Editing Audio-Animatronics

{{Short description|Trademark for a form of robotic animation}}
{{More citations needed|date=December 2024}}[[File:Carousel of Progress 1900.jpg|thumb|243x243px|Audio-Animatronic of Father John, the main character of the [[Walt Disney's Carousel of Progress]] attraction at [[Magic Kingdom]]]]
'''Audio-Animatronics''' (sometimes shortened to '''AAs''') are a form of [[Mechatronics|mechatronic]] [[puppetry]] trademarked by the Walt Disney Company, and the source of the term [[animatronics]]. 

Audio-Animatronics are created by [[Walt Disney Imagineering]] for use in shows and attractions at [[Disney theme parks]]. They move and often synchronize with audio from an external sound system (generally a recorded speech or song), and are usually fixed to whatever supports them.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Strodder |first1=Chris |title=The Disneyland Encyclopedia |date=2017 |publisher=Santa Monica Press |isbn=978-1595800909 |edition=3rd |pages=63–65}}</ref> They can sit and stand but cannot produce any form of locomotion. 

An Audio-Animatronic differs from an [[Android (robot)|android]] or [[robot]] in that it uses prerecorded movements and sounds, rather than responding to external stimuli. 

==History==
[[File:In the Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Tiki Room (11884518096).jpg|thumb|Pierre, a talking parrot in [[Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room]] at [[Disneyland]], the first attraction with Audio-Animatronics|alt=|231x231px]]
Audio-Animatronics were originally a creation of Disney employee Lee Adams, who worked as an electrician.<ref>{{cite news|last=Smith|first=Jim|url=https://mouseplanet.com/the-enchanted-tiki-room-1963/8057/|title=The Enchanted Tiki Room 1963|website=mouseplanet.com|date=September 15, 2021|access-date=January 29, 2025}}</ref> [[Walt Disney]] got a mechanical toy bird in [[New Orleans]] and found out how it worked, which served as the inspiration for Audio-Animatronics. An early robotic figure was the Dancing Man, created by [[Roger E. Broggie|Roger Broggie]] and Wathel Rogers, and modeled after a [[tap dancing]] routine by actor [[Buddy Ebsen]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1e1R2vUORGI|title=We Call It Imagineering Audio-Animatronics|last=Walt Disney Imagineering|website=[[YouTube]]|date=April 4, 2024|access-date=January 29, 2025|format=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://dizfanatic.com/DizTech005.aspx|title=DizTech Vol. 5 - Real-Life Canvas: Animating with Animatronics}}</ref> 

Development of the first audio animatronic technology began in 1949 with the work of the giant squid for [[20,000 Leagues Under the Sea (1954 film)|''20,000 Leagues Under the Sea'' (1954)]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=An Encyclopedic Dictionary of Media, Entertainment and Other Audiovisual Terms |date=2014 |publisher=McFarland |isbn=9781785391194 |editor-last=Kroon |editor-first=Richard |location=Jefferson North Carolina |publication-date=2014 |chapter=Audio-Animatronics}}</ref>

The term "Audio-Animatronics" was first used commercially by Disney in 1961, was filed as a trademark in 1964, and was registered in 1967.{{Citation needed|date=December 2024}}[[File:CanCanDollsIASW.png|thumb|186x186px|An Audio-Animatronics doll in the [[France]] section of [[It's a Small World]] at Disneyland.]]
The Audio-Animatronic show [[Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room|The Enchanted Tiki Room]] opened in 1963 at [[Disneyland]]. It is a room full of tropical creatures with eye and facial actions synchronized to a musical score entirely by [[electromechanical]] means. The Audio-Animatronic cast of the musical revue uses tones recorded on tape to vibrate a metal reed that closes a circuit to trigger a relay, which sends a pulse of electricity to a mechanism that causes a [[pneumatic]] valve to move part of the figure.

The movements of the attraction's birds, flowers, and tiki idols are triggered by sound. Figures' movements have a neutral "natural resting position" that the limb or part returns to when there is no electric pulse present. Other than this, the animation is a binary system, with only on/off moves, such as an open or closed eye. The same kind of technology was used for the head of Mary Poppins’ cane in [[Mary Poppins (film)|''Mary Poppins'']] (1964). <ref name=":0" />

Other early Audio-Animatronics were at the [[1964 New York World's Fair]]. They were used in the [[Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln]] exhibit at the State of Illinois Pavilion, [[Pepsi]]/[[UNICEF]]'s [[It's a Small World|"it's a small world"]] exhibit, [[General Electric]]'s [[Carousel of Progress]], and [[Ford Motor Company]]'s "Magic Skyway."

An Audio-Animatronic robin sang a duet with [[Julie Andrews]] in ''Mary Poppins''.

==Technology==

[[File:Pirates of the Caribbean Redhead 2012.jpg|thumb|The former bride auction scene (1967–2018) in [[Pirates of the Caribbean (attraction)|Pirates of the Caribbean]] at Disneyland|220x220px]]
[[File:Pirates of the Caribbean (7506456142).jpg|thumb|Audio-Animatronic [[Jack Sparrow]] (2006–present), inside Pirates of the Caribbean in Disneyland]]
The system of the animatronics relies on a combination of electric motors, solenoids, hydraulic systems, pneumatic systems, and cables to produce repeatable puppet movements that syncs to sound.<ref name=":0" />

[[Pneumatic]] actuators are powerful enough to move heavier objects like simulated limbs, while [[hydraulic]]s are used more for large figures. On/off type movement would cause an arm to be lifted (for example) either up over an animatronic's head or down next to its body, but with no halting or change of speed in between. To create more realistic movement in large figures, an [[analog circuit|analog]] system was used. This gave the figures' body parts a fully fluid range of motion, rather than only two positions.

To permit a high degree of freedom, the control cylinders resemble typical miniature pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, but mount the back of the cylinder on a ball joint and threaded rod. This ball joint permits the cylinders to float freely inside the frame, such as when the wrist joint rotates and flexes.

The oil-filled cylinders occasionally drip or leak, so it is sometimes necessary to do makeup touch-up work, or to strip the clothing off a figure due to leaking fluids inside. [[Walt Disney's Enchanted Tiki Room|The Enchanted Tiki Room]] remains a pneumatic theatrical set, primarily due to the leakage concerns, as the Audio-Animatronic figures are above the audience's heads.

Because each individual cylinder requires its own control channel, the original Audio-Animatronic figures were relatively simple in design, to reduce the number of channels required. For example, the first human designs (referred to internally by Disney as series A-1) included all four fingers of the hand as one actuator. It could wave its hand but it could not grasp or point at something. With modern digital computers controlling the device, the number of channels is virtually unlimited, allowing more complex, realistic motion. The current versions (series A-100) now have individual actuators for each finger. Disney also introduced a brand new figure that is used in [[Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge|''Star Wars'': Galaxy's Edge]] and is referred to as the A1000.

===Compliance===
Compliance is a new technology that allows faster, more realistic movements without sacrificing control. In the older figures, a fast limb movement would cause the entire figure to shake in an unnatural way. The Imagineers thus had to program slower movements, sacrificing speed in order to gain control. This was frustrating for the animators, who, in many cases, wanted faster movements. Compliance improves this situation by allowing limbs to continue past the points where they are programmed to stop; they then return quickly to the "intended" position, much as real organic body parts do. The various elements also slow to a stop at their various positions, instead of using the immediate stops that caused the unwanted shaking. This absorbs shock, much like the [[shock absorber]]s on a car or the natural shock absorption in a living body.

===Cosmetics===
The skin of an Audio-Animatronics human figure is made from [[silicone rubber]]. Because the neck is so much narrower than the rest of the skull, the skull skin cover has a zipper up the back to permit easy removal. The facial appearance is painted onto the rubber, and standard cosmetic makeup is also used. Over time, the flexing causes the paint to loosen and fall off, so occasional makeup work and repainting are required.

Generally as the rubber skin flexes, the stress causes it to dry and begin to crack. Figures that do not have a high degree of motion flexibility, such as the older A-1 series for President Lincoln, may only need to have their skin replaced every ten years. The most recent A-100 series human AAs, like the figure for President [[Barack Obama]], also include flexion actuators that move the cheeks and eyebrows to permit more realistic expressions; however, the skin wears out more quickly and needs replacement at least every five years.

The wig on each human is made from natural human hair for the highest degree of realism, although using real hair creates its own problems, since the changing humidity and constant rapid motions of the moving AA carriage hardware throughout the day cause the hair to slowly lose its styling, requiring touch-ups before each day's showing.

===Autonomatronics===
''Autonomatronics'' is a registered trademark for a more advanced Audio-Animatronic technology, also created by Walt Disney Imagineers.

The original Audio-Animatronics used hydraulics to operate robotic figures to present a pre-programmed show. This more sophisticated technology can include cameras and other sensors feeding signals to a computer, which processes the information and makes choices about what to say and do. In September 2009, Disney debuted "Otto", the first interactive figure that can hear, see and sense actions in the room.<ref name="otto">{{cite web|last1=Hoque|first1=M. Ehsan|title=Disney's First autonomous Audio-Animatronics| url=http://hoques.com/DisnayAnimatronics.htm|publisher=MIT Media Lab|access-date=10 August 2014}}</ref> Otto can hold conversations and react to the audience.<ref name=disney>{{cite web| work= Disney Parks Blog| title= Disney Autonomatronics Figure Can Sense If You're Happy| date= 28 September 2009| first= Thomas |last= Smith| publisher= Disney Parks| url= https://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2009/09/disney-autonomatronics-figure-can-sense-if-youre-happy/| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091001111621/http://disneyparks.disney.go.com/blog/2009/09/disney-autonomatronics-figure-can-sense-if-youre-happy/| url-status= dead| archive-date= October 1, 2009}}</ref>

In December 2009, [[Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln]] returned to Disneyland using the new Autonomatronics technology.<ref>{{cite web| last1= Niles| first1= Robert| title= Disneyland's Mr. Lincoln debuts Disney's next generation of animatronic storytelling| date= 17 December 2009 | url=http://www.themeparkinsider.com/flume/200912/1593/| access-date=10 August 2014}}</ref>

===Stuntronics===
[[File:Spider-Man_Stunt_Show_featuring_Stuntronic_(51242351470)_(edited).webm|thumb|right|[[Peter Parker (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Spider-Man]] stunt show at [[Avengers Campus]] at [[Disney California Adventure]], featuring a Stuntronic|alt=Robot that looks like a human in a Spider-Man costume swinging in midair over buildings]]
In June 2018, it was revealed that Disney Imagineering had created autonomous, self-correcting aerial stunt robots called stuntronics.<ref>{{cite web|last=Panzarino|first=Matthew|title=Disney Imagineering has created autonomous robot stunt doubles|url=https://techcrunch.com/2018/06/28/disney-imagineering-has-created-autonomous-robot-stunt-doubles/|publisher=TechCrunch.com|access-date=January 30, 2020|date=June 28, 2018}}</ref> This new extension of animatronics utilizes onboard sensors for precision control of advanced robotics to create animatronic human stunt doubles that can perform advanced aerial movements, such as flips and twists.<ref>{{cite web|title=Stuntronics|url=https://la.disneyresearch.com/stuntronics/|publisher=Disney Research|access-date=June 27, 2020|date=2018}}</ref>

==Variations==
The Audio-Animatronics figures at Disney's theme parks around the world vary in their sophistication. Current technologies have paved the way for more elaborate figures, such as the swordfighting pirates inside [[Pirates of the Caribbean (attraction)|Pirates of the Caribbean]] at [[Disneyland Park (Paris)]], the lava monster in [[Journey to the Center of the Earth (attraction)|Journey to the Center of the Earth]] at [[Tokyo DisneySea]], the [[Fictional_universe_of_Avatar#Na'vi|Na'vi]] Shaman in [[Na'vi River Journey]], the [[dinosaur]]s in [[Dinosaur (Disney's Animal Kingdom)|Dinosaur]], the [[Yeti]] in [[Expedition Everest]] at [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]] (though the latter has been non-functional since 2008, using a strobe light to simulate movement of the still figure<ref>{{cite web| url= http://forums.wdwmagic.com/threads/expedition-everest-effects-status-watch.171808/page-83 | title= Expedition Everest effects status watch| work= Forums | date= 18 April 2007| publisher= WDWMagic.com| access-date= 13 May 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2010/07/31/disney-fans-dismayed-with-disco-yeti/| work= [[Orlando Sentinel]] | title= Disney fans dismayed with 'Disco Yeti' |date= 31 July 2010 |first= Jason |last= Garcia |access-date= 13 May 2015}}</ref>), and [[List_of_Monsters,_Inc._characters#Roz|Roz]] inside [[Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!]] at [[Disney California Adventure]] and [[Monsters, Inc. Ride & Go Seek]] at [[Tokyo Disneyland]].

The Roz figure is able to interact with guests with help from an unseen operator who chooses pre-recorded messages for Roz to speak, thereby seeming to react to individual guests' unique appearances and clothing. The [[List_of_Toy_Story_characters#Mr._Potato_Head|Mr. Potato Head]] figures at the [[Toy Story Mania!]] attractions at Disney California Adventure, [[Disney's Hollywood Studios]], and Tokyo DisneySea do the same.
[[File:Hondo Ohnaka, Disneyland.jpg|thumb|An Audio-Animatronics figure of Hondo Ohnaka in the preshow of [[Star Wars: Millennium Falcon – Smugglers Run|''Millennium Falcon'' – Smugglers Run]] at Disneyland]]
[[File:Louis, Disneyland.jpg|thumb|An Audio-Animatronics figure of Louis the alligator in [[Tiana's Bayou Adventure]] at Disneyland]]
In 2006, the classic Pirates of the Caribbean attraction was updated at [[Disneyland]] and [[Magic Kingdom]] to include characters from the [[Pirates of the Caribbean (film series)|''Pirates of the Caribbean'' film series]]. The [[Jack Sparrow]] figure is based on the actor that portrays him, [[Johnny Depp]], and features his voice. The most advanced Audio-Animatronic figure is [[Abraham Lincoln]] at [[Great Moments with Mr. Lincoln]] at Disneyland. Lincoln can move his lips to form words and portray emotions to match what he is saying.

The Audio-Animatronic [[anglerfish]] inside [[The Seas with Nemo & Friends]] in [[Epcot]] is connected to a robotic arm to make it appear that the anglerfish is actually swimming.

The Audio-Animatronic [[Indiana Jones (character)|Indiana Jones]] figures inside [[Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Forbidden Eye]] and [[Indiana Jones Adventure: Temple of the Crystal Skull|Temple of the Crystal Skull]] at Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea respectively, resemble Indiana Jones actor [[Harrison Ford]].

In the [[Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin|Buzz Lightyear attractions]] at Magic Kingdom, Disneyland, and Disneyland Park Paris, the Audio-Animatronics figures of [[Buzz Lightyear]] use projections for their faces to make Buzz's mouth move and eyes blink. The projected face technology is also used in [[Seven Dwarfs Mine Train]] at Magic Kingdom and [[Shanghai Disneyland]], and [[Frozen Ever After]] at Epcot. These Audio-Animatronics were succeeded by the figures in use in the [[Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge|''Star Wars'': Galaxy's Edge]] lands at Disneyland and Disney's Hollywood Studios in 2019, such as [[List_of_Star_Wars_characters#O|Hondo Ohnaka]] in the [[Star Wars: Millennium Falcon – Smugglers Run|''Millennium Falcon'' – Smugglers Run]] attraction. These new figures, known as A-1000 Animatronics, have a fully functional face, featuring a full range of motion in the eyes and mouth.<ref>{{cite web|title=Hondo Animatronic Revealed for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge at Disney Parks|url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/news/2019/02/28/hondo-animatronic-revealed-for-star-wars-galaxys-edge-at-disney-parks/|publisher=Laughingplace.com|access-date=December 21, 2019|date=February 28, 2019}}</ref>

== Society ==
Society has a large effect on how Audio-Animatronics evolve over time in theme parks. At Disney Parks, Audio-Animatronics are constantly being removed and installed based on current tastes and the changing of generations. Some attractions like [[The Hall of Presidents]] in [[Magic Kingdom]] are affected when it comes to events in society as every time there is a new president they are added to the attraction.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Bringardner |first=Chase |date=2020 |title=It's Not Easy Being Orange: Animatronic Presidents, Patriotic Muppets, and the Configuration of Citizenship in Disney's Liberty Square |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/772148 |journal=Theatre Symposium |language=en |volume=28 |issue=1 |pages=105–119 |doi=10.1353/tsy.2020.0008 |issn=2166-9937|url-access=subscription }}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery mode="packed" center heights="135">
File:Hallofpresidents2011.jpg|[[The Hall of Presidents]] in 2011 at [[Magic Kingdom]]
File:Muppet Mobile Lab (420359093).jpg|The [[Muppet Mobile Lab]], featuring [[Bunsen Honeydew|Bunsen]] and [[Beaker (Muppet)|Beaker]], during a visit to [[Pixar]] in 2007. Pixar's chief creative officer [[Pete Docter]] can be seen above the vehicle's headlights.
File:Lucky the Dinosaur (13954963).jpg|[[Lucky the Dinosaur]] in [[Disney's Animal Kingdom]] in 2005
File:Shaman, Disneyland.jpg|[[Plains Indians|Plains Indian]] [[Shamanism|Shaman]] as seen along the [[Rivers of America (Disney)|Rivers of America]] at [[Disneyland]]
File:Buzz Lightyear, Disneyland.jpg|[[Buzz Lightyear]] in the queue of [[Buzz Lightyear's Space Ranger Spin|Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters]] at Disneyland
File:Roz, Disney California Adventure.jpg|[[List_of_Monsters,_Inc._characters#Roz|Roz]] in [[Monsters, Inc. Mike & Sulley to the Rescue!]] at [[Disney California Adventure]]
File:Mr. Potato Head, Disney California Adventure.jpg|[[List_of_Toy_Story_characters#Mr._Potato_Head|Mr. Potato Head]] at [[Toy Story Mania!|Toy Story Midway Mania!]] in Disney California Adventure
File:Rocket, Disney California Adventure.jpg|[[Rocket (Marvel Cinematic Universe)|Rocket]] in the preshow of [[Guardians of the Galaxy – Mission: Breakout!|''Guardians of the Galaxy'' – Mission: Breakout!]] at Disney California Adventure
File:Droids Disneyland.jpg|Roaming BD-X [[Droid (Star Wars)|droids]] in [[Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge|''Star Wars'': Galaxy's Edge]] at Disneyland in 2024
</gallery>

==In popular culture==
* Less-sophisticated forms of audio-[[animatronics]] also gained popularity in the 1980s through use at family entertainment centers such as [[ShowBiz Pizza|ShowBiz Pizza Place]] and [[Chuck E. Cheese's]]. At ShowBiz, [[The Rock-afire Explosion]] band was made by [[Aaron Fechter]] and Creative Engineering, who also made other animatronic characters and arcade redemption games. They are also used in film and television [[special effect]]s.
* Several passengers and the crew of a [[Pioneer Zephyr]] are represented in a display of this historic train at [[Chicago]]'s [[Museum of Science and Industry (Chicago)|Museum of Science and Industry]]. Neatly dressed in the proper style of first class passengers of their era, one remarks upon the casual dress of the visitors.
* The [[George Washington Masonic National Memorial]] features an animatronic [[George Washington]].
* [[John Wardley]] is often said to have brought [[animatronics]] to the United Kingdom, utilizing a concept called Ramped Movement, which allowed for smoother movements of the figures. John appeared on ''[[Tomorrow's World]]'' in the 1970s showing a guitar playing animatronic programmed to music. His first project was the creation of the animated show "50 Glorious Years" for Tussaud's "Royalty and Empire Exhibition" at Windsor.
* [[Scissor Sisters]] member [[Ana Matronic]] named herself after animatronics, as a homage to her love of ''[[The Bionic Woman]]''.
* The [[Pennsylvania Lottery]] uses an animatronic [[groundhog]] named Gus (who refers to himself as the "second-most-famous groundhog in Pennsylvania", after [[Punxsutawney Phil]]) as the mascot for television commercials for their instant scratch-off games.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.character-shop.com/gus.html| title= Pennsylvania Lottery's 'Gus the Groundhog'| website= character-shop.com |publisher= The Character Shop, Inc. | access-date= 13 May 2015 }}</ref>
* [[Walt Disney Pictures|Disney]]'s 2015 film ''[[Tomorrowland (film)|Tomorrowland]]'' uses the Audio-Animatronics word as a term for their sophisticated android characters.

==See also==
*[[List of Disney attractions using Audio-Animatronics]]

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

== External links ==
* [http://dizfanatic.com/DizTech005.aspx DizTech: The Disney Technology Blog] at DizFanatic.com
* [http://entertainment.howstuffworks.com/animatronic.htm How Animatronics Work] at [[HowStuffWorks.com]]
* [http://spin-cdnsrc.texterity.com/spin/200811/?pg=33&pm=1 Masters of Puppets: Rock-afire Explosion] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716213820/http://spin-cdnsrc.texterity.com/spin/200811/?pg=33&pm=1 |date=2011-07-16 }}

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