The Wild Robot: Where Nature Meets Technology with Peter Brown

The Robot Report Podcast · 3 Dec 2024 · 52m

What this episode covers

Author and illustrator Peter Brown discusses the creation of his children's book series The Wild Robot and its adaptation into a DreamWorks animated film that has grossed over $320 million worldwide. Brown explains his intentional design choices for the protagonist, Roz, including her humanoid form inspired by C-3PO to foster empathy, and his research into robotics at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory. He details how he balanced scientific accuracy with narrative needs, such as giving Roz specific limitations like battery life to create tension, while aiming to present a positive, non-dystopian view of robots in society.

Mentioned

Companies
DreamWorks, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Peter Brown Studio
Products
The Wild Robot
Also
C-3PO, R2-D2, Wally, Rossum's Universal Robots

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