| “ | All systems are go | „ |
| ~ Robot Jones |
Robot Electro Jones is the titular protagonist and sometimes anti-hero from the Cartoon Network TV show Whatever Happened to... Robot Jones? A TV show included in Cartoon Network's Cartoon Cartoons. He learns new things every day in life and keeps each life lesson in his Data Log Entry archives. He attends Polyneux Middle School.
In the TV show he is voiced by a text-to-speech voice known as Junior in the episodes of the first season and Bobby Block (season 2 and season 1 re-recordings). In Crossover Nexus he is voiced by Junior again.
About
His TV show came in 2nd place after Cartoon Network showed some pilot episodes, losing to Grim & Evil (which later became The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy).
Robot Jones made his first ever appearance in the pilot episode which was released in 2000. Greg Miller went through many character designs for Robot until he decided on the final one. He officially appeared in episode 1 of the first season which aired on 19 July 2002.
Background
In the opening credits it appears that before the pilot episode, either in the 1980s or 1970s Robot was assembled in a JNZ Robotics factory by JNZ Robotics workers as seen in the opening titles of the TV show however this hasn't been shown in an episode in a way which would further prove that this is how he came to be. A family was then built for Robot. He was programmed to store and collect data on human behaviour but the true reason on why that kind of information is wanted is unclear. He is specifically a KX8, as he claims to be in the episode "Jealousy". Very little of Robot's early life is known, other than the fact that he enjoyed playing chess with Gramps Unit as shown in "House Party". Robot spends a lot of his time at the arcade when he isn’t at school. Robot's age is unknown, but he is likely programmed to be the age equivalent of a human adolescent thereby fitting in with the middle school students he is observing. The pupils in Polyneux Middle School initially feared Robot when he first unexpectedly emerged, but now they barely acknowledge him most of the time, mainly due to his very short stature, for being a robot and not a human and for acting very differently compared to the others of his age group.
Robot always tries to make as many friends as he can but unfortunately, most of the students don’t return the favour. In response to this Robot considers humans as 'inconsiderate'. He usually hangs around with his good friends Socks, Cubey and Mitch, who like, respect and gladly accept Robot into their friendship group. The four boys get along very well and go everywhere together. Most commonly they visit Nob's Arcade.
He has a big crush on Shannon Westerburg, mainly due to her having a metallic leg and a very large orthodontic appliance surrounding her head making her appear half-robot.
In each episode, Robot, sometimes prompted to by his parents, explores a concept average teenagers usually face in their everyday lives such as Math challenges or getting a job.
Profile
Likes: Attention, respect, being popular, hanging out with his friends, Nob's Arcade, punk rock music, video games, The Gigawatts, Shannon, drinking super coolers, skateboarding, arcade games (specifically racing and shooting games).
Dislikes: Being told to go to school, his parents embarrassing him in public, competitions, being yelled at, being called a dork, being laughed at, Finkman.
Weaknesses: water, emotional outbursts, computer viruses.
Quotes
- "Zombies!"
- "Data Log Entry..."
- "Greetings humans"
- "Work is for suckers"
- "If at first you don’t succeed, try try again"
- "Today I learned about— Oh who am I kidding?"
- "But if your friend needs to be plugged in, make sure you have an extension cord".
- "I have found humans to be short-tempered, irritable, and just generally unstable. But the female of the species is quite a strange phenomenon".
Heroic Acts
- Robot exposed Principal Madman after the principal had framed him and pretended to be Robot.
- Saved Shannon from a bear by himself. (However the bear escaped)
- Rescued Mitch, Cubey and Socks who were trapped inside the Yogstrosity.
- Let Mr Mcmcmc. win the math challenge in order to make him happy and to avoid being put into detention by Mr. Mcmcmc. again. This resulted in Mr. Mcmcmc. being awarded the math challenge trophy.
Physical Appearance
Robot is a primarily gray robot. Robot's head and body are separate and square-shaped. His 'chassis' is painted with a red stripe to indicate a "shirt" and a black stripe on the lower part to indicate "pants". He frequently removes this chassis when serviced, but curiously not when recharging. His head consists of two big yellow eyes with gold pupils and a rectangular, black mouth which will sometimes show three (to five) white teeth depending on the episode, and a pink tongue. His eyes function as cameras with night vision and X-ray vision while his mouth provides a variety of functions. There are speakers behind his mouth which enable him to talk. He has microphones near his "ears" which enable him to listen. Also on the side of his head are yellow, removable, headphone-like, antennae on either side of his head that function as his "ears". The top of his head consists of a large, bright, halogen-style light bulb which functions as his "brain". He is partially still able to function without this brain and can be reprogrammed with alternate software. His feet resemble boots. His neck, arms, and legs have the capability of stretching. Curiously in some episodes he is shown with a neck but in other episodes he's displayed clearly without one. His weight, height and age are unknown. His eyes often give him a 'derped' expression.
Personality
Relationships
Socks Morton
Socks and Robot are very close, but not as close in certain episodes. They both share an interest in rock music and go to Nob’s Arcade together. Socks tries his best to mentor Robot, but he can fail to understand him sometimes. Overall he is a pretty good friend to Robot, but he rejects him occasionally. They usually get along really well despite having their multiple differences, but they can argue from time to time. Unlike Mitch and Cubey, it’s never been revealed on how he became Robot's friend, let alone his closest. It’s rather peculiar that the two would be seen together and managing to get along, since Socks is the most popular student in the school, while Robot is usually seen as a nobody. The two had a disagreement in the episode "Vacuum Friend" but forgave each other in the end then went to the arcade.
Mom Unit and Dad Unit
His parents care greatly about him, as does Robot, but he dislikes it when they urge him to go to school and refuses to obey their orders. Dad Unit is protective of Robot. He saved Robot, Mitch, Socks and Cubey in "Hookie 101" from Principal Madman. Robot was very grateful for the rescue. His parents often embarrass him.
Gramps Unit
Gramps Unit is Robot’s grandfather figure. On some occasions he seeks him for advice when Mom Unit and Dad Unit aren’t present in the household. They played chess together. Robot Jones and Gramps Unit get along well and Gramps Unit saved Robot from getting into trouble in the episode "House Party". He was grateful for this and hugged his grandfather.
Shannon Westerburg
Robot has been deeply in love with Shannon since his first day of school. She is known for having a prosthetic leg and a very large retainer surrounding her head, making her appear to be very mechanical for a human, and Robot sees these physical traits as her most attractive features. Overall they appear to share a complex, complicated and indeterminable relationship. Shannon usually finds Robot Jones to be a nuisance and is often offensive towards him. Robot has tutored her in Math. Robot is very loyal and would be willing to do anything for Shannon. He saved her life before she got eaten by a bear, as shown in the episode "Summer Camp". Strangely after Robot saved her life she didn’t display any form of thankfulness and instead made a fuss about the state of her clothes, however in "House Party" she showed gratitude. In "House Party" she showed a romantic interest in him and she was even willing to get very close to him. In the episode "Garage Band" Shannon appeared to be fond of Robot. While she is usually not fond of Robot in most episodes, she is not nearly as hostile compared to the Yogman Twins. They have been shown as having a close relationship in certain episodes (such as "Garage Band" and "House Party") but a not so pleasant relationship in other episodes (for example "Summer Camp", "The Rules of Dating", "Jealousy"). Their relationship is mainly one-sided. Shannon seems to be unaware of Robot’s feelings for her. Throughout the whole series Robot never got the chance to admit his love for her. They were very close to kissing in the episode "House Party". Shannon sometimes fears Robot and presumably she is worried about her reputation being ruined by being around Robot. She gave Robot a kiss on the cheek in "Popularity" and kissed him on the head in "Scantron Love".
Mitch & Cubey
Mitch and Cubey are the first two students that Robot befriended. They became friends in the episode "Electric Boogaloo" and share a close relationship. The two friends think that Robot is cool and warned Robot about the Yogman Twins when they suddenly appeared behind Robot.
Pam
Like Shannon, Pam is usually rude and critical towards Robot. In the first part of the episode "Gender" Pam is nasty towards Robot but later she is very supportive towards him. They develop a good relationship and eventually became friends. She went searching for him worriedly at the end of "Gender".
Principal Madman
Principal Madman is the child-like, strict and temperamental principal of Polyneux Middle School. Being a technophobe, Madman hates Robot and struggles to trust him. He often yells at him. Despite Robot being pleasant and polite towards the school principal, Mr. Madman wants to do anything he can to get Robot into trouble and give him countless detentions.
Yogman Twins
The twins are often able to successfully manipulate Robot and embarrass him in public. They bully Jones often. They made Jones extremely angry in the episode "Cube Wars". They see Robot Jones as a nobody and find enjoyment in mocking him. The three are enemies.
Finkman
Finkman is a foreign exchange student Android (or 'Foreign Exchange Unit’ as he proudly refers to himself by). Finkman is extremely arrogant, treats Robot badly, and is quick to dismiss Robot, so in response Jones despises him. Robot Jones is very envious of Finkman because he stole Shannon from him in the episode "Jealousy". He continues to maintain a cold grudge towards Finkman.
Trivia
- Robot's full name was confirmed in the episode House Party.
- Robot made his first appearance in years when he had a cameo role in the OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes crossover episode Crossover Nexus. It is unknown when he'll return again.
- In the TV series Robot's joints are blue-gray, in Crossover Nexus they are pale gray and in the Cartoon Network 20th Anniversary promo they are jet black.
