The Audio-Animatronic Magic of Garner Holt Productions

If you follow me of the D&M Facebook page you probably have seen the video of the amazing Abraham Lincoln Audio-Animatronic head which is the latest stunning achievement of Garner Holt Productions. Garner Holt himself tell you more about it in the Mice Age article HERE but the story of Garner Holt and his love for Audio-Animatronics started a long time ago and i suggest that we have a look at it thanks to a series of videos showing some of Garner Holt Productions Audio-Animatronics.

But first, a bit of history about Garner Holt, introduced by Imagineer Bob Gurr in this video released for  Garner Holt Lifetime Achievement THEA Award.




The next video will show you some of the large scale projects on which has worked Garner Holt Productions, and yes, the amazing dragon of Disneyland Fantasmic! - among others huge Audio-Animatronics for Disney shows - was done by Garner Holt Productions.




Let's go now back in time to have a look at previous Audio-Animatronics created by Garner Holt Productions. Among these, the incredible Unicyclist Animatronic. We know how what you're about to watch is already difficult for a human being for a question of balance, but achieving this with an Audio-Animatronic is simply stunning!




The next video will show you Garner Holt Productions TropiTronics Animatronic Parrots, which surely will remind you the famous ones in the Tiki Room.




Garner Holt Productions is also making Animatronics droids, and i wouldn't be surprised if they did some for WDI that we can see now in the Star Tours pre-show! As a matter of fact i think that this one IS in the pre-show.




The next short video will show you the realistic Mohegan Sun, an Animatronic wolf which would surely easily find its place in Frontierland!




Back to human Animatronics with the next video showing a one-of-a-kind animation and special effects introduction to the famous Howe Caverns in upstate New York. Featuring a detailed Victorian set, sophisticated animatronic Lester Hower, and numerous special effects surprises, the pre-tour show is a unique experience for the guests at Howe Caverns.



Another human Animatronic in the video below with the sophisticated Marlin Perkins Animatronic figure, holding in his arms an Animatronic monkey!




These were done some years ago and, since, Garner Holt Productions improved its Animatronic technique, up to this amazing Abraham Lincoln Audio-Animatronic head which has 40 points of movements, allowing never-seen-before incredibly expressive movements of Lincoln face.




Not too long ago, Walt Disney Imagineering decided that Garner Holt Productions would be the company which will create the Animatronics for Disney attractions and i think that after seeing these videos you now understand why! Great job, Garner!

Videos: copyright Garner Holt Productions

Garner Holt Donate a Tiki Room Audio-Animatronic Barker Bird To Walt Disney Family Museum

Mice Age did a great article today HERE about the Tiki Room Barker bird which has been recreated by Audio-Animatronics wizard Garner Holt and donated to the Walt Disney Family museum in San Francisco. Guests can move the animated bird thanks to a control joystick and it's a great addition to this fantastic museum!

I've found on youtube two videos for you and here they are!




On this next one you'll see a guest manipulating the control joystick.



Pictures: copyright Garner Holt Productions

Garner Holt Wins A LifeTime Achievement THEA Award

Garner Holt - the great Audio-Animatronics wizard who produced so many AAs for Disney Theme Parks ( Jack Skellington AA, The Fantasmic Dragon, Little Mermaid ride AAs, and recently HKDL Mystic Manor Audio-Animatronics figures ) as well as others parks around the world is the recipient of a THEA LifeTime Achievement Award, probably the highest award in the theme parks business.

Mice Age did a great article today that i suggest you to read HERE but don't miss too this short video in which Garner presents his company. And of course, congratulations to Garner!




Picture and video: copyright Garner Holt productions

Don't Miss on Mice Age Garner Holt's Top Ten Audio-Animatronics Figures

Mice Age has a great article today from Audio-Animatronic master Garner Holt that you don't want to miss. Garner Holt Productions is the company which is now doing most of the Audio-Animatronics figures for Walt Disney Imagineering. So, Garner Holt, who is creating Audio-Animatronics since thirty years is a man who know what he is talking about! And today in his Mice Age article he tell us what are his top ten favorite animatronic figures!

You can discover Garner Holt's top ten Animatronics choice HERE but just before you make the jump and read Garner's article here is two videos showing two less known Audio-animatronics which are part of his choice. The first video below is the full show of Alec Tronic ( No 3 in Garner Holt's choice ) which was performing at Epcot Innoventions and amazingly programmed by Dave Feiten. It was a "A-100 character, the Rolls Royce of Disney animatronics".




And the next one ( No 2 in Garner's choice ) is coming from Garner Holt Productions and is the amazing "Wendell the animatronic unicyclist", "The first and still the only animatronic figure to acutally ride a unicycle without any visible means of support, Wendell has been wowing audiences around the world since his 1989 debut".




Again, don't miss Garner's "Top Ten Animatronics" article on Mice Age HERE!