C-3PO/Legends

"I am C-3PO, human-cyborg relations. And this is my counterpart, R2-D2."

- C-3PO

C-3PO (also spelled See-Threepio, called Threepio for short) was a protocol droid&mdash;a droid specifically designed to interact with organics. Threepio's TranLang III Communicator module combined with his AA-1 VerboBrain allowed him to be "fluent in over six million forms of communication." He was also equipped with "over thirty secondary functions". C-3PO was generally seen with his counterpart, R2-D2, a small, wheeled astromech droid. His main function as a protocol droid was to assist with etiquette, customs, and translation so that meetings of different cultures ran smoothly. In his time, C-3PO loyally served over forty masters. He hated adventure and space travel, as they often resulted in him coming out on the wrong end of a fight, losing parts, and having them reattached. His motto was, "We're doomed!".

32 BBY


C-3PO was built from scrap parts around 32 BBY by a prodigal young boy named Anakin Skywalker. Anakin was very proud of his new droid and hastily dragged his future wife, Padmé Amidala, to see him. Threepio's wiring and construction were sound, but Anakin could not afford even the simplest of droid coverings. C-3PO found this out when his future partner R2-D2 remarked that he was naked. He was extremely embarrassed by this but he was soon given an old set of silver coating when he and Anakin's mother Shmi went to live with his new master Cliegg Lars, so that he may last longer in the sandy enviroment.

Clone Wars–22 BBY-19 BBY


After Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala's visit to Tatooine, C-3PO left with his old master. He also became an unwilling combatant in the Battle of Geonosis when he went to find Anakin Skywalker and Padmé Amidala. He found himself in a droid construction facility and, after being pushed onto one of the platforms by his 'friend' Artoo his head was taken off and temporarily attached to the torso of a B-1 battle droid, while the head of the droid was placed onto Threepio's torso. After being rescued by Artoo and reunited with his body he, with the rest of the Republic, left Geonosis, he became one of the only witnesses to Padmé and Anakin's marriage a while later back on Naboo.



C-3PO was given to Senator Amidala as a gift from her husband, Anakin Skywalker. C-3PO served as Senator Amidala's personal protocol droid for most of the Clone Wars. He was a reluctant participant in many adventures, often chastising the funny yet rude droid, R2-D2, for being reckless. During this time period, his coverings were upgraded from a dull gray to his final coating, a shining golden color. He also, in a meeting of the Loyalist Committee, became the first entity in the Galaxy to address Supreme Chancellor Palpatine as "Your Majesty." He also severely disapproved of combat droids, once demanding to 'have a serious talk with your programmer'.

Bail Organa ordered his memory wiped on the Tantive IV after the birth of the Skywalker twins and death of Senator Amidala, in order to protect them from the Emperor and their father, Darth Vader. After his memory was erased, he believed he first worked with binary loadlifters.

Even though his memory was wiped, it is possible that he could have regained some knowledge of life before his mind was wiped through R2-D2, as he could communicate with him.

19 BBY–0 BBY
Though he and R2-D2 were officially part of the droid complement of the Tantive IV for the next 19 years, C-3PO also served Alderaan's royal house, the Organa family on Alderaan on occasion. While accompanying them to the Emperor's Ball, he mistook his maker, now Darth Vader for a new droid, and was reassigned as a preschool teacher for a year as punishment. For a time, both C-3PO and R2-D2 were separated from the Organa family and the Tantive IV, and found themselves travelling the galaxy serving a series of different masters, including Mungo Baobab and Mon Julpa. After a series of adventures, they were returned to the Tantive IV.

0 BBY–4 ABY
When the Tantive IV came under attack by Darth Vader’s Star Destroyer Devastator, C-3PO and R2-D2 were launched in an escape pod on the orders of Princess Leia Organa to deliver a secret message to Obi Wan Kenobi. On Tatooine, C-3PO and R2-D2 were captured by Jawas, taken into their Sandcrawler and sold to Owen Lars. While cleaning R2-D2, Owen's nephew, Luke Skywalker, stumbled across a hidden message from Princess Leia, C-3PO claimed he had no idea whom she was and it may have been old data. That night, R2-D2 made a daring escape from the Homestead after Luke had removed his restraining bolt, C-3PO attempted to stop him but was unsuccessful. He would late join Luke in his search through the Jundland Wastes for the search. When they did find R2, they were attacked by Tusken Raiders, resulting in C-3PO to stumble over and have his arm ripped off. Thankfully, Obi-Wan Kenobi had found them and assisted them back to his home, although C-3PO saying that there was no need to risk themselves on his account. Soon after being repaired and R2 showing Obi-Wan the message from Leia, they discovered the ruined Sandcrawler and Jawas who had sold him. Luke had sped off to discover that Owen and Beru Lars had been murdered by Imperial Stormtroopers, leaving C-3PO and R2-D2 in Luke's care. After traveling to Mos Eisley while evading Stormtroopers, C-3PO and R2-D2 escaped on the Millennium Falcon with Luke, Obi-Wan, the ships captain, Han Solo and his first (and only) mate Chewbacca, with which he would assist R2-D2 against in a game of dejarik. After hearing that wookies are known to rip peoples arms out of their sockets when they loose, he gave R2-D2 one final piece of advice: let the wookie win.

When finally arriving in the Alderann system, they found the planet gone and themselves brought aboard the Empires new weapon, the Death Star. When he and R2 were left in the hanger control center, with the only advice given to lock the doors if they were to be discovered. Of course this almost became the end for C-3POs master when Luke, Han, Chewbacca and the now rescued Princess Leia escaped Stormtroopers by jumping into a trash compacter and the compacter was initialized. C-3PO had left the comm link he had been using to stay in touch with the group out while he and R2 hid from Stormtroopers. Moments after C-3PO had found the comm link, he cursed his metal body that they had been killed. Fortunatly, R2 was able to halt the compacter and unlock the door. Finally, the group was able to make it back to the Falcon and escape after Obi-Wan Kenobi sacrificed himself while fighting Darth Vader. Making haste to the Rebel base on Yavin IV, a plan was made to attack the Death Star. Despite being constantly annoyed by R2-D2s recklessness and implusive nature, he would tell R2 that he better make it back or his life would get boring. When the battle was won, R2-D2 made it back. However, he was badly damaged and C-3PO had offered to donate any of his parts that would be helpful in his repair. R2-D2 was repaired and looked good as new. It is unknown if C-3PO donated any of his parts.

Following the Battle of Yavin, C-3PO accompanied Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca and R2-D2 on numerous missions for the Alliance. C-3PO later related many of these events to Mistress Mnemos, an Alliance supercomputer, for historical preservation.

In the Battle of Hoth C-3PO escaped with Han Solo in the Millennium Falcon, while his partner joined Luke in his pursuit of the mysterious Yoda. During this time, C-3PO and Han developed a strange relationship, with C-3PO quoting odds and Han defying them. On Cloud City, C-3PO was blasted by a Stormtrooper, but rescued by Chewbacca when the Wookiee headed to the Ugnaught recycling facility. It was the only instant for years, when, unbeknownst to both, 3PO was found in the same room with his maker, now named Darth Vader.

An even stranger relationship developed between him and the Ewoks, who thought he was a god, thanks to the interference of Luke Skywalker and his jedi powers which gave C-3PO the godlike appearance of levitation. He rescued Luke and his friends from being eaten by threatening to call down his wrath on the Ewoks if they did not release them. Later that night, C-3PO acted as a storyteller (ironically, when Luke Skywalker first acquired him, he claimed that he was not a good storyteller), gaining sympathy from the Ewoks and convincing them to help the Rebels at the Battle of Endor.

4 ABY–24 ABY
After the Battle of Endor and the destruction of the second Death Star, C-3PO continued to travel with his permanent partner, now his friend. C-3PO would assist Leia Organa, Luke Skywalker, and their allies in the New Republic on many missions, such as Talon Karrde's expedition to the Kathol Sector to find Jorj Car'das.

25 ABY–36 ABY
With the onset of the Yuuzhan Vong Invasion and the stirring up of much anti-droid frenzy, C-3PO entered a phase of contemplation regarding his own mortality, and his place in a biological society. Evidence indicates that he may have emerged from the Vong war more assertive and less tolerant of abuse from his biological companions - from Captain Solo in particular.

Behind the scenes
C-3PO was portrayed by Anthony Daniels in all six Star Wars films. Daniels provided the voice for all films, wore the costume and provided the movements from Episodes II to VI.

Daniels wore the suit, and provided the voice, in the live-action segments of The Star Wars Holiday Special, while only voiceing the character in the animated portion. He was also the voice of the character in the two Star Wars animated series Star Wars: Clone Wars and Star Wars: Droids, as well as in the radio drama adaptations of the three films of the original trilogy.

Daniels made several appearances as 3PO on numerous TV shows and commercials, most notably on a Star Wars-themed episode of The Donny and Marie Show in 1977, and on a Star Wars-themed episode of The Muppet Show in 1980.

Daniels revealed that initially he did not agree to be cast as a robot he imagined to be just a mindless box on legs, as was the stereotypical robots in many of the science fictions of the time. He changed his mind after reading 3PO's part of the script and seeing a concept painting by Ralph McQuarrie, understanding this robot had a personality.

C-3PO gets destroyed in Star Wars Tales Storyteller. However, it is probably not canon.

Appearances

 * Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace
 * Star Wars Episode II: Attack of the Clones
 * Star Wars: Clone Wars
 * Star Wars Republic: The New Face of War
 * Labyrinth of Evil
 * Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith
 * Dark Lord: The Rise of Darth Vader
 * Star Wars: Droids
 * ''Droids: The Kalarba Adventures
 * ''Droids: Rebellion
 * ''Droids: Season of Revolt
 * ''Droids: The Protocol Offensive
 * Empire at War
 * Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope
 * Star Wars 3-D
 * Tales from the Mos Eisley Cantina
 * Vader's Quest
 * The Star Wars Holiday Special
 * Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back
 * Shadows of the Empire
 * Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi
 * Tales from Jabba's Palace
 * The Glove of Darth Vader
 * The Truce at Bakura
 * Marvel Star Wars
 * Dark Empire
 * The Crystal Star
 * Black Fleet Crisis Trilogy
 * Young Jedi Knights
 * Vector Prime
 * Chewbacca
 * Or Die Trying
 * The Joiner King
 * The Unseen Queen
 * The Swarm War
 * Storyteller (non-canon)
 * Return of the Ewok (non-canon)