# Freak me out with creepy animatronics **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [December 11, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784 "2010-12-11T15:14:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/1 "2010-12-11T15:14:55Z")
[Dollywood’s robot singers](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeW0_bEnaPU) give me the fear. But I don’t think anything can beat [these British officers in a museum in Singapore](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ML6v4ennpk). It’s the “uuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh” that does it. Can anyone top this exploration of the horrors of the Uncanny Valley? ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/2 "2010-12-11T18:57:05Z")
I have a feeling that a combo of their expression plus the lighting makes them look like zombies. Either that or they bought these from the lowest bidder. The oldest drugstore in Saint Augustine used to have a mannequin that told the history of old fashioned drug stores. By the time the museum closed the mannequin was looking pretty ratty. Definitely creepy. ---
**Author:** ![Long\_Time\_Lurker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/2bfe46/32.png) [@Long\_Time\_Lurker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Long_Time_Lurker)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2010, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/3 "2010-12-11T19:01:13Z")
Sorry to deviate so quickly into your thread (link is animation, not animatronics), but this was the first thing I thought of when you asked about the horrors of uncanny valley: [http://www.motionportrait.com/e/about/TIminoriHair.swf](http://www.motionportrait.com/e/about/TIminoriHair.swf) That creeps me out. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 7:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/4 "2010-12-12T19:21:45Z")
> [@Long\_Time\_Lurker](#): > > Sorry to deviate so quickly into your thread (link is animation, not animatronics), but this was the first thing I thought of when you asked about the horrors of uncanny valley: > > [http://www.motionportrait.com/e/about/TIminoriHair.swf](http://www.motionportrait.com/e/about/TIminoriHair.swf) > > That creeps me out. That’s really a strange flash. Most of the time she looks alright but every once in awhile she looks like she’s been possessed by demons. Very creepy. ---
**Author:** ![mack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b19c9b/32.png) [@mack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mack)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/5 "2010-12-12T20:05:03Z")
Not really creepy, but human-ness of how the[Big Dog](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W1czBcnX1Ww) reacts, especially to the ice, is amazing. It looks like two guys head-to-head. ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/6 "2010-12-12T20:17:07Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > That’s really a strange flash. Most of the time she looks alright but every once in awhile she looks like she’s been possessed by demons. Very creepy. She’s got incredibly stoned bunny eyes. strange choice. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/7 "2010-12-12T22:24:05Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > I have a feeling that a combo of their expression plus the lighting makes them look like zombies. Either that or they bought these from the lowest bidder. The oldest drugstore in Saint Augustine used to have a mannequin that told the history of old fashioned drug stores. By the time the museum closed the mannequin was looking pretty ratty. Definitely creepy. I agree, I bet they had a lot better display when they were new, but they haven’t had any maintenance or renovation in 20-30 years, and they have lost range of motion, and many functions. Probably the recording of the dialog has been crapped out for years. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/8 "2010-12-12T22:34:28Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > That’s really a strange flash. Most of the time she looks alright but every once in awhile she looks like she’s been possessed by demons. Very creepy. Did you move your mouse around? Her eyes and face follow the pointer. As a kid, I was always creeped out by the [animatronic band at Showiz Pizza.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdNA_V62Kvs) ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 12, 2010, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/9 "2010-12-12T23:28:33Z")
> [@Tangent](#): > > As a kid, I was always creeped out by the [animatronic band at Showiz Pizza.](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LdNA_V62Kvs) Oh my fucking god. Thanks, I’m not sleeping tonight. Who in their right MIND thinks kids should be looking at horrors like that?! ---
**Author:** ![armedmonkey](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d6d6ee/32.png) [@armedmonkey](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/armedmonkey)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 1:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/10 "2010-12-13T01:21:25Z")
> [@jjimm](#): > > Can anyone top this exploration of the horrors of the Uncanny Valley? [here](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WMFPBcAMP04&playnext=1&list=PL89A77150CEF0392B&index=1) ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/11 "2010-12-13T04:43:49Z")
This is puppetry rather than animatronics, but it’s creepy and wonderful at the same time. This is just hypnotic. [The Little Girl Giant](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qBXr15K2uSc) I wish I’d been there to witness the entire show of [The Sultan’s Elephant](http://thesultanselephant.com/home.php). ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 5:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/12 "2010-12-13T05:13:23Z")
From the time I was a little kid, and until my brother was 18 and we finally convinced my parents we didn’t want to go any more, we got dragged to [Santa’s Village](http://www.santasvillage.com/) up in Jefferson, NH. It’s a Christmas themed amusement park, and most of it is okay, if a bit silly once you get older. The part that’s not okay is the show with the talking tree. It looks like a tree, but it’s not a tree. Trees don’t have big wide eyes that blink at you, and mouths to talk and sing. It doesn’t get any less creepy to watch as an adult. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/13 "2010-12-13T05:32:22Z")
> [@Long\_Time\_Lurker](#): > > Sorry to deviate so quickly into your thread (link is animation, not animatronics), but this was the first thing I thought of when you asked about the horrors of uncanny valley: > > [http://www.motionportrait.com/e/about/TIminoriHair.swf](http://www.motionportrait.com/e/about/TIminoriHair.swf) > > That creeps me out. Zoom in on it a few times. Some think It’s a Small World is cute [The horror… the horror](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t973d1JlwAo&feature=related) ---
**Author:** ![Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/43a26b/32.png) [@Pine\_Fresh\_Scent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Pine_Fresh_Scent)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 7:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/14 "2010-12-13T07:56:38Z")
Well, since you asked for it…this Daft Punk video will eat your dreams: [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtdWHFwmd2o](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YtdWHFwmd2o) Um, I hope you enjoy it? ---
**Author:** ![Batsinma\_Belfry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ea5d25/32.png) [@Batsinma\_Belfry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Batsinma_Belfry)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/15 "2010-12-13T08:22:23Z")
I don’t know whether to laugh or scream. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/C8pOvjf6G-o/hqdefault.jpg "The Ayuwoki is BACK! The ORIGINAL VIDEO that Started it All") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8pOvjf6G-o) ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Me](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d2c977/32.png) [@Mr.Me](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Me)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 3:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/16 "2010-12-13T15:18:21Z")
[![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muhVKlWFWuQ) Computer animation, rather than traditional animatronics, but it definitely sets off my creepy alarm. ---
**Author:** ![chromaticity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/cc9497/32.png) [@chromaticity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chromaticity)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/17 "2010-12-13T18:42:40Z")
[Saya](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aF_8gM4urmA) , as scary as chucky. When she laughs, it sends chills down my spine. Another[singing Japanese robot](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_migLQ802Go&feature=related). Orange, on the creepo-meter ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [December 13, 2010, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/freak-me-out-with-creepy-animatronics/563784/18 "2010-12-13T19:32:15Z")
I forgot this one until I saw the Big Dog… [Rockit](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nK0Pi4wC8Hk) by Herbie Hancock. That might actually be the worst of the lot. It’s the way the faces look like they’re made of melting wax.