AI as in artificial intelligence, as in a robot or android character, whatever they may be called. My Top 5 in reverse order:

5. Conti from FLCL. He may have sprung out of Naota’s head, may work as a domestic, and does not talk at all. But Conti is his own man, so to speak. He takes action when in danger – by swallowing Naota and transforming. Conti keeps his end of the story flowing. Keep in mind this is pure dumb, but fun.

4. Tima from Metropolis. No, not the Fritz Lang classic silent. This is the anime movie, partly influenced by the original. Tima has no memory and no idea she is a robotic life form. This is particularly dangerous in a world were humans and robots are almost at war. Can the love of a young boy save her?

2 and 3. Cashhern and Ringo from Cashhern Sins. Cashhern kills Luna, for some reason, dooming the whole robot race. He can’t remember the act or why he did it, but he knows he is guilty. So the search for why begins with quite a heavy load on his shoulders. Ringo is a little girl robot who knows she is doomed as the rest, but she still sees everything and every day as an adventure to be enjoyed. She seems the perfect opposite to the morose Cashhern.

1. Pino from Ergo Proxy. A little girl android who is developed to take on the role of a child to a childless couple, Pino begins to gain self-awareness after being infected with a virus. She and the Ergo Proxy monster are the ones who teach Re’l the meaning of being human. It is a poignant moment when Pino asks, “Is Pino Pino?” No one answers.


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