Robotboy

infobox television
show_name = Robotboy


caption = Robotboy
format = Animated comedy,action
runtime = 23 minutes (11 minutes per segment) approx. per episode
creator =
voices = Laurence Bouvard
Rupert Degas
Togo Igawa
Eiji Kusuhara
Lewis MacLeod
Lorraine Pilkington
country = flagcountry|UK
Flagcountry|France
first_aired = 1 November 2005
last_aired = present
num_seasons = 4
num_episodes = 52 [ [http://www.tv.com/robotboy/show/51338/episode.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabssh&tag=tabs;episodes] TV.com, accessed on 20 August 2008]
list_episodes = List of Robotboy episodes
imdb_id = 0482870
tv_com_id = 51338
website = http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/robotboy/index.html|

"Robotboy" is a British/French co-produced animated television series which is produced by French production company Alphanim with TV Channels France 3 and Cartoon Network as well as Luxanimation. It was created and designed by Jan Van Rijsselberge and was directed in Alphanim's studio in Paris by Charlie Bean, who worked on other programs such as "" for Nickelodeon and Camp Lazlo for Cartoon Network. It was first aired in the United Kingdom on 1 November 2005 on Cartoon Network. The pilot episode premiered in the United States on 28 December 2005 as part of a "sneak peek" preview week for the network's new Saturday morning cartoon lineup that debuted on 14 January 2006.

Plot

Robotboy is the latest creation of the world renowned scientist Professor Moshimo. Due to fears that Robotboy would be stolen by his arch-rival Dr. Kamikazi and his main henchman Constantine to be used to take over the world, Professor Moshimo entrusts Robotboy to 10-year-old Tommy Turnbull, his biggest fan. While being protected by Tommy and his two friends Lola and Gus, or "G-man" as he calls himself, Robotboy learns how to behave and act as if he were a real boy.

Characters

=Robotboy=

Robotboy 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 a homage to Astro Boy).

Tommy Turnbull

Tommy is a blonde, square-headed, 10-year-old boy, and Robotboy's new owner. He is smart, responsible, sensitive, likeable and acts as a father figure to Robotboy. Tommy's best human friends are Gus and Lola. He hates all Robotboy hunters, Kurt the schoolyard bully and Donnie, his brother who is also a bully. He is the unofficial leader of the team.

=Gus Turner=

Augustus "Gus" Bachman Turner is overweight, weak-willed, neurotic, red-headed, gluttonous, gross, jerk, no-brain and selfish–the very opposite of Tommy. He is Tommy's friend and a self-proclaimed action hero and leader of the group. He is an attention seeker and tries to show off most of the time by pulling practical jokes on anyone close to him. However, most of these tricks backfire and often get him in trouble. He also boasts about many skills that he claims to have, but obviously doesn't. But despite all his faults, and his regular, but terrible practical jokes, he’s still one of Tommy’s best friends. He is very similar to Eric Cartman of "South Park" or Raj of "Camp Lazlo". An interesting note about Gus is that despite the fact that he claims himself as "cool", he lives in an old fashion house with his old fashioned parents (who dress in nineteenth century clothing). In spite of (or maybe even because of) his strict upbring, Gus can be very greedy and selfish at times.

Lola Mbola

Lola Mbola (or Lola Mbolắ) is the 10 year old blue-eyed daughter of a wealthy African ambassador. Lola is a very well-educated kid who can pilot jet planes and speedboats despite her age. She is in love with Tommy, but is sort of secretive about it. She'd be devastated if he found out. In one episode, she told him, and he rejected, despite her wealthiness. Then he had dreams of what they'd be doing if he said yes.

For other characters, see List of characters in Robotboy.

Robotboy 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.

Episodes Guide

There are currently 4 seasons consisting of 52 episodes [ [http://www.tv.com/robotboy/show/51338/episode.html?om_act=convert&om_clk=tabssh&tag=tabs;episodes] TV.com, accessed on 20 August 2008] which have been produced and announced. I, Hero! / Rats! is the latest episode to premiere on 23 August 2008.

Cast & Crew

Directors: Charlie Bean and Bob Camp

Voices:
* Laurence Bouvard (Robotboy, Lola, Bambi)
* Rupert Degas (Gus, Constantine)
* Eiji Kasahara (Kamikazi)
* Togo Igawa (Professor Moshimo)
* Lewis MacLeod (Dwight, Doug, Human Fist)
* Lorraine Pilkington (Tommy)Other characters are played by members of the cast.

References

External links

* [http://www.cartoonnetwork.com/tv_shows/robotboy/index.html Official site]
* [http://www.robotboy.co.uk Official game]
* [http://www.alphanim.com/Robotboy.256.0.html ALPHANIM website]
* [http://www.ytv.com/programming/shows/robotboy/ YTV "Robotboy" page]
* [http://www.worldscreen.com/newscurrent.php?filename=robotboy1012.htm World Screen.com news]