Animatronics

Animatronics is the creation and control of figures through mechanical, electrical, electronic, pneumatic, or hydraulic systems. It is used to simulate the movement of living beings in film, television, theme parks, museums, advertising, live shows, and immersive experiences.

An animatronic figure may be programmed, run automatically, or be operated in real time. Film and television productions often divide its functions among several specialists: one person controls the head, another the eyes, and another the hands or body movement. Controls may include levers, potentiometers, radio-control systems, motion capture, or digital interfaces.

Animatronics is not synonymous with an autonomous robot. Many animatronic creatures depend on operators who perform the character during a take. Nor does it necessarily replace traditional puppetry. Mechanical eyes and facial features are often combined with direct manipulation of the head, body, or limbs.

Its history draws on both mechanical automata and engineering for entertainment. Walt Disney popularized the term Audio-Animatronics for the sound-synchronized figures used in Disney attractions. In film, special-effects companies and workshops developed creatures operated through cables, servomotors, and radio control.

Jim Henson's Creature Shop was created in 1979, not 1969. The workshop developed creatures for productions including The Dark Crystal (1982) and Labyrinth (1986), combining puppets, mechanisms, and remote-control techniques. Jim Henson had previously founded Muppets, Inc. in 1958; confusing the two dates mixes the company's history with that of the creature workshop.

In summary: an animatronic figure uses mechanisms to produce movement, but it may still rely on one or more performers operating it live.

Sources: The Jim Henson Company: Our Founders · D23: Audio-Animatronics