I was looking at the entry for Robby the Robot on the Internet Movie Database. Looking for his first film, I naturally expected it to be Forbidden Planet, the movie that he was invented for.
But it’s not.
His first appearance is listed as ** The Invisible Boy**, the unofficial sequel to Forbidden Planet.
It DOES list Forbidden Planet, but under “Self”. meaning movies or TV shows where the subject of the entry appears not “in costume” , but as themselves.
This is really weird, since.
a.) Robby the Robot isn’t an actual being, but is a made-up character. They’re treating his first movie appearance as if it were his “reality”, and he was just appearing as himself. That would make The Invisible Boy his first “film” appearance.
b.) Except that it isn’t, in any case. TIB makes it clear that this is a sort-of sequel to FP, and Robby is this playing himself. By the same logic that Robby’s first appearance goes under “Self”, this one should be, too.
c.) Putting Robby’s first screen appearance as “Self” makes as much sense as having a listing for “James Bond” and putting his appearance in the TV Climax version of Casino Royale listed under “Self”
d.) Robby has two more entries as “Self” that make even less sense.
I think the folks as IMDb need their collective heads examined.