Our favorite robot Asimo stars in a Honda short-film documentary called “Living with Robots.” The docu “investigates humankind’s keen interest in robots and how robots can challenge the impossible by saving lives while also holding the promise to become more integrated and helpful in daily life.” In case you never heard of Honda’s ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), he’s “the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, and the company’s commitment to researching and developing bipedal mobility and how the research improves technologies across the company.” You can take a peek at the trailer for it above. If it pings your interest, the full length film was shown at this year’s Sundance Film Festival and will hopefully find its way to DVD and Blu Ray soon. Full PR after the break.
Isn’t that final sequence chilling, when Asimo looks at himself in the mirror? He very naturally tilts his head inquisitively, as if he were human. Help me realize our future: will robots take over the world (ie. iRobot) or will they develop to help maintain and better our lives?
[Via Engadget]
Honda Premieres “Living with Robots” Short-Film Documentary at Sundance Film Festival
Sundance Film Festival 2010
TORRANCE, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As part of the “DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE” Documentary Series, today Honda debuted its sixth short-film documentary, “Living with Robots,” at the Sundance Film Festival and at http://dreams.honda.com.
“The Sundance Film Festival is the ideal place to explore new and diverse ideas at the intersection of art, technology and mobility,” said Barbara Ponce, manager of corporate advertising for American Honda Motor Co., Inc. “Honda’s new film takes a fresh look at mobility through stories on one of Honda’s most challenging dream projects – ASIMO, the world’s most advanced humanoid robot.”
Directed by Joe Berlinger with producers @radical.media, “Living with Robots” investigates humankind’s keen interest in robots and how robots can challenge the impossible by saving lives while also holding the promise to become more integrated and helpful in daily life. The film highlights Honda’s ASIMO (Advanced Step in Innovative Mobility), the world’s most advanced humanoid robot, and the company’s commitment to researching and developing bipedal mobility and how the research improves technologies across the company. “Star Trek” and “Transformers” screenwriters Roberto Orci and Alex Kurtzman, academics, philosophers and several Honda associates and engineers are featured in the film.
“Our new film, ‘Living with Robots,’ features some of the most interesting subject matter we’ve ever covered in the ‘DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE’ Documentary Series. Acclaimed director Joe Berlinger really brought to life the fascinating story of the role of robotics in society. Many people are aware that Honda is researching robotics with the ASIMO project, but this film gives us a thoughtful and artistic glimpse of ASIMO and the future of robots that we’ve never seen before,” said Curt Johnson, creative director at RPA.
“Living with Robots” will be screened as part of special appearances by ASIMO for three days only at the Festival’s Village at the Yard. These demonstrations will highlight the advanced technology behind ASIMO and how a robot like ASIMO will someday help people. Screenings and demonstrations begin on Fri., Jan. 22 and continue through Sun., Jan. 24.
Within the Festival hub off Main Street at the Honda display tent, attendees can experience the Honda brand and Honda’s advanced products, by viewing “Living with Robots” and getting a sneak-peek at the all-new 2011 Honda CR-Z sport hybrid coupe, while also checking out the zero-emissions hydrogen-powered Honda FCX Clarity fuel cell electric vehicle.
To generate momentum and interest beyond the Sundance Film Festival, “Living with Robots” will be supported on cable and online. “Living with Robots” will be promoted throughout http://www.sundancechannel.com, and 15-second trailers will run on the Sundance Channel video-on-demand. The 90-second “Living with Robots” trailer will appear nationally in-theater in January.
A sponsorship of TNT’s limited-commercial-interruption movies includes custom-produced tune-ins co-promoting upcoming TNT movies and “DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE” films and placements of 90-second and 2-minute trailers of the films.
Honda will continue to showcase all of its documentary series trailers during ESPN’s “30 for 30” film series (http://30for30.espn.com), a weekly documentary series to celebrate ESPN’s 30th anniversary and features 30 films from some of today’s finest storytellers.
Syndicated online media will drive traffic to http://dreams.honda.com and will aid in creating buzz among consumers. “Living with Robots” units will run on relevant Web sites that appeal to the target, including technology, news and entertainment. The 90-second trailer will run on ABC.com and Hulu full episode players.
Launched in January 2009, the “DREAM THE IMPOSSIBLE” Documentary Series is intended to speak to both the hearts and minds of consumers by revealing stories of Honda’s corporate philosophy at work through an intimate multimedia, interactive Web site. The campaign strategy was developed by RPA, Honda’s longstanding agency of record.
The campaign targets 25- to 49-year-old adults with a youthful spirit, who are comfortable with technology, who value authenticity, and who are drawn to brands they can relate to, connect with, or admire.