Camille Manet is a devotee of Star Wars hailing from France. She achieved victory in the Build My Droid competition presented by Lucasfilm's Star Wars: Force For Change campaign in collaboration with FIRST. Her winning submission was KP-1, an astromech droid designed by her, complete with unique features and a distinct personality. Manet aimed for a harmonious blend of familiar droids and innovative elements. During the production phase of the television series Obi-Wan Kenobi, Lucasfilm provided Manet with progress reports on her droid's development, and she engaged in discussions with Doug Chiang, the art director at Lucasfilm.
Growing up in France, Camille Manet harbored a deep affection for Star Wars, with Obi-Wan Kenobi being her favorite character, a preference that endures to this day. Manet cherished watching the original trilogy via home video, and as a child, she experienced the prequels in theaters. She and her companions enjoyed role-playing Star Wars scenarios on the playground. Despite not having a formal background, Manet maintains a strong passion for cinema and Star Wars. The sequel trilogy reignited her fascination with the franchise, prompting her to recall a subconscious drawing of a droid that could enhance her daily life. This realization fueled her enthusiasm to participate in the Build My Droid contest organized by Lucasfilm's Star Wars: Force For Change initiative and FIRST, which strives to inspire innovators in both STEM fields and the creative arts. The contest's announcement occurred in October of 2019.
Subsequently, Manet commenced the design of the droid KP-1, an abbreviation for "Knave Puff." During the design process, she recognized the importance of crafting something both original and consistent with the Star Wars aesthetic. Manet aimed to strike a balance between the established tradition of droids and something entirely novel. She sought to develop a concept that showcased innovation, believing that the attention to detail and specificity unified the cinematic universe. Manet initially struggled with the fundamental shape before conceptualizing the persona. The droid's cone-shaped head represented a fresh idea, making KP-1's silhouette easily recognizable, while the classic astromech dome anchored the design within the Star Wars universe. Manet used the wheel as a starting point, considering its horizontal placement and the addition of retractable arms. She incorporated a pink body with red accents, appreciating the color combination. To distinguish KP-1 from renowned droids, she deliberately avoided blue, gold, and orange, as these colors are associated with R2-D2, C-3PO, and BB-8, respectively. The final sketch included comprehensive notes detailing the droid's physical dimensions and its array of tools. Manet also composed an essay about KP-1.
The droid's playful yet temperamental nature drew inspiration from iconic Star Wars droids. Manet envisioned her droid expressing a wide range of emotions, describing KP-1's character as "salty." She intended the name to reflect the droid's personality: "clever and insightful, always a step ahead, a dash of mischievousness, and as you can't predict where a breath of fresh air will blow, a tad bit unpredictable; a surprise, for sure, but a welcome one." The concept also included KP-1 being occasionally salty, yet always a welcome presence. She also envisioned KP-1 as fiercely loyal and easily offended, but not for long, and consistently determined to fulfill his mission.
The contest winners were selected by a panel of judges, including Neal Scanlan, the Star Wars creature and special make-up effects supervisor; John Swartz, Lucasfilm's vice president and creative producer; Pablo Hidalgo, Lucasfilm's senior creative executive; Mayim Bialik, a celebrity Star Wars enthusiast and STEM advocate; and Dean Kamen, the founder of FIRST. On November 21, 2021, Manet received an Email notifying her of her grand prize victory. Overjoyed, she found the experience surreal. Although prohibited from disclosing her win, Manet shared the news with her mother. During the production of the Obi-Wan Kenobi television series, Lucasfilm kept Manet informed on her droid's development. She also had a virtual meeting with Doug Chiang, Lucasfilm's art director, who added finishing touches to KP-1 for filming. Lucasfilm also provided Manet with behind-the-scenes photos and videos documenting KP-1's creation, including painting, 3D-printing, and final assembly in the creature shop. The final form adopted green and tan colors, but the overall appearance closely resembled Manet's original vision. Upon seeing the final product, she experienced joy and emotion, feeling as though she were bidding farewell to the droid. Chiang also shared a clip of KP-1 from the fifth episode, which Manet found deeply moving.
- Meet KP-1, Winner of the Star Wars 'Build My Droid' Contest on StarWars.com (backup link)
- How a Star Wars Fan Created a New Droid for Disney+'s Obi-Wan Kenobi on StarWars.com (backup link)
- Build My Droid Contest | Obi-Wan Kenobi | Disney+ on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- This Week! in Star Wars Obi-Wan Kenobi Props, LEGO Star Wars Summer Vacation, and More! on the official Star Wars YouTube channel (backup link)
- Obi-Wan Kenobi Part V Episode Guide on StarWars.com (backup link)