an antihero, and back again. So I guess while he's not exactly Megaman's friend, he is sometimes his ally. But mostly his rival. But he is never truly a hero. Bass is tenacious and obsessive in his desire to kill Megaman. And he is determined to have his revenge, making him a dangerous foe. But for his questionable allegiance, his persistence, his fiery temper, and his determination, I view him as one of the most important characters in the franchise. In my view, Bass is the perfect rival for Megaman. So he has earned a special place in my heart.
Zero:
Honorable mentions; Casshern (Tatsunoko), Cyborg 009 (Shotaro Ishinomori), Android 17 and Android 18 (Dragon Ball Z/Akira Toriyama), and Major Kusanagi (Ghost in the Shell/ Masamune Shiro)
Dishonorable mentions; ROTOR
8-Man © Kazumasa Hirai and Jiro Kuwata.
Terminator, T-1000, and T-X © James Cameron.
Robocop © Paul Verhoeven.
Inspector Gadget © DIC Entertainment.
Megaman, Forte, and Zero © Capcom.
Optimus Prime, Megatron, Rodimus Prime, Arcee, Bumble Bee, and Unicron © Hasbro.
Dynomutt © Hanna Barberra.
Grey Fox © Konami.
Sektor © Midway.
Kikaider © Shotaro Ishinomori
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© 2015 - 2024 MDTartist83
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Optimus prime