Disney ANIMATRONIC Tier List

[@thewalkingdad68]

I know that she's no longer with us, but I believe you should have included an honorable mention for the wicked witch from the Great Movie Ride. That animatronic was the most impressive that Disney has ever done.

[@Taijifufu]

I remember thinking she was an actor since the ride had those too.

[@tufab3494]

I also missed her

[@ColeWalker]

She was reskinned as Kylo Ren in ROTR.

[@VIIK.]

@@ColeWalker nah she was either scrapped for parts or reskinned for DLP. The ROTR animatronics are all A-1000 models.

[@pault5557]

My thought exactly! She was an amazing A100 figure!!! Also, in Smugglers Run, what about Hando Anaka? He moves like a REAL PERSON! And then there’s Ben Franklin at The American Adventure who WALKS UP STAIRS! Not an A100, but still impressive.

[@Lotta1062]

The coolest audio animatronic I've ever seen is the dragon/ Malificent under the castle at Disneyland Paris, despite having visited both US parks, she's still my favorite 😍

[@NathanSpies]

I wish Disney would stop using projected faces or eyes on animatronics

[@LowTide941]

Like Elsa in frozen ride?

[@Clint7777]

I agree! It was cool in Seven Dwarves but now it seems almost lazy. The sculpture aspects of the faces is much more impressive to me.

[@justabear4712]

same here! i feel like the sculpted animatronics have so much more detail, and it just looks so much more authentically disney. also, they don’t look absolutely horrific when they break down.

[@jacobcoburn3269]

It works for Olaf and the Cars. Every other one has that distracting glow and uncontoured face. Luckily they seem to be moving away from this style going forward. Ps Love your channel Nathan!

[@Lil_hobbit_gal]

@@jacobcoburn3269 They’re too bright and too flat. Sculpted animatronics have a more life-like appearance, but face projections look unnatural.

[@KassMcCormack]

I believe the squash and stretch Ursula animatronic (when her head is still attached) should be in the B tier at a minimum just based on her size and fluidity alone! The extra bounces just make her even more lifelike.

[@fartsmcgee8700]

Hopper from It's Tough to be a Bug (if he's working properly of course!) is for sure on my S-tier. The first time I saw I thought it was someone in a costume.

[@melaniemanning2462]

Yes! Completely fluid and I would just watch in awe every time he appeared

[@whossoul]

Okay while I get the County Bears give Chuck E Cheese vibes putting them on the same level as Monsters Inc feels criminal. They may not be state of the art but at least they do more than rock back and forth which is what most Monsters Inc ones do! I feel like Rocket also deserved to be on the list. I think packing that much range of motion and expression into that small of an animatronic is pretty impressive!

[@jakesapir]

I have to give props to the penguins in Muppets. They're pretty darn good.

[@CLyane]

I once heard a story from a CM about Ariel at California Adventure: apparently when the ride was new, during the Under the Sea portion her hair stood up like it does in the movie when the fish swim around her. The animatronics' hair, unfortunately, was incredibly heavy. Because of this, she'd often break, usually with her hair piece ripping out the back of her skull. Well this happened once, leading to dark black grease/oil running out of her eye sockets as the back of her head ripped away. As she danced and children screamed (presumably). The ride was shut down immediately and the animatronic was replaced in the Under the Sea room with one whose hair just kind of floats around her shoulders. We had been in that little merch store right by the queue for Little Mermaid and there was a shirt or something with the pose from the movie on it, which is why the CM told us this story. I wish I had seen demon Ariel just once before they replaced her.

[@robertschmitz7782]

I saw the original and yes, it was very bad. I wouldn't place the replacement as low a score as Nathan did, but I guess it's because he might not have seen the first.

[@CutesyBubblez]

her original hair looked like red ice cream

[@kellyhyson4772]

Thanks for the shout-out to Grandma, and I totally agree. Sitting by the hearth with her book, a bit removed from the party, but still enjoying it. Living her best afterlife! 💜

[@ColtonMyers1]

How are you gonna bring up the Little Mermaid ride and not mention how awesome the Ursula animatronic is?!? Also, Wicked Witch from the now defunct Great Movie Ride still deserves recognition!

[@infinite_glory]

Now you gotta do the animatronics in the parks outside of America: i.e. the dragon underneath the castle in Disneyland Paris (EuroDisney) and Jack Sparrow & Davey Jones in Shanghai Disney as well as Winnie the Pooh in Shanghai, Belle from the Beauty and the Beast ride in Tokyo, etc.

[@laurennsspencer]

The Tiki room is one of my all time favorite attractions and I love to see the love 🙌 I took some friends to Disneyland that had never been before and I forced everyone into the tiki room and it was the unanimous favorite of the day

[@kristenhanisch8508]

Love love love the Tiki Room! It's great for a brief respite, too, because you can go in there with your lunch and your Dole Whip and enjoy the AC!

[@gryffindor4life920]

My sister in law is a Disney disneyholic for 10 years. Last year was the first time she was in the tikki room. I was shocked, so we made her go see it.

[@belagracie]

I’ve loved the WDW tiki room since I was nine years old (and I just turned 60). My mom and dad took me there three months after they opened, and we spent the 400 miles driving back singing the tiki room songs. It’s always the first thing I do at the Magic Kingdom!

[@karebear3152]

you forgot so many... what about the muppets?! what about Sonny Eclipse?! What about Harold of the Matterhorn?! is there going to be a part two? Also how dare you do the bears dirty like that. 🤣😭

[@SoCalMan13]

How can you miss iconic ones like the IASW dolls, or Harold (new and old) from the Matterhorn. Or Indiana Jones. Or anything from Spaceship Earth or American Adventure.

[@robertschmitz7782]

Yes, he missed quite a lot.

[@pault5557]

YES!!! For their day, some of the Spaceship Earth, Horizons, and American Adventure animatronics were very impressive!!!

[@Josh_Lee_Henderson]

I think Hondo Ohnaka and Rocket Raccoon are both really good

[@wordledad]

Bump this comment.

[@Nephrite_Harmony]

gonna have to disagree with you on 3po dallin, his movements are so true to life you wouldn't be able to tell if it were really an animatronic or anthony daniels in a suit, he deserves at least an A or B

[@zolnowss]

I haven't watched this yet but "my goal with this video is to make enemies" is pretty badass

[@anthonypecorara]

You truly put Figment on the correct place and that’s all that matters.

[@jetsons101]

Your list was so spot on, putting the original Mr. Lincoln on the list first and on top shows your knowledge of Disney history. The Chuck E. Cheese look of Country Bear Jamboree is part of the charm, like the original Fantasyland dark rides --- they have been updated but are still simple --- again part of the charm. To me all the Disneyland Fantasyland dark rides should be in the "A" tier because of the long history they have. Your right about the Projection Faces --- F tier, they should all be taken out except for Madame Leota.....

[@TheCottonCandyQueen]

15:45 Jenny Nicholson actually had some ideas for Na’vi River Journey from her Pandora video and I’m just gonna repeat what she said. I forgot what the Pandora version of the jungle cats are called but they can be put there, just peakin behind the bushes. Maybe some of the alien horses can be seen takin a sip from the river and looking at the guests. I also think that there should also be maybe two more Na’vi bc we barely have na’vi characters besides the one in the world of Pandora which uh… makes it a bit ominous Edit: My S tier is Jack Skellington, I’m bias, I enjoy seeing him when it’s time for the Halloween mansion holiday. F teir are those projected faces from frozen cause like. Dude.

[@rapunzel1701]

Wouldn't the overhead Carnotaurus be more a 'set piece' than an animatronic? Does it have any moving parts other than the gantry itself? If the flowers stopped clacking, I'd probably cry.

[@IllegalPalmTree]

I absolutely love how you can hear the heads on the wall blinking and moving in Country Bear Jamboree😭❤

[@tufab3494]

Why you always gotta upload at the exact same time I'm looking for Disney related lists and history videos? Haha gotta love it. You're the best Dallin, keep up the great work! Salutes from Brazil!

[@SimplelilSteph]

My favorite audio animatronic is the whistling pirate but even more than that it’s the dog with the keys he’s whistling at lol and yes Pirates (from DisneyLAND) is my favorite ride of all time.

[@AaronDangerBell]

Offhand Disney, I have seen how your content has grown over the years, and I just got to say you’r writing, thumbnails, and video topics- are amazing! There’s tons of people that make Disney park content but your channel feels very niche. Just wanted to say thank you!

[@ampersand2001]

I'm thankful my first and only ride on Expedition Everest was during the passholder preview. The Yeti was WILD.

[@bigheadtales]

The Carnosaur in Dinosaur used to be much more effective, but it was quite scary as you'd only see it when it "attacked" as you went under it. If I recall, it was toned down because it was too scary.

[@deluxxebus783]

"The Tiki room is just goated" best offhand disney quote

[@memethyst]

i saw figment's christmas sweater in person for the first time last month and it was a magical experience my number 1 favorite animatronic though... sonny eclipse, hes so underrated and so cute and cool and his songs slap

[@LimitedEditioneo]

I didn’t know about Sonny Eclipse and so when I went to WDW for the first time I was so pleasantly surprised. What a wonderful hidden gem he is

[@memethyst]

@@LimitedEditioneo hidden gem is the perfect way to describe him

[@Cheetosadveture]

I LOVE JOSE, the enchanted tiki room is my favorite attraction and i would pay rent to live there. If they ever take the tiki room down, I will take the birds with me. The birds are so charismatic and great!

[@kristenhanisch8508]

My baby actually has a toy bird on a perch that I named Jose! 😆

[@residentdimwit]

THE HATBOX GHOST WILL BE IN ORLANDO SOON?! I was just there in December after _years_ of not going and was absolutely heartbroken he wasn't there. You have no idea how overjoyed I am to learn this. Going to Magic Kingdom tomorrow, actually! I know he won't be there tomorrow, but I'm so excited to eventually see him

[@kristenhanisch8508]

I'm surprised he mentioned Ariel but not Ursula, which is actually pretty good. Probably the best one I've seen except for Lincoln.

[@michaelsullivan3581]

Well done Dallin (and your scientific team). There could be a place for Hondo & Rocket somewhere in your stratosphere! Or perhaps not... PS: I must enter an honorable mention for the utter buffoonery of the three Seagulls on the buoy in the Lagoon!

[@meowspots]

I have to say, my favorite animatronic is probably the Hatbox Ghost. I was so excited when he returned to the Mansion! And I totally agree, Constance is so awful. With the technology available now, they really need to update her. I disagree with your placement of the Storm Troopers. They barely move, so they seem more like figures, I'd put them in E. I was hoping you would include a few more animatronics, like Rocket Racoon, Hondo, maybe some of the international ones... but this was a good list!

[@robertschmitz7782]

I don't see any motion in the Hat Box Ghost, except for a little arm movement. Otherwise he's great.

[@meowspots]

@@robertschmitz7782 that’s true, he doesn’t move much, other than swaying back and forth. His face is also pulled into his chest to give the full appearance of it vanishing. There are definitely more impressive animatronics than him, but I always had a fascination with him before his return, so I just love him!

[@rylannielsen8926]

JOHN from Carousel Of Progress is in FIGMENT TIER

[@ratbones620]

My favorite animatronics: Navi Shaman, Hatbox Ghost, Sonny Eclipse, Tiki Birds, Figment, and the Country Bears.

[@moeszyslak1094]

The droids outside the droid depot are cool wish they could add more of them

[@Tsumami__]

The Yeti should be an absolute hands down F. It’s an engineering failure. The fact that it’s built into the structure itself, broke not long after opening, and is now virtually unfixable unless Disney chooses to shut the ride down for the 9-12 months it would take to fix it…massive fail.

[@tralala609]

ngl im a fan of the clacking of all animatronics in the Tiki Room. very soothing to me lol

[@profoundcake]

I can't wait for you rankings to get more unhinged. Like path designs, sight line easter eggs, resort transportation, or I don't even know, resort lobbies. I'm here for it.

[@MorganSea1039]

Spaceship Earth got SHAFTED. Especially my S-tier NASA goddess. I mean she shortened her lab coat to accommodate her mini skirt. Icon behavior!!

[@RideTheTeacups]

Great list! I’m surprised Mater, Belle, and Hondo didn’t make it, but… I mean… there’s just a lot of animatronics around Disney. Ha ha ha

[@NinthShinigami]

The Na’vi shaman (I think is what it is lol), Mater, Hopper, Rocket, the dragon under the castle, Hatbox Ghost, and Belle would be some of my S tier picks. Personal bias, but the Stitch animatronic too from Stitch’s Great Escape. Love that animatronic :)

[@cindymotsinger]

I love these videos. Very entertaining. And I was only at Disney once, but I've wanted to go back soon

[@Taijifufu]

Shout out for the barrel pirate animatronic and the old captain from the ship siege area. ... I'velosttoomuch.

[@Lil_hobbit_gal]

Agree with putting the projection faces in the F tier.

[@SLevinCinema]

I remember the Yeti. It was amazing and terrifying. FIX THE YETI!

[@MrDarthtater]

my personal favorite s tier is sonny eclipse at cosmic rays. I absolutely love that guy!

[@sami_of_jane]

I’m happy this is the video uploaded when I’m in quarantine with covid

[@George_vv]

Somehow I accidentally skipped from Constance all the way to the grandma from the Haunted Mansion and I didn't notice. I genuinely started freaking out when I saw all the animatronics on the list.

[@michaeltaylor1603]

I agree Dallin. Even during Walt's lifetime there was a National Geographic article that chronicled the evolution of animated figure in the park. Simple cam lever + "free animation" on the Jungle Cruise + the ones on Nature's Wonderland, and in Frontierland. Tiki Room using audio tones to drive them. Even @ the NYWF there were 3 different degrees of animation. Fords & Small world being lower tier. Carousel in the middle, Lincoln most advanced. Disneyland Tiki Room has that lovely exterior pre-show.

[@sarawolfson586]

Okay, I have thoughts! I really hope Dallin gets the chance to read this. I’ll try to make it as brief as possible with bullet points. •HONDO OHNAKA. I’m not even that big into Star Wars but I am a fan of audio-animatronics and he is mind-blowing. I believe he’s the second most complicated WDI animatronic, right behind the Na’vi Shaman. •This one I haven’t seen personally, but I’d include the incredibly advanced Lumière animatronic from Enchanted Tales with Belle at Magic Kingdom. The fact that he is true-to-size makes the figure even more impressive. •Ariel’s Undersea Adventure in DCA - the Ursula animatronic!!! She’s one of the largest ever built by WDI, her skin stretches in a way that’s incredibly realistic, and she looks great even as you encounter her up close and personal. •Mr. Potato Head outside of Toy Story Midway Mania is unique due to his ability to remove his own ear and put it back in place. He also interacts with guests in the queue. •I know you acknowledged that all projection-faced animatronics are F tier, but I still would have added an image of projection-mouthed Lightning McQueen from RSR. •The Evil Queen/witch mirror animatronics-plural! This effect dates back to (I think) 1983. Two different figures (witch and queen) face each other from either side of the mirror, both turning around at the same time. The mirror is really just a clear pane of glass. •Not sure if I’d count Jungle Cruise piranhas as animatronics so much as an effect •I’d have the tiki and flower animatronics much lower for multiple reasons, too many to list •Rocket Raccoon from GotG Mission Breakout That’s all from me for now! I enjoy all of your videos VERY much! 💖

[@stormtrooperclock1077]

I also love the mummy in the haunted mansion, he’s on a wax melter I have and he’s amazing.

[@OakForestBoys]

Great vid Dallin. The animatronics on Pirates are some of my favorite. I was brown away when I saw them for the first time last year.

[@Yumevixen]

Ursula too! Or is she given the Ariel treatment? 🤣

[@jetsons101]

Maybe a video that shows the original and current hard & software that runs the Tiki Room. A simple laptop "I hear" could run the Tiki Room from start to finish.

[@andyb7808]

WHOA!! This video made me want to go to see Doc at Galaxy’s Edge soooo bad

[@Heather-Br]

This is a fun video as far as visuals go by the sound of it. But could you do a tier list of the best audio from the audio animatronics?

[@LimitedEditioneo]

That’s such a fun idea!

[@tufab3494]

You didn't need to explain why you put the goat in the A the tier. The name says it all... He is THE GOAT. edit: (srry for the dad's joke lol)

[@GangaKris]

I would say the new Elsa needs to be on the list, but it's coming to Hong Kong and this appears to be US parks. Also it's not open yet and we really need to see it in action before we judge it. But it appears to be a major step up from the Florida version.

[@crazwaz5770]

Oh, if we can F-tier an animatronic because it's scary- the hippos from Jungle Cruise are super F tier. I'm scared of hippos *plus* I have submechanophobia, it's a double whammy. I always have to stare at the floor of the boat during that part of the ride lol

[@timbo_saurus]

No audio animatronics from Spaceship Earth? Your second favorite Disney park? For shame. That being said, the rocket scientist with the afro: figment tier

[@garrettcarter5622]

6:42 - Two weeks ago, I would have made a “Photography Raptor” joke, but we aren’t talking about R&M anymore.

[@GuitarHeroPunk1]

The cast of Cars on radiator springs racers, hands down S tier

[@91shaddai]

Great list. Despite the lack of Harold, yes the dolls in It's a Small World, and a few others. My personal favorites include; Jose, Harold, the angry gator in Small World, the Hat Box Ghost, the Goat, the characters in the auctioneer scene in Pirates (I prefer the Red Head but that's just me) and the T-Rex at the end of the dinosaur diorama. Also I think that the Jack Skellington animatronic at the graveyard scene is pretty impressive too. But my favorite would have to be the show boat scene in Splash Mountain with all those characters singing.

[@ashmauldin6595]

DCA should've had the new spider-man one and I stand by that- that's at least an A tier animatronic

[@destin.marie.]

I'm so here for the tier lists! ❤️

[@ariconditioner]

OK NOW I get that the Country Bears are a bit dated, but it’s not the robotics we all still go for. It’s the show itself! The characters!! You could see how much love they put into the bears and how much character each of them have and this alone is enough for at least an A tier

[@markljacobs9550]

I think Mr.Toad should go in the Figment tier, too.

[@bumblebeebrass164]

I love that you randomly went on a walk in nature for no reason. That’s so me

[@tokkiouo]

I was amazed by Mr. Potato Head in Midway Mania! The way he can remove parts of himself is crazy to me. I love him.

[@Isalex24]

I knew my boy Figment would be done justice in an Offhand Disney video

[@charliemacsart]

The Mummy is actually gone from Disney World too, I was there on January 3rd and he was missing, which was really awkward cause I hyped him up to my family lol. If he's back, then he was re-added after the 3rd!

[@MCastleberry1980]

That clicky clack sound of the Tiki Room flowrrw is weirdly soothing to me. I'm sure it's rooted in old memories from childhood.

[@stashmerkin9576]

The giant animated Buddha face from The Adventurers Club, S Tier.

[@neonmoonie]

Hope from now on when you don't have a prop for something, you hold up the camera stand.

[@icedvanillaoatcappuccino]

Agreed except for the bears. The bears are GOATed. Especially Buff, Max, and Melvin.

[@bb8394]

I visited the Walt Disney world mansion this July and the mummy was gone there too, hopefully he’s back now, the scene is rather awkward without him

[@luvadventuresandart]

Hat box ghost and Capt Jack Sparrow are two of my favorites. Figment is super cute, the ride nope.

[@cvcjr13]

Ursula from Ariel's Undersea Adventure. . . definitely A tier.

[@theoriginalsache]

Hi! As a microscope-using scientist, I can verify the accuracy of this list with one exception: You have no Muppet animatronics on this list. They are all A Tier.

[@kay4706]

Controversial. Thought provoking. Amusing. GOD TIER.

[@ThatBrunetteYouTube]

I highly recommend the anamatronics at Tokyo Disneyland. No hissing or clicking.

[@arcader6865]

I haven’t finished the video but I swear to god if maleficent in Disneyland paris isn’t in S tier I’m gonna revolt

[@blueman688]

The mummy is missing in Disneyworld as well I was just there and he’s not in his sarcophagus

[@joshuastoll5689]

The mummy at Magic Kingdom has been missing for almost a year…I assume he’s being refurbished but it’s taking forever. Also the ghosts sitting at the table drinking right before him have been missing for a couple of months…kinda weird to see so many missing from the cemetery scene.

[@OakForestBoys]

I was gonna say there's no mummy at either now 😭

[@ThatGuyOnThe_Internet]

Tbh my favorite California adventure animatronic is rocket raccoon and my favorite Star Wars animatronic is Hondo on the millennium, falcon Smugglers run.

[@tradingfriends]

The Navi River Shaman not being S tier had me salty, but the Figment tier made up for it. I hope he gets his update!

[@ericrgarcia]

I have to mention Jack Skellington in Holiday Mansion, looks and moves great!

[@scottmarks917]

Feels like “Carousel of Progress” erasure, but can’t argue with science about the rest

[@PaulsinMo]

The coolest projection animatronic in my opinion is the levitating Madam Loeota. When she moved about the space above the table there was no projector reflection on the crystal ball. Loved that! Side note to Haunted Mansion at Christmas time was in 2014. The gingerbread house looked like the mansion, then opened to reveal it's actual being, the iron maiden torture devise...Disney went dark soul that year❤

[@maddercat]

You forgot figaro from the fantasy faire in disneyland, he's amazing cause hes one of the only outdoor animatronics, he's probably at least A tier. Also the evil queen in fantasyland maybe c or d. There's the Malificent dragon in fantasmic as well you forgot, that's definitely S tier. Also Cosmic Ray, he's probably like a or b tier. The asimo's on autotopia probably also count as animatronics, and ofc you forgot all the kids from small world, maybe b or c tier. Also winnie the pooh, most of those are c or d. Also you didnt count any of Indiana jones such as they are which is probably intentional I would guess since it's getting a refurb? I'd say they're in the solid C area right now since most of them are in b mode. Also the cars stuff I would count as animatronics, you missed them in DCA, I'd say they're b tier. The grill turner in the grill on Batuu droid, also his eyes popped out at one point, F tier. Also one of your biggest omissions is the Mando's Grogu face character meet and greet, one of Garner Holt's latest amazing innovative characters since he's completely battery operated and capable of interacting with people, definitely S tier. There are also animatronics in the guardians of the galaxy which you forgot, that are really great, the three little alien things which imagineers are very proud of...they're part of the imagineering in a box series, they go into the workings and development of them really heavily as a study on animatronics. Those are A tier for sure at least, and then there's Rocket from guardians which is really good as well maybe A or S tier. Others have mentioned Hondo which is a new class of animatronics the A1000 system which is S tier for sure. Also probably one of your biggest omissions is the spiderman leap that was created with the help of Grant Imahara, RIP. S tier for sure. There's also Project Kiwi which never saw the light of day, but if you saw him he'd be like S+, created by one of the engineers that started on battlebots, and then went to Boston Dynamics and then started working for Disney. Fully autonomous walking mini robot, like next level, so fricken incredible and sick.

[@robphillips1797]

Darn! I forgot the evil queen (from Snow White) at the window! Believe it or not, a lot of people have never noticed her! Great call.

[@alliekuma4234]

Omg yes Constance needs an upgrade so bad. Disney Jesus please help her. 🙏

[@richardpiner756]

The tier list videos are so much fun!

[@NicEeEe843]

Sometimes I just watch your videos to hear the Epcot background music go off 😂

[@chrismcdowell7138]

You would save yourself time, and trouble, by just putting Haunted Mansion* and NBC*, in the ‘S’ tier. Also, if you count extinct attractions, I thought the Wizard Of Oz’s Wicked Witch, from the Great Movie Ride, was awesome, for it’s time.

[@trusilvr]

Possibly outside the scope of your list, but the animatronics for Sindbad's Storybook Voyage in DisneySea are so exceptionally great in every possible way, I think they deserve S tier at least! ...with the possibility of another hidden tier above, they're so good

[@Millionaire2K]

Up next, Tier list of former animatronics. 🙂

[@robphillips1797]

Yes!

[@twistedjake_]

I would add the three caballeros animatronics at the end of the ride into S tier, along with the birds from outside the window in the carousel of progress, and buzz Lightyear from space ranger spin is an f

[@MiladyMacabre]

The OG Disney audioanimatronic is the robin in Mary Poppins :)

[@maddiehamilton1427]

As a smuggler I am highly offended my boss Hondo Ohnaka didn't make it on this list