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--> '''Kevyn''', ''SchlockMercenary''
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** ''The08thMSTeam'' features this in a few episodes near the end of the series, when Karen's gundam gets its head blown off in a Zeon ambush after a drop operation. Her gundam still has some limited mobility after this, thanks to secondary cameras mounted about the hull, but its combat ability is restricted as most of its primary sensors are destroyed along with the head. One of the other team members has to lead her back to base, where they do some field repairs by mounting the head from a GM unit onto her gundam's body.
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** ''The08thMSTeam'' features conspicuously averts this in a few episodes near the end of the series, when one episode, where Karen's gundam gets its head blown off in a Zeon ambush after a drop operation. Her gundam Gundam is beheaded by the first blow of an ambush, but still has some limited mobility after this, thanks manages to secondary cameras mounted about the hull, but destroy its combat ability is restricted as most of its primary sensors are destroyed along with the head. One of the other team members has attacker. She did need someone else to lead tell her back to base, where they do some field repairs by mounting to aim, but only because the cockpit displays had been smashed in addition to the head from a GM unit onto her gundam's body. being knocked off.
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* This is one of the few things the movie of ''IRobot'' had in common with the book. Sonny had a second one, symbolic of a heart, in his chest, but it was implied to augment the one in his head, with no evidence that it could function on its own.
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* This is one of the few things the movie of ''IRobot'' ''Film/IRobot'' had in common with the book. Sonny had a second one, symbolic of a heart, in his chest, but it was implied to augment the one in his head, with no evidence that it could function on its own.
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* Briefly discussed in ''MSPaintMasterpieces'', with Mega Man wondering why robot designers always put the CPUs in the robot brains, concluding that if it were up to him, he'd put the CPU in the robot's butt.
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* Briefly discussed in ''MSPaintMasterpieces'', with Mega Man wondering why robot designers always put the CPUs [=CPUs=] in the robot brains, concluding that if it were up to him, he'd put the CPU in the robot's butt.
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** ''[[{{ptitled636c0z1}} The 08th MS Team]]'' features this in a few episodes near the end of the series, when Karen's gundam gets its head blown off in a Zeon ambush after a drop operation. Her gundam still has some limited mobility after this, thanks to secondary cameras mounted about the hull, but its combat ability is restricted as most of its primary sensors are destroyed along with the head. One of the other team members has to lead her back to base, where they do some field repairs by mounting the head from a GM unit onto her gundam's body.
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** ''[[{{ptitled636c0z1}} The 08th MS Team]]'' ''The08thMSTeam'' features this in a few episodes near the end of the series, when Karen's gundam gets its head blown off in a Zeon ambush after a drop operation. Her gundam still has some limited mobility after this, thanks to secondary cameras mounted about the hull, but its combat ability is restricted as most of its primary sensors are destroyed along with the head. One of the other team members has to lead her back to base, where they do some field repairs by mounting the head from a GM unit onto her gundam's body.
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* Remarkably consistent for {{Transformers}}. While there have been a few notable instances of Transformers surviving decapitation (or being slain by the same--it seems to vary depending on who's losing their head that day), Transformers killed via having their heads crushed or shot have died on a fairly reliable basis. This may have something to do with the brain module, a concept referenced in earlier issues of the Marvel comic, but seen and invoked in a more gruesome fashion in TransformersLastStandOfTheWreckers.
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* Remarkably consistent for {{Transformers}}. While there have been a few notable instances of Transformers surviving decapitation (or being slain by the same--it seems to vary depending on who's losing their head that day), Transformers killed via having their heads crushed or shot have died on a fairly reliable basis. This may have something to do with the brain module, a concept referenced in earlier issues of the Marvel comic, but seen and invoked in a more gruesome fashion in TransformersLastStandOfTheWreckers.''TransformersLastStandOfTheWreckers''.
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* [[DefiedTrope Defied]] in an issue of SpiderMan, in which Dr. Octopus has unleashed several giant robots on New York. Spidey tells the rest of the Avengers to just go for their legs, as their heads are just for show.
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* [[DefiedTrope Defied]] {{Defied|Trope}} in an issue of SpiderMan, in which Dr. Octopus has unleashed several giant robots on New York. Spidey tells the rest of the Avengers to just go for their legs, as their heads are just for show.
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* In one of HarryHarrison's ''[[BillTheGalacticHero Bill, the Galactic Hero]]'' novels, [[IdiotHero Bill]] travels to a planet populated by two warring factions of MechanicalLifeforms. One of them gets shot in the head by a [[LizardFolk Chinger]] guard. When the guard leaves, the robot stops playing possum and explains that his CPU is actually in his ''butt''.
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* In one of HarryHarrison's ''[[BillTheGalacticHero Bill, the Galactic Hero]]'' ''BillTheGalacticHero'' novels, [[IdiotHero Bill]] travels to a planet populated by two warring factions of MechanicalLifeforms. One of them gets shot in the head by a [[LizardFolk Chinger]] guard. When the guard leaves, the robot stops playing possum and explains that his CPU is actually in his ''butt''.
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* Robots in the ''{{Fallout}}'' series take more damage when they are shot in the head. Except for the military Sentry bot in ''Fallout 3'', who actually takes more damage if shot in the chest. Head shots are still a good idea, though, because all the targeting systems are there and it's armed to the teeth.
* Possibly the Mechawfuls from ''MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory''. Those things definitely have whatever controls them inside their heads, to the point the head specifically has to be destroyed seperately to stop it regenerating the body.
* Possibly the Mechawfuls from ''MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory''. Those things definitely have whatever controls them inside their heads, to the point the head specifically has to be destroyed seperately to stop it regenerating the body.
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* Robots in the ''{{Fallout}}'' series take more damage when they are shot in the head. Except for the military Sentry bot in ''Fallout 3'', ''{{Fallout 3}}'', who actually takes more damage if shot in the chest. Head shots are still a good idea, though, because all the targeting systems are there and it's armed to the teeth.
* Possibly the Mechawfuls from ''MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory''. Those things definitely have whatever controls them inside their heads, to the point the head specifically has to be destroyedseperately separately to stop it regenerating the body.
* Possibly the Mechawfuls from ''MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory''. Those things definitely have whatever controls them inside their heads, to the point the head specifically has to be destroyed
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* Played with in {{Fringe}} - the shapeshifters have two brains, one in their head and one in their abdomen. However, they will still die if shot in the head.
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* Briefly mentioned in the ''DoctorWho'' VirginNewAdventures book "Original Sin". The Doctor decapitates a hostile robot, and then muses how fortunate it was that the robot's designer had put the brain in the head.
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* Briefly mentioned in the ''DoctorWho'' ''Series/DoctorWho'' VirginNewAdventures book "Original Sin". The Doctor decapitates a hostile robot, and then muses how fortunate it was that the robot's designer had put the brain in the head.
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** ''[[{{ptitled636c0z1}} The 08th MS Team]]'' features this in a few episodes near the end of the series, when Karen's gundam gets its head blown off in a Zeon ambush after a drop operation. Her gundam still has some limited mobility after this, thanks to secondary cameras mounted about the hull, but its combat ability is restricted as most of its primary sensors are destroyed along with the head. One of the other team members has to lead her back to base, where they do some field repairs by mounting the head from a GM unit onto her gundam's body.
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* At least most of the androids in Rick Griffin's {{Argo}} seem to have their processors in the head.
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[[AC:Manga]]
* Averted in ''AstroBoy''. Astro's electronic brain is in his chest, and although we never see ''him'' decapitated, there are several stories showing other robots moving around, avoiding obstacles, etc. without their heads.
* Averted in ''AstroBoy''. Astro's electronic brain is in his chest, and although we never see ''him'' decapitated, there are several stories showing other robots moving around, avoiding obstacles, etc. without their heads.
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* Averted by most incarnations of ''Astroboy'', whose CPU is body-centered, contained in a heart-shaped casing inside his chest, making him perfectly capable of functioning with his head knocked off. A little too well, in fact, as Tezuka never did explain how he's able to find his way around without eyes or ears. Maybe one of those wires that's always sticking out of his neck contains a fiberscope?
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* The ''Mega Man'' series (''[[Game/MegaMan Classic]]'', ''[[MegaManX X]]'', [[MegaManZero Zero]]'', ''[[MegaManZX ZX]]'') ''loves'' this trope. If the enemy is immune to damage in the body and doesn't have a weak core, it's best you shoot them in the head in order to destroy them. ''X3'' takes this to an extreme, where the absolutely massive final boss can only be damaged by hitting his extremely tiny head.
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* The ''Mega Man'' series (''[[Game/MegaMan Classic]]'', ''[[MegaManX X]]'', [[MegaManZero ''[[MegaManZero Zero]]'', ''[[MegaManZX ZX]]'') ''loves'' this trope. If the enemy is immune to damage in the body and doesn't have a weak core, it's best you shoot them in the head in order to destroy them. ''X3'' takes this to an extreme, where the absolutely massive final boss can only be damaged by hitting his extremely tiny head.
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* The ''Mega Man'' series (''[[Game/MegaMan Classic]]'', ''[[MegaManX X]]'', [[MegaManZero Zero]]'', ''[[MegaManZX ZX]]'') ''loves'' this trope. If the enemy is immune to damage in the body and doesn't have a weak core, it's best you shoot them in the head in order to destroy them.
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* The ''Mega Man'' series (''[[Game/MegaMan Classic]]'', ''[[MegaManX X]]'', [[MegaManZero Zero]]'', ''[[MegaManZX ZX]]'') ''loves'' this trope. If the enemy is immune to damage in the body and doesn't have a weak core, it's best you shoot them in the head in order to destroy them. ''X3'' takes this to an extreme, where the absolutely massive final boss can only be damaged by hitting his extremely tiny head.
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** Played straight in ''TransformersAnimated'' however, where the heads are shown to contain the transformer's mind. Something that allows Megatron to survive and that the Headmaster exploits.
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** Played straight in ''TransformersAnimated'' however, where the heads are shown to contain the transformer's mind. Something that allows Megatron to survive and that the Headmaster exploits. This despite the fact that, as noted above, the Transformers still clearly keep their sparks in their chests.
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** Although that time he was reduced to his eyes was only an update-induced dream.
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* Played straight with DeathsHead, who can continue to control his body even after being decapitated. In ''Death's Head II'' issue #1, he gets "assimilated" by being stabbed in the head.
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* In ''CtrlAltDelete'' a robot was saved due to his designer placing all vital parts in the head and then removing it.
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* In ''CtrlAltDelete'' ''CtrlAltDel'' a robot was saved due to his designer placing all vital parts in the head and then removing it.
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* In Ctrl+Alt+Delete a robot was saved due to his designer placing all vital parts in the head and then removing it.
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* In Ctrl+Alt+Delete ''CtrlAltDelete'' a robot was saved due to his designer placing all vital parts in the head and then removing it.
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* Averted with Adam in ''BuffyTheVampireSlayer''. While he clearly has eyes on his head and we don't know for certain where his memory and whatnot are located, at least his power core is located in his chest.
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** It's deliberately invoked in ''GGundam'', whose [[AMechByAnyOtherName Mobile]] [[MoCapMecha Fighters]] are intentionally designed to shut down when their head is destroyed.
*** This design choice apparently being intended to discourage pilots from aiming for the cockpit of their opponent.
*** This design choice apparently being intended to discourage pilots from aiming for the cockpit of their opponent.
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** It's deliberately invoked in ''GGundam'', whose [[AMechByAnyOtherName Mobile]] [[MoCapMecha Fighters]] are intentionally designed to shut down when their head is destroyed.
***destroyed. This design choice is apparently being intended to discourage pilots from aiming for the cockpit of their opponent.
***
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* ''TheDarkTower'' series, several times.
** Not precisely. The robots were being controlled remotely by radar dishes located, naturally, on the tops of their heads. Destroy the dish, disable the robot.
** Not precisely. The robots were being controlled remotely by radar dishes located, naturally, on the tops of their heads. Destroy the dish, disable the robot.
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** Not really an example; the head is ''the entire robot.'' Their bodies are organic. [[HumanResources Borrowed, in fact.]]
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** Possibly subverted in one of the Red Dwarf novels, which suggests that the circular display on Kryten's abdomen also houses his memory core. If Kryten routinely swaps heads (implied in the TV series to be "once a month") then it makes sense for his body to house a central memory so each head can keep track of what Kryten's current activities have been, even if each head maintains a subtly different personality and its own memory. This may also explain the changes to his personality when he was rebuilt between series two and three - he has the same central memory core but was otherwise extensively reworked.
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** Possibly subverted in one One of the Red Dwarf novels, which novels suggests that the circular display on Kryten's abdomen also houses his memory core. If Kryten routinely swaps heads (implied in the TV series to be "once a month") then it makes sense for his body to house a central memory so each head can keep track of what Kryten's current activities have been, even if each head maintains a subtly different personality and its own memory. This may also explain the changes to his personality when he was rebuilt between series two and three - he has the same central memory core but was otherwise extensively reworked.
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** R2-D2's brain (an "Intellex IV computer", according to the Expanded Universe) is in his head, but his torso is so full of gadgets and gizmos that there's nowhere else for it to go.
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** R2-D2's brain (an "Intellex IV computer", according to the Expanded Universe) is in his head, but his torso is so full of gadgets gadgets, gizmos, and gizmos dwarf actors that there's nowhere else for it to go.
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* Subverted in ''[[StormWatch Stormwatch: Team Achilles]]'', albeit with a cyborg whose only organic part was the brain. It is not specified where it was actually located, but it certainly wasn't in the head, which got destroyed and that did little to stop the cyborg (who then mocked her opponents for thinking she'd have such an obvious weakness).
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* Subverted in ''[[StormWatch Stormwatch: Team Achilles]]'', albeit Achilles]]'' with a cyborg whose only organic part was the brain. It is not specified where it was actually located, but it certainly wasn't thoroughly cybernetically modified villainess Ivana Baiul, who mocks the protagonist for shooting her in the head, which got destroyed and that did little to stop head:
-->'''Ivana''': HAHAHAHA! You think I keep my brain inside my head? Come on, Khalid! You're an engineer! Think like one! It's inside thecyborg (who then mocked her opponents for thinking she'd have such an obvious weakness).torso surrounded by eight inches of solid diamonsteel!
-->'''Ivana''': HAHAHAHA! You think I keep my brain inside my head? Come on, Khalid! You're an engineer! Think like one! It's inside the
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Another example.
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* Averted in David Weber's Off Armageddon Reef, where the protagonist is described as having his/her "brain" "located about where a flesh-and-blood human would have kept his liver".
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* IsaacAsimov's robot stories. If the position of their positronic brains in their bodies is mentioned, it's usually in their heads. For example, in ''The Caves of Steel'' R. Sammy is found with an alpha sprayer pressed against his head: the radiation from it fried his brain.
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* IsaacAsimov's robot stories. If the position of their positronic brains in their bodies is mentioned, it's usually in their heads. For example, in ''The Caves of Steel'' ''TheCavesOfSteel'' R. Sammy is found with an alpha sprayer pressed against his head: the radiation from it fried his brain.
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** Said robot was an X-Box system; the only vital components in the head were the hard drives containing saved games (and personality).
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** Not precisely. The robots were being controlled remotely by radar dishes located, naturally, on the tops of their heads. Destroy the dish, disable the robot.
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** Not really an example; the head is ''the entire robot.'' Their bodies are organic. [[HumanResources Borrowed, in fact.]]
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->''"Just because you're stupid enough to keep your brain in a vulnerable protrusion doesn't mean I'm stupid enough to design a robot that way."''
--> '''Kevyn''', ''SchlockMercenary''
--> '''Kevyn''', ''SchlockMercenary''
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* In the ''MetalGear'' series, this usually justified by the fact that the robots are manned and have their cockpits on top. With the unmanned models (Gekko and the Arsenal RAYs), this is played straight. Gekko explicitly have their weak point mounted on the top of their hulls, whereas the RAYs' only real weak point (or at least, the only weak point which actually reduces their HP if attacked) is their face.
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* In the ''MetalGear'' series, this usually justified by the fact that the robots are manned and have their cockpits on top. With the unmanned models (Gekko and the Arsenal RAYs), [=RAY=]s), this is played straight. Gekko explicitly have their weak point mounted on the top of their hulls, whereas the RAYs' [=RAYs=]' only real weak point (or at least, the only weak point which actually reduces their HP if attacked) is their face.
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* In the ''MetalGear'' series, this usually justified by the fact that the robots are manned and have their cockpits on top. With the unmanned models (Gekko and the Arsenal RAYs), this is played straight. Gekko explicitly have their weak point mounted on the top of their hulls, whereas the RAYs' only real weak point (or at least, the only weak point which actually reduces their HP if attacked) is their face.
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Sometimes related to LosingYourHead, EasilyDetachableRobotParts, ComputerEqualsMonitor.
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Sometimes related to LosingYourHead, EasilyDetachableRobotParts, ComputerEqualsMonitor.
ComputerEqualsMonitor, RemovingTheHeadOrDestroyingTheBrain.
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[[redirect:HeadshotsKillRobots]]
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However, from an engineering standpoint there is absolutely no reason to do it that way. Why keep so many important functions-- like thought, memory storage, and body control-- in a vulnerable and visible stalk on top of your body? It would be safer to put them in a more protected spot, like in the heavily armored chest, some random spot in the abdomen, or even completely decentralized and spread throughout the body. However, many of the parts related to sensory input, such as visual or auditory receptors would logically be built into the head for the sake of having a higher vantage point of view rather than for aesthetic reasons, meaning that at worst a headshot to a robot would at least leave the machine temporarily blinded and deafened.
Regardless of whether or not it makes any sense, it's very common for everything that makes up the "brain" of an autonomous robot to be located entirely within its head. [[HeartDrive If its head is removed and placed on another body, its mind will remain intact]]. The head may even be able to [[LosingYourHead function completely independent of the body]], like a human BrainInAJar. Damage to the rest of the body might be entirely irrelevant to their ability to survive, and the only way to "kill" them is through damage to their head.
Sometimes related to LosingYourHead, EasilyDetachableRobotParts, ComputerEqualsMonitor.
----
!!Examples:
[[AC:{{Anime}}]]
* {{Gundam}} can't always make up it's mind on whether or not this applies to it's HumongousMecha. For the vast majority of Mobile Suits, the cockpit is actually located in the torso, but the head usually contains the main sensor. A {{Mook}} or RedShirt who's mecha is decapitated is usually at the very least treated like it's disabled, if not destroyed, but one piloted by a main character or MauveShirt is often only slightly inconvenienced.
** It's deliberately invoked in ''GGundam'', whose [[AMechByAnyOtherName Mobile]] [[MoCapMecha Fighters]] are intentionally designed to shut down when their head is destroyed.
*** This design choice apparently being intended to discourage pilots from aiming for the cockpit of their opponent.
[[AC:ComicBooks]]
* As noted by [[AtopTheFourthWall Linkara]] in his review of ''Strange Adventures'', the robot is capable of thinking without its head on, so it obviously has a brain in its body, but it stupidly lacks any sensory equipment (eyes, pressure detectors...).
* Subverted in ''[[StormWatch Stormwatch: Team Achilles]]'', albeit with a cyborg whose only organic part was the brain. It is not specified where it was actually located, but it certainly wasn't in the head, which got destroyed and that did little to stop the cyborg (who then mocked her opponents for thinking she'd have such an obvious weakness).
* Remarkably consistent for {{Transformers}}. While there have been a few notable instances of Transformers surviving decapitation (or being slain by the same--it seems to vary depending on who's losing their head that day), Transformers killed via having their heads crushed or shot have died on a fairly reliable basis. This may have something to do with the brain module, a concept referenced in earlier issues of the Marvel comic, but seen and invoked in a more gruesome fashion in TransformersLastStandOfTheWreckers.
* Averted with Herman von Klempt's cyborg body in ''{{Hellboy}}: Conqueror Worm''. Von Klempt has been a head-in-a-jar in every appearance until now, during his battle with Hellboy it turns out that he still is a head-in-a-jar, housed inside an android replica of his original body and still capable of flying around after the body is disabled.
* [[DefiedTrope Defied]] in an issue of SpiderMan, in which Dr. Octopus has unleashed several giant robots on New York. Spidey tells the rest of the Avengers to just go for their legs, as their heads are just for show.
[[AC:{{Film}}]]
* ''{{Alien}}'' had [[spoiler: Ash]]. After having his head knocked off, they plugged him in, and despite having suffered damage in the process, he was perfectly capable of carrying on a conversation as just a head.
* In ''StarWars'' Episode 2, [=C3PO's=] head was switched onto the body of a battle droid, with him remaining quite functional.
** There may be some secondary processing going on in the body though, as C-3PO doesn't seem to be in control of the body's actions and even seems to temporarily take on aspects of a military droid.
** The prequel movies had legions of Battle Droids with brainy heads, although they can sometimes walk around a bit after their heads have been cut off, for [[RuleOfFunny "comedic" effect.]]. [=MagnaGuards=] however are an example of a droid that can battle on without a head -- something not common in the movies. It certainly surprises Obi Wan when it first happens. [[AllThereInTheManual They have backup processors in their chest]].
** R2-D2's brain (an "Intellex IV computer", according to the Expanded Universe) is in his head, but his torso is so full of gadgets and gizmos that there's nowhere else for it to go.
* This is one of the few things the movie of ''IRobot'' had in common with the book. Sonny had a second one, symbolic of a heart, in his chest, but it was implied to augment the one in his head, with no evidence that it could function on its own.
* ''TheLastStarfighter''. When the Beta unit (robot) impersonating Alex takes off its head, the head can continue to talk normally.
* ''{{Terminator}}'', since the Terminators all keep their brains/chips in their head.
** Averted with the T-1000 series (and similar) Terminators, though, since, their "head" is no more (or less) important than any other same-mass portion of their "body", being all composed of exactly the same material, and seemingly equally capable of sensory input and distributed processing as any other equivalent mass of the same material. When the "head" is damaged, or simply when convenient, any other mass can be dynamically reconfigured to serve as the head; and even that is not strictly necessary for it to continue functioning (except for the fact that it is programmed to try to appear as human as possible at all times).
* Averted in Robert Mason's ''Weapon'' (although not in the horrid film adaptation, ''Solo''): the robot's brain is in its chest, and its head is filled with optics.
[[AC:{{Literature}}]]
* IsaacAsimov's robot stories. If the position of their positronic brains in their bodies is mentioned, it's usually in their heads. For example, in ''The Caves of Steel'' R. Sammy is found with an alpha sprayer pressed against his head: the radiation from it fried his brain.
* ''TheDarkTower'' series, several times.
* Averted in ''TheStainlessSteelRat'', where it's mentioned after [=diGriz=] drops a safe on one that police robots have their brains and their voice units in their midsection, surrounded by extra armour. (He knew that; the point of crushing its head was to disable its radio so it couldn't call for backup.)
* In one of HarryHarrison's ''[[BillTheGalacticHero Bill, the Galactic Hero]]'' novels, [[IdiotHero Bill]] travels to a planet populated by two warring factions of MechanicalLifeforms. One of them gets shot in the head by a [[LizardFolk Chinger]] guard. When the guard leaves, the robot stops playing possum and explains that his CPU is actually in his ''butt''.
* Towards the beginning of a ''{{Spiderman}}'' / ''IronMan'' crossover novel (just go with it), Iron Man faces off against an incredibly tough attack robot, and with great effort manages to rip its head off. Then he realizes its processors are actually in its chest, which is much more heavily armored. OhCrap.
* Briefly mentioned in the ''DoctorWho'' VirginNewAdventures book "Original Sin". The Doctor decapitates a hostile robot, and then muses how fortunate it was that the robot's designer had put the brain in the head.
* The WildCards series has the Ly'bahr, a race of [[BrainInAJar brains in jars]] who can plug themselves into all manner of different cyborg bodies. When they wear humanoid bodies they carefully avert this trope, burying the fragile meaty brains inside the torso, behind the heaviest armor possible.
[[AC:LiveActionTV]]
* An episode of ''StarTrekTheNextGeneration'' had Data using his body to disrupt an electrical arc, damaging it in the process, after which Riker removed his still functioning head and continued on.
* 790, the disembodied robotic head in ''{{Lexx}}''.
* ''RedDwarf'' - Kryten even has spare heads which have their own personalities.
** Possibly subverted in one of the Red Dwarf novels, which suggests that the circular display on Kryten's abdomen also houses his memory core. If Kryten routinely swaps heads (implied in the TV series to be "once a month") then it makes sense for his body to house a central memory so each head can keep track of what Kryten's current activities have been, even if each head maintains a subtly different personality and its own memory. This may also explain the changes to his personality when he was rebuilt between series two and three - he has the same central memory core but was otherwise extensively reworked.
* Unsurprisingly ''TheSarahConnorChronicles'' featured this. Although it's indicated that at least some models have a backup system somewhere. The headless body of one Terminator was able to keep functioning so it could search for its head. It even put a motorcycle helmet on top to cover things up. The helmet in question also contained a severed head.
** The fact that the body didn't start moving until the head arrived in that time makes it seem like the head was remote controlling the body.
[[AC:Manga]]
* Averted in ''AstroBoy''. Astro's electronic brain is in his chest, and although we never see ''him'' decapitated, there are several stories showing other robots moving around, avoiding obstacles, etc. without their heads.
[[AC:TabletopGames]]
* ''{{Paranoia}}'' adventure ''Send in the Clones''. When the Funbot is shot in the head it loses control, running around and bumping into things.
* In Warhammer40K, Necron units are explained as being vulnerable to headshots because their brains are still in there.
* 'Mech cockpits in ''BattleTech'' are in the head 99% of the time. But seeing as most of the torso space is taken up by a large fusion reactor, there's not a lot of room to stick a cockpit in there.
[[AC:VideoGames]]
* The ''Mega Man'' series (''[[Game/MegaMan Classic]]'', ''[[MegaManX X]]'', [[MegaManZero Zero]]'', ''[[MegaManZX ZX]]'') ''loves'' this trope. If the enemy is immune to damage in the body and doesn't have a weak core, it's best you shoot them in the head in order to destroy them.
* Averted in the 2010 ''AlienVsPredator'' game, which is oddly enough in the same universe as the {{Alien}} example. The combat androids can have their heads completely shot off, and continue to not only function, but attack as well. Presumably, they have sensory devices that are also not on their head.
* The best way to take down the humaniform robots and the "robot dogs" in ''MassEffect 2'' is a headshot. The larger robots require a bit more effort, though.
** In ''MassEffect 2'', most robots are humanoid. Headshots don't really affect geth, but they do severely damage FENRIR, LOKI and YMIR robots, causing an explosion if the robot was killed with it. If [[HumongousMecha YMIR]] has his head blown off, he explodes like a Cain's shot.
** At higher difficulties, YMIR mechs can take over a ''dozen'' headshots with a sniper rifle to take down. And that's still easier than shooting them anywhere else.
* Most robots in the ''RatchetAndClank'' series play this straight, but the soldier robots on Damosel in the second game can function with only legs.
* Robots in the ''{{Fallout}}'' series take more damage when they are shot in the head. Except for the military Sentry bot in ''Fallout 3'', who actually takes more damage if shot in the chest. Head shots are still a good idea, though, because all the targeting systems are there and it's armed to the teeth.
* Possibly the Mechawfuls from ''MarioAndLuigiBowsersInsideStory''. Those things definitely have whatever controls them inside their heads, to the point the head specifically has to be destroyed seperately to stop it regenerating the body.
** Or just keep hammering them, [[CurbStompBattle figuratively]] and [[DropTheHammer literally]].
* The Wood Golem in ''PopfulMail'' is similar to the above example in that destroying the body will merely cause the head to bounce around until the body regenerates; killing the head is the only way to end the fight. Averted in the case of Nuts Cracker, who is either a robot, an animate puppet or something in that vein: his favorite method of distracting his opponents is ''cutting off his own head'' while his body makes a getaway. (The head then taunts the unfortunate bounty hunter and then ''explodes''.)
* In ''TimeSplitters'' you can headshot all robots except for Sentrybot, who has no head to speak of.
* KAOS in ''DonkeyKongCountry 3''. You have to either jump on its head (first battle) or throw barrels at its head (second battle) to hurt/defeat it. It even changes the design of its head, with its first helmet becoming a flying laser-shooting thing and its final head shooting grenades.
* ''PhantasyStarZero'' both follows this trope and subverts it a bit: Casts play it straight in most every way, but they also have "sub-memory" which is in their bodies and not their heads. It doesn't seem to be enough to back up their personality, however, even though it can hold such high-priority data as an ''accent''.
* In {{Vanquish}}, headshots kill the robotic enemies much faster.
[[AC:WebComics]]
* Averted in ''SchlockMercenary'', where it's even commented on how it would be foolish to stick a robot's [=AI=] core in a bit sticking out at the end.
** Unfortunately, this is brought up because the robot in question's body had been destroyed, but the head was fine. Oops...
*** Said robot was smart enough to have separate bodies; so it didn't matter.
** Also, one organic alien survives headshots, as his "head" is just a big eye.
* ''DarthsAndDroids'' mentioned this recently with reference to how strange it is that [=C3PO=] still works when his head is grafted onto a battledroid.
* Briefly discussed in ''MSPaintMasterpieces'', with Mega Man wondering why robot designers always put the CPUs in the robot brains, concluding that if it were up to him, he'd put the CPU in the robot's butt.
** In a subversion, it turns out Crash Man's CPU isn't in his head. Oh no, that's reserved for ''more explosives''.
* In ''GunnerkriggCourt'' this [[http://www.gunnerkrigg.com/archive_page.php?comicID=706 does the trick]]. At least, if you slam poor tin can hard enough to rip out whatever was connected to its head by cables.
* In Ctrl+Alt+Delete a robot was saved due to his designer placing all vital parts in the head and then removing it.
[[AC:WebOriginal]]
* Played straight and then lampshaded in ''RedVsBlue''. Lopez the robot has his body blown up and spends season 4 onwards as a disembodied head. Later in season 4 Sarge wants to retrieve a secret message that was hidden in his databanks, and Grif asks if the data would actually be in his head and Sarge cites the logic behind this trope.
** Church is kicked out of his robot body if he's shot in the head, which would sorta count as a kill, except he can hop back in just as quickly.
* The ''Game/MegaMan {{MUSH}}'', unlike the games it's based on, generally averts this trope (except for old bots and, well, depends on the creator), as, for robots in general, their neural nets are, as a rule of thumb, in the chest. The head is just one big sensor node.
[[AC:WesternAnimation]]
* Bender in ''{{Futurama}}'' is shown more than once to be able to completely remove his head and continue to function in any way his head normally would. He even once was able to function when nothing was left of him but his ''eyes.'' His body is still able to move around with the head, it just can't see.
* Usually averted in ''{{Transformers}}''. It varies by continuity whether or not the head even has anything related to thought or memory in it, but they almost always have their most important part, [[OurSoulsAreDifferent their Sparks]], near where the heart would be on a human or the dead center of their chest. Still, a surefire way to get a Transformer to stay down is to tear the head off. Megatron exploited this in ''BeastWars'', nearly killing the original Optimus Prime on the Ark. Only removing his spark for safekeeping allowed Optimus to be repaired effectively.
** Played straight in ''TransformersAnimated'' however, where the heads are shown to contain the transformer's mind. Something that allows Megatron to survive and that the Headmaster exploits.
* Averted with the robotic Richard Simmons in ''TheSimpsons''.
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