Robots Replacing Human Actors - Japanese Commercial Features Female Bot - Video

So did you ever think you’d see the day when a real robot was the primary character in a commercial? Kincho’s Preshower UV insect repellent/sunscreen spray commercial gets a thumbs up for novelty. But the real question is whether the novelty of having a robot actress outweighs the awkwardness of relating to an obviously inanimate object.

Sure, we are all accustomed to relating to cartoons, which are inanimate. But there’s something awkward about trying to relate to real robots that just aren’t quite human. Maybe the difference is that they are too close for us to suspend belief.

The funny thing about this commercial is that the female robot effectively says that she uses Preshower because, as a ‘female’, her skin is important. Now, that’s supposed to make all the women want this Preshower product… but doesn’t it really bring us to scoff at the notion that a robot has real skin. Doesn’t it cause us to lose trust in the product and the company. Or is it supposed to be funny, employing the humor hook.

Honestly, I don’t think the commercial works. Sure, it gets attention… but for all the wrong reasons. Yeah, it’s cool that a life-like robot is acting in a commercial for the first time. But the awkwardness of watching a female robot say her skin is important works against the empathy hook…at least that’s how I see it. Maybe the women disagree.

Source: Trendhunter