Robotboy (character)

Infobox character
colour = lime
name = Robotboy


caption = The Robotboy.
first = Dog-Ra
last =
cause =
nickname =
alias = Tommy, Lola and Professor Moshimo
species = Robot
gender = Male Robot
age =
born =
death =
occupation =
title =
family = Professor Moshimo(creator/father)
Protoboy (older brother)
Robotman (adopted elder brother)
Robotgirl (adopted sister, love interest)
Relationships = Robotman (adopted elder brother)
Robotgirl (adopted sister, love interest)
spouse =
children =
relatives =
episode = All
portrayer = Laurence Bouvard
creator =

Robotboy is the titular character in the animated television series "Robotboy", a French-American co-production from Cartoon Network, Alphanim, France 3 and Luxanimation.

The Robotboy character is a battle robot with three modes of operation: Deactivated, Activated, and Superactivated. Deactivation mode is Robotboy's standby stage, where he becomes compact enough to fit into a backpack. Activation mode is the standard stage of Robotboy's active modes, where he is able to use most of his non-battle technology. Superactivation mode is when Robotboy transforms into his battle stage of operation, where he has access to an amazing arsenal of weaponry to deal with any and all enemies.Robotboy is mainly a fun loving robot, with the ability to have human-like emotions and actions despite being mostly machinery. In later episodes, he acquired a human skin. Robotboy was created by Professor Moshimo and is currently under the care of Tommy Turnbull. Tommy and his friends Gus and Lola try to teach Robotboy what it means to be a real boy. Robotboy appears to be an homage to GIR, Astro Boy and Mega Man (who is also an homage to Astro Boy).

Technology and Weaponry

Most of the time, Robotboy has blue drums protruding diagonally on either side of the head. While Superactivated, they become horns. Deactivated and Activated forms look very much the same, except the deactivated form's head drums are withdrawn into the head, and his limbs are also withdrawn into his body. While activated, Robotboy has mechanical tentacles concealed in his palms and thrusters on the soles of the feet, enabling him to fly. While Superactivated Robotboy's fists and feet and head are much larger and now have all kinds of lasers, homing missiles and machine guns. Briefly seen is an ink spray that can identify invisible targets and, of course, dramatically increased physical strength. Robotboy's most common Superactivated weapon is the machine gun arm. Many random weapons appear, and many are rarely seen twice, even in the same episode. It also seems Robotboy is amphibious, although he can drown.

The Activation controls for Robotboy are built into a special, orange watch that Tommy wears. The watch is in the shape of Activated Robotboy's head. In the episode "Robot Rebels", Robotboy smashes the watch after being tricked by Kamikazi. It is unknown how Tommy gets another watch, but it is safe to presume that Professor Moshimo had a spare one.

Controversy

Robotboy has been compared to other shows with similar characters numerous times. Firstly Astro Boy, of which it has been referred toFact|date=August 2007 as a clear "rip-off" by some people. The similarity may be related to the fact that Astro Boy had also run on Cartoon Network about two years prior to RobotBoy. Secondly, it's also been labeled rip-offs of "My Life as a Teenage Robot", a show on Nickelodeon, and "Whatever Happened to Robot Jones?", another show on Cartoon Network. On MLAATR, Jenny Wakeman is a robot who acts like a normal teenager and is a superhero, which RobotBoy is, while Robot Jones is learning about the very basics of human behavior, which RobotBoy is doing as well. Lastly, Robotboy shares several very close similarities with the popular video game character Mega Man (character) current mascot of the company Capcom, including a completely identical color scheme and body appearance scheme save for the face and the use of a "Brother" robot as a plotline. Also, in the episode, "Sweet Revenge", the pilot of the helicopter is seen bearing the symbol of the rebel forces from the Star Wars series.

Despite Robotboy being known as a television show intended for children, it has caused controversy in the United States and United Kingdom. This is especially due to certain words used by characters like Gus, Dr. Kamikazi and Tommy’s older brother. Although the words are often spoken by the modern generation, they are usually censored on television Fact|date=August 2007. Robotboy is probably the first children's TV-show (In america, at least) to use them.

Friendship with...

Tommy

Robotboy is Tommy's best friend, and they have been accompanied in many adventures which improves their attachment. In the episode "Robot Rebels", Kamikazi broke that friendship. In fact, there are many times in which countless villains have broke their friendship and after an explaining their friendship is attached again.

Gus

Gus is always a fool when he wants to do something related to candy, which means, if Kamikazi would ask for Robotboy in exchange for a buh-million tons of candy, he'd quickly do it. But he wasn't always a candy maniac, in the episode "Tummy Trouble" he was first anorexic due to Kamikazi's tapeworm.

Lola

Robotboy's friendship with Lola is as just as the same with everyone else, except she is a little unfair, to somethings like in the episode The Manchurian Robot. She is also in love with Tommy Turnbull.

Trivia

* Robotboy is told what jealousy means twice (the first time was in Dog-Ra the second time was in Valentine's Day).
* Robotboy very rarely speaks in his superactive form.
* Robotboy is physically able to cry though his tears are oil.
* Robots rarely have crushes but in this case RobotBoy had one with Mona Lethal. Robotboy is also the crush of Robotgirl.
* In 2006, a bumper was shown informing the 2nd season of RobotBoy, and at the end he blinked his eye.Then in the episode "Kami-Chameleon" he'll blink his eye twice (in normal mode and super-activated mode).
* In the episode "Fight" Tommy won the first round with RobotBoy's help. In the second round he won it without help, making him use fighting skills when he is or isn't wearing that helmet to transfer brains and make exact copies.
* When usually in disguise or being mistaken for a boy, his name is usually mistaken as Robert.
* Robotboy actually has a crush on Robotgirl.

See also

* Robotboy
* Tommy Turnbull
* Augustus Bachman Turner
* Lola Mbolắ
* Professor Moshimo