Editing Robot Chicken

{{Short description|American adult animated stop-motion sketch comedy television series}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox television
| image                = Robot Chicken Logo.png
| alt_name             = ''Sweet J Presents'' {{no italics|(2001)}}
| genre                = {{Plainlist|
* [[Adult animation]]
* [[Black comedy]]
* [[Gross out]]
* [[Parody]]
* [[Satire]]
* [[Sexual comedy]]
* [[Sketch comedy]]
* [[Surreal humor]]}}
| creator              = {{Plainlist|
* [[Seth Green]]
* [[Matthew Senreich]]}}
| director             = 
| voices               = 
{{Plainlist|
<!-- Absent a regular cast, this lists the most frequent voice actors, sorted by number of appearances -->
* Seth Green
* Matthew Senreich
* [[Breckin Meyer]]
* [[Tom Root]]
* [[Dan Milano]]
* Tom Sheppard
* [[Abraham Benrubi]]
* [[Chad Morgan (actress)|Chad Morgan]]
* [[Seth MacFarlane]]
}}
| open_theme           = "[[Of Whales and Woe|Robot Chicken]]" by [[Les Claypool]]
| end_theme            = "[[The Gonk]]" a capella cover by the cast
| composer             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Michael Suby]] {{small|(S1–4)}}
* Adam Sanborne {{small|(S1–4)}}
* Charles Fernandez {{small|(S3–4)}}
* [[Shawn Patterson (composer)|Shawn Patterson]] {{small|(S5–7)}}
* [[Kevin Manthei]] {{small|(S7–9)}}
* Randall Crissman {{small|(S8–11)}}
* John Zuker {{small|(S11–present)}}}}
| country              = United States
| num_seasons          = 11
| num_episodes         = 220 (and 11 specials)
| list_episodes        = List of Robot Chicken episodes
| executive_producer   = {{Plainlist|
* Seth Green
* Matthew Senreich
* [[John Harvatine IV]] {{small|(2012–present)}}
* [[Eric Towner]] {{small|(2012–present)}}
* Tom Root {{small|(2012–present)}}
* [[Doug Goldstein]] {{small|(2012–present)}}
* '''For Williams Street:'''
* [[Keith Crofford]]
* [[Mike Lazzo]] {{small|(2005–2020)}}
* Walter Newman {{small|(2021–present)}}}}
| producer             = {{Plainlist|
* [[Alex Bulkley]] {{small|(2005–2012)}}
* Corey Campodonico {{small|(2005–2012)}}
* Whitney Loveall {{small|(2019–2020)}}
* Laura Pepper {{small|(2021–present)}}}}
| runtime              = {{Plainlist|
* 11 minutes
* 22 minutes (specials)}}
| company              = {{Plainlist|
* [[ShadowMachine|ShadowMachine Films]] {{small|(S1–5)}}
* [[Stoopid Buddy Stoodios|Stoop!d Monkey]]<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldberg|first=Lesley|title='Robot Chicken' Duo Launch Animation Studio: Seth Green and Matthew Senreich pact with Buddy Systems to create Stoopid Buddy Stoodios and will produce tribute episode to DC Comics universe.|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/robot-chicken-duo-launch-animation-269230|access-date=March 7, 2012|newspaper=Hollywood Reporter|date=December 2, 2011|archive-date=January 25, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210125192649/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/robot-chicken-duo-launch-animation-269230|url-status=live}}</ref>
* [[Stoopid Buddy Stoodios]] {{small|(S6–present)}}
* [[Sony Pictures Digital]] {{small|(S1–5)}}
* [[Sony Pictures Television]] {{small|(S6–10)}}
* [[Williams Street]]}}
| network              = [[Adult Swim]]
| first_aired          = {{Start date|2005|2|20}}
| last_aired           = present
}}
'''''Robot Chicken''''' is an American [[adult animation|adult]] [[stop motion|stop-motion animated]] [[sketch comedy]] television series created by [[Seth Green]] and [[Matthew Senreich]] for [[Cartoon Network]]'s nighttime programming block [[Adult Swim]]. The twelve-minute show consists of short unrelated sketches usually satirizing [[pop culture]] characters or celebrities. Toys are employed as the players, animated via stop motion and supplemented by [[claymation]]. The voice cast changes every episode, and features many [[Cameo appearance|celebrity cameos]]. The writers, most prominently Green, also provide many of the voices. ''Robot Chicken'' has won two [[Annie Award]]s and six [[Emmy Award]]s.

==Production history==
[[File:Matthew Senreich by Gage Skidmore.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Matthew Senreich]]]]
[[File:Seth Green by Gage Skidmore 5.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Seth Green]]]]

''Robot Chicken'' was conceptually preceded by ''[[Twisted ToyFare Theatre]]'', a humorous photo [[comic strip]] appearing in ''[[ToyFare]]''.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|last=Burlingame|first=Russ|date=September 9, 2012|title=Before Robot Chicken: Twisted ToyFare Theatre Takes on DC Comics|url=https://comicbook.com/blog/2012/09/09/before-robot-chicken-twisted-toyfare-theatre-takes-on-dc-comics/|access-date=July 26, 2013|publisher=Comicbook.com}}</ref> [[Matthew Senreich]], an editor for ''ToyFare'', got in touch with actor [[Seth Green]] when Senreich learned that Green had made [[action figures]] of castmates from ''[[Buffy the Vampire Slayer]]'' and asked to photograph them.<ref name="nytimes2006">{{Cite news|last=Itzkoff|first=Dave|date=September 17, 2006|title=Big Boys' Dream Job: Getting Paid to Play With Toys|language=en-US|work=The New York Times|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/arts/television/17itzk.html|access-date=July 21, 2022|issn=0362-4331|archive-date=November 9, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201109034926/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/17/arts/television/17itzk.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Months later, Green asked Senreich to collaborate on an animated short for ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'', featuring toy versions of himself and O'Brien.<ref name="nytimes2006" /> This led to the 12-episode [[stop-motion]] series ''Sweet J Presents'' on the [[Sony]] website Screenblast.com in 2001.<ref name="nytimes2006" /> Conan O'Brien is voiced by ''[[Family Guy]]'' creator [[Seth MacFarlane]] in the first ''Sweet J'' episode ("Conan's Big Fun").<ref name="nytimes2006" /><ref name="tvcom1">{{Cite web|title=Robot Chicken: Sweet J Presents (Summary)|url=http://www.tv.com/robot-chicken/sweet-j-presents/episode/751164/summary.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530004610/http://www.tv.com/robot-chicken/sweet-j-presents/episode/751164/summary.html|archive-date=May 30, 2009|access-date=May 27, 2012}}</ref>

Continuing the concept of the web series, the show creators pitched ''Robot Chicken'' as a television series, the name being inspired by a dish on the menu at a [[West Hollywood, California|West Hollywood]] [[American Chinese cuisine|Chinese]] restaurant, Kung Pao Bistro, where Green and Senreich had dined (other ideas for the series' name included ''Junk in the Trunk'', ''The Deep End'', and ''Toyz in the Attic''; some of these would be reworked into episode titles for the [[Robot Chicken season 1|first season]]).<ref name="autogenerated1" /> Some television networks and sketch shows rejected the series, including [[Comedy Central]], ''[[MADtv]]'', ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', and even [[Cartoon Network]]. However, someone at that network passed the pitch along to its nighttime programming block, [[Adult Swim]], around the same time that Seth MacFarlane told Green and Senreich to pitch the show to the channel.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}} On February 20, 2005, the series premiered on Adult Swim.

The show was created, written, and produced by Green and Senreich and produced by [[ShadowMachine|ShadowMachine Films]] (Seasons 1–5) and Stoopid Buddy Stoodios in association with [[Stoopid Buddy Stoodios|Stoop!d Monkey]], [[Williams Street]], [[Sony Pictures Digital]] (Seasons 1–5) and [[Sony Pictures Television]] (Seasons 6–10).

The program aired [[Robot Chicken: Star Wars|a 30-minute episode]] dedicated to ''[[Star Wars]]'' that premiered June 17, 2007, in the U.S., featuring the voices of ''Star Wars'' notables [[George Lucas]], [[Mark Hamill]], [[Billy Dee Williams]], and [[Ahmed Best]].<ref name="usa">{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-06-12-robot-chicken_N.htm|title='Robot Chicken' digs its satirical talons into 'Star Wars'|access-date=November 2, 2008|work=[[USA Today]]|author-first1=Mike|author-last1=Snider|date=June 13, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719215756/https://www.usatoday.com/life/television/news/2007-06-12-robot-chicken_N.htm|archive-date=19 July 2008}}</ref> The ''Star Wars'' episode was nominated for a 2008 [[Emmy]] Award as Outstanding Animated Program (for Programming Less Than One Hour).

The series was renewed for a 20-episode third season, which ran from August 12, 2007, to October 5, 2008.<ref name="nytimes2006"/> After an eight-month hiatus during the third season, the show returned on September 7, 2008, to air the remaining 5 episodes.<ref name="nytimes2006"/> The series was renewed for a fourth season, which premiered on December 7, 2008, and ended on December 6, 2009.<ref name="nytimes2006"/> In early 2010, the show was renewed for a fifth and sixth season (40 more episodes total).<ref name="auto10">{{cite web|url=http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/21/robot-chicken-gets-unprecedented-two-season-40-episode-pick-up/39625|title=Robot Chicken Gets Unprecedented Two-Season, 40 Episode Pick-Up – TV Ratings, Nielsen Ratings, Television Show Ratings|publisher=TVbytheNumbers.com|date=January 21, 2010|access-date=April 27, 2010|archive-date=January 25, 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100125153023/http://tvbythenumbers.com/2010/01/21/robot-chicken-gets-unprecedented-two-season-40-episode-pick-up/39625|url-status=dead}}</ref> The fifth season premiered on December 12, 2010.<ref name="nytimes2006"/> The second group of episodes began broadcasting on October 23, 2011. The 100th episode aired on January 15, 2012.<ref name="nytimes2006"/> In May 2012, Adult Swim announced they were picking up a sixth season of ''Robot Chicken'', which began airing in September 2012.<ref name="auto14">{{cite web|url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/news/2012/08/16/robot-chicken-season-6-kicks-off-on-sept-9th-at-midnight-597200/20120816adultswim01/|title=Breaking News – "Robot Chicken" Season 6 Kicks Off on Sept 9th at Midnight!|publisher=TheFutonCritic.com|date=August 16, 2012|access-date=July 26, 2013}}</ref> The seventh season premiered on April 13, 2014. The eight season premiered on October 25, 2015.<ref name="auto5">{{cite web|url=https://www.leagueofbuddies.com/news/this-week-robot-chicken-season-8-begins-writing/|title=Robot Chicken Season 8 begins writing|year=2015|work=League of Buddies|publisher=Stoopid Buddy Productions|access-date=May 20, 2015|archive-date=May 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512015956/http://www.leagueofbuddies.com/3340/this-week-robot-chicken-season-8-begins-writing/|url-status=live}}</ref> The ninth season premiered on December 10, 2017.<ref name="auto2">{{cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/robot-chicken-season-9-details-walking-dead-parody|title=What Fans Can Expect From Robot Chicken Season 9|website=screenrant.com|last=Deckelmeier|first=Joe|date=September 26, 2017|access-date=November 4, 2017|archive-date=November 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107164701/https://screenrant.com/robot-chicken-season-9-details-walking-dead-parody/|url-status=live}}</ref> Season 10 premiered on September 29, 2019, containing the 200th episode.<ref name="auto13">{{cite web|url=https://collider.com/robot-chicken-season-10-200th-episode-seth-green-interview/|title=Seth Green on Season 10 of 'Robot Chicken', Their 200th Episode, and Upcoming Special|publisher=Collider|date=September 20, 2019|access-date=April 29, 2020|archive-date=May 22, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200522004658/https://collider.com/robot-chicken-season-10-200th-episode-seth-green-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref> Season 11 premiered on September 6, 2021.<ref name="auto6">{{Cite tweet|title=Robot Chicken season 11 premieres this September!|user=swimpedia|number=1396684409361797120|date=May 24, 2021|access-date=June 27, 2021|website=Twitter|language=en}}</ref><ref name="auto11">{{cite web|title=ROBOT CHICKEN Returns Sept. 6 to Adult Swim|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/ROBOT-CHICKEN-Returns-Sept-6-to-Adult-Swim-20210810|publisher=BroadwayWorld TV & Film|date=August 10, 2021|access-date=August 10, 2021|archive-date=August 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210810161149/https://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwtv/article/ROBOT-CHICKEN-Returns-Sept-6-to-Adult-Swim-20210810|url-status=live}}</ref> <!--please do not state that Season 11 is the final season unless you have a cited and reliable source; until then the show is basically just on hiatus -->

Following the 2020 cancellation of ''[[The Venture Bros.]]'', ''Robot Chicken'' became Adult Swim's longest running series, until it was surpassed by ''[[Aqua Teen Hunger Force]]'' after its renewal in 2023.

After not having released new episodes since April 2022, Green announced in a live-streamed interview that, while a new full season of ''Robot Chicken'' would likely not be ready in time for the following year, a new half-hour ''Robot Chicken'' special is slated for release sometime in 2025.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Seth Green & Hugh Sterbakov Talk Comics, Toys & Robot Chicken TV|website=[[YouTube]]|date=23 July 2024|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ5CJ5bzF78|access-date=September 6, 2024|archive-date=September 5, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240905104741/https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=5407&v=WJ5CJ5bzF78&feature=youtu.be|url-status=live}}</ref><!--timestamp is 1:30:05 --> In a later interview, Green announced that ''Robot Chicken'' will be moving away from 20-episode seasons and towards doing specials.<ref name="Bubbleblabber">{{Cite web |last=Schwarz |first=John |date=September 4, 2024 |title=Robot Chicken Moving Towards Specials Rather Than Full Season Orders Says Seth Green |url=https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2024/09/robot-chicken-moving-towards-specials-rather-than-full-season-orders-says-seth-green/#google_vignette |access-date=September 23, 2024 |website=Bubbleblabber}}</ref> ''The Robot Chicken Self-Discovery Special'' will be released in summer 2025 in honor of the series' 20th anniversary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=2025-02-20 |title='Robot Chicken' Sets 20th Anniversary Special At Adult Swim |url=https://deadline.com/2025/02/robot-chicken-20th-anniversary-special-adult-swim-1236295346/ |access-date=2025-03-17 |website=[[Deadline Hollywood]] |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Milligan |first=Mercedes |date=February 20, 2025 |title='Robot Chicken' Celebrates 20 Years of Animated Parodies with New Adult Swim Special |url=https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/02/robot-chicken-celebrates-20-years-of-animated-parodies-with-new-adult-swim-special/ |access-date=February 20, 2025 |website=[[Animation Magazine]]}}</ref>

==Format==
''Robot Chicken'' employs stop-motion animation of toys, primarily [[action figures]], as well as [[Clay animation|claymation]] and sometimes other objects, such as socks, paper bags, and popsicle sticks.<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.g4tv.com/screensavers/episodes/3902/Robot_Chicken_Constantine_Dark_Tip.html|title=Video Games, Game Reviews & News|publisher=G4tv.com|date=February 16, 2005|access-date=July 26, 2013|archive-date=December 3, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171203082836/http://www.g4tv.com/screensavers/episodes/3902/Robot_Chicken_Constantine_Dark_Tip.html|url-status=dead}}</ref> Custom action figures made in the likeness of celebrities are used to portray them.

Each episode is composed of short unrelated sketches varying from a few seconds to a few minutes long. Between each sketch is a moment of [[Noise (video)|static]], resembling the act of [[channel surfing]] on an [[analog TV]].

The show mocks [[popular culture]], referencing toys, movies, television, games, popular fads, and more obscure references like anime cartoons and older television programs, much in the same vein as comedy sketch shows like ''Saturday Night Live''.<ref name="askmeninterview">{{cite web|url=https://www.askmen.com/celebs/interview_300/328_seth-green-interview.html|title=Seth Green Interview|publisher=askmen.com|access-date=May 2, 2013|archive-date=June 2, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602071904/http://ie.askmen.com/celebs/interview_300/328_seth-green-interview.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>

A recurring motif involves fantastical characters being placed in mundane or adult situations (such as [[Stretch Armstrong]] requiring a corn syrup transplant after losing his abilities due to age, [[Optimus Prime]] performing a [[prostate cancer]] [[Public service announcement|PSA]], and [[Godzilla]] experiencing [[sexual dysfunction]]).<ref name="askmeninterview" />

''Robot Chicken'' features a rotating ensemble cast of recurring performers and cameos. Its most frequent performers include Seth Green, Matthew Senreich, [[Breckin Meyer]], [[Tom Root]], and [[Dan Milano]].

==Original characters==
{{overly detailed|section|date=November 2024}}
[[File:Robot Chicken costumes (5976959041).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Costumes based on the Mad Scientist and Robot Chicken at [[San Diego Comic-Con]]]]

''Robot Chicken'' primarily features satirical versions of celebrities and existing popular characters in its sketches, but it has also debuted some original characters created for the show.
* '''{{anchor|Robot Chicken}}Robot Chicken''' (vocal effects provided by [[Seth Green]]) is the show's titular character. He is a cyborg chicken with a red laser eye. First seen as a roadkill chicken on Highway 9W while he originally lived on Old Man McLauchlin's farm, the Mad Scientist revives him as a cyborg and experiments on him by forcing him to watch sketches on numerous TV monitors. In the 100th episode, he gets freed by a maid and later kills his creator after he kidnaps his wife.<ref name="auto13" /> He later revives the Mad Scientist as a cyborg and reverses the roles, forcing him to watch sketches.
* '''{{anchor|The Mad Scientist}}The Mad Scientist''' (voiced by [[David Lynch]]) is a scientist who revived the Robot Chicken. He has wild white hair and a diabolical grin. His real name is revealed to be Fritz Huhnmörder (German for 'chicken murderer') in the season 3 episode "Werewolf vs. Unicorn". He was killed by the Robot Chicken after the events of the 100th episode only for him to be revived as a cyborg in the sixth season's opening sequence. The Robot Chicken then gets his revenge by forcing the Mad Scientist to watch the same sketches that he had been previously forced to watch. In the season 10 episode "Fila Ogden in: Maggie's Got a Full Load" with the ''[[Saturday Night Live]]''-styled opening, the Mad Scientist's nickname is Rick Sanchez, named after [[Rick Sanchez|another Adult Swim mad scientist character]] due to his resemblance to the same character. He actually has five kids, in which they include his crazed son, a teenage daughter who is goth, an 8-year-old daughter, and infant twins: a boy named Damien, and a girl named Rhiannon. Additionally, he also has a wife named Kathrine. It also reveals that the Mad Scientist's birthday is on January 21.
* '''{{anchor|The Nerd}}The Nerd''' (voiced by Seth Green) is a 26-year-old nerdy man with square-framed glasses who [[lisp]]s. He appears in many episodes and often ends up in wild situations in famous media. Although his name was mentioned as "Gary" in the season 1 episode "Joint Point", recent Adult Swim commercials for some later episodes give his name as "Arthur Kensington, Jr.". He dies in the season 9 finale only for him to get revived as a cyborg in the tenth season's opening sequence. Despite his transformation into a cyborg, sometime in between the season 10 finale and the season 11 premiere, he was finally restored to normal.
* '''{{anchor|Cluckerella}}Cluckerella''' (vocal effects provided by Seth Green) is the Robot Chicken's wife. She wears a dress and has blonde hair and red lipstick. She gets kidnapped by the Mad Scientist during the 100th episode, causing the Robot Chicken to go to the lab and kill him to rescue her. In the season 7 finale, it is revealed that Cluckerella has left him.
* '''{{anchor|Mad Scientist's Son}}Mad Scientist's Son''' (voiced by [[Zachary Levi]]) is the Mad Scientist's 32-year-old twisted son, who steals his cyborg-making tools as part of a plot to kidnap all living U.S. presidents for ransom. However, he ends up being defeated by the Robot Chicken and the Mad Scientist, who then forces him to watch the sketches as punishment. According to the script of the season 7 finale, his real name is revealed to be Tony Huhnmörder-Anderson.
* '''{{anchor|Bitch Pudding}}Bitch Pudding''' (voiced by [[Katee Sackhoff]]) is an [[original character]] addition to the ''[[Strawberry Shortcake]]'' universe. Bitch Pudding is a foul-mouthed, crass and violent 18-year-old woman and a former resident of Pastryville who has a penchant for insulting, tormenting, and sometimes even killing others. In her debut appearance in the season 4 episode "P.S. Yes, in That Way", she seems to be 8 years old for early episodes, but in later episodes to show her as a young adult when she gets a growth spurt. In season 7, she became the first of the series' recurring characters to have their own first single storyline special, titled the "Bitch Pudding Special".
* '''{{anchor|Unicorn}}Unicorn''' (voiced by [[George Lowe]]) is a white homosexual [[unicorn]] who is a complete pervert. In his debut appearance in the season 2 episode "Suck It", he appears before the Nerd, who had just daydreamed about unicorns being real. When his magic horn is polished, it gives "magical unicorn mayonnaise".
* '''{{anchor|Humping Robot}}Humping Robot''' is a mute robot looking for love, who is first seen humping a [[washing machine]] in the season 1 episode "Atta Toy". He has also been seen humping church bells, jukeboxes, and slot machines, among other metallic objects. In the season 3 episode "Werewolf vs. Unicorn", he is revealed to be a father of his unknown robotic family, according to the gravestone of him.
* '''{{anchor|Bloopers Host}}Bloopers Host''' (voiced by [[Jamie Kaler]]) is the host of the "Bloopers!" sketches, which parodies the early years of ''[[America's Funniest Home Videos]]'', sometimes substituting home videos for humorous television and film outtakes. At the end of almost every sketch he appears in, he commits [[suicide]] in various ways, including hanging himself, swallowing whiskey and pills, putting a toaster in a bathtub, and suffocating himself with a plastic bag.
* '''{{anchor|Mo-Larr}}Mo-Larr: Eternian Dentist''' (voiced by [[Michael Ian Black]]) is an original character addition to the show's ''[[Masters of the Universe]]'' parodies. Mo-Larr is the resident [[dentist]] of Eternia. He is willing to resort to drastic measures in order to perform his dental work on unwilling patients such as [[Skeletor]], even going so far as to ensnare [[Beast Man]] in dental floss and stick a dental drill into Grizzlor's eye. His real name is revealed to be Moe Larrstein in the season 5 episode "Terms of Endaredevil".
* '''{{anchor|Composite Santa Claus}}Composite Santa Claus''' (voiced by [[Christian Slater]]) is a genocidal monster who is half [[Santa Claus]], half [[snowman]], and is based on [[Composite Superman]]. In the season 4 episode "In a DVD Factory", his backstory is revealed: he was created by a diabolical scientist from the combined DNA of Santa and [[Frosty the Snowman]]. After he awakens, he shoots the scientist and his two assistants with an automatic rifle, killing the latter two, and goes on a rampage, waging war on all non-Gentile religions. Whenever he is defeated, he refers to the method or substance used as his "only weakness".
* '''{{anchor|Little Drummer Boy}}Little Drummer Boy''' (voiced by Seth Green) is an [[anime]] version of [[The Little Drummer Boy (TV special)|the popular character of the same name]]. His drums can summon demons when beaten. He debuted in the "A Very Dragon Ball Z Christmas" sketch.
* '''{{anchor|Daniel}}Daniel''' (voiced by Seth Green) is a negative-minded teenage nerd who hosts a web series where he complains about inaccuracies in media – and not even ''Robot Chicken'' is immune from his criticism. Daniel's nickname is "Gyro-Robo". He masturbates frequently and is often targeted by the local bully, Munson.
* '''{{anchor|Munson}}Munson''' (voiced by [[Breckin Meyer]]) is a jerkish teenager who bullies nerds, especially Daniel.
* '''{{anchor|Gary the Stormtrooper}}Gary the Stormtrooper''' (voiced by [[Donald Faison]]) is a fictional addition to the cast for the show's ''[[Star Wars]]'' parodies. Gary is a clumsy, bit incompetent and well-meaning 29-year-old [[Stormtrooper (Star Wars)|stormtrooper]] who usually messes things up due to his clumsiness. Despite that, he is able to make his work right. In the special ''[[Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II]]'', he is revealed to be a married family man who lives with his wife Beverly and his young daughter Jessica, who according to his wife, hardly ever sees him due to his work; but is making efforts to be involved more in her life. In the special ''[[Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III]]'', it is also revealed that his family lives on [[Alderaan]].
* '''{{anchor|Aliens}}Aliens''' (voiced by Seth Green, Breckin Meyer, Adam Talbott, [[Mark Hamill]], and [[Patrick Stewart]]) are a race of wacky [[grey alien]]s who have a tendency to bungle their plans and efforts, usually resulting in them letting out a frustrated scream of "Dammit, dammit, dammit!"
* '''{{anchor|Gummy Bear}}Gummy Bear''' (voiced by [[Michelle Trachtenberg]]) is an anthropomorphic [[gummy bear]] who is doomed to scream in pain from stepping on a [[Trapping#Foothold traps|bear trap]]. In her debut appearance in the season 3 episode "Tapping a Hero", she doesn't mind the taste of her own leg after she bites it off to free herself only to step on another bear trap again.

==Episodes==
{{main|List of Robot Chicken episodes}}
{{:List of Robot Chicken episodes}}

==Syndication==
All ''Robot Chicken'' episodes from seasons 1-11 are available on [[Max (streaming service)|Max]]. The show is streamed censored on the service until [[Robot Chicken season 5|Season 5]].

The show aired on [[TBS (American TV channel)|TBS]] for a short time in October 2014.

==Advertising==
''Robot Chicken'' has partnered with various brands to produce television advertisements, including [[KFC]] in 2015,<ref name="auto9">{{Cite web|url=https://animesuperhero.com/sdcc2015-robot-chicken-goes-commercial/|title=SDCC2015: Robot Chicken Goes Commercial|first=Peter|last=Paltridge|date=July 12, 2015}}</ref> [[Burger King]] in 2017,<ref name="auto8">{{Cite web|url=https://www.bubbleblabber.com/2017/09/watch-the-new-burger-king-ad-produced-by-the-guys-who-make-robot-chicken/|title=Watch The New "Burger King"-Ad Produced By The Guys Who Make "Robot Chicken"|first=John|last=Schwarz|date=September 13, 2017|website=Bubbleblabber}}</ref> and most recently, [[Kellogg's]] [[Pop-Tarts]] in 2023.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1saF27xoQA|title=Robot Chicken &#124; Pop-Tarts [ad]|date=October 6, 2023|via=www.youtube.com|access-date=December 4, 2023|archive-date=December 4, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204162922/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r1saF27xoQA|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Home media==
{|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
|-
!rowspan="2"|DVD title
!colspan="3"|Release date
!rowspan="2"|Ep #
!rowspan="2"|Discs
|-
! style="width:17%;"|[[DVD region code#1|Region 1]]
! style="width:17%;"|Region 2
! style="width:17%;"|Region 4
|-
|''[[Robot Chicken season 1|The Complete First Season]]''
|March 28, 2006
|September 29, 2008 
|April 4, 2007
|1–20
|2
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|This two-disc boxset includes all 20 episodes from Season 1 in production order. While it contains many sketches that were edited from the TV airings, several of the original [[Sony]] Screenblast webtoons, and the words "Jesus" and "Christ" as an oath unbleeped (though "fuck" and "shit" are still censored out), the episodes are not all uncut. One particular segment that featured the [[Teen Titans (TV series)|Teen Titans]] meeting [[Beavis and Butt-Head]] was omitted from the DVD because of legal problems. The ''[[Voltron]]''/''[[You Got Served]]'' sketch shown on the DVD has a replacement song because of legal issues over the song that was used on the TV version. At a performance of ''Family Guy Live'' in Chicago, during the Q&A session that ends each performance, Seth Green was asked how they came up with the name ''Robot Chicken''. He explained that the title of each episode was a name Adult Swim rejected for the name of the show. A Region 2 version of the set was released in the UK on September 29, 2008.<ref name="auto4">{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B001D12ZKI|title=Robot Chicken – Season 1 Box Set (Region 2) (Pal): DVD|date=September 29, 2008|publisher=Amazon.co.uk|access-date=July 13, 2010}}</ref> Three edited shorts from ''Sweet J Presents'' were included on the ''Robot Chicken'' Season 1 DVD boxset.<ref name="tvcom1"/>
|-
|''[[Robot Chicken season 2|The Complete Second Season]]''
|September 4, 2007
|style=white-space:nowrap|September 28, 2009
|style=white-space:nowrap|November 11, 2007
|style=white-space:nowrap|21–40
|2
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|This two-disc boxset includes all 20 episodes from Season 2 in production order and uncensored, with the words "fuck" and "shit" uncensored (except for one instance in the episode "[[List of Robot Chicken episodes#ep23|Easter Basket]]" in the [[Lego]] sketch). It is currently available for download on [[iTunes]] (though the episode "[[List of Robot Chicken episodes#ep34|Veggies for Sloth]]" is absent because of copyright issues involving the "Archie's Final Destination" segment).<ref name="auto1">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/reviews/Robot-Chicken-Season-2/6795|title=Robot Chicken – Season 2 Review|publisher=TVShowsOnDVD.com|date=August 31, 2007|access-date=July 13, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091208143252/http://www.tvshowsondvd.com/reviews/Robot-Chicken-Season-2/6795|archive-date=December 8, 2009}}</ref> Seth Green stated at [[Comic-Con International|Comic-Con 2006]] that the second DVD set will contain the "Beavis and Butt-Head Join Teen Titans" sketch, which had been removed from the first DVD set because of copyright issues. However, the sketch is absent from the DVD (although it is available on iTunes). Bonus features include the [[List of Robot Chicken episodes#Specials|Christmas special]]. A secret Nerf gun fight can be found on the disc 1 extras menu and pushing "up" over the extras and set-up items on the menu reveals more special features.
|-
|''[[Robot Chicken: Star Wars|Star Wars Special]]''
|July 22, 2008
|August 11, 2008
|August 6, 2008
|1
|1
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|This single DVD features the ''[[Star Wars]]'' special in its TV-edited version (i.e. with bleeps in place of profane words) and several extras about the crew and their work on the special, including a photo gallery, alternate audio, and an [[easter egg (media)|easter egg]] demonstrating the crew's difficulty in composing a proper musical score for the sketch "Empire on Ice". It also features various audio commentaries, featuring members of the cast and crew.
|-
|''[[Robot Chicken season 3|The Complete Third Season]]''
|October 7, 2008
|January 25, 2010
|December 3, 2008
|41–60
|2
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|This two-disc boxset includes all 20 episodes from Season 3 in production order. This DVD is uncensored, except for the "Cat in the Hat" sketch from episode 7 on Disc 1. It also intentionally censored in episode 5 in the "Law and Order: KFC" sketch. This DVD has special features such as deleted scenes and animatics. It also includes commentary for all of the episodes and has "Chicken Nuggets" commentary for episodes 1 and 3–5. The bonus features also include a gag reel and audio takes.
|-
|style=white-space:nowrap|''[[Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II|Star Wars Episode II]]''
|July 21, 2009
|July 27, 2009
|August 5, 2009
|1
|1
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|This single DVD features the main ''Star Wars'' special extras, including normal ''Robot Chicken'' episodes and common DVD extras; "The Making Of"; and deleted scenes.
|-
|''[[Robot Chicken season 4|The Complete Fourth Season]]''
|style=white-space:nowrap|December 15, 2009
|August 30, 2010
|December 2, 2009
|61–80
|2
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|This two-disc boxset includes all 20 episodes from Season 4 in production order. The special features include "Chicken Nuggets", a San Diego Comic-Con '08 panel, "Day in the Life", a [[New York Comic Con|New York Comic-Con '09]] panel, video blogs, "Australia Visit", alternate audio, deleted scenes, deleted animations, and commentary on all 20 episodes.
|-
|style=white-space:nowrap|''[[Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode III|Star Wars Episode III]]''
|July 12, 2011
|July 4, 2011
|August 3, 2011
|1
|1
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|Interview with George Lucas, "Chicken Nuggets" (sketch by sketch video commentary), Behind the Scenes, Voice Recording Featurette, [[Star Wars Celebration]] V Robot Chicken Panel, [[Skywalker Ranch]] Premiere Trip, Writer's Room Featurette, Deleted Animatics w/video intros, Audio Commentaries.
|-
|''[[Robot Chicken season 5|The Complete Fifth Season]]''
|style=white-space:nowrap|October 25, 2011
|TBA
|November 30, 2011
|81–100
|2
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|This two-disc boxset includes all 20 episodes from Season 5 in production order. Nine of the episodes were previously unaired before the DVD release. The set includes commentary on all episodes, "Chicken Nuggets" on a few episodes and a featurette on episode 100. Deleted scenes and deleted animations are also included. Among the deleted scenes are the sketches "Beavis and Butt-Head Join Teen Titans" (deleted from Season 1 due to copyright issues) and the "Archie's Final Destination" sketch (deleted from Season 2 sets).
|-
|style=white-space:nowrap|''[[Robot Chicken DC Comics Special|DC Comics Special]]''
|July 9, 2013
|TBA
|September 18, 2013
|1
|1
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|The Making of the RCDC Special, RCDC's [[Aquaman]] Origin Story, Chicken Nuggets, Writers' Commentary, Actors' Commentary, [[DC Entertainment]] Tour, Stoopid Alter Egos, Outtakes, Cut Sketches, 5.2 Questions.
|-
|''[[Robot Chicken DC Comics Special 2: Villains in Paradise|DC Comics Special 2: Villains in Paradise]]''
|October 14, 2014
|TBA
|February 18, 2015
|1
|1
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|The second set of specials parodying DC Superheroes. Special features include the making of ''RCDC2VIP'', "Bad Hair, Musical Numbers and Sequels", "The Ones That Got Away", "20 Questions", "Chicken Nuggets", cut animatics, cut sketches, actors' commentary and writers' commentary.
|-
|''[[Robot Chicken season 6|The Complete Sixth Season]]''
|style=white-space:nowrap|October 8, 2013
|TBA
|November 20, 2013
|101–120
|2
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|This two-disc boxset includes all 20 episodes from Season 6 in production order. Special features include commentary on every episode, deleted animatics, featurettes, deleted scenes, channel flips and "Chicken Nuggets".
|-
|style=white-space:nowrap|''Christmas Specials''
|November 18, 2014
|TBA
|TBA
|6
|1
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|This DVD contains 6 [[Christmas]]-themed episodes: "Robot Chicken's Christmas Special", "Robot Chicken's Half-Assed Christmas Special", "Dear Consumer (Robot Chicken's Full-Assed Christmas Special)", "Robot Chicken's DP Christmas Special", "Robot Chicken's ATM Christmas Special" and "Born Again Virgin Christmas Special". Special features include commentaries, deleted scenes, deleted animatics and "long-forgotten" promos.
|-
|''Star Wars Trilogy''
|TBA
|December 4, 2015
|February 4, 2015
|3
|3
|-
|''[[Robot Chicken season 7|The Complete Seventh Season]]''
|style=white-space:nowrap|July 21, 2015
|December 11, 2020
|September 16, 2015
|121–140
|2
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|This two-disc boxset includes all 20 episodes from Season 7 in production order. Special features include commentary on every episode, featurettes and cut sketches.
|-
|''[[Robot Chicken DC Comics Special]]'' (collection)
|March 2018
|December 2, 2016
|June 20, 2018
|3
|3
|-
|''[[List of Robot Chicken episodes#Specials|The Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking]]''
|style=white-space:nowrap|March 27, 2018
|TBA
|August 15, 2018
|1
|1
|-
|colspan="6" style="text-align: left"|Inside the Robot Chicken Walking Dead Special: Look Who's Walking, Cut Sketches, Commentary, Sketches to Die For, Bawkward, Behind the Screams.
|-
|''[[Robot Chicken season 8|The Complete Eighth Season]]''
|TBA
|March 26, 2021
|April 17, 2019
|141–160
|2
|-
|''[[Robot Chicken season 9|The Complete Ninth Season]]''
|TBA
|March 15, 2019
|May 22, 2019
|161–180
|2
|}

[[Revolver Entertainment]] have released the first four seasons and all three ''Star Wars'' specials on DVD in the United Kingdom.<ref name="auto3">{{cite web|url=http://sitcomsondvd.co.uk/dvds/dvd/511/Robot-Chicken-Season-1|title=sitcomsondvd.co.uk|publisher=sitcomsondvd.co.uk|access-date=April 27, 2010}}{{dead link|date=December 2017|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}</ref> A box set including the first three seasons and a box set including all three ''Star Wars'' specials have also been released.<ref name="auto12">{{cite web|url=http://sitcomsondvd.co.uk/dvds/dvd/513/Robot-Chicken-Seasons-1-3|title=sitcomsondvd.co.uk|publisher=sitcomsondvd.co.uk|access-date=April 27, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090914042040/http://sitcomsondvd.co.uk/dvds/dvd/513/Robot-Chicken-Seasons-1-3/|archive-date=September 14, 2009}}</ref> [[Madman Entertainment]] has released the first nine seasons of ''Robot Chicken'' and specials on DVD in Australia and New Zealand.

Adult Swim released ''Robot Chicken: The Complete Series'' for digital purchase on iTunes and [[Vudu]] in July 2023.<ref name="auto7">{{Cite web|title=Vudu - Browse|url=https://www.vudu.com/content/browse/details/title/2534997|access-date=2023-09-08|website=www.vudu.com}}</ref>

==International broadcast==
The series airs in the [[United Kingdom]] and [[Ireland]] as part of [[E4 (TV channel)|E4]]'s [[Adult Swim (British and Irish TV programming block)|Adult Swim]] block, in [[Canada]] on [[Adult Swim (Canadian TV channel)|Adult Swim]] (previously [[Teletoon]]'s [[Teletoon at Night]] block from 2006 to 2019) and also in [[Quebec]] on [[Télétoon]]'s [[Télétoon la nuit]] block, in [[Australia]] on [[The Comedy Channel]]'s [[Adult Swim (Australian TV programming block)|Adult Swim]] block, in [[Russia]] on [[2×2 (TV channel)|2x2]]'s Adult Swim block, in [[Germany]] on [[WarnerTV Comedy]]'s Adult Swim block (previously [[WarnerTV Serie|TNT Serie]]'s Adult Swim block from 2009 to 2017), and in [[Latin America]] on the [[I.Sat]] Adult Swim block (after the Adult Swim block was canceled from [[Cartoon Network (Latin American TV channel)|Cartoon Network Latin America]] in 2008).

==References==
{{reflist|30em}}

==External links==
* {{official website|https://www.adultswim.com/videos/robot-chicken}}
* {{IMDb title|0437745}}
* [https://www.variety.com/review/VE1117933920.html?categoryid=32&cs=1 ''Robot Chicken'' – Star Wars Review] at ''[[Variety.com]]''

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