Community Poll: The Robot Showdown!
WORDS BY ANTONINA JOSON
Unbeknownst to many, robots have occupied the human mind for hundreds of years. For instance, Leonardo da Vinci designed his own version of a humanoid robot as early as 1495. As technology marched forward, so did the idea of robots. From mechanical marvels to electronic dogs and humanoid intelligence, there are many forms of robots— which begs the question: Who’ s your favourite?
That might not be an easy question to answer, so we’ ve made it easier. We’ ll present two options and all you have to do is tell us who you like better!
Bumblebee vs. The Terminator – Who’ s more iconic?
Let’ s start with two icons of the 80s: Bumblebee of Transformers and James Cameron’ s Terminator. Both are two of the most famous‘ bots of recent popular culture but couldn’ t be any more different from one another.
The T-800 or Terminator – James Cameron’ s Terminator franchise
For one thing, the T-800 or Terminator, famously portrayed by actor Arnold Schwarzenegger, is an assassin from the future. He’ s got a target and is determined to eliminate Sarah Connor by any means necessary. Equipped with voicemimicking capabilities and metal endoskeleton, the T-800 was a self-sufficient android who mowed down anything in his path.
The Terminator, both film and character, were immensely popular successful and helped definite the“ tech noir” genre of the decade. The first film launched Schwarzenegger’ s acting career and a franchise, spawning a sequel and two reboots later in the 2000s. With the movie cementing its iconic status in the 80s, the line“ I’ ll be back.” was burned into the minds of all who watched it.
Fun fact: We’ re now closer to the T-800’ s future than we are to 1984. That’ s right, the movie’ s fictional far future takes place in 2029. Luckily, AI humanoids are still rare, and Schwarzenegger is still 100 % human and 0 % robot.
Need convincing? Here’ s a compilation of the Terminator’ s most memorable scenes.
Bumblebee – Transformers franchise
Speaking of 100 % robot, we’ re putting the T-800 head-to-head with the mascot of the Autobots
30 ISSUE 55 OCTOBER 2025 / WWW. AFMA. ORG. AU