AllNewSuperRobot wrote:I still don't understand the fetish for giving them "faces" underneath face plates. It makes the existence of the faceplate itself redundant.
First off, it humanizes them for the kids. I know, I know...."we didn't need them back in the day". But you have to remember, the kids of today have not had the social interactions we did when G1 came out. Studies have proven that today younger generation does not have the capacity to read body language, voice inflection (thank you, inventor of the text message...), and expression at the level of Gen X and prior because they simply haven't had the exposures. This is worse for those who were essentially in their formative years during Covid and are now struggling to catch up with their learning. The younger generation's interactions have all been digital. Facebook, Instagram, etc. This is why Millenials and younger generations are having such an issue in the workplace relating to older people. They don't understand body language and associated nuances because they've spent the majority of their lives with their faces in their phones or so focused on themselves (thank you, inventor of the "selfie"...) that interaction has not been a priority.
Putting faces on bots allows the toons to subliminally teach expressions, interactions, and body language to the younger generation- something that Gen X and the previous generations learned by actually going outside and interacting face to face. That may not have been the intent, but it's logical based on the most recent psychological research.
It may not be that complicated, but that's my guess.