A 'Replicant' is an android (robot with synthetic human features), designed by the Tyrell Corporation.
Synthetic animals, known as 'Animoids' were made to be used as pets, notably Tyrell's owl and Deckard's sheep (in the novel). Later the synthetic human Replicants, derogatorily referred to as 'Skin- jobs', which were made for military purposes, were made and sent to the Off- World colonies on Mars to explore and colonize space. Tyrell's Nexus-6 model androids, were to be the ultimate synthetic human. They were stronger, faster and in the case of Roy Batty, more intelligent.
Pris, Zhora, Leon, and the fifth Replicant Mary (cut from the film)-all lead by Roy- escaped to Earth to find a way to extend their limited lifespan. The Nexus-6 model was given an even shorter lifespan than other androids, a failsafe to ensure they didn't develop their own human empathetic personalities, on account of them being used as slaves, and their only difference form humans being their lack of empathy.
In the novel, the cause of the 'Andy's' escape to Earth is given as being a desire to live their own lives, free from oppression, and not because of a limited lifespan. They also totally lack the empathy of their counterparts in the film.
For the movie, Ridley Scott wanted a new term for the Androids (or 'Andy's' as they were referred to in the novel). The term Replicant was supposedly created so that the viewer wouldn't know what to expect when first confronted with a Nexus-6.
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