WALL-E and Johnny 5: Not entirely dissimilar

Johnny 5 and WALL-E

I saw the new Pixar robot movie WALL-E the other day and can't speak too highly of it (it's out next Thursday in the UK). It is by far the most imaginative animation movie I have seen in a long time. One thing however intrigues me. Director-writer Andrew Stanton is making a big deal of how a pair of binoculars inspired the look of his droid, as if the look is a total original. He clearly could not have seen the Short Circuit movies starring Johnny 5. There are differences: WALL-E is squat while Johnny's leaner in the torso, etc etc. But I should say the binoculars head is a straight, er, homage.

PS - I love Peter Gabriel's Down to Earth soundtrack to WALL-E. Have a listen.