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A technique originating in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)|Western]] [[Sonic Underground|Sonic]] [[Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie Comics)|canons]], '''roboticization''' is the process of creating robots by transmuting living tissue into metal, producing [[Robian]]s. It is distinct from the somewhat less invasive '''''[[robotization]]''''', a method of simply imprisoning animals inside [[badniks]] seen in the early [[:Category:Games|Sonic games]].
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[[File:SpinballTheMachineBoss.PNG|thumb|right|320px|The [[Veg-O-Machine]] in ''[[Sonic Spinball]]'', turning animals into robots.]]
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'''{{PAGENAME}}''', or '''robotization''', is the process established in Western ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' lore of turning living organisms into robots. The idea stems from the first [[Sonic the Hedgehog (16-bit)|''Sonic the Hedgehog'' game]], in which [[animals]] are turned into [[Badnik]]s by [[Dr. Robotnik]]. [[Sonic the Hedgehog|Sonic]] and friends are then meant to subsequently free the animals by destroying said Badniks.
  
=Comics & TV=
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==Concept==
In the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' cartoon, the '''roboticizer''' was originally created by Sir Charles "[[Uncle Chuck]]" Hedgehog with the intention of allowing the elderly to live longer. However, he was forced to abandon the project when test subjects began losing their free will. The machine was stolen and its purpose corrupted by [[Dr. Robotnik]], then known as Julian, Minister of War for the Acorn Kingdom of [[Mobius]]. Robotnik considered the loss of free will to be a boon, and used the device to mount a coup of the Kingdom, transforming most of the population into his mechanical slaves. In a moment of irony, Sir Charles was roboticized by his own creation. According to the comic continuity, Sir Charles was also responsible for the roboticization of Sonic's father, [[Jules Hedgehog]]. [[Bunnie Rabbot]] was rescued from the roboticizer in the midst of the procedure, and is mechanical from the waist down.
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In the Japanese manual of ''Sonic the Hedgehog'', it is explained that Dr. Eggman (Robotnik) has imprisoned Sonic's friends in robot shells in order to track down the [[Chaos Emeralds]]{{fileref|Sonic1 MD JP manual.pdf|page=8}}. In the West, however, Robotnik is loosely established as capturing animals in order to make robots, either to destroy Sonic and mechanise the planet [[Mobius]]{{fileref|SonicBibleDraft2 Document.pdf|page=12}}, or as the game's manual suggests, just because he's evil{{fileref|Sonic1 MD US manual.pdf|page=4}}.
  
==Mentality==
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In most of the video games, the process of creating robots from animals is not named, however in the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)|US television series]] produced by [[DiC]] (and the [[Sonic the Hedgehog (Archie comics)|comic book series]] by [[Archie Comics]]) the process was known as "roboticization". Here, rather than just trapping animals in shells, the roboticization process causes flesh to turn into metal, essentially turning living beings into robots, robbed of their own free will and forced to serve Dr. Robotnik.
According to the ''Sonic the Hedgehog'' TV series, although the roboticizer robs its victims of their free will, people who have been put through the process maintain their overall awareness of everything that is going on around them.  They simply aren't in control of their actions.  The "slave mind" effect can be fought, however.  Sonic was able to help his Uncle Chuck regain his free will on multiple occasions, most notably through the use of emotion; Sonic finally managed to use his Uncle's emotional attachments and loyalties against his programming.  However, if a subject is still roboticized, he or she can be plugged into a device that renders them subservient even after they have regained their free will.
 
  
==De-Roboticizer==
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Several characters in the TV and comic book series are affected by the roboticization process, be it members of Sonic's family (such as [[Uncle Chuck]] who invented the device) or series regular [[Bunnie Rabbot]] who is partially roboticized. Much of the story involved stopping Robotnik and producing a de-roboticizer to undo the damage. Roboticization was also a focus in ''[[Sonic Underground]]'', as well as other Western ''Sonic'' material, although Robotnik is usually depicted as more concerned with Badnik production - capturing the citizens of Mobius to use as "organic batteries" for his robot army.
The De-Roboticizer is a device that reverses the effects of Roboticization. It would effectively render the Roboticizer useless. Unfortunately, the device suffers major drawbacks. In the comic canon, the De-Roboticizer models built on Mobius are unrefined, and also potentially lethal. In the cartoon, the device's effects are only temporary, though they do allow the user to retain their free will.
 
  
By far, the worst De-Roboticizer is found in ''[[Sonic Underground]]''. It is designed to scam money out of fearful aristocrats. The device supposedly restores people to normal, and claims to immunize them against Roboticization. Sadly, the device is a fraud, and Robotnik even made it into a Roboticizer to use on the Royal Hedgehogs as a trap. However, just as [[Sonia the Hedgehog]] was about to be roboticized, the inventor grew a conscience and pushed her out of the way, in the process getting himself roboticized.
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The ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog (IDW comics)|Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' comic series by [[sega:IDW Publishing|IDW Publishing]] follows a similar concept with the [[Metal Virus]]. Fauna that is roboticized by the virus become [[Zombot]]s.
  
=Games=
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In the ''[[wikipedia:OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes|OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes]]'' crossover episode with Sonic the Hedgehog, titled [[Let's Meet Sonic]], K.O. is roboticized by Lord Boxman, becoming Metal K-0. The device that transformed K.O. into this new robotic form was not called a Roboticizer but Sonic says K.O. has been roboticized in the episode.
Although the games mostly restricted themselves to the functionally similar but theoretically distinct [[robotization]], flesh-to-metal transmutation is indicated to be a technique within [[Robotnik]]'s arsenal during ''[[Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]''. [[Tails]] mentions the term in [[Mystic Ruins (Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood)|Mystic Ruins]] (''Chapter 3''), after defeating a squad of "Robodillos". The conversation is:
 
  
:'''Amy''': Was that...
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==Video games==
:'''Tails''': That animal seemed to be... roboticized.
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Roboticization is not thought to have ever been an official term when it was popularised by the TV shows and comics, and many later games see Robotnik or Eggman seek other methods of achieving his aims, such as waking ancient destructive creatures or producing planet-altering weaponry. ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD]]'' was one of the first games to not use captured animals as motivation, as the enemies in that game run on [[Little Planet flowers|plants]], and in ''[[Chaotix]]'' and ''[[Sonic Advance 3]]'' Badniks were powered by [[Ring]]s.
:'''Cream''': Oh no! Poor thing!
 
:'''Knuckles''': Looks like we were right about Eggman being involved.
 
:'''Cream''': But the animals... oh no!
 
:'''Sonic''': It's okay, Cream. We will find Eggman and stop him.
 
:'''Tails''': The signal doesn't stop here, Sonic. We have to keep following it to find the source.
 
:'''Sonic''': Then let's go. Eggman will pay for this.
 
  
After defeating a second squad of mechanical armadillos, Tails salvages a box from the robot leader's head, which he says "''must be what turned the animals into robots''". Said box is presumably a portable roboticizer.
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The term is, however, used in ''[[Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood]]'', where [[Miles "Tails" Prower|Tails]] discusses it in [[Mystic Ruins (Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood)|Mystic Ruins]] (Chapter 3), after defeating a squad of "[[Robodillo]]s".
  
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Roboticization as a concept was, however, attempted by the [[Deadly Six]] in ''[[Sonic Lost World]]'' using the knowledge on how to make robots bestowed upon them by Eggman. They had intended to turn Sonic into a robot, but when Tails is captured instead, they used him for the process. However, thanks to [[Zavok]] and [[Zomom]] leaving him unattended, Tails was able to reprogram the machine he was tied to in order to merely look like he was roboticized, retaining his free will.
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==References==
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<references />
  
 
[[Category:Comics]]
 
[[Category:Comics]]
 
[[Category:Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)]]
 
[[Category:Sonic the Hedgehog (TV series)]]
 
[[Category:Sonic Underground]]
 
[[Category:Sonic Underground]]

Revision as of 01:34, 20 September 2022

The Veg-O-Machine in Sonic Spinball, turning animals into robots.

Roboticization, or robotization, is the process established in Western Sonic the Hedgehog lore of turning living organisms into robots. The idea stems from the first Sonic the Hedgehog game, in which animals are turned into Badniks by Dr. Robotnik. Sonic and friends are then meant to subsequently free the animals by destroying said Badniks.

Concept

In the Japanese manual of Sonic the Hedgehog, it is explained that Dr. Eggman (Robotnik) has imprisoned Sonic's friends in robot shells in order to track down the Chaos EmeraldsMedia:Sonic1 MD JP manual.pdf[1]. In the West, however, Robotnik is loosely established as capturing animals in order to make robots, either to destroy Sonic and mechanise the planet MobiusMedia:SonicBibleDraft2 Document.pdf[2], or as the game's manual suggests, just because he's evilMedia:Sonic1 MD US manual.pdf[3].

In most of the video games, the process of creating robots from animals is not named, however in the US television series produced by DiC (and the comic book series by Archie Comics) the process was known as "roboticization". Here, rather than just trapping animals in shells, the roboticization process causes flesh to turn into metal, essentially turning living beings into robots, robbed of their own free will and forced to serve Dr. Robotnik.

Several characters in the TV and comic book series are affected by the roboticization process, be it members of Sonic's family (such as Uncle Chuck who invented the device) or series regular Bunnie Rabbot who is partially roboticized. Much of the story involved stopping Robotnik and producing a de-roboticizer to undo the damage. Roboticization was also a focus in Sonic Underground, as well as other Western Sonic material, although Robotnik is usually depicted as more concerned with Badnik production - capturing the citizens of Mobius to use as "organic batteries" for his robot army.

The Sonic the Hedgehog comic series by IDW Publishing follows a similar concept with the Metal Virus. Fauna that is roboticized by the virus become Zombots.

In the OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes crossover episode with Sonic the Hedgehog, titled Let's Meet Sonic, K.O. is roboticized by Lord Boxman, becoming Metal K-0. The device that transformed K.O. into this new robotic form was not called a Roboticizer but Sonic says K.O. has been roboticized in the episode.

Video games

Roboticization is not thought to have ever been an official term when it was popularised by the TV shows and comics, and many later games see Robotnik or Eggman seek other methods of achieving his aims, such as waking ancient destructive creatures or producing planet-altering weaponry. Sonic the Hedgehog CD was one of the first games to not use captured animals as motivation, as the enemies in that game run on plants, and in Chaotix and Sonic Advance 3 Badniks were powered by Rings.

The term is, however, used in Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood, where Tails discusses it in Mystic Ruins (Chapter 3), after defeating a squad of "Robodillos".

Roboticization as a concept was, however, attempted by the Deadly Six in Sonic Lost World using the knowledge on how to make robots bestowed upon them by Eggman. They had intended to turn Sonic into a robot, but when Tails is captured instead, they used him for the process. However, thanks to Zavok and Zomom leaving him unattended, Tails was able to reprogram the machine he was tied to in order to merely look like he was roboticized, retaining his free will.

References