Ralph McQuarrie I still get fan mail — people wondering if I worked on "Episode I" or just wanting to have my autograph." McQuarrie's production painting of R2-D2 and C-3PO wandering in the desert on the planet Tatooine was the first to be completed. His early concept for C-3PO was visibly inspired by the Art Deco "Maschinenmensch" robot from Fritz Lang’s 1927 film "Metropolis". The painting had a particular impact on actor Anthony Daniels, who was about to turn down the part of C-3PO; ""He had painted a face and a figure that had a very wistful, rather yearning, rather bereft quality,
C-3PO him. In "", set 10 years later, Shmi is kidnapped by a group of Tusken Raiders. Sensing that his mother is in danger, Anakin travels with Padmé to Tatooine, where they reunite with C-3PO, now with a full body. He recognizes Anakin and Padmé instantly and presents them to Anakin's stepfamily Owen and Cliegg Lars and Beru Whitseun. When Anakin returns with his mother's body, C-3PO attends her funeral. After Anakin and Padmé's visit to Tatooine, C-3PO accompanies them to the planet Geonosis to rescue Obi-Wan Kenobi. Shortly afterward, he follows R2-D2 into a droid-construction site, where his head is