Ewan
The idealistic young robot inventor who challenges a corporate plot to scrap outmodes.
Ewan McGregor voiced Rodney Copperbottom, the idealistic young blue robot and aspiring inventor who is the protagonist of the 2005 animated film Robots. The story follows Rodney as he leaves his home in Rivet Town to seek employment at Bigweld Industries in Robot City, only to discover a plot by the company's new CEO, Phineas T. Ratchet, to forcibly upgrade the city's populace and eradicate struggling robots known as "outmodes." Rodney's journey is driven by his admiration for the famous inventor Bigweld and his determination to help his father, Herb Copperbottom, a dishwasher.
Quick Facts
- Affiliation
- Bigweld Industries (as second-in-command)
- First appearance
- 2005 film Robots
Lore & Background
Rodney Copperbottom is the son of Herb and Lydia Copperbottom from the city of Rivet Town. He idolizes Bigweld, a famous inventor and philanthropist whose company, Bigweld Industries, employs other inventors and provides poor robots with spare parts. Rodney develops a small cup-like robot with a propeller called Wonderbot to assist his father, who works as a dishwasher. When Wonderbot malfunctions and wreaks havoc in the kitchen, Rodney travels to Robot City to present his invention to Bigweld Industries. There, he is ejected by the new CEO, Phineas T. Ratchet, who has discontinued spare parts for outmoded robots in favor of expensive upgrades. Rodney befriends Fender Pinwheeler, a mischievous red blender-like robot, and joins a group of outmoded robots called the "Rusties." He eventually rallies them to stop Ratchet and his mother Madame Gasket, who runs the Chop Shop where outmoded robots are recycled into ingots for upgrades.
Reader's Guide
Rodney Copperbottom is the heart of Robots, an idealistic inventor whose journey from Rivet Town to Robot City drives the entire plot. His defining trait is his unwavering belief in Bigweld's philosophy of helping all robots, regardless of their upgrades. Key moments include his creation of Wonderbot, his ejection from Bigweld Industries, his infiltration of the Bigweld Ball, and his rallying of the Rusties for the final confrontation. Rodney's relationship with his father Herb is a crucial emotional anchor, as Herb's encouragement inspires Rodney to continue fighting. In the climax, Rodney upgrades the Rusties and leads them in battle against Ratchet and Gasket. The film ends with Bigweld nominating Rodney as his second-in-command and eventual successor, and Rodney provides his father with new replacement parts and a flugelhorn-like instrument to fulfill his lifelong dream of being a musician.
More in Characters & Personas
Elsewhere in Mr Robot
Spotted an error? Know more?
Reader corrections go straight into our review queue. Suggest an edit · How this site is sourced