A miniature magnetic theater apparatus provides an elevated surface supporting on its upper face (stage) one or more magnetic characters. The characters utilize magnets positioned under the stage for manipulation by a user in accordance with a stage play. Scenery elements may utilize magnets to attach to magnetically receptive drops, wings and a back wall. The drops and wings may be positioned in slotted side beams for positioning and support.

A miniature magnetic theater apparatus provides an elevated surface supporting on its upper face (stage) one or more magnetic characters. The characters utilize magnets positioned under the stage for manipulation by a user in accordance with a stage play. Scenery elements may utilize magnets to attach to magnetically receptive drops, wings and a back wall. The drops and wings may be positioned in slotted side beams for positioning and support.

A portable puppet theater includes a pair of side walls and a front wall having a central opening which faces the audience, a plurality of inner walls defining one or more sceneries and a curtain, a cover element, which covers the side and front walls. The side and front walls are substantially vertical and hinged together to form a foldable structure which is adapted to alternate from a collapsed configuration with the walls in mutually overlapping relationship, and an upstanding configuration with the walls at right angles and substantially vertical, and vice versa. The cover element is in the form of a lid, with a flat central portion and upwardly folded edges to receive the inner walls and the foldable structure in the collapsed configuration. The cover element can be turned upside down with the folded edges facing downwards and contacting the side and front walls in the upstanding configuration.

A portable puppet theater includes a pair of side walls and a front wall having a central opening which faces the audience, a plurality of inner walls defining one or more sceneries and a curtain, a cover element, which covers the side and front walls. The side and front walls are substantially vertical and hinged together to form a foldable structure which is adapted to alternate from a collapsed configuration with the walls in mutually overlapping relationship, and an upstanding configuration with the walls at right angles and substantially vertical, and vice versa. The cover element is in the form of a lid, with a flat central portion and upwardly folded edges to receive the inner walls and the foldable structure in the collapsed configuration. The cover element can be turned upside down with the folded edges facing downwards and contacting the side and front walls in the upstanding configuration.

A method of controlling a first figure configured to animate and a second figure configured to exhibit free motion in an amusement park ride includes determining when a field of view of a ride vehicle (RV) moving along a RV path of the ride is either directed away from a scene area of the ride or obstructed from the scene area, and responsive to such determination, causing a first mechanism associated with the first figure to move the first figure out of the scene area, and causing a second mechanism associated with the second figure to move the second figure into the scene area.

A show effect system of an amusement park attraction includes a prop component and a linkage system having an extension and a contactor system. The linkage system is configured to move relative to the prop component to move the extension toward the prop component and to cause engagement between the contactor system and the prop component, cause the prop component to move, via the engagement between the contactor system and the prop component, in conjunction with the extension, and block direct contact between the prop component and the extension. The extension is coupled to an animated figure such that the linkage system is configured to cause movement of the animated figure via the extension.

A method of controlling a first figure configured to animate and a second figure configured to exhibit free motion in an amusement park ride includes determining when a field of view of a ride vehicle (RV) moving along a RV path of the ride is either directed away from a scene area of the ride or obstructed from the scene area, and responsive to such determination, causing a first mechanism associated with the first figure to move the first figure out of the scene area, and causing a second mechanism associated with the second figure to move the second figure into the scene area.

An unfolding springing apparatus comprises a base, an apparatus linkage comprising cranks and coupler links connected to the base, an unfolding spring, a drive motor, a transmission, and a prop mount. The apparatus linkage includes one or a plurality of opposed pairs of cranks, each pair of cranks being connected to each other at their respective ends by a pair of pivotally connected coupler links. The unfolding spring is operative to bias the apparatus linkage to unfold. The drive motor is operative to fold the apparatus and to reenergize the unfolding spring. The transmission includes a linear extension module. When engaged, the transmission transmits displacement of the drive motor to the apparatus linkage to fold the linkage. When disengaged, the transmission releases the apparatus linkage to be unfolded by the unfolding spring. The transmission includes a motorized clutch module.

Figure expression using a multi-axis control is described. In one or more implementations, a figure (e.g., a ventriloquism figure) includes a head having eyeballs, eyelids, and eyebrows. A multi-axis control is integral with the head and is configured to control the eyeballs, the eyelids, and the eyebrows responsive to manipulation of the multi-axis control by a hand of a person. In contrast to conventional approaches, the eyeballs, the eyelids, and the eyebrows of the figure are controlled only by the multi-axis control. Indeed, the multi-axis control is configured to control the eyeballs, the eyelids, and the eyebrows without application of force by a hand to any other control of the figure.

An animated figure system includes an animated figure comprising a flexible skin layer, an actuating system coupled to a connection location of the flexible skin layer, and an automation controller. The automation controller is configured to access a digital model of the animated figure, in which the digital model comprises a vertex associated with the connection location, determine a first positioning of the vertex within the digital model, and control the actuating system to set a second positioning of the connection location based on the first positioning of the vertex.