Mecha-Mooks: Difference between revisions
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[[File:Battle Droids 2 6155.jpg|link=Star Wars|frame|Not squishy anywhere.]]
{{quote|''"If you are looking for an unstoppable army of killing machines unhampered by such weaknesses as mercy and compassion, robot warriors are for you."''
In many American cartoon series, the extraordinary violence is blunted by having the [[Faceless Goons|nameless bad guys]] (or [[Mooks]]) be, in fact, robots. This allows the protagonists to [[What Measure Is a Mook?|dismember, mutilate, and otherwise wreck-up armies of faceless goons]], in a manner [[Family-Unfriendly Violence|unacceptable if said bad guys were squishy and red on the inside]].
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In many of these shows, a common sequence has the heroes fighting the mooks [[Thou Shalt Not Kill|as normal]], until one of them hits one a little ''too'' hard, [[Robotic Reveal|revealing]] it to be a robot. At which point, things [[What Measure Is a Non-Human?|start to get really]], ''[[Good Thing You Can Heal|really]]'' [[Just a Machine|messy]], as the heroes [[The Unfettered|decide they don't have to hold back anymore]].
'''Mecha-Mooks''' are [[Strong Flesh, Weak Steel|surprisingly fragile]]. In extreme cases the heroes will demolish them with their fists. Mecha-Mooks go to the [[Imperial Stormtrooper Marksmanship Academy]], since it would be awkward if the heroes had their brainstems [[Gun Kata|targeted perfectly by Mooks running a predictive kinetic model]] [[Computers Are Fast|much faster than real time]]. Still, to a certain type of pragmatic villain, there are advantages. They know no fear, never have moral dillemas about killing, never retreat nor surrender, and ''never'' question orders. Of course, they have trouble comprehending complex orders, rarely anything more advanced than "charge and attack", but it's relatively easy to build more of them (much easier than recruiting and training human soldiers) so long as you have the materials and [[Mook Maker]]s needed to, uhm, make more mooks. Expect them to be programmed to march in eerie unison using [[Marionette Motion]] (and in a pinch [[Summon Backup Dancers|provide back-up for dance numbers]]). Naturally, Mecha-Mooks have their own versions of [[Elite Mooks]], [[Mook Lieutenant]]s, and [[Giant Mook]]s. Some settings might even have a few [[Mook Medic]]s to repair (or salvage parts from) busted Mecha Mooks.
Two governing rules of Mecha-Mooks seem to be:
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This often is a form of [[Pragmatic Adaptation]] when the series is based on an earlier source which was more realistically violent, but showing that would invoke the ire of [[Media Watchdogs]]. When you've got an action-based children's show where [[Nobody Can Die]], expect Mecha-Mooks to pick up the slack. After all, they're [[Just a Machine|Just Machines]]. Should they ''not'' explode, then at the least you will see [[Eye Lights Out]]. On a related note, if they should be [[Hacking Minigame|hacked]] or reprogrammed their [[Glowing Eyes of Doom]] will have a [[Convenient Color Change]].
[[Anime]], has a second, more [[Humongous Mecha|literal]] type: [[Real Robot]] series' will usually have at least one class of [[Mecha]] that basically acts as [[Redshirt Army|the "Grunt" unit]] for the bad guy's army. This mech is usually simply constructed, probably with a basic ranged weapon ([[Gatling Good|machinegun]] or [[Frickin' Laser Beams|energy weapon]] or two, a close-combat weapon, and may have the option of carrying a [[
The [[Playful Hacker]] is the deadliest threat to Mecha-Mooks, especially since villains tend to have [[Achilles' Heel| one computer]] that controls the entire army with no backup system in place and weak anti-viral systems in place, meaning a skilled hacker could shut down (or even reprogram) the entire army should he get in.
If one wants something a bit more up the ladder in terms of "kill-tasticness" and "[[Elite Mook|non-suckitude]]", look at [[Mechanical Monster]]. If you want the guy ''building'' the mooks, that's the [[Robot Master]].
{{examples}}▼
▲{{examples}}
== Anime
* The multitude of (live) enemy troopers who would get mowed down in most episodes of ''[[Science Ninja Team Gatchaman]]'' were [[Macekre|recast]] as [[Ridiculously-Human Robots]] in some of its various US incarnations (e.g., ''Battle of the Planets'').
* A subversion is featured in ''[[Texhnolyze]]''. The creepy white [[Death Ray]]-wielding Shapes appear to be Mecha-Mooks, but are in fact humans who have (voluntarily or otherwise) undergone full-body Texhnolyzation. Their heads, concealed beneath [[Cyber Cyclops|monocular faceplates]], as well as the rest of their organs, stuffed in a green cone in their chest, are all that remains of their original bodies.
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* Partially subverted in the ''[[Zegapain]]'' anime, as the Gardzorm seem to use animal-like mech designs against the main characters, when one is blasted open, they see that it's piloted. Later still, several altered humans are seen boarding the blue aerial Gardzorm mechs, though it's implied their level of awareness is significantly less than human.
* The Bugmechs from the ''[[Vipers Creed]]'' anime.
* Black Shadow uses them in the ''[[F-Zero]]'' Anime. You [[Player
* The Grimoire units from the ''[[Rideback]]'' anime.
* ''[[Mahou Sensei Negima]]'' has the Tanaka-sans and the [[Spider Tank|Spider-mechs]] and all the other robots that made up {{spoiler|[[Mad Scientist|Chao Lingshen's]]}} Martian Robot Army in the Mahora Festival [[Story Arc]].
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==
* Spoofed in ''[[Tom Strong]]'', where Timmy Turbo realizes that "We can be as violent as we like with these teachers, because they're just ''robots''!"
* One of Lex Luthor's plans to take over the United States relied upon him unleashing a horde of GI Robots that were technically property of the US army. Since [[Superman]] was apparently dealing with Brainiac that week, [[Batman]] ended up taking out all except one—that Bats had reprogrammed with the Geneva Convention. Really.
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* The Golden Army in ''[[Hellboy II]]''. Clockwork Mecha-Mooks that put themselves back together upon being destroyed.
* ''[[Iron Man (film)|Iron Man]] 2'':
{{quote|'''Vanko:''' [[Memetic Mutation|Dhrone bettuh.]]
'''Hammer:''' What, why '''"drone better"'''? Ivan, I got an order for '''suits''', not '''drones!'''
'''Vanko:''' [[Funetik Aksent|Peppol mek problum. Trhust meh. Dhrone bettuh.]] }}
** The problems so averted are threefold: 1. no longer a squishy thing in the middle of the machine, which Hammer's suit design proved it had a problem working with; 2. the recovered space can be used for more processing power and more ammo; 3. there is no cognitive dissonance when our heroes blow them up.
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== Live-Action TV ==
*
* About half of the time, the [[Mooks]] in ''[[Power Rangers]]'' are robots, including the Cogs (though the Putties of ''[[Mighty Morphin Power Rangers|Mighty Morphin]]'' were actually golems). Robot or not, however, ''Power Rangers''' mooks are almost never shown to be killed, instead teleporting away once they have been incapacitated. ''[[Power Rangers Operation Overdrive|Operation Overdrive]]'' changes this, however, with a nearly unprecedented level of mook destruction, and at least one of the two sets of mooks are indeed alive. Quite a few Rinshi in ''[[Power Rangers Jungle Fury]]'' got reduced to purple dust, too. ''[[Power Rangers RPM|RPM]]'' goes back to having more durable grunts.) The same courtesy is seldom extended to the [[Monster of the Week]].
** In a bit of a retcon, Divatox's mooks in the ''[[Power Rangers Turbo|Turbo]]'' movie were quite clearly humanoids in fish-styled armor (we even see several of them with their faceplates off), but for the series, they've been downgraded to a non-humanoid fishlike race. The "tron" in "Piranhatron" suggests they're Mecha-Mooks, but they make squishy sounds when hit.
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** Also, while the Doctor might pay lip-service to [[Wangst]] over killing those poor defenceless rampaging armies of death that are Cybermen and Daleks, imagine the difference if organic beings were killed off in similar numbers. [[Fridge Logic|Despite the fact that, under the armour, they are organic beings.]]
*** For the record, he ''does'' regret killing even Daleks in some episodes, especially when said Dalek may be the last of its kind. This is in spite of them being [[Exclusively Evil]] by design. The Cybermen, while organic underneath, have had their emotions and feeling removed because of the constant horrific and intense pain their existence entails. It could literally be seen as putting them out of their misery.
** The Second Doctor fought [[Doctor Who/Recap/S6
== Tabletop Games ==
* ''[[Warhammer
** Played straight with Tau Gun Drones, though they are only used in a supporting role to the living Tau Fire Caste soldiers.
** Imperial Servitors are this to any Techpriest. Their biological components are more or less used to support their technological ones, rather the other way around for conventional cyborgs.
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** There's also the terrifying Phyrexians, who are [[Ninja Pirate Zombie Robot|zombie cyborgs]] who want to assimilate everyone.
* ''[[Yu-Gi-Oh (Tabletop Game)|Yu-Gi-Oh!]]'': The aptly-named Meklord ''Army'' monsters from ''Extreme Victory'' are these for the Meklords, with the Meklord Emperors being, obviously, [[King Mook|Emperor Mooks]].
** The plotline of the "World Legacy" series is set in a post-apocalyptic future dominated by killer robots and features several archetypes for them.
* [[Dungeons
** ''[[Spelljammer]]'' got Clockwork Horrors - a [[Mechanical Lifeform]] acting as a [[Horde of Alien Locusts]]. Low-ranked ones are neither smart not tough, but they don't bleed, don't tire, know no fear, and all that.
** ''[[Eberron]]'' has an interesting variation with the Warforged. They were made to be this, but ended up developing sapience and now have to deal with integrating into a post-war society.
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* The [[Starfish Aliens|Ceph]] from ''[[Crysis (series)|Crysis]]'' use an army of tentacled [[Powered Armor|exosuits]] and small man-sized octopus robots to take over the Lingshan Islands. They all explode upon death (with [[MacGuffin|one]] notable exception), but it has more to do with preventing humans from acquiring alien technologies than with dealing damage.
* ''[[God Hand]]'' has a great deal of robot enemies in the fourth level. They aren't too different from the regular type, but it helps emphasize the level's mechanical theme (as opposed to Western, wasteland, or circus, the themes of the preceding levels). The boss of the level is a mecha [[Giant Mook]], Dr. Ion.
* Disney's extraordinarily "kid-friendly" [[Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game|MMORPG]] ''[[Toontown Online]]'' solely features an ever-replenishing army of robots as your enemies—whom you destroy with ''jokes''.
* ''[[Super Smash Bros.]] Brawl'' has an entire army of Robotic Operating Buddies in Subspace Emissary, only they're anything but friendly—arm swipes, missiles, and laser fire are the norm for them. They do have a measure of AI not seen in most Mecha-Mooks, as they are at least capable of expressing sorrow; {{spoiler|this is demonstrated when the Ancient Minister, the alpha R.O.B., looks down with regret before seeing two more disappear into the detonation of a Subspace Bomb.}} Nevertheless, the only one who {{spoiler|doesn't submit to Ganondorf's -- and subsequently Tabuu's -- reprogramming is the alpha himself, who becomes playable after the former villain sees it fit to have him punished for questioning authority.}}
* ''[[Mass Effect]]'' has the Geth, an entire race of these. The sequel adds a series of cheap, mass-produced robotic security troops (called "Mechs" in-universe, natch), that are roughly on-par with an Imperial Stormtrooper in terms of intelligence and accuracy, though Imperial Stormtroopers never had robotic dogs and giant missile-firing robots backing them up. Unlike the Geth the Mechs do not use true AI, and may even be more in-line with the trope's definition as they do not think for themselves, are surprisingly resilient - blowing off a limb only slows them down, doesn't stop them (they actually have a taser-like device on their non-gun arm. Even if you take off its legs it'll still crawl towards you with the intent to self-destruct in your face. Usually encountered in hordes.
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* ''[[Dinosaur King]]'' has the Alpha Droids, who act as servants and guards for the Alpha Gang in the anime (often carrying out orders which lead to their own destruction), and as [[Random Encounter]] enemies in the DS game.
* There are quite a few examples in the ''[[Super Mario Bros.]]'' series, but the Mecha Koopa enemies from ''[[Super Mario World (video game)|Super Mario World]]'' onwards are the most obvious examples. Some other examples include the entire population of The Factory/Smithy Factory in ''[[Super Mario RPG]]'', Wizzerds in ''[[Paper Mario (franchise)|Paper Mario]] 2'' and Mechawfuls in ''[[Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story]]''.
* [[Mega Man (video game)|Dr. Wily]] and [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Dr. Ivo "Eggman" Robotnik]] are vilains [[Robot Master| who specialize in this sort of Mook]].
* One of the first signs you aren't in Kansas anymore with the last two ''[[Wizardry]]'' games is when your sword-and-sorcery party runs into their first Savant robot armed with a laser lance. Fully fledged battle droids also make an appearance towards the very end of ''VII''.
* Subverted and used in ''[[Super Robot Wars]]'' series, as times goes on, it shifts from fighting human pilots (which most of the time will get a chance to escape) to battling AI versions of robots due to the bad guys sharing AI technology since manpower gets smaller with the huge killcount our men racks up in the battlefield. In the OVA, the ATX and SRX had discovered the shocking revelation of the Bartool's [[Powered by a Forsaken Child|ODE system]] and had concerns about killing more innocent captured civilians but during the final push later on, they were unmanned with no human core inside which allowed a more liberal course of destruction.
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* ''[[Mini Robot Wars]]'' has the evil-looking Machines. Also inverted as the good guys units are also mecha mooks of sorts, except cute-looking.
* Sneaker and Spinner in ''[[FHBG]]''.
* Roughly half the Mooks in ''[[Lies of P]]'' are puppets, as in, [[Clock Punk]] automatons, much like [[The Hero| Pinocchio]] is here. In fact, ''all'' enemies are puppets until the Cathedral, where [[Our Zombies Are Different| Carcass enemies]] start appearing. The few human enemies are mostly bosses.
== Web Comics ==
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{{quote|'''Dodgers:''' Uh..., those were just ''robot''-piloted ships, right?
'''Cadet:''' Yeah, "robots". ''(laughs maniacally)'' }}
* The ''[[X-Men (animation)|X-Men]]'' animated series as often as not had the titular heroes battling the robotic Sentinels and all manner of mechanical foes, rather than organic bad guys. Indeed, only two characters (good, bad, or background) are directly shown to die at any point in the series, and both eventually come [[Back
* Although most of the villains in ''[[Batman: The Animated Series|Batman the Animated Series]]'' are human, "The Last Laugh" featured a robotic henchman to [[The Joker]], called Captain Clown. In an interview, the producers admitted this was done specifically so that Batman wouldn't have to hold back in the fight.
** Another instance, with better in-universe justification, occurs in the second part of "Heart of Steel."
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* Averted very subtly in ''[[Adventures of the Galaxy Rangers]]''. The Crown Agents look and sound like robots. However, they take bribes, argue, go rogue, scream and throw up their hands when their plane crashes into a tower, etc. More damning is that the Ranger [[Technopath]] Doc Hartford ''never'' used his powers against them, though he could subvert most any technology with ease. "Lord of the Sands" topped it by having Zach admit "''As far as we know,'' Crown Agents are some kind of robot..."
* Deuce's robot army in ''[[Loonatics Unleashed]]''.
* ''[[She-Ra:
* In ''[[
* An episode of ''[[Star Wars: The Clone Wars]]'' has the good guys reprogramming a trio of battle droids to aid them in infiltrating a Separatist prison. These droids seemed to [[Rule of Empathy|live much longer]] than ordinary battle droids by sheer virtue of being on the good side. However once the situation got dicey, these droids were promptly ordered to sacrifice themselves to buy time for their organic masters to escape.
* In ''[[Code Lyoko]]'', XANA's various monsters can count as the virtual version of Mecha-Mooks. They do appears robot-like the two times some are materialized in the real world. Then in season 4, the [[Big Bad]] is busy constructing a whole army of robots to conquer the Earth.
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* Dr. Robotnik's Swat Bots from ''[[Sonic Sat AM|Sonic the Hedgehog]]''.
* ''[[Batman: The Brave And The Bold]]'': Degaton's robotic army in "The Golden Age of Justice!"
* ''[[The Owl House]]''; the [[Our Homunculi Are Different|Abomatons]] are ''[[Magitech]]'' Mecha-Mooks!
{{reflist}}
[[Category:Robot Roll Call]]
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[[Category:Mooks]]
[[Category:Villains]]
[[Category:
[[Category:Alliterative Trope Titles]]
[[Category:Killer Robot]]
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