History Main / EmergentHuman

* White Wolf's ''PrometheanTheCreated'' is all about artificial human characters looking to become human one way or another. Several refinements, particularly the Refinement of Gold, emphasize roleplaying this kind of character.

[[quoteright:299:[[Series/StarTrekTheNextGeneration http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Data-2_7843.jpg]]]]

* In ''Discworld/ReaperMan'', [[TheGrimReaper Death]] undergoes this process after being demoted [[HumanityEnsues to mortality]] by the PowersThatBe.

Common in science fiction and fantasy, the EmergentHuman is a character who is new to sentience, sapience, or human existence, and shown to be in the process of adapting to the most basic elements of life as we know it.

* Cameron from ''Series/TheSarahConnorChronicles'', and terminators in general.

* The title android in GeneRoddenberry's ''TheQuestorTapes''.
* Cat from ''Series/RedDwarf''.

* Not an actual human per se, but close enough, is {{Frosty The Snowman}} in the classic Christmas special. His wife is much the same in the follow up, Frosty's Winter Wonderland.

[[folder: Film]]

* In ''WesternAnimation/TheLastUnicorn'', Schmendrick's magic turns the Unicorn herself into a human, and soon after this, they arrive at King Haggard's castle. Prince Lir is impressed with her, and notes that she has "a newness". She [[WhatIsThisThingYouCallLove doesn't understand]] Prince Lir's romantic overtures at first, but she becomes more human emotionally as time goes on, and soon returns his love.

* Andrew Martin in ''TheBicentennialMan''. The film version, too.

* This happens with [[RobotGirl Aigis]] in ''{{Persona 3}}'' and its related media, where it's shown she has some trouble understanding some basic social concepts. It's more developed in ''[[UpdatedRerelease FES]]'', though, where she develops a crush on the main character and later has to [[spoiler:cope with his death, which culminates on her becoming more human]].
** In ''{{Persona 4 Arena}}'' we get to see [[RobotGirl Labrys]]' train of thought quickly developing from the usual order-following computerized prompts, to questioning her relationships and the moral choices of her creators.

* To an extent, [[spoiler:Scion]] from [[Literature/Worm]]. [[spoiler:Scion is an [[EldritchAbomination unusual type of entity]] [[StarfishAlien with a mind completely unlike humans']]. However, when he came to Earth, he adopted a human form and, to an extent, human psyche. Scion didn't spend much time developing this, however, [[AchillesHeel leaving him vulnerable to psychological warfare]].]]

* The third {{Hourman}}, this one an android from the 80,000 years in the future. He has a somewhat human personality and emotions but falls into this trope when he chooses to limit his nigh omnipotence to a typical superhero power level and live in the 20th Century. He even falls in love.

* MartianManhunter whenever his early days are shown. In the present he's generally shown as having acclimated.

* Kyle [[spoiler:and later Jessi]] from ''KyleXY'', which seems to be an entire series built around this trope.
* Luke, from ''Series/TheSarahJaneAdventures'', who is remarkably similar in some respects to the lead from ''KyleXY''.

* When unimprinted, Echo from ''{{Dollhouse}}'' appears to be this... [[spoiler:at least until she takes a level in humanity between seasons.]]

* The [[PlantPerson Sylvari]] of ''VideoGameGuildWars2'' both subvert this trope and play it completely straight. They are a very young race (The firstborn only awoke 25 years prior to the plot, and some including player characters are [[YoungerThanTheyLook less than a year old]]), but they "Awaken" with a basic knowledge of language, morals, and the like. However, this knowledge is ''very'' basic and only limited to their own culture. As such they have a bit of difficulty interacting with members of other races. One Sylvari even managed to cause an Asuran Golem to malfunction simply by [[LogicBomb asking an innocent question about its mother]]. She nearly did the same to its creator (a MALE Asura) in a similar way. They seem to adapt just fine, though this may be due to the experiences of their already awakened brethren passing to new arrivals via [[HiveMind The Dream]].

* EdwardScissorhands from the film of the same name, arguably.
* ''BicentennialMan'': The android spends decades of his life becoming progressively more human first in mind then in body, up to and including self imposed mortality.

* [[MarvelComics Marvel's]] ''other'' android hero, [[JackKirby Aaron Stack the Machine Man,]] also went through this trope and has had a pretty rough time as well. He's become very [[DeadpanSnarker bitter and cynical]] about it in recent years (though in his case it comes off as amusing instead of tragic). He and the Vision should form a [[TheWoobie support group.]] They could invite Marvel's version of the Franchise/{{Frankenstein}} monster, too.

* The Beyonder in MarvelComics' ''SecretWarsII''

* [[MarvelComics Marvel's]] ''other'' android hero, [[JackKirby Aaron Stack the Machine Man,]] also went through this trope and has had a pretty rough time as well. He's become very [[DeadpanSnarker bitter and cynical]] about it in recent years (though in his case it comes off as amusing instead of tragic). He and the Vision should form a [[TheWoobie support group.]] They could invite Marvel's version of the {{Frankenstein}} monster, too.

* Cameron from ''TheSarahConnorChronicles'', and terminators in general.

* Luke, from ''TheSarahJaneAdventures'', who is remarkably similar in some respects to the lead from ''KyleXY''.

* Token [[AllWorksAreNotable ridiculously obscure example]]: 80s Canadian children's show ''Series/TodaysSpecial'' included a newly-living department store mannequin, and used his cluelessness about life as an excuse to discuss preschool-friendly topics.

* {{Eberron}}'s Warforged. Constructs created with sentience and sapience and designed to be soldiers. They run into this particularly after war when they are no longer all needed for the purpose they were created for.
* ''CthulhuTech'' gives us the Nazzadi, originally created as clone soldiers for the Migou before they defected to join humanity. They're currently dealing with the existential weight of being only two generations old as a species/culture, and the game line mentions that Nazzadi who pursue a career in the arts are ''extremely'' respected by their elders, as it means they're taking steps to set up a cultural identity.

* Crops up a ''lot'' in ''TheInexplicableAdventuresOfBob.'' [[CuteMonsterGirl Molly]] was a spontaneously generated lab accident who grew to maturity in a month; she was raised by Bob and came out sweet and innocent. A scientist cloned her to make Galatea/Golly, but raised her very badly and she came out as a WoobieDestroyerOfWorlds. Golly, in turn, cloned Molly ''again'' and accidentally produced the [[OurGiantsAreBigger giantess]] Jolly, who has been raised by aliens and is gentle, if a bit lonely. All three girls are geniuses, allowing them to learn enough to survive in only a month's time. Molly also built a robot, Roofus, who [[InstantAIJustAddWater surprised her by turning out sentient.]] Roofus is simpleminded but deeply soulful.

* Seven Of Nine, also from ''Voyager'', proves that ''Franchise/StarTrek'' is in love with this trope. In her case, she was assimilated by the Borg as a child, then liberated as an adult.

* ''CthulhuTech'' gives us the Nazzadi, originally created as clone soldiers for the Migou before they defected to join humanity. They're currently dealing with the existential weight of being two generations old as a species/culture, and the game line mentions that Nazzadi who pursue a career in the arts are ''extremely'' respected by their elders, as it means they're taking steps to set up a cultural identity.

It s common for an Emergent Human to start off with NoSocialSkills. Usually adult in form to contrast with their psychological immaturity and lack of self-understanding, their character arc may mirror that of a child growing into maturity. Then again, if this is a comedy, or the character's usual way of seeing things makes them popular, or if their [[{{Moe}} innocence]] or [[TheWoobie helplessness]] is sufficiently {{fetish|Fuel}}ized, their progress as individuals is likely to be hampered by the fact that StatusQuoIsGod.

* Anya Jenkins from ''Series/BuffyTheVampireSlayer''.

* Illyria from ''Series/{{Angel}}'' is this; she had her own experiences and values from before her return, but they're quite inhuman