A (synthetic) life in technicolor

The movie world has always used color design to convey and intensify the feeling that the plot intends to convey. The use of particular color palettes has allowed directors and cinematographers to put a distinctive signature on their production and create iconic films. This process does not only involve photography, but also makeup and costumes, which contribute to the final result. Deepening these considerations, it is interesting to investigate this approach in the design of robotic characters in movies. Does the color palette also help to define the personality of the robot? Has color gained more and more importance over the years for the design of robotic characters? Finally, starting from an investigation that highlights whether there are differences – with regard to the colors used – between robots on the market and robotic movie characters, is it the director’s will to communicate a certain feeling that conditions the existence of this design dichotomy? This article intends to analyze the design choices of robotic characters in movies, comparing them to robots on the market, and to answer all these questions with a visual representation that highlights the results obtained.