GIR (Invader Zim)

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G.I.R.

GIR is a popular character in the Nicktoon Invader Zim. As a robot, GIR technically has no gender, but he is usually referred to as being male, typically by Zim.

GIR is Zim's stupid, unfocused robot slave. He is easily influenced and impossible to fully control. He is a modified S.I.R. (Standard-Issued Information Retrieval) unit, but even he does not know what the "G" in G.I.R. stands for (several fans think G.I.R. stands for Garbage Idiot Robot, but Jhonen Vasquez has said that the "G" doesn't stand for anything). Occasionally he reverts to normal S.I.R. behavior, during which time his cyan components (although sometimes only his eyes) become red, but these periods are normally short-lived.

GIR is incapable of focusing his attention on important things for long periods of time and often speaks with no relevant coherent thought in mind (see quotes link below). He often contributes to Zim's failed attempts at world domination. GIR's normal disguise is a shoddy green dog suit, though he occasionally forgets to wear it in front of humans. He is infatuated with Earth culture and Gaz, the sister of Zim's enemy, Dib.

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GIR in his dog costume.

GIR's personality is essentially much like that of a dog or little brother. His main interests are sleeping, dancing, watching TV (in particular, the Scary Monkey show), eating,and aimlessly rolling on the floor. He cooks occasionally, making goodies including mashed potatoes and waffles, and often uses unusual ingredients such as peanuts, bacon, and soap. His favorite food is assumed to be tacos. He usually cooks only for himself, as Zim finds human food to be disgusting. However, by the time Zim Eats Waffles was shown, Zim had developed an immunity to human food, and he was shown eating the waffles GIR concocted throughout the episode (although GIR used ingredients not typically found in human food, which may explain why he can eat it). GIR, apparently eats solely for pleasure, as he is a robot and likely does not need food. He gets along well with others, and his best friend (other than Zim) is a pig who sometimes "visits" with GIR at Zim's house.

Jhonen Vasquez mentions in the Invader Zim DVD commentary that much of GIR's personality is simply attributed to the fact that he is a largely hedonistic character. Regardless of what Zim and others want of him, he will probably do anything that makes him feel good, no matter how crazy, if left to his own devices. Vasquez and the cast of the show have expressed that they dislike how some people consider GIR "cute", using the scene from Bestest Friend (GIR walks up to where Keef has been thrown out, and looks like he's going to comfort him, but he just takes his bacon) as an example. Curiously, GIR. is not utterly selfish and devoid of conscience, as he does do what Zim wants of him from time to time and often expresses his love for his master in ways that may make sense only to himself.

In the episode GIR Goes Crazy and Stuff, Zim uses a program locking machine set on a "dangerously high level" in an attempt to lock GIR in "Duty Mode" to make him a more efficient and obedient servant. These extended lucid periods, however, reveal to GIR Zim's overall incompetence. Duty Mode GIR subsequently tries to eliminate Zim, who he deems a threat to the mission. In the end, Zim realizes that a super-intelligent robot that hates him is a larger burden than a stupid robot that loves him, so he reverts GIR back to his former, normal self.

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Almighty Tallest Purple giving GIR his 'brain'.

GIR is a "custom" S.I.R. only in that he was haphazardly put together out of trash by the Tallest to prevent the waste of a good, working unit on Zim. His CPU is apparently made out of a screw, two monies, a marble (or gumball), and a paper clip. To everyone's surprise, GIR actually boots and is technically functional. Ironically, it is possible that a normal S.I.R. unit would also have become as rebellious as Duty Mode GIR and possibly killed Zim. Also, Defective S.I.R. Units, as observed in MegaDoomer, appear to act similar to GIR's normal behavior.

The Game Boy Advance game Nicktoons: Freeze Frame Frenzy refers to GIR Goes Crazy and Stuff: In the Danny Phantom stage, Zim, the main villain in the game (unlocked by getting 100% in the album), confronts his rebellious Helga robot and mentions that "using GIR's code was a really bad idea." This implies that non-S.I.R. robots could rebel with GIR's programming.

Zim and GIR

At the start of the series, Zim deemed GIR his "robot slave." Throughout most of the earlier episodes, Zim and GIR's relationship was established as master and servant (indeed, GIR usually refers to Zim as "Master"). Later on, however, Zim refers to GIR as his sidekick.He loves his cupcakes and Tacos.

Their relationship is oddly complex for a children's series. While Zim initially wished that GIR were operational, and though he often shouts at him and blames him for his failures, he regularly expresses concern for GIR's safety and treats him affectionately. Although Zim is frequently frustrated by GIR's incompetence, he takes no steps to deactivate or get rid of GIR (but he does try to replace him in "Nubs of Doom"). One reason Zim may keep GIR around is because he is the only friend Zim has.

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Bloody Gir

One of his commonly used phrases is " I don't know"

Bloody GIR.

Bloody GIR is a secret character visible in several episodes of the series. To see him, one would likely need a DVD player capable of viewing screens frame by frame. In Bad, Bad Rubber Piggy voot cruiser crash sequence in the opening of Plague of Babies. He is seen looking in the window of the voot at the left hand corner of the screen several times, some more noticeable than others.

The origins, meanings, and/or symbolism of Bloody GIR are disputed.

Voice actors

GIR is voiced by Rosearik Rikki Simons.