A lazy, cranky but goodhearted droid named Chopper has been revealed as one of the characters in the upcoming Disney animated series Star Wars Rebels.
“If Artoo is the family dog,” said Dave Filoni, executive producer of the show, “Chopper is the cat.”
Chopper is an essential crewmember of the Ghost, tasked with keeping the starship running and operable for its band of heroes. In reality, thanks to his many “unique” upgrades and customizations, no other alien, human, or droid could handle the job.
The design of Chopper, a.k.a. C1-10P, takes its cues from early Ralph McQuarrie concept art for R2-D2, especially the expressive arms that fold out of his head. As Star Wars Rebels takes place four years prior to the events of Star Wars: Episode IV — A New Hope, Chopper’s retro look creates an aesthetic continuity with droids of the original trilogy.
Star Wars Rebels is scheduled to premiere in fall 2014 as a one-hour special telecast on Disney Channel and will be followed by a series on Disney XD channels around the world.
Here’s a first look at Chopper:
