Tin Can Robot: Difference between revisions

{{trope}}

 

The opposite of [[Ridiculously Human Robot]] and [[Robot Girl]] — this is a robot designed with function over form in mind. It's in technically humanoid form, but generally looks like a trashcan or boiler on legs, sometimes ([[Cephalothorax|but not always]]) with a head of a greater or lesser similarity to that of a human. This robot is usually not painted and it's often possible to easily see screw heads holding it together. Bonus points if the robot's arms are made of flexi-tube with pincers at the end.

 

Compare [[Used Future]], [[Real Robot]]. See also [[Forgot He Was a Robot]] for when this robot starts acting like a [[Ridiculously Human Robot]].

{{examples}}

* The Kohbu(/Eisenkleider/STARs/etc. etc.) from the ''[[Sakura Wars]]'' series are trashcan-looking [[Humongous Mecha]].

* ''[[Gigantor]]'' is a clear example of this. His body exactly resembles a tin can, being perfectly cylindrical (except for his rockets) and made of bare metal, while his arms and legs are similar.

* Mechazawa from ''[[Cromartie High School]]''. Despite being shaped like a large tin made of metal and needing to be constantly oiled, he and everyone else is blissfully unaware of his true nature.

** ...or at least everyone's afraid to [[Bullying a Dragon|breach the issue with the school's toughest fighter directly.]]

 

== Comic Books ==

* The lumbering warbots of Ashley Wood's [[Comicbook/World War Robot|World War Robot]] fit this trope to a T.

* Tin Can Tommy from ''[[The Beano]]'' doesn't only fit this trope but has a name to match.

 

== Film - Animated ==

* ''[[The Iron Giant]]''

 

== Film - Live-Action ==

** ''[[Undersea Kingdom]]'' (1936)

* [[Star Wars|R2-D2]] is the ultimate example, being not much ''more'' than a metal cylinder on wheels. Doesn't stop him [[Do-Anything Robot|packing plenty of hardware]] though.

** Power droids, and in particular the "gonk" droids.

* Newman from ''[[And You Thought Your Parents Were Weird]]''.

* ''[[The Man Who Saves the World]]'' has one of these (in a rubber costume) as the villain's servant.

* Toy Org from ''[[Power Rangers Wild Force]]'' qualifies. He resembles a toy robot, yet is one of the Rangers' strongest foes.

* Many of Dr Totenkopf's robots in ''[[Sky Captain and The World of Tomorrow]]''.

 

* Cheezoid from ''[[That Mitchell and Webb Look]]'', which makes sense as he was made in a shed.

* Robot in ''[[Lost in Space]]''

* TIM from ''[[The Tomorrow People]]'' had a mobile unit that looked a bit tin-canny.

* [http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/File:Character.samrobot.jpg Sam the Robot] from ''[[Sesame Street]]''. This being ''Sesame Street'', of course, he still has googly eyes and a bowtie.

* Robot, from the Captain Helix [[Show Within a Show]] in ''[[Hyperdrive]]''; unsurprising, given that it's a parody of ''[[Star Wars]]'' and cheap imitations of the same.

* Andy, the tin ''box'' robot on [[Quark]].

 

== Newspaper Comics ==

* The robots in ''Brewster Rocket'' frequently fit this trope, especially Oldbot and the Killbots.

 

== Tabletop Games ==

* Combat, Janitorial and Animal Care robots in the Classic ''[[Traveller]]'' adventure ''Research Station Gamma''.

 

== Video Games ==

* The Robobrains from ''[[Fallout]]'' fit most of the bill, except for having tank treads instead of legs, while the Protectron models look suspiciously like Robbie the Robot from ''[[Forbidden Planet]]''.

* Cronk and Zephyr, elderly Warbots who first appear in ''[[Ratchet and Clank]] Future: Tools of Destruction''

* ''[[Total Annihilation]]'' has a model of robot which is actually called "The Can". It's pretty much a big metal box on legs, with a turret on top.

* The final boss in ''[[Balloon Kid]]'' for the [[Game Boy]] is this kind of robot.

* Super Robot Thursday from ''[[Disgaea]]'' fits this trope, as he, Captain Gordon, and Jennifer are parodies of early science fiction series.

 

 

* Clango and Red Robot from ''[[Diesel Sweeties]]''.

* [[PROD 3000]], the robot "motivator" boss in ''[[Savage Chickens]]''.

 

== Web Original ==

* ''[[Homestar Runner]]'': The Cheat Bot is not a real robot, but would be a perfect example if he were.

* The Garbageman, a [[Gadgeteer Genius]] from the ''[[Global Guardians PBEM Universe]]'', guarded his lair with robots that looked like they were thrown together from old car parts, some galvanized steel garbage cans, and a lawn mower or two. They looked like that because they were thrown together from old car parts, some galvanized steel garbage cans, and a lawn mower or two. More dangerous than they sounded.

 

== Western Animation ==

* ''[[Transformers Animated]]'' has literal Trashcan Robots.

** Fry encounters an ''actual'' trash can who also happens to be a self-aware robot.

* Rosie the robot maid from ''[[The Jetsons]]''. (There was also a male robot called Mac, made by Henry, the building janitor.)

* The Master Cylinder, from ''[[Felix the Cat]]''.

* The [[Max and Dave Fleischer|Fleischer]] ''[[Superman Theatrical Cartoons|Superman]]'' series featured "The Mechanical Monsters", used by the inventor for a series of robberies.

 

{{reflist}}

[[Category:Robot Roll Call]]

[[Category:Robot]]