Boilerplate (robot) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boilerplate |
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Boilerplate and Teddy Roosevelt
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| Publication information | |
| First appearance | Boilerplate website, July 2000 |
| Created by | Paul Guinan |
| In-story information | |
| Species | Robot |
| Partnerships | Professor Archibald Campion |
Boilerplate is a fascinating fictional robot that supposedly existed during the late Victorian era and early 20th century. It was created in 2000 by an artist named Paul Guinan from Portland, Oregon, USA. While originally planned for comics, Boilerplate became famous through a special website that made its story seem real. Since then, this unique robot has appeared in many other forms of media.
Contents
Discovering Boilerplate: A Robot from the Past
How Boilerplate Came to Life
Boilerplate first appeared on a website created by Paul Guinan in 2000. This website told the detailed story of an amazing robot built in the late 1800s. It even showed "archival images" – which were actually photoshopped pictures – where Boilerplate (a 12-inch model) seemed to be interacting with real historical figures like Teddy Roosevelt and Pancho Villa.
Paul Guinan noticed that some people visiting the site actually believed the robot's story was real! It became an accidental trick, or "hoax." Guinan then decided to see how truly believable he could make the character. He worked hard to make sure that any real historical events mentioned were accurate. He explained in an interview that he felt happy to have achieved his goal of making it seem real, but also a bit bad that some people were tricked. He realized that if he could get such a reaction without even trying his hardest, imagine what he could do if he really put his mind to it!
Guinan estimated that about one-third of the website's visitors thought the fake history was true. Even comedian Chris Elliott, who knew Boilerplate wasn't real, thought the spoof was from the 1800s! He even included the character in one of his books.
Later, Paul Guinan expanded his website into "The History of Robots in the Victorian Era." This site features other "robots from the turn of the century," some real and some imagined.
The Robot's Amazing Adventures
Boilerplate's fictional story begins in the 1880s. It was built by a character named Professor Archibald Campion and first shown to the public at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago.
Early Days and Brave Deeds
This incredible robot had many exciting adventures. One notable journey was an expedition to the Antarctic. There, Boilerplate bravely saved the lives of the team members. It single-handedly moved huge pieces of ice, clearing a path for their ship to sail to safety!
Boilerplate was designed with a special purpose: "preventing the deaths of men in the conflicts of nations." True to its design, the robot charged into battles during the Spanish–American War and the Boxer Rebellion. Professor Campion and his robot also traveled around the world with the U.S. Navy. They even made silent movies and met famous people like Mark Twain and Nikola Tesla.
World War I and Beyond
Boilerplate also played a part in the First World War. However, it mysteriously disappeared during a mission to help Major Whittlesey's Lost Battalion. Some people believe it might have been captured by the Germans for study. This theory suggests that the Germans' military technology advanced greatly in the years between the two world wars, possibly due to studying Boilerplate. After World War II, Boilerplate was reportedly seen several times, often in Chicago.
Boilerplate in Books, Music, and Movies
Boilerplate's story has inspired many other creative works:
- Paul Guinan and his wife Anina Bennett wrote a book called Boilerplate: History's Mechanical Marvel. This illustrated book tells the story of Boilerplate's 25 years of adventures and its impact on popular culture. It was published in October 2009. Guinan and Bennett also worked together on a comic book series called Heartbreakers. A special comic, "Heartbreakers Meet Boilerplate," released in 2005, also featured Boilerplate and was even nominated for an Eisner Award.
- Boilerplate is a character in Chris Elliott's 2005 novel The Shroud of the Thwacker. This book is a funny historical thriller. Elliott initially thought the Boilerplate website was a very old trick from the 1800s. He included parts of the website's story in his book, not realizing it was still protected by copyright. After learning about the copyright, Elliott and Guinan worked out an agreement. This allowed the character to be used in the book in exchange for a share of Elliott's earnings and credit in future editions.
- The Canadian indie pop band Stars featured Boilerplate on the cover of their 2008 EP Sad Robots. The robot also appeared on merchandise for their 2008–2009 tour.
- Paramount Pictures acquired the film rights for Boilerplate. The movie was planned to be produced by J. J. Abrams and his company, Bad Robot.
