Ten of the Coolest Sci Fi Robots

The incredible new Chris Nolan film Interstellar hit cinemas this week. While the movie’s themes of the end of the world, the will to survive, and the vastness of space are a little sombre, it has more than enough moments of humour. Most of these come from the film’s robot TARS, a sarcastic and cheeky chap who is undoubtedly one of Interstellar’s highlights. With this in mind, we thought it’d be a good time to look at some of science fictions other notable robot buddies.

10. Wall-E

It’s a universally acknowledged fact that Pixar can make a bloody good film. While Wall-E might be one of their weaker efforts, the tale of a post apocalyptic (well, post Human trashed) Earth is strong stuff, made all the better by the titular Wall-E, a trash collecting ‘bot left alone on Earth. It’s a testament to Pixar’s design skills that a robot that doesn’t speak a word for an entire film can be so beloved.

9. K-9

We’re suckers for a good pun. We also love Doctor Who. So a robot dog from Doctor Who called K-9 (get it?) has to make this list. He was first introduced in the show way back in the 70s, and has been a fan favourite character on the show ever since, making a number of returns and even getting a spin off show (which isn’t very good… but ah well).

8. The Iron Giant

It was a brilliant book, and then it was a gorgeous looking film. The Iron Giant (who is a giant made of iron) is a brilliant bit of design work, and the story of how he saves a small town despite constant persecution is very emotional stuff indeed.

7.Marvin the Paranoid Android

If Interstellar’s sarcastic TARS owes a debt to any science fiction robot, it’s without a doubt Marvin. The depressed robot from Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is easily one of science fiction’s funniest and most unique robotic creations. It helps no end that in the movie he was voiced by Alan “Snape” Rickman.

6. C-3PO

On the scale of Marvin to C-3PO, how helpful is your robot? Of course, Star Wars gold plated bot is a little too eager most of the time, and probably sci-fi’s campest robot. Probably sci-fi’s only camp robot, actually…

5. Optimus Prime

A robot that turns into a car. Seriously, when that idea was pitched in the boardroom, you just know they knew they were gonna sell a butt load of toys for years. Optimus Prime is the pimp daddy of all Transformers, and while time (and Michael Bay) may sully his good name, as long as there are eight year old boys in the world, there will be Optimus Prime action figures.

4. Kryten

If you’ve never watched the British comedy sci-fi show Red Dwarf, you’re really missing out. It’s brilliantly written cast of characters includes the robot butler Kryten, who has a variety of attachments for doing the housework, including a hoover nozzle somewhere very rude indeed…

3. Robby the Robot

Forbidden Planet is a science fiction classic, thanks in no small part to Robby the Robot. A timeless piece of design work, he stole every scene he was in when he showed up on the silver screen.

2. R2-D2

The ying to C-3PO’s yang, R2-D2 with its simple, iconic design has managed to become one of the world’s most endearing robotic creations. considering it can only talk in a series of beeps, that’s some achievement.

1. Bender

He might not be the most polite, or the most culturally important, but Futurama’s Bender is a twisted amalgamation of pretty much every other robot on this list, only much, much funnier. A pop culture phenomenon in his own way, Bender is the opposite of what makes a good robot, and that’s what makes him awesome.