Robot-Robot Interaction

The relationships that robots form with other robots are remarkably humanized in this movie.  While humans are unaware of the physical existence of another human around them, many of the robots form genuine friendships.  The most interesting robot-robot relationship is that between WALL-E and EVE.

WALL-E and EVE spend the most time face-to-face out of any other characters in the film.  Similarly, they also form the only genuine relationship in the film.  Although EVE is hesitant at first, WALL-E is relentless in his romantic pursuit of her. When EVE goes into incubation mode after receiving the plant, WALL-E worries for her safety and tries to rejuvenate her through solar power. WALL-E continues to care for EVE when she is incubating the plant and completely unreceptive to his advances. He puts his own life in danger to shelter her from a rain storm and sandstorm, takes her on a boat ride, and even tries to entertain her with video games. See the clip below to watch WALL-E selflessly care for EVE.

While EVE is initially unreceptive to WALL-E’s advances, she later appreciates his selflessness. EVE and WALL-E work together to overcome emotional boundaries and grow together while trying to deliver the plant to the captain. The emotional bonds that they form through interaction are distinctly human. The passengers aboard the ship could use a lesson on genuine human relationships from WALL-E and EVE.   They support and protect one another, and eventually fall in love.  See the clip below to watch EVE and WALL-E laugh, hold hands, and even hug – all anthropomorphized actions signifying love.

Like the humans in the clip above that are reminded to genuinely interact after seeing WALL-E and EVE’s dance, their entire robot-robot relationship serves as a reminder for today’s generations of what comprises a genuine human relationship. There must be actual face-to-face interaction that develops trust. The partners involved in the relationships must support and care for one another. And moreso, the partners must make sacrifices for the betterment of the relationship. An example of this sacrafice appears later in the movie when EVE ignores the directive of her strict programming, and instead of taking the plant to the captain, stays and cares for the injured WALL-E.