Saving Mother Robot tells the story of single mother Cao Yi, whose everyday life consists of her finding ways to make money and raise her young son, Xiao Hu. However, Xiao Hu feels that his mother does not have enough time to spend with him, so he frequently acts out in response. He also fantasizes that his mother will turn into the legendary “Madeleine” robot. Coincidentally, Cao Yi’s superior sends her to become an assistant to Xiao Tie, an eccentric photographer whose hobby is obsessively searching for UFOs. Because Xiao Tie was also raised in a single-parent home, he interacts with Xiao Hu in interesting ways and ultimately helps the young boy understand his mother’s situation.