Robotropolis Worker-Bot

Haven't seen anyone else do it yet, so here's a blog mostly dedicated to the Roboticized Mobian (or Robian) designs created for the Sonic SatAM cartoon, and later reinterpreted for the Archie Sonic Comics. I just think they're neat.

[unlackeyed]

@robianfox

Snively approaches the worker with the chillingly realistic design—no streamlining, only nuts and bolts cobbled together to mock the once-organic life form, the soul, inside. He feels a sheen of sweat gathering inside his uniform, on the nape of his neck, on his forehead. Thousands of roboticized Mobians and he’s still strangely queasy, apprehensive, beneath the veneer of indifferent composure.

He leans in close, spectral blue eyes deadened. But then there’s a quick flash. A spark of life: the gloating reason why his uncle has never fully “upgraded” him.

“You don’t want to do this,” he breathes, hoarse, urgent: mostly, scared. Scared pissless.

Don’t join us. Run. Run and find the Freedom Fighters. Get the hell out, you stupid, sycophantic drone. RUN.

[robianfox]

The Worker-Bot blinks. This does not make any sense. Their programming told them to report such errors to the nearest SWAT-Bot so that they could be fixed. But that order was only relevant for other Worker-Bots. Not Snively. The drone's head whirrs and clicks as it tries to process the situation, and their eyes close to save processing power. Looking through their database, they found a file stating that Snively was to be pushed aside, figuratively AND literally if he were to act illogically. RF-13 reopened their eyes, raised an arm to push... and froze. Something about the lackey's facial expression was triggering a program deep within their software. Something unclassified which made them cancel their logical act.

RF-13 closed their eyes again. "Processing... Processing... Processing..." This had happened before. This program had activated several times whilst they were working. Every time their jobs were interrupted for one of Robotnik's random schemes. Every time maintenance was cancelled to increase productivity, causing fellow Worker-Bots to overheat and develop rust. Every time Dr Robotnik shouted at them. How was it logical to keep following the system, when the system itself was illogical and punished those who followed it. RF-13, reopened their eyes and refocussed on Snively. His words of betrayal and general look of despair seemed to resonate with this program that was trying to run. Robotnik's programming was fighting to regain control, but it was becoming easier to dismantle it's illogical arguments. They just needed one more push. "Snively?" The Worker-Bot ventured in a soft, synthetic tone, "Is Robotnik... failing to care for your wellbeing?"

[unlackeyed]

@robianfox

Snively approaches the worker with the chillingly realistic design—no streamlining, only nuts and bolts cobbled together to mock the once-organic life form, the soul, inside. He feels a sheen of sweat gathering inside his uniform, on the nape of his neck, on his forehead. Thousands of roboticized Mobians and he’s still strangely queasy, apprehensive, beneath the veneer of indifferent composure.

He leans in close, spectral blue eyes deadened. But then there’s a quick flash. A spark of life: the gloating reason why his uncle has never fully “upgraded” him.

“You don’t want to do this,” he breathes, hoarse, urgent: mostly, scared. Scared pissless.

Don’t join us. Run. Run and find the Freedom Fighters. Get the hell out, you stupid, sycophantic drone. RUN.

[robianfox]

One thing that really fascinates me about the Roboticized Mobians is the fact that, at least in the finished cartoon and comic spinoff, they're supposed to be percieved as generic labour drones; utilitarianly referred to as Worker-Bots. And yet, they all have such distinctive and unique designs which sympathetically preserve the original Mobian's identity. They aren't generic, indistinguishable drones; they all look unique. I understand that the original intention was to emphasise that these 'mindless robots' used to be people and drive the horror of what Robotnik does to his opponents, but the mere fact that the Roboticized Mobians maintain their unique looks gives me the impression that, somehow, they still have a conscious sense of self. This is completely irrational thinking, I know, but I think it's really fascinating to think that, instead of trapping their free wills behind a wall, the Roboticizer brainwashes the Mobians into thinking that they have always been robots with an absurdly complex AI that can maintain the complexity of an organic brain. I mean, in recent iterations of the Sonic universe, Eggman's Robots have consistently been portrayed having human level consciousness and personalities. Maybe, in the SatAM universe, it could be because their minds aren't AIs that were built from scratch, but actual people that were mentally and physically reformatted? This is a potentially disturbing idea, with the Freedom Fighters struggling to free the Roboticized Mobians, who don't realise or recognise them anymore. On the other side, I can also see a funny side to this situation regarding Robotnik. Roboticization is a quick and easy way of removing opponents and gaining a loyal workforce. However, the Mobians already have such diverse body shapes and proportions, even without considering age or height, so they can't all perform the simple role of 'Worker-Bot' to the same standard. You could go the grimdark route of imagining that Robotnik scraps the unsuitable Worker-Bots, effectively killing them, but I think that's going a bit too dark. Scrap could work as an idle threat, though. Personally I think it's more fun to imagine that, for whatever reason, Robotnik can't do anything to fix this problem and has to contend with keeping a record of which Worker-Bots work best in which area, or doesn't bother with that and lets the resulting delays occur when a Worker-Bot is tasked with an unsuitable job. Considering Robotnik's fragile ego and generally immature behaviour in SatAM, I think the resulting frustration at the workplace disasters would be quite funny. On top of that, if the Worker-Bots are to have some level of agency, their usurped loyalty must be maintained by genuine TLC, and if Robotnik doesn't treat his 'Worker-Bots' with enough respect, (either praise for their work, or maintenance to keep them healthy) he's looking at complaints, strike action and a potential uprising. Imagine Robotnik bailing, and coming to the Freedom Fighters for help because the 'Worker-Bots' have taken Robotropolis into their own hands!

Ultimately, I just find the Roboticized Mobians' designs genuinely fun; and I want to find a less disturbing way than what's canon for them to exist. I'm also probably biased because my comfort show is an absurdly in-depth documentation of sentient machines getting into trouble whilst working in hazardous industrial environments.

Yes, this is a real screenshot from Thomas the Tank Engine. The environments in this show can get quite gritty!

[official-doctor-robotnik]

S'up Doc. I don't suppose you'd be so kind as to Roboticize me into a form that looks something like this would you? :

I promise I'll be a Really Useful Worker-Bot!

Excellent design choice. You're in!

[robianfox]

Many thanks, Sir. This unit shall serve you well.

[star-rainstorm]

redraw of these goofy goobers

[robianfox]

This is adorable! And tragic, if you know the episode...

[robianfox]

Cool blog! Thanks for following my Snively rp blog!

Thanks for the message! I read your personal backstory for Snively and I think it's really cool how you've adopted Hurst's plan for Series 3 and made it lead into the IDW universe. It's so bittersweet how, at the moment his relationship with the Freedom Fighters improved, he was torn away from them. I only hope for the best with his current situation with the IDW Resistance I've always thought the designs of the Roboticized Mobians were really cool (Heck, Roboticization in general seems cool to me) and was disappointed that they barely appeared in the cartoon. However, they were given more focus in the Archie Comics and early Concept art for the SatAM cartoon was recently discovered, including unused Roboticized Mobian designs from an early point in the cartoon's development. I'm basically using this blog to raise awareness in case there is anyone else curious who wants to know more. The Sonic Wiki page is lacking in images. I highly suggest checking out this Dropbox link containing all of the discovered concept art and model sheets. There are some interesting alternate designs for Snively and an early pitch Bible with his original character bio: Sonic SatAM – Dropbox

[headcann-territory]

[robianfox]

If Sonic SatAM were less action focussed, it could have done some really beautiful things.

[robianfox]

More backshots of Roboticized Mobian designs for the SatAM cartoon. These three are similar, but all have slight differences that set them apart. Each have unique hairstyles, cheek tufts, shoulder pads, shoulder blades (How the Hell were the animators supposed to remember this difference?!) arm detail, tails (one simply isn't there), leg joints and feet. So much work went into these, it's a shame they barely got used in the cartoon. Thankfully, they would be more heavily utilised as reference material for the Archie Comics.

[robianfox]

Backshots of Roboticized Mobian designs for the Sonic SatAM cartoon.

[robianfox]

More early Roboticized Mobian designs

[yourlocalrabbit]

I cannot believe they let bots play these games!

[robianfox]

This is the cutest Robot TF piece ever!

[yourlocalrabbit]

Maybe you should not push random buttons...

[robianfox]

It's s nice to see a Robot TF piece where the subject retains their free will. I love that they've also adapted to the technical speech too!

[robianfox]

Anybody else really like SatAM Roboticization?

I know it's supposed to be BAD and representative of everything BAD about industrialisation, but (on an aesthetic level, at least) there's just something really appealing to me about being transformed into a chunky chrome robot anthro drone with simple instructions to follow in a clean metallic environment. I mean, this fox clearly enjoys it:

[robianfox]

Sonic SatAM OC: RF-13

RF-13 is something of an enigma. Whilst most Roboticized Worker-Bots trudge about with depressed or blank frowns and thousand-yard stares, this one bumbles along with a cheery smile and contented eyes. They would be considered a liability, if not for the fact that their positive attitude gives them good work ethic and reliability with all duties given to them. So long as Snively ensures Robotnik never sees the smile on their face. It's good to have at least one willing worker in an undertaking as unwieldly as keeping Robotropolis running! Yeah, I just love this Roboticized Fox from the SatAM intro! I know his smile is probably due to a corporate mandate that 'evil' characters have to smile if they get to close to the camera for comfort in regards to the child audience, but I think Roboticization is a cool concept and I love the unintended implications with this Worker-Bot smiling through it. Maybe they're brainwashed, maybe they're dissociating; I dunno, I just want to believe they're having a good time.

[robianfox]

An appreciative critique of Series 1 Robotropolis:

Robotropolis is, in every conceptual way, supposed to be an industrial nightmare. But on a purely aesthetic level, I find it profoundly beautiful (at least in Series 1 of the Sonic SatAM cartoon) , and I don't mean in the gritty grunge way. The Bladerunner-inspired Hellscape is supposed to be scary and filthy with brutalist archetecture and smog blocking out daylight. However, the buildings all have such smooth, soft shapes with few sharp angles to unnerve the viewer. In fact, I dare say, they look almost look organic! The buildings also have shiny reflective surfaces. I'd understand Robotnik keeping his fortress spotless, but it's everywhere! For a complex that 'hurls crud into the sky', it's awfully clean.

"Why is it all... chrome?"

And then there's the choice of lighting. The idea is that Robotropolis is shrouded in darkness because of the pollution, but there has to be 'some' coloured light so that the cartoon isn't just the Freedom Fighters operating in pitch darkness. Series 2 does this by illuminating Robotropolis in grungy browns to represent the smog, and blood oranges to represent the industrial fires. Series 1, however, chooses to colour Robotropolis in a deep blue. This could be interpreted as a depressing colour which matches the tone of the location, but to me it doesn't feel oppressive at all. It feels calming. Because this is the colour that cartoons generally use in night-time sequences to represent moonlight, which is only possible with cloudless skies. Smog-less skies. HEALTHY skies. It's frustrating that Series 1 Robotropolis' art direction desn't make it as grungy and unwelcoming as it ought to be (there isn't even an orange/red glare from the foundry of the SWATBot Factory seen in 'Sonic and Sally'), but at the same time I'm grateful for it because the unintentionally soothing atmosphere it creates is really pleasant. Anyone else feel, similarly?

[robianfox]

I love these early Roboticized Mobian designs! I feel like these are nice utilitarian-ish medium between the cutesy Badnik and brutalist Metal Sonic designs. Though, they are still adorable to me.