Robots and androids have been a part of anime since the beginning. They serve as weapons, protectors, guides, and sometimes simply companions for the heroes. AI characters can vary greatly from each other. While some may be a program in both appearance and speech, others are more human than machine.
These androids are so lifelike that the audience and, in some cases, the characters forget they aren't human. They touch the hearts of everyone who comes across them with their endearing qualities. Some protagonists even can't help but fall in love with the AI they meet. Overall, these characters show the audience that there's more to humanity than simply being human.
10 Melfina Longs To Know Her Purpose In Life (Outlaw Star)
Melfina is an android created by the Kei Pirate Guild and Gwen Khan in the series Outlaw Star. She serves as the navigation system for the XGP 15a-II. Despite her intended purpose, Melfina has a life and personality of her own. She is very cheerful and upbeat and cares deeply for those around her. She plays a supporting role among the crew and is a motherly figure for her fellow teammate, Jim Hawking. She is often indecisive and unsure of herself. She does not know how she was created and wonders about her purpose in life.
9 Imoko Is An Honorary Member Of The Shishido Family (The Girl Who Leapt Through Space)
Imoko Shishido is a tiny robot who works as a maid for the Shishido family in The Girl Who Leapt Through Space. Her original form is a small, round floating robot, but she can also take the form of a human girl. She can operate just about any electrical device and uses this ability to aid her family. She is best friends with Akiha Shishido and loves her very much. Because of their close relationship, Imoko is like another sister to the family and is an honorary Shishido. Her love for her family and willingness to go to great lengths for those she cares for reveal her human side.
8 Honey Kisaragi Appears To Be Like Any Other Human Girl (Cutie Honey)
Honey Kisaragi is the protagonist and titular character of the series Cutie Honey. She is an android, made with a mechanical skeleton and the remaining DNA of her former human body. Her consciousness was transferred into the new android body, giving her a new life.
Because she was once human, she possesses all of the emotions and attributes of a normal human being. However, she has abilities no human is capable of. She can shift her appearance into other forms, taking on a disguise to fool enemies. These forms lend the powers that she uses in battle. However, apart from her capabilities, Honey is just like any other girl out there.
7 Chi Learns About Love And What It Is Like To Be Human (Chobits)
Chi is another classic AI character and the lead female of the series Chobits. She is an android program known as a Persocom. Persocoms are advanced computers made to be extremely lifelike. Apart from their ears, there is no outward way to tell the difference between a human and a Persocom. Just like humans, they can express a wide variety of emotions and feelings. Chi is no exception to this and develops many different feelings, including love for her human owner, Hideki. She has a flawed program, however, and has much less understanding of humanity and feelings than most Persocoms. As she grows, she discovers more about humans and about herself and her own humanlike emotions.
6 Mahoro Is A Retired War Android Living Out The Rest Of Her Days In Peace (Mahoromatic)
Mahoro is an android created by Vesper to fight in the ongoing war against alien invaders. Her exceptional skills on the battlefield contribute greatly to the fight. As a reward, Vesper allows her to live out her final days in peace. She chooses to live on Earth and work as a maid to serve Suguru Misato, the son of her superior officer. She is kindhearted and friendly, quickly becoming popular with the locals. Other than her superhuman strength, Mahoro appears like a regular human girl, capable of complex emotions. She is so humanlike because she was created with a soul and a pure heart. This soul makes Mahoro almost no different from any human on Earth.
5 Nano Is Embarrassed By Her Identity As An Android (Nichijou)
Nano is one of the main characters of Nichijou and is an AI created by child genius, Hakase. She appears to be a typical teenage girl and lives with her creator as her caretaker. The only outward indication that Nano is not human is the key that sticks out of her back. She dislikes this key and feels insecure about it, wishing to keep her robot identity a secret from others. She goes through life acting like a normal human girl. Though she has several different capabilities, she remains oblivious to them, even becoming embarrassed when she uses them. She eventually becomes more accepting of her true self, recognizing her key as a part of her.
4 Kurumi Is An AI With Intense Emotions (Steel Angel Kurumi)
Kurumi is an android known as a Steel Angel and awakens with Nakahito's kiss. She immediately pledges her love for him and vows to serve him. Despite being an AI, she has very intense human emotions, especially with Nakahito.
She also expresses a strong love for her sisters and is very protective of them. Though she has incredible strength, she is very ditzy and clumsy. Her flaws and strong emotions make her appear less like an android and more like a human girl.
3 Astro Has A Childlike Innocence And A Love For All Life (Astro Boy)
Astro is a classic AI character and one of the oldest examples of the archetype. Dr. Tenma creates him to replace his deceased son Tobio. However, Tenma quickly abandons him when he discovers he cannot age like a real human boy. Astro is rescued from the robot circus by Dr. Ochanomizu and from then on works to defend others. Since he was created to replace Tenma's son, he has lifelike child emotions that make him innocent and pure. Despite his abilities, he seems like any boy his age. He has a deep love for others and wants to protect all life, another quality that makes him feel very human.
2 Pino Seems Like A Real Human Child (Ergo Proxy)
Pino is an advanced companion-type AutoReiv from the series Ergo Proxy. After becoming infected with the Cogito Virus, she joins Vincent Law and starts a new life. The virus gives Pino a sense of awareness she never had before. She displays very real emotions and appears to be a normal child. Like children her age, she has a strong sense of curiosity and is naive about the world around her. As she journies with Vincent, she learns more about her surroundings and herself. She develops deeper emotions and is so humanlike she can fool many into believing she is a human child.
1 Isla Experiences Love At The End Of Her Life (Plastic Memories)
Isla is a part of an android race known as Giftia. Like other Giftia before her, Isla has a significantly short lifespan. Upon her introduction, she has about 1,000 hours left to live. She uses these final hours to work as Tsukasa's partner. The two grow close, eventually falling in love. She starts out very stoic and emotionless but her love for Tsukasa changes her. She opens up, becoming much happier. Their love is tragic from the start as they know Isla has little time left, so they use what time she does have to be together and live to the fullest. In her final moments, Isla is thankful for Tsukasa and happy that she had the chance to love him.