Robby The Robot and The Iron Giant

Two of my all-time favorite science fiction movies are Forbidden Planet and The Iron Giant.

Forbidden Planet was released the same year I was born: 1953.  It was a live action movie from MGM and was considered cutting edge and innovative for its time.

Visual and practical effects were extremely well done and for the first time an electronic soundtrack was used.

The story centers around a group of space explorers sent to a distant planet to check in on a scientist and his daughter.  It was a loose interpretation of William Shakespeare’s The Tempest set in outer space.

When they arrived a robot met them: Robby The Robot.

It is estimated that the cost of building the robot took a considerable chunk of the movie’s budget and it shows.

Robby was a technological marvel for the time with working lights, a voice synthesizer, full mobility, with switches and buttons and more. His head swiveled as did his torso and his design was very futuristic.  

So futuristic that it even stands up today.

Goldlox Toys has created a Walmart exclusive Robby The Robot toy that collectors and kids are sure to love.

The Goldlok (with assist by Trendmasters) Robby The Robot is a mechanized marvel.  For only $20 you can own this impressive figure that stands close to 12-inches tall.

Packaged in a colorful open-front, heavy paper stock box Robby is held in place with small plastic wires and is snug in a form-fitting plastic cocoon.

A small strip of plastic extends out from the right of the box stating, ‘Try Me!’.  Push it and Robby sounds off.

A large Forbidden Planet logo cutout is at the bottom of the front and on the sides and back.

On the back is a short synopsis of the film and information about Robby.

Additional photos of the Robby figure demonstrating his functions are also included.

Push the yellow button on Robby’s waist and he spouts phrases and sound effects from the movie and his twin waist lights flash and his voice box modulates in light with his voice.

Inside his clear plastic dome head additional lights flicker. Contacts click and flash and the circular modules of his brain emit a steady light.

Details on the body are first-rate with clear delineation lines between sections.  Robby's body is smooth with few sharp angles.

Robby’s head is a large tapered cone with a clear plastic panel in the front.  Inside are diodes and switches and a light emitting brain of circular components.

The dome fits on a black neck unit with a clear, striated voice box on the front.

The neck swivels on the large chest.

On the side of the ‘head’ are two circular attenna, twin blue sensors and clear segmented ‘ears’.

On the barrel chest are twin front lights and two inset areas that hold the powerful arms-much like a shoulder joint.

The arms have circular shoulder joints that move and rotate when posed. Stationary flanged elbows and three-finger segmented hands also rotate.

The entire torso can twist and move at the waist.

The lower abdomen also has two circular 'inset areas' where the leg ‘hip’ joints attach to them.

The legs consist of three circular sections allowing for movement and with large splayed feet that have wheels underneath them (along with battery compartments) that allow the robot to move when a hidden switch is thrown.

Robby’s body is solid black.  Sculpture details recreate the robot to perfection right down to his highly detailed head and torso.

Articulation points are solid with ease of movement and well hidden.  

Robby is put together solidly with no open gaps or unsightly flashing or loose joints.

It’s an absolutely exact miniature duplicate of the famous robot.  Collectors and kids are sure to love the lights and especially the mobility of the toy.

When activated Robby walks, his legs move back and forth and his torso turns.

It's on of the best recreations of Robby I've ever seen, especially for the price

The Iron Giant was a movie that combined traditional cell animation with the newest animation technology: computer generated animation and effects.

It featured a giant robot discovered by a young boy and they become friends. The robot was damaged and lost most of its memory.
 

Set during the Cold War era the film examines the paranoia of the time.

When the boy is injured the robot converts to a powerful, destructive machine.  Ultimately the robot saves a nearby town from a nuclear attack and sacrifices his life-or so it seems.

Like Robby the Robot, The Iron Giant has a marvelous retro/futuristic design and is considered a classic character and favorite cult movie today loved by fans.

Walmart stocks an exclusive The Iron Giant toy created by Goldlok Toys. It stands over a foot tall.

The large box it comes in is partially open in the front allowing perspective toy buyers to test the ‘Try Me!’ button that activates The Iron Giant’s green light up eyes and one of two sound effects.

The figure is cradled in a plastic form-fitting plastic cocoon with additional plastic straps.

The box features a large cutout The Iron Giant logo on the front with additional logos on the sides and back.

Photos of The Iron Giant toys are on the back demonstrating his various functions.

The figure is mostly gray with some darker gray and black accent areas around the waist, chest, legs and arms.  Surfaces look very angular as one would expect of a robot from that era.

Identical to its large cinema namesake The Iron Giant figure has a dome head with a protruding lower jaw, large circular eyes and a single fin running from its forehead to the back of its head.

A massive chest has arms extending out from underneath shoulder flanges.

The chest cavity opens revealing a large dark gray circular section with a large green light in the middle and a string of lights around its circumference.

When the switch on the back is activated the chest lights up just like the chest weapon the Giant used in the movie.  It also emits threatening sounds.

The hinged chest plates open easily and snaps into place with well-hidden seams.

The two large arms have circular shoulder joints, thin upper arms and large tapered rectangular lower arms.  They remind me of Popeye's forearms.

Four finger hands that twist and turn are on their ends.

The arms move and rotate as does the lower arms and wrists.

The large chest attaches to a recessed waist with a small hip area.

The leg hip joints are oversize and taper into small upper legs and large lower rectangular sectioned lower legs.  

The large flat feet swivel slightly at the ankles when the robot shuffles forward aided by the wheels on its feet.

The batteries are hidden under the feet soles.

Details are spot-on with lots of rivets, recessed and angular sections and with realistic looking articulation.

The joints are fitted to move with no looseness.

Parts fit together snuggly with no gaps, flashing or rough edges.

Details extend to the back as well.

When the chest weapon is activated the eyes of The Iron Giant flash red and when he walks additional sound effects activate.

Both Robby and Iron Giant are very stable when they walk with no tipping over.  Kids can easily activate the walking and other effects.

Both Robby The Robot and The Iron Giant are superbly crafted figures at a great price.  The figures have proven especially popular and are already popping up in the secondary market.  Batteries are included with both figures.

Should you see them in your local Walmart buy them before they are gone.

I plan on displaying mine in my man cave.  I can't wait to show them to my friends.