robots!

ROBBY‘Forbidden Planet,’1956

Sources: Internet Movie Database,Science Fiction Illustrated Encyclopedia,The Robot Museum

Androids

GORT‘The Day the EarthStood Still,’ 1951One of the earliestalien robots on thescreen. A menacingbut protective figure,controlled by one ofthe most famous linesin science fictionmovies: “KlaatuBarada Nikto!”

Built in the image of their makers, they bear moreof a resemblance to humans, in that they have ahead, two legs, two arms, bilateral symmetry, etc.

R2-D2 and C-3PO‘Star Wars,’ 1977The amiable ‘droids’of ‘Star Wars’ becomethe most popular andinfluential robots sinceRobby. Thesepersonable, loyal andcomical robots pavedthe way for anavalanche of imitators.

ROSIE‘The Jetsons,’1962

RACHEL‘BladeRunner,’1982

DARTH VADER‘Star Wars,’1977

VINCENT‘The Black Hole,’1979

HUEY, DEWEYand LOUIE‘Silent Running,’1971

There has been a fascination with robots since the era of silentmovies. This summer, two big movies have their own takes onthese mechanical creatures: “Stepford Wives” and “I, Robot.”The latter movie, “I, Robot,” is based on the classic sciencefiction anthology by Isaac Asimov and will be released Friday.Here is a history of robots in movies and television:

MECHAGODZILLA'Godzilla vsMechagodzilla,’1974

GIGANTOR‘Gigantor,’ 1966

ROBOT‘Lost in Space,’1965

STEVE AUSTIN‘The Six MillionDollar Man,’1973-78

ROB HERNANDEZ and JAVIER ZARRACINA—MERCURY NEWS

DATA‘Star Trek: TheNext Generation,’1987-94

GUNSLINGER‘Westworld,’1973

SONNY‘I, Robot,’ 2004Sonny holds the key to avast conspiracy that couldthreaten the human race.

SENTINELS‘The Matrix,’ 1999

Half human, halfmachine: Cyborgs are amix of the mechanicaland living organisms.

Cyborgs

The first movie robot is one ofthe most beautiful: a sleek,metallic, art deco female robot.

GODDARD‘Jimmy Neutron,Boy Genius,’ 2001

A pop culture icon:Robby's design wasone of the firstmovie props to beheavily merchanizedand had a profoundimpact on the toyindustry.

THE TERMINATOR‘The Terminator,’1984

JOHNNY 5‘ShortCircuit,’1986

DAVID and GIGOLO JOE‘Artificial Intelligence: A.I.,’2001

FEMBOTS‘Austin Powers,International Manof Mystery,’1997

TWIKI‘BuckRogers inthe 25thCentury,’1979

ROBOCOP‘RoboCop,’1987

1950s

1960s

1980s

1970s

1990s

MARIA'Metropolis,’ 1927

2000s

Giant robotsBigger than life!

OPTIMUS PRIME‘The Transformers,’1984-87

BENDER‘Futurama,’1999-2004

Earthling

Alienorigin

Evil

Good

Fighter

Servant

Lovemachine

Pet

IRON GIANT‘The IronGiant,’1999

STEPFORD WIVES‘The Stepford Wives,’2004

THE ROBOT‘Mysterious Doctor Satan,’ 1940Robots were villians of choicein ’40s movie serials.

R I S E O F T H E

MACHINES

Photo credits: Amblin Entertainment, American-International Television, Akom Production Co., BijouFlix Releasing, Capella International, Cartoon Network, Cinema 84, Davis Entertainment, De Line Pictures, DNA Entertainment,DreamWorks SKG, Glen A. Larson Productions, Groucho II Film Partnership, Hanna-Barbera Productions, Hasbro Inc., Hemdale Film Corp., The Ladd Co., Lucasfilm Ltd., MGM, Moving Pictures, New Line Cinema, NickelodeonMovies, O Entertainment, Orion Pictures Corp., Pacific Western, Paramount Television, Paramount Pictures, PSO, Republic Pictures Corp., Scott Rudin Productions, Silver Pictures, Stanley Kubrick Productions, SunbowProductions, Toei Co. Ltd., Toho Eizo Co., Toho, Universal, Universum Film A.G., Village Roadshow Pictures, Warner Bros., Walt Disney Pictures, 20th Century Fox

KEY TO SYMBOLS

ED-209'RoboCop,’1987

The classic, clanging contraptions,built mainly for functionality. Thistype of robot can take variousmachine-like forms. They oftenhave wheels to move around withand built-in devices to performtheir robotic duties.

Mechanical robots

GIANT ROBO'Giant Robo,’ 1967