animatronics

American  

[an-uh-muh-tron-iks] / ˌæn ə məˈtrɒn ɪks /

noun

1. (used with a singular verb) the technology connected with the use of electronics to animate puppets or other figures, as for motion pictures.

---

animatronics British  

/ ˌænɪməˈtrɒnɪks /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) a branch of film and theatre technology that combines traditional puppetry techniques with electronics to create lifelike animated effects

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• animatronic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of animatronics

1975–80; blend of animate and electronics

Explanation

The art of making mechanical creatures that look like animals is called animatronics. If you create a robotic cat, you've mastered the technique of animatronics. Before computer animation became versatile and sophisticated, many movies used animatronics to create the illusion that people were interacting with dinosaurs or imaginary creatures. Animals created using animatronics are robotic, but they appear fairly realistic. Walt Disney was the first film director to use animatronics, in the 1960s,though he originally called the technique Audio-Animatronics.

Example Sentences

For Woliner and Notarnicola, “The Man in the Tuskhut” is only the beginning of their venture with animatronics.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

Later, another one of his animatronics had campfire-side chats with audiences at the Overlook Film Festival in New Orleans.

From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 8, 2025

An outside expert in animatronics, who typically works in television and theater, gives them an annual tuneup.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 23, 2025

Using animatronics and other tools, many of these practical critters moved and appeared to even breathe, causing more than a few of us to scream in surprise.

From Salon • Jul. 17, 2025

They’ve each got their own patter, their own jokes, and even though the animatronics aren’t so hot, it makes the show worth seeing.”

From Down and Out in the Magic Kingdom by Doctorow, Cory