Robot cartoon movies have been a staple of family films for decades, especially since the cartoon format allows for more inventive and imaginative character designs. While many have robots simply as supporting characters, there are also plenty that feature a robot protagonist, either as a helping hand for the story’s hero or even as the hero themselves. The first robot in a movie was in 1927’s Metropolis, which was live-action, but once the animated film industry got in full swing, hand-drawn (and later CGI) robots became a regular sight.
Animated movies tend to take the opposite view of artificial intelligence, too. Whereas most live-action movie robots are evil, their animated counterparts tend to be much more wholesome. From modern hits such as The Mitchells vs. The Machines to classics like The Iron Giant, there are plenty of movies that suggest something other than evil can come from androids with artificial intelligence. While android enthusiasts might get a kick out of any mechanoid that appears on-screen, the best animated movies with robots stand out for both their wide appeal and their unique takes on the idea of a mechanical hero.
15 9
Ragdolls Fight For Survival In The Robot-Controlled World
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9 (2009) PG-13
In a post-apocalyptic world, 9 is a computer-animated science fiction film where small sentient ragdolls battle menacing machines. Led by the titular character, voiced by Elijah Wood, they strive to survive and discover the truth about humanity’s downfall. The film features the voices of Jennifer Connelly and John C. Reilly.
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*Availability in US Director Shane Acker Release Date September 9, 2009 Cast Elijah Wood , Christopher Plummer , Martin Landau , John C. Reilly , Crispin Glover , Jennifer Connelly , Fred Tatasciore , Alan Oppenheimer , Tom Kane , Helen Wilson
While a lot of the best animated robot movies offer family-friendly fun, 9 is perhaps a little too dark for younger viewers. The movie is set in an alternate timeline in the 1940s when a dictator created a robot army to fight his enemies only for the robots to turn on humanity as a whole. The scientist who was forced to create them uses a mix of science and magic to transfer his soul into the bodies of nine ragdolls with the hopes of saving humanity.
The inventive animated film sees the robot apocalypse from a unique and fun perspective. Instead of being a futuristic world of the robot lords, audiences get to see the 1940s version of killer robots that take over the world. Unlike many other animated movie robots, these robots serve as the villains of the story and are appropriately intimidating. The Fabrication Machine is a particularly memorable design that serves as the chief villain, the robot whose intelligence ran amok in the first place and doomed humanity.
14 Robot Dreams (2023)
A Dog And Robot Form An Impactful Bond
Robot Dreams Not RatedAnimationDramaFamily
Robot Dreams is an animated comedy-drama film by writer-director Pablo Berger, featuring no voice acting. The film follows a dog living alone in New York City who decides to build a robot friend in the 1980s, setting the two on various heartfelt adventures in Manhattan together.
Director Pablo Berger Release Date December 6, 2024 Runtime 102 Minutes
While robots offer fun sci-fi worlds to explore in movies, they can also be used in more grounded and relatable stories, such as the Spanish-French animated movie Robot Dreams. The movie follows a lonely dog who struggles to meet new friends and decides to order a robot who can be his companion. They make for a perfect duo until they are unexpectedly separated and spend their days waiting to be reunited.
Robot Dreams is a feature-length animated movie with no dialogue. Instead, the charming and captivating images tell a story of friendship and relationships that is insightful, heartbreaking, and inspiring. It explores the idea of finding a person who makes life better, the pain of losing that person, and the understanding that there are other relationships in the world. The robot protagonist is a sweet and caring creation who goes on its own adventure with dreams of seeing its friend again.
13 Transformers One
The Original Story Of Optimus Prime And Megatron
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48 9.6/10 Transformers One Not Yet RatedAnimationActionAdventure Sci-Fi
Transformers One is an animated action-adventure movie that marks the first animated feature-length film for the series in decades. The film will be a prequel to the franchise, and will tell the story of Optimus Prime and Megatron in their early years, how they met, and a closer look at the war on their home planet, Cybertron.
Director Josh Cooley Release Date September 20, 2024 Cast Chris Hemsworth , Brian Tyree Henry , Scarlett Johansson , Keegan-Michael Key , Steve Buscemi , Laurence Fishburne , Jon Hamm , Vanessa Liguori , Jon Bailey , Jason Konopisos-Alvarez , Evan Michael Lee , James Remar , Isaac C. Singleton Jr. , Steve Blum , Jinny Chung , Josh Cooley , Dillon Bryan Runtime 104 Minutes Expand
The Transformers franchise has been live-action ever since Michael Bay’s 2007 movie, but Transformers One takes the smart approach by bringing it all back to its roots with an exciting big-budget animated adventure. Transformers One is an origin story that explores the past relationship between Optimus Prime and Megatron on their home planet of Cybertron before they became bitter enemies. It also explores these iconic characters beginning their journey as Transformers.
One of the biggest complaints about the Transformers movies was their focus on the human characters over the titular robots. The animated take allows these robots in disguise to take the spotlight once again, being fleshed out as fun and layered characters. They are also brought to life by a terrific voice cast that includes Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, and Scarlett Johansson. It is an action-packed and surprisingly emotional addition to the Transformers mythology that could kick-start a new animated series of movies.
12 Next Gen (2018)
The Charming Adaptation Of A Globally Popular Chinese Webcomic
TV-PGAnimationActionAdventure
Next Gen is a 2018 animated science fiction film directed by Kevin R. Adams and Joe Ksander. The film centers on a rebellious young girl named Mai who befriends a top-secret robot named 7723. Together, they form an unlikely alliance in a futuristic world dominated by advanced technology, where they face challenges and uncover a conspiracy that threatens their city’s safety. Voices include John Krasinski, Charlyne Yi, and Jason Sudeikis.
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*Availability in US Director Kevin R. Adams , Joe Ksander Release Date September 7, 2018 Studio(s) Baozou Manhua , Alibaba Pictures , Tangent Animation Writers Kevin R. Adams , Joe Ksander Cast John Krasinski , Charlyne Yi , Jason Sudeikis , Michael Pena , David Cross , Constance Wu Runtime 106 Minutes Distributor(s) Netflix Budget $30 Million Expand
Just like animated movies, robotic heroes have also been a staple of comic books ever since the medium became popular. With this in mind, it’s little surprise that one of the best movies with a robot protagonist is an adaptation of a popular webcomic, namely Wang Nima’s 7723. Directors Kevin R. Adams and Joe Ksander adapted 7723 into the animated movie Next Gen, and in doing so introduced Netflix subscribers to the lovable walking weapon that is the robotic hero 7723.
Mai is an angry teenage girl who gets dragged along by her robot-obsessed mother to a launch for the new Gen 6 Q-Bots, where she stumbles upon a secret project created by Dr. Rice called Project 77, the product of which is the robot 7723. Next Gen is a heartfelt story of relationships as Mai and 7723 go on many misadventures together, destroying other robots and confronting Mai’s bullies, learning to let go of bad memories, and creating better ones.
When Mai’s mother is kidnapped by Justin Pin, they band together to save her, and 7723 sacrifices his memory to reboot his weapon system and the ultimate battle between good versus evil ensues, saving Mai’s mother and all of humanity in the process.
11 Meet The Robinsons (2007)
A Robot Childminder Shines As The Movie’s Most Memorable Character
GAnimationAdventureComedyFamilySci-Fi
Meet The Robinsons follows Lewis, a young inventor determined to find his birth mother. His journey takes a turn when a mysterious boy named Wilbur Robinson whisks him away to the future. Together, they face adventures and challenges that ultimately lead Lewis to uncover the significance of family and his place in the world. This animated film explores themes of innovation, belonging, and the importance of moving forward.
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*Availability in US Director Stephen J. Anderson Release Date March 30, 2007 Cast Angela Bassett , Daniel Hansen , Jordan Fry , Matthew Josten , John H. H. Ford , Dara McGarry Runtime 95 Minutes Main Genre Animation
While Wall-E and Big Hero 6 are well-known titles from the House of Mouse, they’re not the only times Disney has managed to win hearts with a robot in their animated movies. 2007’s Meet The Robinsons may not have been a huge hit for the studios, but it does feature one of their most memorable mechanical characters. Carl the robot may not be the main character in Meet The Robinsons, but he provides many laughs at his panicky behavior upon realizing Wilbur brought Lewis into the future after sneaking away from the robot’s watch.
Carl’s duty is to keep an eye on Wilbur and prevent him from getting into trouble, and that backfires when Bowler Hat Guy threatens everyone with his diabolical plans to destroy the world. The robot is the first character viewers meet when the two boys travel to the Robinsons’ home, and he warns Wilbur of the trouble they’d be in if they were caught. Though he aids Wilbur in rescuing Lewis and the memory scanner, he is impaled shortly thereafter, which prompts him to ask Lewis to consider building him with muscles in the future.
10 Robots (2005)
The Cult-Classic Animated Movie Where Every Character Is A Robot, Hero Or Not
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Robots PGAnimationAdventureComedy
Robots is an animated film that follows a young inventor named Rodney Copperbottom, who travels to the big city to work for his idol, Bigweld. Once there, Rodney discovers the company is now run by the ruthless Ratchet, who has sinister plans for the future of robot-kind. Featuring voices by Ewan McGregor, Robin Williams, and Halle Berry, the film blends humor and adventure as Rodney allies with other misfit robots to save their world.
Director Chris Wedge , Carlos Saldanha Release Date March 27, 2005 Cast Ewan McGregor , Halle Berry , Paula Abdul , Robin Williams , Lucille Bliss , Terry Bradshaw , Jim Broadbent , Mel Brooks Runtime 91 Minutes
Robots is an underrated animated film about the importance of chasing your dreams and never giving up, no matter what. As its title suggests too, the 2005 animated movie from director Chris Wedge is full of memorable robot heroes, villains, and everything in between, since every character in the film is one. Rodney Copperbottom has big dreams of being somebody in the world as an aspiring inventor and decides to take the leap of faith and travel to Robot City to meet his childhood hero Bigweld.
When Ratchet takes over for Bigweld and threatens the existence of every robot not able to afford fancy new parts, Rodney and the rest of the misfits band together to prevent them from becoming scrap metal at the chop shop. With an incredible cast including Ewan Mcgregor, Mel Brooks, Halle Berry, Amanda Bynes, and even the late Robin Williams in his hilarious role as Fender, there’s much to love about this robot flick.
9 Treasure Planet (2002)
An Intergalactic Take On A Classic Adventure Story
pgAdventure
Treasure Planet is a 2002 animated adventure and Fantasy film from Walt Disney studios. Directed by John Musker and Ron Clements, the story follows a young boy named Jim Hawkins as he attempts to find a fabled treasure and mend ways with his father who abandoned him.
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*Availability in US Director John Musker Release Date November 27, 2002 Studio(s) Disney Writers John Musker Cast Joseph Gordon-Levitt , Martin Short , Emma Thompson Runtime 95minutes Distributor(s) Disney Budget $140 million Expand
The early 2000s were a strange time for Disney and Western animation. With CGI going into full swing, traditionally hand-drawn animation was taking a backseat. However, before Disney and their competitors fully embraced CGI there were a handful of beautifully stylistic animated movies — one of which was the 2002 cult hit Treasure Planet, which also included what is perhaps Disney’s best animated robot, B.E.N. B.E.N. was once the navigator of the space pirate ship until Captain Flint stole his memory and left him stranded on Treasure Planet where Jim Hawkins comes upon him.
The beloved robot then returns with Jim and works at the Benbow Inn helping his mother take care of the hotel.
The eccentric robot then aids Jim in uncovering Flint’s treasure which he remembers is buried deep in the center of the mechanism of the ship. B.E.N. provides many humorous moments in the film, as he is able to deactivate the cannons on the ship through trial and error and the two new friends work together to save the entire crew. The beloved robot then returns with Jim and works at the Benbow Inn helping his mother take care of the hotel.
8 Astro Boy (2009)
The Classic Robot Hero From A Timeless Manga Explodes Onto The Big Screen
PGAnimationActionFamilyScience Fiction
Astro Boy is a computer-animated science fiction film based on the classic manga and anime series by Osamu Tezuka. In the futuristic city of Metro City, a brilliant scientist, Dr. Tenma, creates a robot boy named Astro to replace his deceased son. When Astro discovers his true nature, he sets out on a journey to find his place in the world, confronting threats to humanity along the way.
Director David Bowers Release Date October 15, 2009 Studio(s) Summit Entertainment , Imagi Animation Studios , Tezuka Productions Cast Nicolas Cage , Madeline Carroll , Freddie Highmore , Kristen Bell , Donald Sutherland Runtime 94 Minutes Writers Timothy Harris , David Bowers Budget 10000000 Main Genre Animation Expand
One of the best movies with a robot hero focuses on a character that’s been one of the most popular Manga characters in Japan since his debut in 1952 – writer and illustrator Osamu Tezuka’s Astro Boy. 2009’s Astro Boy movie comes from director David Bowers, and captures all the charm of the on-page. Astro Boy takes place in the 22nd century, where Metro City is suspended above Earth using advanced technology, and humans rely on robots to do everything for them.
Astro Boy has a dark background story, the robotic child being invented by Dr. Tenma after his son dies in a horrible accident, using a strand of his dead child’s hair as well as his memories combined with blue energy to bring him back to life. The reunion is short-lived when Dr. Tenma can’t face what he’s done, asking an associate to disable him, but instead, Astro Boy is set free to the surface below.
Through his adventures, he learns the joys and emotions of being human with the help of his newfound friends and returns to Metro City to save everyone from the evil created by President Stone.
7 Ron’s Gone Wrong (2021)
A Malfunctioning Robot Companion Becomes A Boy’s Best Friend
PGComedy Sci-Fi
When middle school student Barney receives the popular B-bot for his birthday, it turns out the bot, whom he names Ron, is defective. Ron’s unique personality makes him a great friend to Barney, but the corporation who made Ron wants to take him back.
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*Availability in US Director Sarah Smith , Jean-Philippe Vine Release Date October 22, 2021 Studio(s) 20th Century Writers Peter Baynham , Sarah Smith Cast Zach Galifianakis , Jack Dylan Grazer , Ed Helms , Justice Smith , Rob Delaney , Kylie Cantrall , Ricardo Hurtado , Olivia Colman Runtime 107 minutes Distributor(s) 20th Century Expand
There are several movies where an AI companion is portrayed as the must-have accessory, but few put their own spin on the concept quite like 2021’s Ron’s Gone Wrong from director duo Sarah Smith and Phillipe Vine. Barney Pudowski is a socially awkward middle-schooler who has a hard time making friends. What’s more, due to his family’s financial situation, he can’t afford a B-bot — an artificial robot companion that functions more-or-less like a self-aware smartphone on wheels — like the other kids at school.
His dad and grandma buy him a slightly damaged B-bot illegally from a delivery driver in an alley as a chance for Barney to fit in, which Barney names Ron. However, it quickly comes to light that something about Ron is a little off, his code having not been programmed correctly. After Ron fights off a bully, Barney decides to teach the B-bot everything there is to know about friendship, learning valuable lessons along the way.
Ron’s Gone Wrong brings one of the best non-Disney animated robots that becomes a hero in a heartwarming and funny film with the message that making friends is so much more than an algorithm.
6 The Mitchells Vs. The Machines (2021)
A Pair Of Malfunctioning Robots Rebel Against Their Programming To Help Humanity
PGAnimationAdventureComedy
The Mitchells vs. The Machines is an animated action-comedy that sees creative outsider Katie Mitchell as she is accepted into the film school of her dreams and is eager to leave home and find “her people.” However, when her nature-loving dad insists on having the whole family drive her to school and bond during one last family road trip, the family suddenly finds itself in the middle of the robot apocalypse. Katie and her father will need to find common ground to stand a chance against the armies of smartphones, fridges, and whatever other sentient machines are out to capture humanity.
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*Availability in US Director Mike Rianda Release Date April 30, 2021 Studio(s) Netflix Writers Jeff Rowe , Mike Rianda Cast Eric Andre , Maya Rudolph , Abbi Jacobson , Beck Bennett , Mike Rianda , Fred Armisen , Conan O’Brien , Olivia Colman , Danny McBride , Sasheer Zamata , Charlyne Yi Runtime 117 minutes Distributor(s) Netflix Budget $50–100 million Expand
2021’s The Mitchells Vs. The Machines is an animated take on the classic trope of rogue AI going to war with humanity. The plot takes inspiration and almost satirizes movies like The Terminator and The Matrix franchise with its AI antagonist, PAL. However, this animated movie with robots from director Mike Rianda also features some incredibly memorable android heroes, too. In The Mitchells Vs. The Machines, Katie Mitchell finds herself on a family road trip, with her dad planning one last chance to bond with her before dropping her off at film school in California.
The Mitchells Vs. The Machines
is incredibly critically acclaimed, and even scooped up 8 Annie Awards, a highly prestigious accolade in the animation industry, during the year it released on Netflix.
During their trip, a robot apocalypse breaks out led by PAL, who orders all robots to launch every human into space. Two hilarious malfunctioning robots called Eric and Debrahbot 5000 join forces with the Mitchells to defeat PAL after accidentally revealing there’s a kill code they can upload that will put a stop to the uprising. The robots become like family to the Mitchells, calling Linda their mom and even accompanying Katie to Washington D.C. where she accepts the Congressional Gold Medal after saving the world.
5 Ghost In The Shell
A Police Cyborg Explores Her Past
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10/10 Ghost in the Shell (1995) TV-MAAnimationActionCrime
Ghost in the Shell explores the story of Major Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg public-security agent in 2029 Japan, assigned to track down a mysterious hacker known as the Puppet Master. As she delves deeper into the case, she confronts questions of identity, consciousness, and what it means to be human. The film is directed by Mamoru Oshii and is based on the manga by Masamune Shirow.
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*Availability in US Director Mizuho Nishikubo , Mamoru Oshii Release Date December 8, 1995 Cast Atsuko Tanaka , Akio Otsuka , Iemasa Kayumi , Koichi Yamadera , Yutaka Nakano , Tamio Ôki , Tesshô Genda , Masato Yamanouchi Runtime 83 Minutes
Ghost in the Shell is another animated movie that is not suitable for younger audiences but is still a thrilling story with bold sci-fi ideas. The anime film is set in the year 2029 and follows Motoko Kusanagi, a cyborg police officer who is assigned to hunt a powerful hacker. However, she begins to question her reality and her purpose when she delves into her past and where she came from.
Ghost in the Shell
was said to have been a huge influence on
The Matrix
and it is not hard to see how.
The movie is an interesting look at the humanity behind machines with similar themes as explored in the Blade Runner franchise. The world of the story is one in which the line between robots and humans is continuously blurred, making the protagonist and her search for the truth a complex and thought-provoking one with each new reveal. Ghost in the Shell was said to have been a huge influence on The Matrix and it is not hard to see how.
4 Big Hero 6 (2014)
Disney’s Very Own Robot Superhero
PGAnimationActionAdventureComedyFamily
In Walt Disney Animation Studios’ Big Hero 6, the child genius Hiro Hamada works with his brother Tadashi’s inflatable robot, Baymax, to assemble a superhero team in the fictional city of San Fransokyo. The titular group of geeky heroes, composed of Honey Lemon, Go Go Tomago, Wasabi, and Fred, help Hiro and Baymax take down a masked villain powered by nanobots.
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*Availability in US Director Don Hall , Chris Williams Release Date October 24, 2014 Studio(s) Disney Writers Don Hall , Jordan Roberts , Robert L. Baird , Daniel Gerson , Duncan Rouleau , Steven T. Seagle Cast Ryan Potter , Scott Adsit , Jamie Chung , T.J. Miller , Daniel Henney , Damon Wayans Jr. , Genesis Rodriguez , James Cromwell , Alan Tudyk , Maya Rudolph Runtime 1h 42m Distributor(s) Disney Budget 165 million Expand
Disney may own the MCU and, by extension, have the greatest success of any studio with superhero movies, but Marvel Comics isn’t the only time they’ve had success in the genre. 20014’s Big Hero 6 became a beloved animated superhero movie from the moment it was released, winning over audiences with its refreshing story and unique aesthetic blend of Western and Eastern architecture in the city of San Fransokyo. However, the main reason for the success of Big Hero 6 is, of course, the lovable robot hero Baymax.
After Tadashi dies a tragic death in an explosion, Hiro finds himself left with Baymax, a huggable healthcare robot invented by his older brother. When an evil man in a kabuki mask is revealed to have stolen Hiro’s microbots, Hiro programs Baymax to learn martial arts moves and builds him an outer armor, set on discovering who’s behind the mask.
Big Hero 6
is a notable superhero movie filled with unlikely heroes
Baymax makes the ultimate sacrifice at the end when he detects human life in a giant teleporter, and bids farewell to Hiro to save Professor Callaghan’s daughter. Big Hero 6 is a notable superhero movie filled with unlikely heroes who choose to bring justice without harming anyone and is brimming with powerful emotions at every turn.
3 The Wild Robot
A Server Robot Crashlands In The Wilderness And Helps Out The Wild Animals
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16 9.4/10 The Wild Robot PGAnimationDrama Sci-Fi
The Wild Robot is an animated drama film based on a series of books by Peter Brown. The adaptation is written and directed by Chris Sanders and stars Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, and Catherine O’Hara. The Wild Robot centers on a robot named Rozzum 7134, who becomes stranded on a deserted island and the guardian of a young orphan.
Director Chris Sanders Release Date September 27, 2024 Cast Lupita Nyong’o , Pedro Pascal , Catherine O’Hara , Bill Nighy , Kit Connor , Stephanie Hsu , Mark Hamill , Matt Berry , Ving Rhames Runtime 101 Minutes
The latest animated robot movie has already established itself as one of the best. The Wild Robot is an animated adventure based on the novel by Peter Brown. It follows a server robot who, en route to a new customer, crashes in the wilderness. As it attempts to go about its programming by helping every frightened critter that it finds, it becomes the unwitting mother to a newborn goose, and along with a lonely fox, attempts to help the little bird learn to fly.
The movie has a lot of fun exploring the robot’s need to help out every living thing it comes across while also showing its growing connection to the young goose.
The Wild Robot is another classic from DreamWorks animated movie with the right mix of humor, adventure, and heart. The movie has a lot of fun exploring the robot’s need to help out every living thing it comes across while also showing its growing connection to the young goose. It is a story of unconventional families, the struggles of parenting, and the strength of a community.
2 Wall-E (2008)
Pixar’s Robotic Hero That’s Brimming With Heartwarming Charm
GAnimationAdventureFamily
Pixar’s WALL-E tells the story of the titular lone robot left alone on an uninhabitable Earth in the distant future. Tasked with cleaning away the endless mountains of the varied waste discarded by humanity before they left the planet, WALL-E spends his days collecting salvageable parts and items of interest. When he finds a plant, another robot arrives to collect the sample, taking WALL-E to the remnants of humanity, who have all grown morbidly obese through consistent inactivity while living in luxury on a space cruiser.
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*Availability in US Director Andrew Stanton Release Date June 27, 2008 Studio(s) Walt Disney Pictures , Pixar Animation Studios Writers Andrew Stanton , Pete Docter , Jim Reardon Cast Ben Burtt , Elissa Knight , Jeff Garlin , Fred Willard , John Ratzenberger , Kathy Najimy , Sigourney Weaver Runtime 98 Minutes Distributor(s) Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures Franchise(s) Disney Budget $180 Million Main Genre Animation Expand
If there’s any animated movie studio known for creating emotional and heartwarming films, it’s Pixar, and in 2008 they proved that their unique charm could even work when the hero of the movie is a robot with minimal speaking lines. 2008’s Wall-E is considered by many to be among the best Pixar movies of the 2000s, and it’s entirely down to the titular mechanical hero. Wall-E is an adorable, trash-compacting robot whose only friend is a cockroach; the humans having abandoned the planet after rendering it unlivable.
Wall-E
received a slew of awards when it released, including the Academy Award for Best Animated Feature. It was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay the same year, a huge achievement for an animated movie.
He’s overjoyed when he meets Eve, a robot sent to Earth to detect if anything habitable remains, and shows her all the special treasures he’s collected over the years. Eve goes into hibernation mode after Wall-E brings her a plant he found, and he makes it his duty to shield her from the tumultuous weather that occurs. Wall-E is a film that is sure to capture hearts everywhere, rooting for the little robot to find a place in the world, while also showing the importance of doing better as a society.
1 Iron Giant (1999)
A Warmachine From Mars Becomes A Boy’s Best Friend
PGAction Sci-FiFamilyComedyAnimationDramaAdventure
Set in 1957 Maine against the backdrop of the Cold War, The Iron Giant follows Hogarth Hughes, a young boy who finds an alien robot crashlanded in the woods outside his hometown. Determining that the robot is friendly, Hogarth quickly becomes its protector against forces in the US Army who wish to use the robot for their own means. Eli Marienthal voices Hogarth, with a further cast that includes Vin Diesel, Jennifer Aniston, Harry Connick Jr., and Christopher McDonald.
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*Availability in US Director Brad Bird Writers Tim McCanlies Cast Vin Diesel , Christopher McDonald , Harry Connick Jr , Jennifer Aniston , Eli Marienthal Runtime 86 minutes Release Date August 6, 1999 Studio(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Distributor(s) Warner Bros. Pictures Budget $70 million Expand
When discussing animated robot heroes in movies, many would cite The Iron Giant as the pinnacle of stories where one takes center stage. The 1999 cult classic is beloved by its fanbase and is loosely based on the 1968 Ted Hughes novel The Iron Man. In The Iron Giant, Hogarth befriends a giant robot that falls from the sky and teaches him that you are who you choose to be in.
However, Hogarth soon learns he has to hide his mechanical companion from the adults in his small town, especially when the paranoid FBI agent Kent Mansley shows up to investigate the strange goings-on. Kent believes the robot was sent to America as a dangerous weapon and becomes adamant that it must be destroyed, sending word to the military base about its location and threatening the entire population in the small town.
The ending is tear-inducing when the giant robot bids farewell and soars into the sky to prevent a missile from killing everyone, smiling at the thought of being like Superman. The ending has a hint of the iron giant putting himself back together and not being permanently destroyed, and there are high hopes for a sequel among many Iron Giant fans.