Best SW Course for Learning How to Incorporate Animatronics Into a Perfomer's Mask?

Kelly Mahler

As the title states. Do any of the courses cover something like this? I've seen there are some puppet animatronic videos, but I am looking for a resource for doing mask animatronics that can go over the actor's head and be a part of the mask/performance.  

Chris Ellerby

We don't have anything that specifically covers incorporating animatronics into masks, but some of our animatronic lessons cover attaching animatronics to foam latex or silicone skins, which is similar to working with a mask.  The missing part there is the performer and how the mechanisms need to fit around the human form etc.

The lesson series "How To Build An Animatronic Head Part" with Craig Caton-Largent may help a bit since he is working with a foam latex skin.
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/character-animatronics-how-to-build-an-animatronic-head-part-1-mechanical-underskull

The lesson series "How To Make Animatronic Characters" with Rick Lazzarini does a great job covering how to work with vacuum formed support structures (in this case an underskull) which may also be helpful.
https://www.stanwinstonschool.com/tutorials/animatronic-character-creation-organic-mechanics-part-one

Hope that helps!

/Chris

Kelly Mahler

Thanks, Chris! You are always so helpful!