Jenny Chan 陳詠欣
Dec 17, 2015

Watch: R2-D2's creator on why salesrobots, humanoids, and VPAs may be adland's Force

As the world awakens to the seventh episode of the Star Wars franchise today, Campaign Asia-Pacific revisits one of the series’ most beloved characters, R2-D2, and the technical wizard behind it.

The Star Wars brand is often associated with George Lucas, but R2-D2, the iconic stubby astromech droid, holds enduring appeal 38 years after it was built, kudos to Tony Dyson.

We asked the bubbly robotics guru whether it's marketing magic or something else that has maintained Artoo's popularity, and also got his take on the advertising impact of AI-enhanced machines, the future of selling, the fear of humanoids and — of course — BB-8, the adorable new droid in the latest installment in the saga, Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

(Editor's note: Special thanks to Noel McAvennie and Mark Stockill for helping with interview arrangements in Finland's Helsinki when Dyson spoke at the Nordic Digital Business Summit.)

 

 

Source:
Campaign Asia

Related Articles

Just Published

16 hours ago

40 Under 40 2024: Mamaa Duker, VML

Notable achievements include leading VML through a momentous merger, helping to reel in big sales, and growing WPP’s ethnic and cultural diversity network by a mile.

16 hours ago

Will you let your children inherit a world without ...

A raw, unflinching look at the illegal wildlife trade, starring Ray Winstone, will force you to confront the horrifying truth... and act.

17 hours ago

Campaign CMO Outlook 2024: Why marketers still want ...

In the second part of the Outlook series, global marketers weigh in on Amazon Prime’s move into ad-tier streaming, how video-on-demand will reshape strategies, and where it's still falling short.

19 hours ago

Jaguar's identity crisis: A self-inflicted wound ...

Jaguar's baffling attempt at reinvention from feline grace to rock-based abstraction is a masterclass in brand self-sabotage, says Resonant's Ramakrishnan Raja—and it risks destroying the marque entirely.