Beyond the Screen: Roe Moore on Walkies, Tombot Jennie, and the Future of Therapeutic Robotics
08 May 2026 | Interaction | By Editor Robotics Business NEWS <editor@rbnpress.com>
Roe Moore discusses how Tombot’s robotic companion Jennie became the emotional heartbeat of Walkies, and why storytelling is reshaping public perceptions of AI-powered emotional support technologies.
In this exclusive conversation with Robotics Business News, Roe Moore explains how Tombot’s robotic companion Jennie became central to the emotional storytelling of Walkies. From exploring themes of depression, anxiety, and reconnection to discussing the future of therapeutic robotics and digital therapeutics, Moore shares how emotionally intelligent robotic companions are helping reshape conversations around mental health, caregiving, and human connection.
What inspired Tombot to feature Jennie in Walkies, and how does this align with your broader mission around emotional wellbeing?
Roe: I reached out to Tombot through their website while we were developing the film. We were looking for a robotic dog that felt natural. Something that responded in a way that didn’t feel mechanical or distracting on screen which would force the viewer to suspend more disbelief than usual with a film of this nature. When I started researching, Tombot immediately stood out.
We set up a Zoom, and it quickly clicked that what they were building aligned with the emotional core of Walkies. The film is really about connection and routine, and Jennie supports both of those in a way that just felt honest to the story.
Tombot: Roe and her team approached us about using our robot, “Jennie,” in the movie, and we were immediately excited to be part of this project. For starters, Walkies was a terrific showcase of a critical use indication: anxiety. Moreover, we were convinced that the production team had the sensitivity and skills to pull this off! And they certainly did. It’s a beautiful, poignant film.
How does Jennie’s role in Walkies go beyond being a prop to becoming an integral part of the story’s emotional narrative?
Roe: Jennie isn’t a prop because the film doesn’t treat her like one. The camera observes her the same way it would observe a living presence, and you see that in how Esther responds to her. Small behavioral shifts start to happen. At the beginning, Esther’s world was very internal. She’s stuck. Jennie gives her something to respond to externally. She gives Esther a reason to get up, leave the apartment, and go for a walk. And once that starts happening, the world starts to open around her. Jennie isn’t there to symbolize something. She’s there to create movement. And once the character starts moving, that’s where the story begins to change.
Tombot: Jennie is not a union actor, but we’d like to think she’s more than a prop! She’s a fully autonomous robotic animal (as opposed to the puppeted animatronics you see in most films). Could a robot be considered ‘subjective,’ perhaps? We’ll let the public decide!
For Esther, Jennie is a catalyst propelling her toward a new life path. The filmmakers did a wonderful job of encouraging Jennie’s presence – especially considering that they were working with an earlier Jennie prototype. Since “Walkies” was filmed, we are pleased to report that Jennie has made figurative leaps and bounds.
The film highlights themes of depression, anxiety, and reconnection. How do robotic companions like Jennie support individuals facing these challenges in real-world settings?
Roe: Through my own experience with depression, I've learned how important consistency and routine are in managing it. Sometimes that feels impossible on your own. But having something external that you can connect with, which provides a safe space and gently depends on you, makes it possible to rebuild those positive habits. Jennie creates that kind of structure and accountability, but without judgment. And that’s really the key. There’s no pressure, it’s just a steady presence that encourages you to show up. And sometimes that’s enough to begin shifting things.It’s not about solving everything at once, it’s about making that first step feel possible.
Tombot: The benefits of robotic animals on seniors with dementia, among other populations, is well documented. Even short therapeutic sessions with robotic animals have been shown to increase quality of life and reduce stress, agitation, depression, and loneliness. Armed with this data, Tombot designed Jennie to address the Behavioral and Psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD). Along the way, doctors, nurses, veterinarians, first responders, educators, researchers, and customers reached out to us with novel use indications in other patient populations. We are pleased to report that Tombot is now in development on over 30 clinical studies with a variety of patient populations, including children/adults with profound autism, PTSD, anxiety, depression, mobility challenges, strokes, traumatic brain injury, cancer, and other conditions. Very soon, we’ll learn more about how Jennie the robot can help these diverse populations in a variety of settings, such as hospitals, long-term care residences, schools, and at home.
How important is storytelling and media representation in driving public awareness and acceptance of therapeutic robotics?
Roe: It’s huge. Storytelling lets people feel something before they decide what they think about it. A lot of people still see robotics as cold or clinical. But when you experience something like Walkies, you’re connecting emotionally first. It shifts the reaction from “this feels strange” to “oh, I can see how this could help someone.”
Tombot: Back when we founded Tombot in 2017, we wondered whether Americans might harbor negative views of robots. So many of us grew up Terminator movies and other ‘killer-robots!’ Fortunately, Americans in 2026 have warmed considerably to robots. Perhaps we can thank more sympathetic robotic portrayals in “Wall-E” and “Baymax” for changing our views. From time to time, folks will have kneejerk reactions to the Tombot mission…until they realize that live animals are not always possible or practical for everyone. Education is crucial, and social media has really helped expand awareness of dementia, other mental health concerns, as well as issues facing caregivers.
Jennie is designed to mimic the behavior of a real Labrador puppy. What technological innovations enable this level of realism and emotional engagement?
Roe: This is something Tombot can speak to more specifically, but from my experience on set, what stood out was how natural Jennie felt. It’s not just one thing, it’s the combination of movement, timing, and responsiveness. All of those layers together are what make her feel present, which is why people connect with her so quickly.
Tombot: Back in 2011, after his mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s dementia, co-founder and CEO Tom Stevens realized his mother could no longer safely or practically care for her beloved Goldendoodle pup. Unable to find suitable alternatives to live animal companionship, Tom realized that many other families were in a similar predicament.
Rather than assume that all dementia sufferers were dog-lovers like Tom's mother, Tombot performed extensive customer testing on over 700 seniors with dementia in southern California to see exactly what these individuals wanted and needed. Well, most did want dogs! Customers told us they wanted realistic puppies that looked, sounded, moved, and behaved like real puppies, so we concentrated our efforts on realism.
The next step was a dream come true for us: We teamed with the Jim Henson Creature Shop – the people behind the Muppets, Dark Crystal, and Cats and Dogs movies – to create Jennie’s exterior shell. Then, our team of engineers turned Jennie into an autonomous robot. We then recorded live audio from actual 8-10 week-old Labrador puppies, observed their movements, and measured them as well as we could (it’s tough, because they won’t sit still at that age!). We are pretty thrilled with the results!
There is incredibly compelling data on “emotional attachment objects” for seniors with dementia. When a user forms an emotional bond with a doll, stuffed animal, or robot, that individual often sees a reduction in deleterious symptoms like anxiety, depression, apathy, and violent anger…as well as increased quality of life. In essence, we designed Jennie as a better emotional attachment object.
Whereas our earlier prototypes – like the robot used in Walkies - featured more adult-looking Labradors, our current Jennie is modeled after an 8-10 week-old Labrador puppy. It would seem that Jennie is aging backwards (like a proper Hollywood diva)! Much like human babies, puppies need us. That dependency is the special sauce for emotional bonding.
How do you see robotic companions complementing or replacing traditional animal therapy, especially for individuals unable to care for live pets?
Roe: I don’t see it as replacing animal therapy, it’s more about expanding access. Not everyone can care for a live animal, whether that’s because of health, housing, or just capacity. A robotic companion like Jennie can be an approachable starting point and it becomes one more option, one more way.
Tombot: We agree with Roe. Whenever live animals are feasible and safe, they're just incredible! Tombot is meant to fill the gaps and provide benefits associated with pet ownership to individuals and families who can’t currently keep live pets. We designed Jennie specifically for seniors with dementia, and there are many other patient populations telling us they want Jennie too: children/adults with profound autism, anxiety, depression, PTSD, and others. Moreover, we've received interest from families who do keep live pets...but want Jennie for specific settings, like the dentist's office, or the airplane.
What feedback have you received from filmmakers, actors, or audiences regarding Jennie’s impact on set and on-screen?
Roe: One of the biggest things we noticed is how quickly people stopped thinking of Jennie as a prop. On set, our lead, Mariana Aroxa, just naturally started bonding with her like she was a real dog. And honestly, the crew did too. People would stop and pet her without even thinking about it. Audiences have had a similar reaction. They connect with her emotionally in a way that kind of catches them off guard, which says a lot about how well she works.
Tombot: Adding to Roe’s point, it’s amazing how we can bond with Jennie…if we allow ourselves to! I think that animal lovers often have a special place in their hearts for animals. When our pets pass away/we’re on vacation/stuck in a hospital, that void remains. At every visit to a Memory Care residence, we are careful to tell residents with dementia that Jennie is a robot and not a live dog - which they do seem to understand. As dementia can lower one's inhibitions, seniors with dementia are typically willing to suspend disbelief. They absolutely love interacting with Jennie! Imaginative play is wonderful for our creativity, emotional regulation, and stress relief...and yet, adults are generally discouraged from it.
As Walkies continues its festival run, how does this milestone influence Tombot’s future roadmap for expanding into healthcare and digital therapeutics?
Roe: This is something Tombot can speak to more directly, but from my perspective, the festival run has really opened conversations. It’s not just about the film, it’s about helping people understand what this kind of technology can do in real life. It feels like a step toward making it more visible and more understood.
Tombot: We are so happy for Roe and her Walkies team! No doubt, Walkies will continue to earn accolades. Not only does Walkies help destigmatize mental health conditions, it normalizes humans interacting socially with robots. We want Jennie to help individuals rejoin the social world, whether it’s going for walks or talking with a neighbor. Our goal is to help as many people as we can, so we are already designing additional robots to meet the needs of other patient populations. Exciting times!
