Summary
- Robots and androids in manhwa serve a variety of roles, from tools to central characters in unique and emotional stories.
- The focus on tender relationships and philosophical themes in manhwa like Housekeeper and Dogma sets them apart.
- Manhwa like Trinity Wonder and If AI Ruled the World explore futuristic worlds where AI and robots play crucial roles.
Robots and androids are two of the most popular motifs when it comes to sci-fi media or content that takes place in the future. They serve as symbols of technological advancement, automating daily tasks, simple duties, and probably much more.
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In manhwa, many stories include robots or androids, but they're usually used as tools or background characters. That said, some manhwa place these mechanical characters in the spotlight or at least make them important to the overall plot. Each one is incredibly unique, and those looking to see what such beings get up to in manhwa have plenty of options to choose from.
7 Housekeeper
An Emotional Story That Focuses On An Android And Her Master
- Chapters: 196
- Published: 2019 to 2024
- Genres/Themes: Action, Sci-Fi, Supernatural
- Author: Yongtaek Chae
- Illustrator: You Hyun
- MyAnimeList Score: 6.97
In a futuristic world full of androids, a zombie outbreak would be the last thing someone would expect. In the Housekeeper manhwa, the sudden spread of a viral disease kills 70% of the human population, turning them into living corpses. In the midst of all of it, an android named Hasty tries her best to protect her master who has become a zombie.
Housekeeper is a very emotional and warmhearted story that may surprise readers at first. The setup of the tale seems typical of apocalyptic stories, but the focus is placed on the tender relationship between Hasty and Navil, a found family of sorts. It's a great action adventure story for those who want to read something more sentimental.
6 Trinity Wonder
Takes Inspiration From Various Genres And Focuses On Mechs
- Chapters: 102
- Published: 2016 to 2018
- Genres/Themes: Action, Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Martial Arts
- Author: Geuk-Jin Jeon
- Illustrator: Jin-Hwan Park
- MyAnimeList Score: N/A
Compared to other stories, Trinity Wonder offers an incredible mix of genres that somehow works. Taking place in a high-tech world, scientist and CEO Sylvia accidentally connects to an alternate dimension while testing out her teleporter. As a result, a martial master from Murim named Kang Woo-Jin and a great mage named Emily are isolated from their worlds.
With a mixture of martial arts, magic, and technology, almost anything goes in this story, and as far as robots are concerned, they do exist and are used. However, the technological point of the story focuses more on mechs, which is why this manhwa is lower on the list.
5 Dogma
A Philosophical Tale Set In A Robot And Android-Filled World
- Chapters: 50
- Published: 2016 to 2017
- Genres/Themes: Action, Sci-Fi
- Author: Kemi
- Illustrator: Kemi
- MyAnimeList Score: N/A
Set in a post-apocalyptic world where humans lost the war against machines, Dogma tells the story of Yura, a young boy who successfully escaped human experimentation at the hands of Machia, the strongest robot. Under the protection of a stoic android named Aaron, Yura survives by hiding from the world, but what he wants is the strength to fight back.
Although this manhwa focuses on robots and androids, it has a lot to say about choice, desire, and emotion. The philosophical ideas are incorporated into a compact fifty chapters, but it remains entertaining and easy to read. On top of that, the art is incredible, especially the linework.
4 Court Of Puppets
Follows A Detective Who Must Train An Android To Get His Job Back
- Chapters: 44
- Published: 2021
- Genres/Themes: Action, Sci-Fi, Adult Cast, Detective
- Author: Hoon Ryu
- Illustrator: Chang-geun Ji
- MyAnimeList Score: N/A
In Court of Puppets, technology has advanced to a point where AI is being used in the justice system, stopping crimes as they happen. Detective Seo Woojin has been suspended due to damage caused by his temper, and the only way for him to get his job back is to train a military android called Magnum.
Fans of Psycho Pass will enjoy this manhwa, as the concepts and ideas present in both are very similar. Matched with the dark atmosphere and the rough characters, it makes for a thrilling and suspenseful story. The art is also fantastic, which makes reading it even better.
3 Gepetto
Examines The Uncertain Aftermath Of A War Between Humans And Androids
- Chapters: 161
- Published: 2012 to 2015
- Genres/Themes: Action, Sci-Fi
- Author: Jewon Yeon
- Illustrator: Jewon Yeon
- MyAnimeList Score: N/A
Gepetto takes place after a war between humans and androids. Despite eventually winning, humanity could only survive in shelters due to the terrible damage to the planet. Unfortunately, it seems like the war isn't over as most believe, since androids still lurk in the shadows.
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Androids are robots that are intentionally made to look like humans, and this story takes it one step further by attributing emotions and feelings to them, allowing them to eventually develop sentience and individuality. Doing this makes the whole situation quite morally gray, since humans were the ones who created the androids.
2 Nano List
An Action-Filled Tale That Follows A Boy And Two Androids Who Were Gifted To Him
- Chapters: 147
- Published: 2016 to 2018
- Genres/Themes: Drama, Sci-Fi
- Author: Song-A Min
- Illustrator: Song-A Min
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.42
In a world where androids are integrated into society, a boy named Milo Ahn is gifted two of them by his sister after her passing. San is a household android that does chores and cooks food, and Nano is a high-tech bodyguard android. However, they both have their secrets, and they start to affect Milo's life.
Although there is a little bit of fan service at the beginning, this story is actually an exciting and action-filled one that features many incredible fight scenes. Despite the focus on action, the character development in this story is phenomenal, and each character becomes three times as interesting by the end of the manhwa.
1 If AI Ruled The World
Robots Play A Variety Of Different Roles Depending On The Story
- Chapters: 52
- Published: 2020 to 2021
- Genres/Themes: Sci-Fi, Psychological
- Author: Pogo
- Illustrator: Hoopa
- MyAnimeList Score: 7.55
AI is becoming a much larger part of society, and in the future, its role will most likely grow. The If AI Ruled the World manhwa portrays a world where a single AI is all-encompassing, controlling and guiding the world according to its calculations. It's made up of many short stories, with each offering its own lesson.
Because AI is integral to the plot, robots are, too, and they serve many different purposes depending on the story. They could be pets, companions, or even part of the family. They could even be villains or heroes. The author is capable of using these inhuman entities to tell heartwarming and emotional stories.
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