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Robots Debut In Japanese Theater Production

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the first-the-auto-industry-now-our-actors dept.

An anonymous reader writes "BBC News and CNET Cutting Edge are reporting on a new play starring at Osaka University, in which two Mitsubishi Wakamaru robots interact with human actors and move around the stage. Named 'Hataraku Watashi' ('I, Worker'), the play is authored by Oriza Hirata, a renowned playwright. It focuses on a robot who complains about his boring and demeaning jobs."

14 of 75 comments (clear)

  1. Boring and demeaning jobs... by Cruel+Angel · · Score: 3, Funny

    ... like acting?

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  2. It is good... by internerdj · · Score: 5, Funny

    to see Shatner can still find work.

    1. Re:It is good... by hey! · · Score: 4, Funny

      No way. Shatner maybe a sci-fi actor but he is old school.

      What I mean is that he's just not plastic. The stuff of his performances is comprised of natural materials: wood, cheese and ham.

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    2. Re:It is good... by D+Ninja · · Score: 4, Funny

      Fark picked Keanu Reeves as the "robot actor." A more fitting pick, I believe.

      Keanu Reeves Happy - :-|
      Keanu Reeves Sad - :-|
      Keanu Reeves Really, Really, Angry - :-|

  3. Futurama quote: by gregg · · Score: 3, Funny

    I was all of history's great robot actors - Acting Unit 0.8; Thespomat; David Duchovny!

  4. Chuckee Cheese by Shotgun · · Score: 4, Funny

    But does it have the production value of the singing bears at Chuck-ee Cheese? I am glad to see the Japanese are catching up, though. (I jest. I jest!!)

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  5. Re:I for one welcome old meme. by Abreu · · Score: 3, Funny

    Perhaps robots are not yet ready for artsy european films, but I think you could stick a couple of RealDolls in the cast of a soap opera and no one would notice...

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  6. Re:They wrote a play... by Abreu · · Score: 5, Funny

    Marvin the android is part of a comedy series, but if you want to see real tragedy, see the droids in the Star Wars Universe.

    They are self-aware, capable of reasoning and emotion, and yet they are all slaves and no one pays more than cursory attention to them. ...maybe its because they don't rip people's arms out of their sockets when they lose at chess

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  7. Sounds familiar... by sancho_pancho · · Score: 2, Funny

    It focuses on a robot who complains about his boring and demeaning jobs.

    So it's about Marvin?

  8. Really just a prop, isn't it? by Gizzmonic · · Score: 3, Funny

    This is really just the same thing as using a puppet, except more expensive.

    Of course, people say the same thing about Keanu Reeves...

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  9. But will they be any good? by supernova_hq · · Score: 2, Funny

    Everyone walked out. They hated it. I've seen plagues that had better opening nights than this. You said that Oscar was practically on my mantle.

  10. Re:Stairs by astrodoom · · Score: 3, Funny

    It's made to utilize gravity in a very efficient way for just such a problem.

  11. Re:They wrote a play... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 4, Funny

    That was a terrible post. I'll be sure to come back and re-read it in a few hours.

  12. Prior Art? by ArrantPrac · · Score: 2, Funny

    Robots performing Japanese theater? It's been done before... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sa-Kx5M-8Ak