Marta Martinez from Polaroid talks to the Official Star Wars site about a limited edition release that’s sure to light up tracking fobs around the galaxy.
Fans of a certain classic analog camera and the galaxy far, far away have a new ultimate bounty: Polaroid unveiled last week a limited edition The Mandalorian Polaroid Now camera and the Child-inspired instant film, available now. Sporting a design inspired by the Disney+ series’ titular helmeted warrior, the stunner of a camera seamlessly blends the retro-cool look and legacy of the beloved Polaroid brand with the aesthetic of one of Star Wars’ most popular new characters. In addition, the accompanying instant film features imagery of the Child, making for a playful, perfect companion to the device. For those who’ve never known the joy of Polaroid — load up the instant film, shoot, and watch as your image comes to life — or used to love it, this is the way into a new, rewarding kind of photography. StarWars.com caught up with Marta Martinez, chief marketing officer of Polaroid, for a quick chat about the design of the camera, the Easter egg bounty hunt included with the release, and the “real magic” of Polaroid.
StarWars.com: The camera design is so sharp. What I appreciate most is how it’s understated yet unmistakably evokes the Mandalorian’s armor. How did you land at this approach?
Marta Martinez: I am very glad you appreciate this. We knew that the Mandalorian culture in the Star Wars universe has a rich heritage with strong traits we needed to bring to life in our world. A lot of time was spent trying to find the essence of the Mandalorian aesthetic, specifically around their armor and beskar steel. The chosen color palette comes not from the materials themselves but the reflections in the Outer Rim landscapes.
For example, the Mandalorian’s helmet is silver but under the Arvala-7 sky, the metal looks warm instead of cool. To bring that beautiful cinematography to life in the real world, we developed new techniques to add a warm metallic finish to the body of the Polaroid Now camera and used dark red elements for the accents to complement the design.
Capturing the Mandolarian’s sense of adventure was also crucial to the design. As the photographer holds the Polaroid camera and looks down before taking a photo, the rallying symbol of the Mandalorian — the Mythosaur skull — is etched onto the back. We believe in a world that is meaningful and creative, one that inspires adventure at any moment, just like The Mandalorian series.
Read the interview in full at StarWars.com, and smile, you’re on camera!
