What was the inspiration for C3PO and R2D2 in Star Wars?

02 March 2023
George Lucas has often credited Japanese filmmaker Akira Kurosawa as one of his major inspirations for the Star Wars franchise. One of the most notable inspirations from Kurosawa's work can be seen in the characters of protocol droid C-3PO and astromech droid R2-D2 in Star Wars, which were inspired by two characters from Kurosawa's 1958 film "The Hidden Fortress.

In the film, the characters Tahei and Matashichi are two bumbling peasants who are tasked with escorting a princess through enemy territory. Similarly, C-3PO and R2-D2 are two characters who find themselves in the middle of an epic adventure and are often the comic relief of the Star Wars franchise.

Beyond C-3PO and R2-D2, there are many other instances in which George Lucas borrowed from Akira Kurosawa's body of work. 

One of the most notable examples is the plot of the original Star Wars film, which was heavily influenced by Kurosawa's 1954 film "Seven Samurai." In both films, a group of heroes band together to defend a village from a group of raiders. Additionally, the iconic lightsaber duels in the Star Wars franchise were inspired by the samurai sword fights in Kurosawa's films.

hidden fortress poster


Another major influence from Kurosawa's work can be seen in the use of wipes in the Star Wars franchise. In many of Kurosawa's films, he uses wipes to transition between scenes. Lucas borrowed this technique for the Star Wars franchise and used it as a way to add visual interest to the films. It has become a key "Star Wars element' and even the other directors of Star Wars continued this technique.

Finally, the concept of the Force in Star Wars was heavily influenced by the Zen philosophy that is present in many of Kurosawa's films. In particular, the idea of the Force being a mystical energy that connects all living things is similar to the concept of ki in Zen philosophy.

  1. George Lucas originally wanted to make a film adaptation of Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress" before he started working on Star Wars.

The influence of Kurosawa's films on Star Wars can be traced back to the early stages of George Lucas's career. In the 1970s, Lucas was considering making an adaptation of Kurosawa's "The Hidden Fortress," which follows a princess and her two bumbling companions as they navigate enemy territory. While Lucas ultimately decided not to pursue the project, it's clear that the film had a lasting impact on his work, as the characters of C-3PO and R2-D2 in Star Wars are heavily inspired by the bickering peasants in "The Hidden Fortress."

  1. The character of Darth Vader's helmet was partially inspired by the helmets worn by the samurai in Kurosawa's films.

Another key inspiration from Kurosawa's films can be seen in the design of Darth Vader's iconic helmet. According to Lucas, the helmet was partially inspired by the helmets worn by the samurai in Kurosawa's films. The idea of a menacing figure wearing a black helmet and wielding a sword is a recurring motif in Kurosawa's work, and it's clear that this image had a profound impact on the design of Darth Vader.

  1. Kurosawa was not initially impressed with Star Wars and even referred to it as a "derivative" work.

Despite his influence on Star Wars, Kurosawa was not initially impressed with the film. In a 1978 interview with French film critic Michel Ciment, Kurosawa stated that he found Star Wars to be a "derivative" work that borrowed heavily from his own films. However, he also acknowledged that he was glad to see young people getting interested in science fiction and that he had enjoyed the film on a personal level.

  1. In return, Lucas paid homage to Kurosawa in the prequel trilogy by naming the planet on which the climactic battle of Episode III takes place "Mustafar," which sounds similar to Kurosawa's first name, Akira.

Despite Kurosawa's initial reservations about Star Wars, George Lucas clearly held the Japanese filmmaker in high regard. In the prequel trilogy, Lucas paid homage to Kurosawa by naming the planet on which the climactic battle of Episode III takes place "Mustafar." While Lucas has not explicitly confirmed that the name is a reference to Kurosawa, it's widely believed that he chose the name as a nod to the filmmaker.

  1. Kurosawa's 1961 film "Yojimbo" also served as an inspiration for Sergio Leone's "A Fistful of Dollars," which in turn heavily influenced the Western elements in Star Wars.

Kurosawa's influence on popular culture extends far beyond the Star Wars franchise. His 1961 film "Yojimbo," which follows a samurai who plays two warring factions against each other, was adapted into the Western "A Fistful of Dollars" by director Sergio Leone. The film, which stars Clint Eastwood as a gunslinger who plays two rival gangs against each other, heavily influenced the Western elements in Star Wars, particularly in the character of Han Solo.

  1. The music in many of Kurosawa's films was composed by Fumio Hayasaka, who was also a major influence on John Williams' score for Star Wars.

The music in Kurosawa's films was often composed by Fumio Hayasaka, a Japanese composer who was known for his innovative use of traditional Japanese instruments. Hayasaka's work was a major influence on John Williams' score for Star Wars, particularly in the use of leitmotifs to represent different characters and themes. In fact, Williams has cited Hayasaka as one of his main inspirations for using a symphonic score in Star Wars, as well as for incorporating non-traditional instruments like the shakuhachi and taiko drum.

  1. Lucas and Kurosawa actually met and had a friendly relationship. In fact, Kurosawa presented Lucas with a katana sword as a gift when they first met.

Despite any initial tension between Kurosawa and Star Wars, it's worth noting that Lucas and Kurosawa actually had a friendly relationship. The two filmmakers met in person in the early 1980s, and Kurosawa even presented Lucas with a katana sword as a gift when they first met. Lucas has spoken fondly of his interactions with Kurosawa, describing the filmmaker as "one of the great masters" of cinema.

Overall, the connections between Kurosawa and Star Wars are numerous and complex. From the characters and themes that inspired George Lucas, to the more subtle references and homages that can be found throughout the franchise, it's clear that Kurosawa's influence has had a lasting impact on one of the most beloved film series of all time.

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About the author Jimmy Jangles


My name is Jimmy Jangles, the founder of The Astromech. I have always been fascinated by the world of science fiction, especially the Star Wars universe, and I created this website to share my love for it with fellow fans.

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