Copernicus

**Copernicus** is a main character in Adult Swim's adult animated fantasy television series *Unicorn: Warriors Eternal*.

He is a steam-powered robot who is tasked with helping a group of heroes known as Unicorn, who were accidentally reawakened in the bodies of teenagers instead of adult hosts they’ve embodied in the past. Thus, he works alongside Melinda, Seng and Edred, but they are held back with distorted memories and their magical abilities weakened and fragmented after their rebirth. They in turn work together with help from Copernicus in order to unravel the mysteries of their pasts and present that will reveal their path to defeating a timeless threat.

## Appearance

Copernicus is a rotund robot comprised of gold colored metal plates, fastened by bolts. His body is divided into two semispherical regions by a vertical metal platting that travels around his body, in between his legs, which intersects at his neck's front and back sides with nuts bolted in. The right region displays a dial under the robot's right "armpit" and a valve higher up. The face is comprised of lenses for eyes that glow orange, a nose-like square piece that slopes upwards, a roll of small white metal plates in place of teeth and the upper part of his head resembles a top hat. His eyes also display camera shutters which act as eyelids when expressing some emotions. His feet are a pair of rectangular shoe-shaped, metal blocks with flat sols. His hands are robust, with segmented fingers. Copernicus's legs and arms are comprised of two pairs of pneumatic tubes which can stretch.

Do to his transformative functions Copernicus will on occasion sprout vehicular appendages, such as a jet back from his back or a set of wheels, while transporting his comrades. Subsequently, he can retreat his arms, legs and a portion of his head inside his body.

## Personality

As the only member of the Order of Unicorn incapable of speech, Copernicus must instead rely on a series of puffs and bodily gestures in order to express his emotions.

## History

Copernicus is a robot that was brought from the future by the wizard Merlin with the purpose of awakening Unicorn as they reincarnate throughout the ages, so that they may continue to defend the world from an evil threat. Copernicus would keep to this task for millennia, locating and awakening each of the heroes current incarnations, along with assisting them in their many battles.

At some point, Copernicus was left buried underground in a cemetery and remained there until the same evil threat that Unicorn had continued to battle, came for him in an attempt to destroy him and prevent Unicorn from awakening once more. Robotic minions arrived at the cemetery in London, 1890 and found where Copernicus rested. They excavated his body and attempted to destroy him, but this only caused him to activate. The robots attacked Copernicus, though he quickly dispatched them and then set out to find the current incarnations of Unicorn.

Copernicus would find the sorceress Melinda's current incarnation in a young girl named Emma Fairfax who at the time was to be married. Right in the middle of the ceremony, Copernicus arrived and startled everyone. Believing him to be a threat, several of the attendees at the wedding attacked Copernicus, including Emma's father and her fiancé, Winston. Copernicus pushes them aside and proceeds to awaken Emma and have her become Melinda. However, Emma was still very young at the time rather than the adult host that was meant to be awakened so while it did happen, it also damaged her memories and powers. A confused and disoriented Melinda then leaves the wedding, flying away with Copernicus following her.

## Powers and Abilities

As a robot, Copernicus possesses a wide array of abilities which he can use in all sorts of situations.

* **Advanced Strength**: Copernicus possesses a great amount of strength.
* **Shapeshifting**: Copernicus is able reconfigure his body to adapt a variety of situations.
	+ **Flight**: Copernicus is able to reveal steam-powered jets which enable him to fly.
	+ **Tool Generation**: Copernicus can generate and utilize a variety of tools.
	+ **Vehicle Forms**: Copernicus is able to transform into all sorts of vehicles that can be ridden.
	+ **Extra Appendages**: Copernicus can unveil an extra set of arms.
	+ **Limb Extension**: Copernicus can extend his limbs allowing him to increase his reach.
* **Awakening**: Copernicus' most prominent ability is that he is able to locate the current incarnations of each member of Unicorn and utilize a magic beam generated from a device inside his body to awaken them.

## Gallery

Art by Tara BillingerArt made by Ian Higginbotham
## Trivia

* Thanks to footage of the series being shown at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival from June 13–18, 2022, character designs for Copernicus were showcased..
* Copernicus's design resembles Tik-Tok from *Return to Oz* (1985).
* His name could be in reference to Nicolaus Copernicus, who was a Polish astronomer and mathematician known as the father of modern astronomy. He was the first European scientist to propose that Earth and other planets revolve around the sun, the heliocentric theory of the solar system.

## References

1. ↑ Official Trailer for ‘Unicorn: Warriors Eternal’ Unveils Tartakovsky’s Epic Tale for Adult Swim’s Expanded Block - Animation Magazine
2. ↑ Annecy Gets ‘Pinocchio,’ ‘Spider-Verse,’ ‘Puss in Boots’ Footage and ‘Lightyear,’ and Unveils Festival Lineup - Variety
3. ↑ About Nicolaus Copernicus - History.com