Wikipedia gives me ideas...

[pyrospectacle.livejournal.com]

...and I bet at least some of you will agree. Fear my copy-pasta:

"A Zoid is essentially a mechanical animal formed around a techno-organic 'core' (known as a "Zoid Core"), which serves as its heart and mind. The Core is considered to be 'alive', making the Zoid a living creature. Otherwise, its body is an artificial mechanical construct like any other mecha."

Sounds familiar, doesn't it?

For more info, please see: "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoids"  Any ideas brewing?