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ANIMATRONICS

 
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What is animatronics?

 
 

. Animatronics is the use of electronics and robotics in mechanised puppets to simulate life.

Animatronics are mainly used in moviemaking, but also in theme parks and other forms of entertainment. Its main advantages to CGI and stop motion is that it is not a simulation of reality, but are physical objects moving in real time in front of the camera. The technology behind animatronics has become more advanced and sophisticated over the years, making the puppets even more realistic and lifelike.

Wikipedia

 

Animatronic Puppets and robotics
for movies, theme parks and musea.


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  . Here we see three animatronic projects by Viz. A pair of deer, a talking penguin and an elephant. Click on a photo to be taken to an article about each one.
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(Click here to see us working behind the scenes on an animatronic shoot)

 

 

     
 
Process
 
 

. Each character was first sculpted in clay. Casts were made in polyurethane rubber. A skull was made to contain the mechanical eyes and to support the animated ears and horns. To achieve full animation each puppet required a team of four operators behind the scenes.

 
 
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