For some reason, I really like narratives about non-human entities learning what it means to be human; a ‘becoming human’ trope. Here’s a few of them that I really enjoyed.

NieR: Automata #

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NieR: Automata tells the story of androids 2B, 9S and A2 and their battle to reclaim the machine-driven dystopia overrun by powerful machines.

Humanity has been driven from the Earth by mechanical beings from another world. In a final effort to take back the planet, the human resistance sends a force of android soldiers to destroy the invaders. Now, a war between machines and androids rages on… A war that could soon unveil a long-forgotten truth of the world.

Video game released in 2017. Playable on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Switch, PC.

WALL-E #

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A robot who is responsible for cleaning a waste-covered Earth meets another robot and falls in love with her. Together, they set out on a journey that will alter the fate of mankind.

Movie released in 2008.

The Wild Robot #

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After a shipwreck, an intelligent robot called Roz is stranded on an uninhabited island. To survive the harsh environment, Roz bonds with the island’s animals and cares for an orphaned baby goose.

Movie released in 2024.