Line #61 Main/MechanicalMuscles


1	[[quoteright:350:[[Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ultron_4.jpg]]]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Do you even lift, bro-bot?]]
3	->''"Have you been juicing? A little vibranium cocktail? You're looking--I don't wanna say puffy ..."''
4	-->-- '''Iron Man''' to '''Ultron''', ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron''
5
6	We already know that androids, robots, cyborgs, and other mechanical beings are stronger than organics. This is when they're constructed with the HeroicBuild to prove it.
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8	While more realistically utilitarian real-world robots often make do with a skeletal framework, real-life creators and in-universe roboticists often feel that such pragmatic designs don't do the sheer might of their robot creation justice. In such cases, the designer (which is sometimes the machine itself) goes to some effort to give themselves the outward appearance of a muscular human, often whether or not their "muscles" actually move or function as such. And while this might seem AwesomeButImpractical at first glance, one shouldn't discount the intimidation factor, as the mechanoid in question can be not only jacked, but also many times the size of any ordinary human.
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10	Part of the growing popularity of this trope in live action comes with the increasing sophistication of CG allowing for more moving parts to be detailed and animated. It's much easier to show all those tiny components, rather than using a blocky outward appearance as a kind of SFX shorthand for "robot".
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12	Compare SculptedPhysique. Contrast SkeleBot9000. See also HumongousMecha, although the style for the latter is often to render the character as if they're wearing a suit of armor, the better to emphasize their mechanical qualities. Note that while this can cover characters with ArtificialLimbs, the key element is ''machine components'' built to look suitably macho. Robots and androids with artificially grown organic tissue like ''Film/BladeRunner'' replicants or [[Film/TheTerminator the T-800]] don't qualify; see AmbiguousRobots and MeatSackRobot instead.
13	----
14	!!Examples:
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16	[[foldercontrol]]
17
18	[[folder:Anime & Manga]]
19	* Jet in ''Anime/CowboyBebop'' has a [[ArtificialLimbs prosthetic arm]] that looks slightly bulkier than his regular one, and [[http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/34300000/Jet-Black-cowboy-bebop-34356293-642-482.jpg the joints in particular]] look like muscles (that or it ''all'' has muscles, but they're only exposed at the joint).
20	* Many cyborgs in ''Franchise/GhostInTheShell'' opt for bodies that are more than a little idealized.
21	** Series-wide [[TheLancer Lancer]] Batou looks like a bodybuilder. He ''does'' lift, despite all his limbs being artificial and thus gaining little actual benefit from it.
22	** Second-season ''Anime/GhostInTheShellStandAloneComplex'' villain Kuze has a [[FrozenFace sculpted, immobile face]], a well-toned body which is entirely artificial, and a lot of [[WalkingShirtlessScene shirtless scenes]].
23	* Most mecha in ''Anime/TengenToppaGurrenLagann'' have blocky limbs that resemble armor. Lord Genome's Lazengann instead has a strangely organic, muscular build to emphasize its speed, agility and brutal, animalistic fighting style.
24	[[/folder]]
25
26	[[folder:Comic Books]]
27	* From ''Creator/MarvelComics'':
28	** Most incarnations of ComicBook/{{Ultron}} sport a slender build with development in the calve and bicep areas. The [[Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron film]] version of him, pictured above, has a much bulkier build.
29	** ComicBook/{{Cable}} and [[ComicBook/BuckyBarnes the Winter Soldier]] as well. While not complete robots, Cable's [[ArtificialLimbs robotic arm]] is just as jacked as the rest of him. Bucky's arm is shaped to look muscular as well, but if there were a vote, [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Cable_330_7062.jpg Cable would win]], hands down. That said, Cable's arm isn't a cybernetic ''replacement'' for his left arm, but the result of a "techno-organic" virus forcibly converting his existing arm into machinery. It's only his telekinetic powers that keep the virus from spreading to transform the rest of his body into a robot (killing him in the process).
30	** PowerArmor users like ComicBook/IronMan have their suit designs often featuring well-muscled biceps, thighs and chest. This doesn't appear as much in more contemporary renditions.
31	[[/folder]]
32
33	[[folder:Films -- Animation]]
34	* Discussed in ''WesternAnimation/MeetTheRobinsons'', where Carl (a robot), before sending Lewis back in time, asks him to invent him with a more muscular design.
35	* Played with in ''WesternAnimation/BigHero6''. Baymax is built with an inflatable body that gives him a roly-poly appearance. However, the armor that Hiro makes for him squeezes that figure into a more top-heavy heroic silhouette.
36	[[/folder]]
37
38	[[folder:Films -- Live-Action]]
39	* ''Film/AvengersAgeOfUltron'': The [[AntagonistTitle title villain]] has hit the gym for his movie debut. While he is featured on the page, if you're too lazy to scroll up, [[https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ultron_earth_199999_from_avengers_age_of_ultron_002.png just look here]], intimidating as hell.
40	* Cable is shown flexing his [[ArtificialLimbs mechanical arm]] at various points in ''Film/Deadpool2''. While the arm is a CGI visual effect, it shows in very good detail how mechanical muscles would work.
41	* The ''Film/TransformersFilmSeries'': The Transformers are less blocky than their animated counterparts, particularly in the first few films, with CG allowing significant numbers of tiny moving parts to be detailed and animated, even if it wasn't always clear how they were connected.
42	[[/folder]]
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44	[[folder:Tabletop Games]]
45	* ''TabletopGame/{{Champions}}''. An [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/championsonline/images/5/5f/1984_Mechanon.png/revision/latest?cb=20100109202148 early depiction]] of the ArtificialIntelligence robot Mechanon portrays him as a humanoid with artificial muscles bulging out of his arms, legs and the side of his chest.
46	* The RPG [[TabletopGame/{{Cyberpunk}} Cyberpunk 2020]] had a limb that was a disturbing blend of flesh and metal. There was the "full conversion" cyborg the Gemini. The entire body was replaced except for the brain. The artwork was a cut-away with the metal parts made to resemble a normal human's muscles.
47	* Played with in the '80s ''Rogue Trader'' days of TabletopGame/Warhammer40000, power armor got its strength from an artificial muscle fibre bundle system that's based on the design and action of the real thing. This is one reason why power armor is so heavily bulky but capable of handling its own weight and more. That said, most power armour goes for a smooth rounded look though some Chaos forces have a muscled cuirass look.
48	[[/folder]]
49
50	[[folder:Video Games]]
51	* ''VideoGame/ANNOMutationem'': The numerous {{mooks}} of the Factio Pugni and The Consortium are outfitted with muscular builds that allows them to utilize heavy manner of weapons at their disposal. The members of the former underwent FullConversionCyborg to boost their attacks for heavy-handed approach.
52	* ''VideoGame/EXTRAPOWERStarResistance'': The Shakun Star main computer is a [[AttackOfTheFiftyFootWhatever massive]] robot covered in perfectly chiseled muscles. It puts its physique to use, chasing the player and attacking with powerful screen-filling punches as well as its laser defenses.
53	* While not specifically human muscles, most of ''VideoGame/HorizonZeroDawn'''s robots are based off animal life and have wiring that functions as muscle. The [[MechanicalHorse strider]] is the best example as most of its wiring is exposed.
54	* From ''VideoGame/KillerInstinct'':
55	** The series' iconic cyborg Fulgore, with the 2013 reboot focusing on his [[https://static.trueachievements.com/customimages/042361.png neck]] and [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/killerinstinct/images/c/cd/Fulgore_Unit-3_Revealed.png/revision/latest?cb=20140130175955 upper body]].
56	** T.J. Combo, with the help of [[EvilInc Ultratech]], illegally implanted [[ArtificialLimbs cybernetics]] in his arms, with the form of human arms with muscles, in order to win in boxing battles. Later, he was discovered and kicked off. While in the first game it's not noticed because is covered with artificial skin, in ''[=KI2=]'' it's more noticeable with [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/killerinstinct/images/4/46/TJ_Combo_KI_02.png/revision/latest?cb=20131103161904&format=original his hands peeled off showing his cybernetics]].
57	* ''VideoGame/MetalGearRisingRevengeance'':
58	** Raiden's cyborg body is muscular and lean, looking more like a gymnast than a bodybuilder.
59	** Jetstream Sam's body ([[spoiler: actually his suit]]) also has the same build, complete with washboard abs.
60	* Major Jackson "Jax" Briggs from ''Franchise/MortalKombat'' volunteered to have his arms reworked with ArtificialLimbs since [[VideoGame/MortalKombat3 the third game]], looking very muscular. Subverted with the later games in which his arms appeared more robotic than human-shaped, but still look very muscular for a normal human anyway. One of the movies justifies it by having the robotic arms be an exoskeleton over his real (quite toned) arms.
61	* [[https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/tekken/images/4/44/Jack-7_T7FR.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20170409122754&path-prefix=en Jack-1 through 7]] from ''VideoGame/{{Tekken}}'' are mohawk-sporting Russian robots, with a new Jack built and sent to compete in almost ever game. Most of them have synthetic skin with obvious (sometimes glowing) seams, while Gun Jack and Protoype Jack (P. Jack) are even more visibly robotic, with squared-off metal plates and Colossus-style ridges respectively.
62	[[/folder]]
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64	[[folder:Web Comics]]
65	* In ''Webcomic/QuestionableContent'', Bubbles the retired combat droid turns out to have a [[https://www.questionablecontent.net/view.php?comic=3475 very defined, muscular build]] beneath her body armor. {{Justified\|Trope}} in that android bodies use [[https://questionablecontent.net/3482 artificial muscle fiber]] that is presumably arranged like the organic stuff.
66	-->'''Faye:''' Is it weird to be just a lil' jealous of a robot's booty?\
67	'''Bubbles:''' If it makes you feel any better, your tax dollars paid for it.
68	[[/folder]]

Context Main / MechanicalMuscles