- For the weapons system nicknamed "R2-D2", see Phalanx CIWS.
R2-D2 (called R2, or "Artoo" for short), is a fictional character in the Star
Wars universe. R2 is one of the only four characters - the others being
Anakin Skywalker/Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and droid companion C-3PO - to appear in all six Star
Wars films. He and C-3PO are arguably one of the most famous duos in film history.
The original R2-D2 chassis was specially created by Australian firm Petric Engineering and
was precision made to a high standard with high tolerances. R2-D2 was played by Kenny Baker
in five of the six Star Wars films, (though credited with appearing in Revenge of the Sith, he never filmed any scenes) with many scenes filmed
using mechanical and computer-generated
imagery (CGI) versions of the character.
In the prequel trilogy
In Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace, R2-D2 is
introduced as a droid belonging to the Naboo defense forces, and helps repair Queen
Padmé Amidala's starship as it attempts to get past the
Trade Federation blockade. Later, R2 becomes part of Qui-Gon Jinn's party in Tatooine and meets C-3PO and Anakin Skywalker.
Later, he serves as the astromech droid for Anakin's starfighter during the attack on
the Trade Federation Droid Control
Ship.
In Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones, set
10 years later, R2 is still in Padmé Amidala's possession, and he accompanies Anakin and Padmé to Naboo when her life is
threatened, and then to Tatooine when Anakin tries to rescue his mother. Here, he is
reunited with C-3PO, and the two get into various misadventures on Geonosis. He and C-3PO are
later witnesses to Anakin and Padmé's secret wedding.
In Revenge of the Sith, R2 helps Anakin and
Obi-Wan Kenobi in their mission to rescue Chancellor Palpatine from Count Dooku's capital ship. He is attacked by Super battle droids, but manages to defeat both of them through ingenious tactics. R2 accompanies Anakin
throughout the rest of the movie, but does not play a large part in events. Later, C-3PO's memory is wiped clean to keep the
knowledge of the locations of Luke Skywalker and Princess Leia Organa a secret from their father, who has fallen to the dark side and become Darth Vader. Due to his inability to
communicate verbally, however, R2's memory is not wiped. In The
Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi,
however, R2 communicates with Luke on the trip to Dagobah via the computer screen of
Luke's X-wing starfighter. This lack of memory wipe makes R2 the only character by the end of Return of the Jedi
who knows the entire story of the Skywalker family. Both R2-D2 and C-3PO end up in the possession of Captain Raymus Antilles onboard the blockade runner Tantive IV at the end of Revenge of the Sith.
In the original trilogy
In A New Hope, both R2-D2 and C-3PO are on board the
Tantive IV along with Princess Leia of Alderaan, now an adult, when they come under attack by the Star Destroyer Devastator. Leia slips R2-D2 a disc containing a distress message and the plans for
the Death Star battle station.
Once again on the planet Tatooine, R2 and C-3PO are abducted by Jawas
and bought by Owen Lars, adoptive uncle of Luke Skywalker. Luke
discovers a part of the hidden message but does not act on it, and R2 escapes on his own to seek out Obi-Wan Kenobi. Soon Luke is
forced to leave Tatooine with Obi-Wan, Han Solo, and Chewbacca, and they attempt to deliver R2-D2 to the Rebel Alliance.
Along the way, they are captured by the Death Star, but eventually rescue Leia and escape. R2-D2 delivers the plans to the
Alliance, and becomes Luke's astromech droid during the attack on the
station. R2 is severely damaged during the battle, but is restored before the awards ceremony at the end of the film.
In The Empire Strikes Back, R2 accompanies Luke
to Dagobah and later to Cloud City, where he again helps to rescue and repair a heavily
damaged C-3PO. He also manages to fix the Millennium Falcon's hyperdrive, resulting in a last-minute escape from the Empire.
In Return of the Jedi, R2-D2 plays a critical role in
the rescue of Han Solo from Jabba the Hutt, and later joins the Rebel strike team on
Endor. He helps bring down the deflector
shield so the fleet can destroy the new Death Star.
Behind the scenes
There were a total of 15 R2-D2s on the set of Attack of the Clones. Eight were radio-controlled; two were worn by Baker;
the remainder were stunt models that could be moved by puppet strings or towed by wires.
The sound effects for R2-D2's "voice" were created by sound designer Ben Burtt, using an
ARP 2600 analog music synthesizer, as well as his own vocalizations processed through other
effects.
Analysis
The two droids establish the comic relief of the series. However, R2 is decisive and
courageous in comparison to C-3PO, who tends to panic and dither in the face of danger. For instance, in A New Hope when
they realized that their human companions were in jeopardy in a crushing trash compactor, C-3PO was in a panic while R2-D2
quietly and quickly set to work to stop the garbage crushing machine.
R2-D2 is present at the weddings of two generations of Skywalkers: Anakin and Padmé in Attack of the Clones, and Luke
and Mara Jade two decades after Return of the Jedi.
R2 saves the day
At least once in every film of the Star Wars saga, R2-D2 performs a droid function that rescues one or more of the
series’ human protagonists, thus, in many cases, altering the fate of the galaxy. This is what first made R2 so popular with his
allies. One of the most used features of R2-D2 is the ability to tap into computer systems, enemy or not, to operate machinery,
such as doors.
- Episode I: In his introductory scene, R2 restores power to the shields protecting Padmé's space cruiser as she and her
protectors flee Naboo. Keeps Qui-Gon, Obi-Wan, and Padmé alive.
- Episode II: Stops the production line in the droid factory, saving Padmé from being burned alive by molten metal.
Since Padmé is still alive, Anakin will still turn to the dark side. Retrieves C-3PO's head and torso during the Battle of
Geonosis, saving him from the junk pile.
- Episode III: Aids Obi-Wan and Anakin while they traverse General Grievous’ ship. He creates a distraction to Grievous
allowing Obi-Wan and Anakin to retrieve their lightsabers.
- Episode IV: Delivers a message to Obi Wan Kenobi from Princess Leia, and by escaping to do so, saves Luke's life from
the Empire's onslaught on his aunt and uncle, and their home. Luke will still be able to stop his father. Stops a trash compactor
from crushing Luke, Leia, Han, and Chewbacca on the Death Star. Holds the plans for the Death Star, which ultimately allows the
Rebel Alliance to find its weak point and destroy it.
- Episode V: Uses an extinguisher to cloud a doorway allowing Leia, Lando, and Chewbacca to escape onto the
Millennium Falcon. Reactivates the Falcon’s hyperdrive allowing the ship
to escape capture by the Imperial Fleet.
- Episode VI: Conceals Luke’s green lightsaber in one
of his compartments and passes it to him, allowing Luke to rescue Han and their companions from Jabba the Hutt. R2-D2 also
"helps" C-3PO disembark Jabba's exploding ship, saving him once again from the junk pile.
R2-D2 in popular culture
Inspiration
- Lucas has stated that Akira Kurosawa's 1958 feature
film The Hidden Fortress (USA release 1962) was a strong influence,
particularly, Tahei and Matakishi, the two goofy, buffoonish characters that serve as sidekicks to General Makabe.
- R2-D2 was partly inspired by the robots Huey, Dewey, and Louie from Douglas
Trumbull's 1972 film Silent Running.
- The name is said to derive from when Lucas was making one of his earlier films, American Graffiti. Sound editor Walter Murch states that he
is responsible for the utterance which sparked the name for the droid. Murch asked for Reel 2, Dialog Track 2, in the abbreviated
form 'R-2-D-2'. Lucas, who was in the room working on the script for Star Wars, heard the request and, after asking for
clarification, stated that it was a "great name".[1]
- In some Spanish-speaking countries R2-D2 is frequently referred to as
Arturito ("little Arthur"), since it sounds similar to the English
Artoodeetoo.
- Around the same time that A New Hope was being shot, Ray Harryhausen had
already created Bubo for the 1981 film
Clash of the Titans. It was a metal owl with a big head that flew heavily and
made whistles and tweets. Harryhausen denied a relation: "contrary to what some critics said at the time, Bubo was invented
before R2D2"[2].
- It has been proposed that R2-D2 may have also been partly inspired by the design of Analyzer from the 1972 Japanese anime classic Space Battleship Yamato, known as
IQ-9 in its English dub Star
Blazers. IQ-9 is a multi-function robot with a short cylindrical body, domed head and tracked wheels, who can fly when
necessary, and possesses a wide variety of tools and implements for performing tasks and defending himself. And, like R2-D2, IQ-9
can be quite stubborn.
Expanded universe
- R2-D2 and C-3PO had their own animated series,
Star Wars: Droids.
- In the various Star Wars novels and comics, the droid duo have played a small but significant role. During the
Black Fleet Crisis, for example, they were mostly out of the way, working with
Lando Calrissian and Lobot to discover the mystery behind the Teljkon Vagabond. In the Expanded Universe novel
The Swarm War, R2 inadvertently helps Luke and Leia come to grips with their
heritage when an electronic glitch unearths long-concealed images of Anakin relating his fear of losing Padmé, and of Padmé's
death.
- In Star Tours, he is seen in the queue with C-3PO repairing a StarSpeeder 3000 and during the ride as the navigator.
- In the latest issue of Legacy (#12), R2-D2 is revealed to have survived the resulting 88 years after his last appearance and
has been upgraded to the technology used in 137 ABY. He was presented to Cade Skywalker
by the old Jedi Order member K'Kruhk and Cade's Master Wolf when
Cade went to rescue a captured Jedi being held by Darth Krayt on Coruscant.
Popularity
- R2-D2 was inducted into the Robot Hall of Fame in 2003.
- R2-D2 is one of the most well-loved characters in the Star Wars universe. He is especially well-received by the
younger fans due to his unthreatening short stature (96 cm) and "kid-friendly" design.[citation needed]
- Ewan McGregor, who portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in the prequel trilogy, said in an interview, "As soon as Artoo-Detoo comes on the set, everyone goes
a bit silly." He recalled how his then four-year-old daughter announced she was in love with R2-D2, and then confessed his own
affections for the astromech: "...there is something about him that makes you feel great affection for him. I think it is a
combination of his shape, his high-pitched voice. He's just incredibly appealing. In fact, I believe he is George [Lucas]'s
favorite actor." Lucas confirms this in the audio commentary of the Episode: III DVD.
- Nation from Project Bounce talked like him on a July 20, 2007 episode of project bounce
Notable appearances outside the Star Wars series
A R2-D2 themed mailbox in
Boston, Massachusetts as part of the celebration for
Star Wars' 30th anniversary
- R2D2 was mentioned in the 2nd season episode of Stargate Atlantis, The Lost Boys. Major Sheppard is shown flying a wraith
dart and the auto pilot activates. Sheppard asks "Artoo" to deactivate the auto pilot.
- R2-D2 and C-3PO guest starred in a series of segments on the children's television show
Sesame Street, aired in 1978.
- R2-D2 and C-3PO were featured as presenters at the 50th Academy Awards.
- Together with Luke Skywalker and Chewbacca, R2-D2 and C-3PO appeared on
The Muppet Show.
- In That '70s Show when Eric has his Dream about Star
Wars R2 is a vaccum Cleaner while his Friends are Characters fromthe Original (Ex: Hyde-Han Solo, Kelso-Chewbacca
- R2-D2 and C-3PO have appeared in numerous Star Wars-based commercials, television specials, and productions.
- Both R2-D2 and C-3PO appear as hieroglyphs in the Well of Souls in Raiders of the Lost Ark.[3]
- The PC video game Sam & Max Hit the Road features a bonus
shooting gallery during the ending credit roll, and one of the moving targets is a miniature R2-D2. Sam & Max was published
by LucasArts, which explains the cameo.
- Beepboopbeep is R2's counterpart in the spoof, "Thumb Wars"
- R2-D2 and C-3PO were the hosts of the Imax film Special Effects: Anything Can Happen.
- R2-D2's name appears in The Fairly Oddparents episode "Timmy TV " when
Timmy sticks his face in the wet paint outside, R2-D2's name and his "Foot prints" are near Timmy's cement tile.
- R2-D2 appears in three episodes of The Simpsons.
- In "The Regina Monologues", R2-D2 plays bass in Bart's "Moon Party"
fantasy.
- In "Mayored to the Mob", R2-D2 and C-3PO are presented as "the gay robots from
Star Wars" who wrestle the Cylons from the original Battlestar Galactica, in a clip of the battle it shows C-3PO being beaten up
and him begging R2D2 to help him to which he declines and runs off leaving C-3PO to suffer in Robot Wars.
- In the "Treehouse of Horror XVI" episode "I've Grown a Costume on Your
Face", Apu Nahasapeemapetilon is dressed in an R2-D2 costume. He later becomes
R2-D2 when a witch turns everyone into their costume.
- In the British television comedy series The Goodies, R2-D2 (played by Kenny
Baker) guest stars as a robot called EB-GB (Electronic Brain of Great Britain). The episode, "U-Friend or UFO?", is a spoof of the movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind and has EB-GB (R2-D2) take on the personality
of a Dalek. When asked by one of the Goodies characters, "EB-GB, how do you speak to aliens?" he
replies, "Exterminate!"
- R2-D2 makes a brief appearance in The Ultimate Showdown of
Ultimate Destiny.
- R2-D2 (along with Chewbacca and C-3PO) made a cameo in "Blind Ambition",
an episode of the animated TV show Family Guy. The episode ends with a reenactment of
the ending of Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, allowing the appearance of these characters.
- In the final Pinky and the Brain episode, which includes many of the
Animaniacs cast. A parody of Star Wars IV: A New Hope features Brain as a spoof of R2-D2 called Brain2 Me2.
- An R2-D2 likeness has been placed on numerous
postal boxes around the US in anticipation of the release of a series of Star Wars-themed postage stamps.
- R2 appeared on the April 2, 2007 episode of
Dancing With The Stars at Joey Fatone's rehearsal for a Star Wars-themed Tango.
- A R2 look-a-like appeared on the April 6, 2007 episode of Acceptable.tv, during a show called "Yo, Murder, He Rapped". But did not have the beeps and
whistles.
- Billybot, the robot version of Billy from The Grim Adventures of
Billy and Mandy's Big Boogey Adventure's head and panel are similar to that of R2-D2
- In one episode of the cartoon series Muppet Babies Kermit the Frog
was turned into R2-D2 and was on a couple of occasions mistaken for a trash can.
- In Nintendo's Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time if you go
to the Bombchu Bowling Alley as a child. Go into first-person view and look at the music machine. You will see a similar image of
R2D2 in the center of the machine.
- R2D2 has appeared in Family Guy numerous times one in Blind Ambition when Peter is getting his award he walks up similar to the final scene you
can see R2-D2 whith C-3PO. He reappears in Blue Harvest and is portrayed by
Cleveland Brown.
See also
- C-3PO
- Animated property; in terms of film production, R2-D2 is an animated property
Notes
- Wallace, Daniel. (2002). Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Characters. Del Rey. p.138.
ISBN 0-345-44900-2. Note: Canon sources are mixed as to whether R2-D2 has a gender, but Wallace (an official source) indicates
that the droid has masculine programming.
References
External links
