Evolution of Mechanized Puppets in Animatronics: Unveiling the Transformative Journey from the 1960s to the Early 2000s

Abstract

Animatronics involves the creation of mechanical puppets that utilize electronics and motors to create lifelike characteristics for various purposes such as entertainment, filming and simulation, and research. This paper explored the evolution and transformations of mechanized puppets utilized in the advancement of animatronics. It focused on the transition of animatronics from the beginning of modern animatronics in the 1960s till the first decade of the 2000s. The analysis was focused on identifying the characteristics of mechanized puppets from the perspectives of their embodiment, technological features and targets used as applications. The method used for the analysis was a qualitative analytical approach that broke down the literature review process into four steps and iterated them. The analysis with 33 animatronics found that 85% (28 of 33) of the animatronics surveyed are more geared toward entertainment venues such as theme parks and human-like animatronics are becoming increasingly more advanced and applications for animatronics in the theme park setting is becoming increasingly more prominent. As applications for animatronics, especially in theme park settings, continue to rise, this study contributes to the understanding of the ever-evolving landscape of animatronic technology.