10 Interesting Facts You Didn't Know About BB-8

It’s fair to say that the sequel trilogy is quite divisive among Star Wars fans. While some people love the direction they took, others see them as focused too much on Rey or just badly set out. One thing I think most Star Wars agree on, though, is that BB-8 is super cute and a great addition to the galaxy.

The world got its first glimpse of BB-8 when merchandise and toys were released for Star Wars: The Force Awakens before the film hit theaters in December 2015. BB-8 is another type of astromech droid, similar to R2-D2, that can help fly and carry out maintenance on X-Wing starfighters. Throughout the sequel trilogy, he aids and abets the protagonists, developing close ties to Poe Dameron and Rey in particular. Everyone fell in love a little with BB-8 and the remote-controlled version released by Sphero was an instant hit, selling out very quickly.

RELATED: What Would A ‘Star Wars’ Droid Focused Movie Look Like?

As is the case with all things Star Wars, a lot of time, effort, and imagination went into creating BB-8. It’s that attention to detail that makes the franchise stand out. With that in mind, let’s look at 10 interesting facts you probably didn’t know about BB-8.

1. Simple Beginnings

For a movie franchise that involves a technologically advanced galaxy far, far away, it’s amazing how simplistic some of the design concepts were. Rather than being the result of an intensive brainstorming session or think tank, BB-8 started as a simple doodle on a napkin. It featured a ball with a small dome on top of it.

2. That’s Not CGI, That’s A Prop

When working on the prequels, George Lucas deviated from using the practical effects and props that were one of the stand-out features of Star Wars in the first place. CGI was responsible for bringing so many characters, spacecraft, and even planets to life in the prequel trilogy.

You could be forgiven for thinking that the teams behind the films in the sequels followed the lead from Lucas. However, one of J. J. Abrams' plans when he was directing Star Wars: The Force Awakens was to use as many practical effects and props as he could to give the film a similar feel to the original trilogy.

British special effects and make-up artist Neal Scanlan led the team that developed and constructed the models and puppets used to give life to the little astromech. Several different models were used for different scenes. While some were operated masterfully by puppeteers Dave Chapman and Brian Herring, others were maneuvered using a remote control. There was one called “the wiggler” that could turn and twist on the spot for close-ups. Another version called “the trike” featured stabilizer wheels so it could be driven without a puppeteer. Impressive stuff!

3. Magnetic Head

There is a lot of clever stuff at play in the design of BB-8. Although his head looks like it is connected to his body, it really isn’t. How does the dome head stay on the sphere body? Surely it would fall off any time the little sassy bot moved?

Apparently, in the toy at the very least, it’s all down to magnetism—both magnetic attraction, and repulsion. There are some magnets placed around the edge to make sure the head and body remain close, while some are used to keep either component from having direct contact.

It also has a gyroscope built into it that makes sure it is always facing the right way up and accelerometers that make sure it knows whether it's static or moving. Those sensors produce measurements that continually adjust the unit so that it never loses its head.

4. That Which We Call A Rose, By Any Other Name Would Smell As Sweet

Some Shakespeare for you. The point the Bard was making was basically that the names of people and things don’t necessarily affect who or what they really are. Is that always true, though? Consider the fact that BB-8 had a different name entirely— “Surly.” It was supposed to highlight the little droid’s loud and extra personality.

I am glad they changed it because that sounds way too on the nose.

5. The Actual Name Has As Simple Origins As The Bot’s Design

When you have hundreds of different characters in a film, it must be a nightmare to name each of them, especially if you want the audience to connect with them. Sometimes, though, rather than fussing over the process too much, it requires a more simplistic approach.

J.J. Abrams chose the name BB-8 because of its almost anthropomorphic quality. The droid looks like an 8 and also 2 B‘s. Hey presto, BB-8 was born!

6. Child-Like, Cute And Manipulative

Personality has always been important when creating droids and other artificial lifeforms for science fiction. So many of the best-loved characters in the entire Star Wars franchise are the synthetic beings. Why? Because they have very nuanced personalities. Whether it’s the nervousness and complaining nature of C-3P0 or the original king of sassiness, R2-D2, some of the performances by the droids give the real actors a run for their money!

Things were no different with BB-8. So, rather than BB-8 just being cute, there’s a self-awareness behind it all. BB-8 knows he’s cute and is manipulative, in much the same way children can be. That is all deliberate.

7. The Voice Of An Angel? No, Try Comedy Actors Instead

Thanks to the love many have for Star Wars, there were a lot of big-name cameos in the sequel trilogy. For example, I’m sure we all know that the first time Rey uses Jedi mind powers in Star Wars: The Force Awakens is on a stormtrooper with the designation JB-007, played by Daniel Craig.

Did you know that BB-8 is voiced by two big-name comedy actors? Given the indecipherable noises he makes, it’s not surprising if you don’t. Ben Schwartz (Sonic the Hedgehog, Sonic the Hedgehog 2, Space Force, Parks and Recreation) and Bill Hader (Saturday Night Live, Barry, It Chapter Two) both supplied their talents through a talkbox connected to an iPad running a sound effects app.

8. What Is He Actually Saying Though?

It seems that within the world of droids and synthetic beings there are just as many different languages as there in our human culture. As we know from the interactions characters have with BB-8, like R2-D2, they seem to know what the droids are saying. Poe Dameron and Rey obviously brushed up on their 27th generation droidspeak as that’s the language BB-8 uses to communicate. It is a compressed form of binary, consisting of sound effects including beeps and shrieks arranged into a specific order.

9. Swiss Army Droid

One of the reasons why I fell in love with BB-8 pretty quickly into that first time seeing him in action in Star Wars: The Force Awakens was just how versatile he is. There seemed to be no limit to what he could do with gadgets and gizmos inside the various compartments in his body, from the lighter to signal a thumbs up to Finn to the various hook-like accessories that he used to hang on to the Millennium Falcon to those long metallic fingers that are reminiscent of an aye-aye’s middle finger.

That was apparently the point of his design. They wanted to give teams working on any of the other sequels the opportunity to use BB-8 in whatever way necessary. Neal Scanlan has also stated for the record that he sees BB-8 as a Swiss army droid.

Other equipment the rolling multitool has at his disposal include a welding torch, an arc welder, a holoprojector, and a selenium drive with a thermal hyperscan vindicator, obviously.

10. He Was Extremely Loyal Beyond His Original Programming

Like all astromech droids before him, BB-8 was designed to be loyal to his master, Poe Dameron. However, his original programming meant that he was supposed to follow orders. Throughout the sequels, though, he developed a strong connection to Poe and Rey, and as such the clever little troublemaker actually wrote a strong subprogram based on his experiences – more akin to a dog than a traditional synthetic companion.

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Written By Paul Stewart

Source(s): Screen Rant, Wookieepedia, Celebrations Press, Art Tech Metaphors, Forbes

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