UPDATE! The Force Awakens Designers Talk BB-8

bb8

Empire Magazine shared yet another interesting story from the pages of their latest isue due to release tomorrow August 27. This time The Force Awakens designers talk BB-8 and how they managed to create such unique character…

 

 

From EmpireOnline:

The droid began life as a quick Abrams sketch. “J.J. wanted something rolling on a sphere,” so I tried a lot of different designs developing that idea,” Concept Designer Christian Alzmann tells Lucasfilm’s Dan Brooks. “He would give direction on the kinds of shapes to use, and that led to a personality for the droid.”

 

Various BB-8s were created for shooting to perform different functions: one for close-ups; a couple with stabilizer wheels; one that could be picked up and interacted with by actors; one that could be thrown into shot without tipping over; and even an old-school rod-puppet version. But while a single fully-functioning, all-purpose BB-8 remained impractical for filming, it was a challenge the design team couldn’t leave alone.

 

“It had been sort of burning a hole in me,” says Senior Animatronic Designer Joshua Lee. “I started to design this crazy idea of one that would roam around and that we would show to the fans as well. We couldn’t do it for filming, but it had to be done! There are several ways of doing a ball robot, but there was nothing that included an articulated head or anything that could spin on the spot – and that’s one of BB-8’s signature moves. So, I started to design the prototype while Matt [Denton] adapted his existing software to make control of this new BB-8 possible.” The result made his public debut at Anaheim’s Star Wars Celebration last April, and may well play a significant role in Episode VIII.

 

 

For more details make sure to pick up the latest issue of Empire, on sale tomorrow.

 

 

 

UPDATE!

 

Dan Brooks from StarWars.com posted a much detailed and extensive article about BB-8, and how the character was brought to life. Check out the fantastic piece at StarWars.com.

 

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Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.

Born on April 24, 1980.

Val Trichkov (Viral Hide)

Founder of SWNN, MNN and The Cantina forums.Born on April 24, 1980.

52 thoughts on “UPDATE! The Force Awakens Designers Talk BB-8

  • August 26, 2015 at 7:33 pm
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    cool. looking forward to seeing real robotics featuring into sw

    • August 26, 2015 at 9:54 pm
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      As I understand from this article, they did not have a fully robotic BB-8 to use for filming. Just puppets and models. The robotic BB-8 we saw at SWCA was built after filming was finished, so you won’t be seeing that particular one in the film.

      • August 27, 2015 at 11:55 am
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        So does that mean that the bb8 in the 1st trailer is really CGI? Yeah they say its pratical effects but heres the contradiction

        • August 27, 2015 at 9:11 pm
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          It was a puppet and VFX painted out the rod and rig

  • August 26, 2015 at 7:36 pm
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    G

  • August 26, 2015 at 7:39 pm
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    Bee Bee Eight Survives Ep 7!

  • August 26, 2015 at 7:41 pm
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    Oh man! So what we saw @ celebration wasn’t in the film?

    • August 26, 2015 at 9:54 pm
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      correct

      • August 26, 2015 at 11:05 pm
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        I wouldn’t worry too much about it. BB-8 as a “character” transcends the individual props that are used to bring him to life, in movies or onstage.

        You don’t think R2-D2 is just one single prop re-used throughout all six (soon seven) movies, do you?

  • August 26, 2015 at 7:42 pm
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    Good thing about BB-8, he’s always a round when you need him.

    • August 26, 2015 at 7:46 pm
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      I’m going to use that and say I came up with it so my family will think I’m funny and I might make friends.

      • August 26, 2015 at 8:25 pm
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        You’re just envious he got the ball rolling first! You’ll bounce back I’m sure. Just don’t let it bowl you over in the future.

      • August 26, 2015 at 8:57 pm
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        “I’m going to use that and say I came up with it so my family will think I’m funny and I might make friends.”

        lol you aren’t friends with your family yet? ;P

        • August 26, 2015 at 10:18 pm
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          Sorry!! Reported comment by mistake!

      • August 26, 2015 at 9:00 pm
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        You don’t have the ball to make a BB-8 joke.

  • August 26, 2015 at 7:47 pm
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    Bb8 and r2 will fall in love

    • August 26, 2015 at 8:59 pm
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      BB-8 boots him up, Cloud City’s Central Computer shuts him down.

      R2D2: *long whistle*

  • August 26, 2015 at 7:48 pm
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    Super rad!

    • August 26, 2015 at 8:42 pm
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      oh, oh no, did someone just say super r.. ra.. i cant say it, no, the 80s have gone, long long time ago mate, got anything more relevant to today??

      • August 26, 2015 at 9:51 pm
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        Tight!

        • August 27, 2015 at 1:27 am
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          Mnt!

      • August 26, 2015 at 9:54 pm
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        By the way “Rad” is not an 80’s thing it’s a Southern California thing just like “Mate” is wherever you’re from dude.

        • August 27, 2015 at 12:21 am
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          dude!! get with the times dickwad, thats from 70s, you really are mixed up here, you a time traveller?

          • August 27, 2015 at 4:40 am
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            Did you just get all on butt with someone over his use of the word rad, then use the term dickwad?!?! Dickwad?!?!??!? Hahaha sounds like some shit Michael J fox woulda said when he went back to the future, bruh. Get off butt, and maybe go get laid. Somethin.

          • August 27, 2015 at 6:58 am
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            What the hell? First the Teht Offensive hitting us on a revered holiday, and now I’m not allowed to use the word “dude”?

            It’s on, it’s on like Donkey Kong!

  • August 26, 2015 at 7:58 pm
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    Even in the rare event that someone`s not a huge star wars fan. They would still find it hard not to fall in love with this very very cute droid. Its voice always cracks me up laughing every time I see the video of it coming on stage for the first time.

    • August 27, 2015 at 12:04 am
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      That sound is a bit of a 70s Disney idea of a robot voice though isn’t it? Which I suppose is fine – the 70s is a long time ago and far, far away.

      He still reminds me more of that b*****d robot from The Black Hole though.

  • August 26, 2015 at 8:02 pm
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    forgive my lateness, but has it been officially stated as to how exactly BB-8 works?

    My guess is that the head and the ball work independently. Maybe the head is stationed to the ball via magnets, and the ball works like any other motorized moving ball. As far as the head spinning, put some wheels under the chase of the head and put some motors to help it spin.

    Idk, just a guess. Anyone else know how?

    • August 26, 2015 at 8:45 pm
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      er…yeah. when it was explained on just about every site with star wars on it at the time. you been watching star trek all this time fella.
      ITS A PUPPET. ON STRINGS. MADE OF PAPER MACHE…DUR

      • August 26, 2015 at 9:04 pm
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        Ya I guess I was late to the news. But I wasn’t far from right!

        What is star trek btw?

    • August 26, 2015 at 9:12 pm
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      I believe it’s powered by, “movie-magic”.

  • August 26, 2015 at 9:27 pm
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    Hey I think we just found out BB-8 will be in episode VIII… Anyone notice BB-8 and Episode 8 have the same number in them? Is it a coincidence? I think not.

    • August 26, 2015 at 9:40 pm
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      So much for all this practical effects talk regarding BB-8 lol. The sense of realism for guy has disappeared for me now in the sense that I now can’t suspend my sense of disbelief whenever I see him…

      • August 26, 2015 at 9:51 pm
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        * My sense of realism for that droid has disappeared…

      • August 26, 2015 at 9:58 pm
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        Please tell me you’re trolling.

        Though they didn’t have the fully robotic BB-8 built for filming, they still had puppets and models. Puppets and models are practical effects.

      • August 27, 2015 at 4:31 am
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        3 ½ months away from prequel fans being marginalized into cinema oblivion. Can’t wait.

        • August 27, 2015 at 6:59 am
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          Oh, would you like some hot-dip for that chip on your shoulder?

          • August 27, 2015 at 10:02 pm
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            I’m growing fond of that chip.

    • August 27, 2015 at 8:35 am
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      “built and puppeteered BB-8 in the movie”

  • August 26, 2015 at 9:53 pm
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    I’m thinking BB-8 will be as annoying as Jar Jar Binks. When I saw the robot in the trailer I thought to myself is this a bad joke. Otherwise the film looks like its going to be brilliant.

    • August 26, 2015 at 10:03 pm
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      Unlikely

    • August 26, 2015 at 11:10 pm
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      I agree, that is unlikely. There is a difference between being cute and annoying.

      • August 27, 2015 at 12:51 am
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        This is not Star Wars.

        • August 27, 2015 at 2:39 am
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          Neither is the PT.

          • August 27, 2015 at 8:16 am
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            Neither is Return Of The Jedi.

  • August 26, 2015 at 11:20 pm
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    I’m betting they’ll make bb-8 volleyballs and/or soccer balls. They’d be kind of dumb not to.

    • August 27, 2015 at 7:00 am
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      Pool Float! Pool Float!

  • August 27, 2015 at 12:12 am
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    I picture a scene where Han Solo, much in the vein of ‘Either shut up or shut down,’ but with the calm of age, merely pushes BB-8 gently into a closet when the droid has been on screen about forty seconds. Han stops just short of looking at the camera in the style of Oliver Hardy, and BB-8 is never seen again. We get a knowing fourth wall-piercing joke, the kids still get their toy. Win-win.

  • August 27, 2015 at 12:57 am
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    I knew it, he’s just a puppet.
    I’m real.
    And better looking.
    Beep.

  • August 27, 2015 at 7:05 am
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    I am a cracker. so, that’s important.

    I liked what I’ve seen of BB8, time will tell if he’s good in the rest of the movie – BB-8 is significantly less offensive than the Ewoks – and I LIKE the ewoks.

    Whatever,
    I’m just still processing what you’re alias’ message has to do with you.

    That would be like me calling myself “Salad is mold-green”. wtf?

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