Halloween Universe

Video Category

DIY Animatronics

Every diy animatronics video worth your time, gathered in one place. Browse builds, tutorials, and showcases — each embedded from its original creator with a quick summary so you can find exactly what you need.

2038 videos

DIY Halloween Skeleton Animatronic
7:29
DIY AnimatronicsIntermediate$30–$80

DIY Halloween Skeleton Animatronic

VanOaksProps builds a rocking skeleton animatronic Halloween prop largely from salvaged parts and a wiper motor. The build centers on a custom aluminum bracket and rod linkage that converts the motor's rotation into a smooth back-and-forth rocking motion on a posed skeleton. A 10A speed controller lets the builder fine-tune the movement speed to taste. Detailed dimensions are provided for the base and metal stock cuts, making it straightforward to replicate.

VanOaksProps· 81,505 views
The Exorcist 2.0 PoisonProps.com
1:05
DIY Animatronics~$2994 plus shipping

The Exorcist 2.0 PoisonProps.com

Poison Props showcases their Exorcist 2.0 animatronic, a commercial-grade possessed-woman-in-bed prop that launches the character upward and outward while her arms and head animate dramatically. The rig is fully self-contained within the bed frame, arriving as a plug-and-play unit with pneumatics and a programmed controller included. An optional audio package adds a digital player, powered speaker, and scream effect for a complete scare package. The prop is designed to appear static before triggering, maximizing startle impact on haunt guests.

POISON PROPS· 78,475 views
Making GIANT Animatronics at Distortions Unlimited
10:06
DIY Animatronics

Making GIANT Animatronics at Distortions Unlimited

Distortions Unlimited takes viewers behind the scenes of their studio to show how their massive Colossus and Sleeping Giant animatronics are built from start to finish. The production process spans sculpting, mold work, armature fabrication, mechanical assembly, painting, hairing, and dressing — all handled by a dedicated team. The video also showcases the finished animatronics in action, including a real-world installation at a home haunt. Originally sculpted in the late 1990s, these characters have become long-running staples at haunts and theme events nationwide.

DistortionsUnlimited· 78,255 views
Electric Chair Animatronic History | Distortions Monster Tales
22:54
DIY Animatronics

Electric Chair Animatronic History | Distortions Monster Tales

Ed Edmunds of Distortions Unlimited recounts the origin story of the company's iconic Electric Chair animatronic and its lasting impact on the haunted house and Halloween prop industry. The episode draws on archival footage and real-world customer clips to illustrate how the prop evolved across versions, including the classic original and the Shake N Bake variant. As part of the Monster Tales series, this installment blends behind-the-scenes history with industry perspective. It offers a rare look at how a single prop concept can shape an entire seasonal entertainment market.

DistortionsUnlimited· 77,399 views
Animated Flying Bats HALLOWEEN Mechanical Prop | DIY How-To Video
29:42
DIY AnimatronicsIntermediate

Animated Flying Bats HALLOWEEN Mechanical Prop | DIY How-To Video

This step-by-step tutorial walks DIY haunters through building a motorized pair of animatronic flying bats — a prop suitable for yard haunts, haunted houses, or Halloween displays. The mechanism uses a low-RPM motor combined with a spring coil to create a convincing flapping or swooping bat motion. The video demonstrates two completed prop units (four bats total) to show the finished effect at display scale. Material sourcing notes are included, with updated spring alternatives provided since the original component is no longer available.

HALLOWEEN DIY & HOW-TO Props & Special Effects· 77,052 views
"The Grim Rapper" giant rapping reaper by Distortions
1:07
Prop Reviews

"The Grim Rapper" giant rapping reaper by Distortions

This short showcase from Distortions Unlimited highlights The Grim Rapper, a towering grim reaper animatronic that stands up to roughly 13 feet tall. The figure features light-up eyes and built-in sound, performing a rapping routine as a novelty haunt centerpiece. It's a quick promotional look at the prop rather than a build or detailed review.

DistortionsUnlimited· 74,795 views
GPD1122 Giant Puppet Dancer with strings PoisonProps.com
0:47
DIY Animatronics

GPD1122 Giant Puppet Dancer with strings PoisonProps.com

This short product showcase from Poison Props features their GPD1122 Giant Puppet Dancer, a 7-foot pneumatic animatronic that slumps lifelessly on a wooden box before rising to full height with flailing arms, shuffling legs, and multi-directional head movement. The unit is a complete plug-and-play system including the character, pneumatics, a programmed controller, and a motion sensor. An optional audio package adds a digital player, powered speaker, and scream effects. The interchangeable character design allows haunt operators to swap in different characters to match any theme.

POISON PROPS· 74,261 views
How to Operate a Pneumatic Cylinder from a CO2 Tank
4:59
PneumaticsIntermediate

How to Operate a Pneumatic Cylinder from a CO2 Tank

This FrightProps tutorial demonstrates how to power a pneumatic cylinder using a CO2 tank instead of a traditional air compressor, making it ideal for locations where running a compressor is impractical. CO2 is stored at significantly higher pressure than standard compressed air, allowing a small tank to deliver a large number of actuations before needing a refill. The video highlights real-world efficiency, showing hundreds of activations achieved on just a fraction of a tank. This opens up pneumatic effects for mobile and remote applications such as costumes, hayrides, and film sets.

FrightProps· 72,941 views
Krazy Kristen Animatronic Shakes Crazy Trying to Escape Her Straight Jacket
0:34
Prop Reviews

Krazy Kristen Animatronic Shakes Crazy Trying to Escape Her Straight Jacket

Distortions Unlimited showcases Krazy Kristen, a professional-grade animatronic prop that violently thrashes as though desperately trying to escape her straight jacket. The demo highlights the prop's high-impact movement, detailed character sculpt, and a custom Von Charon straight jacket costume. Marketed toward haunted attractions, Halloween events, and serious home haunters, Krazy Kristen is positioned as a durable, ready-to-deploy scare prop. The short clip serves as a dramatic product reveal emphasizing visual detail and motion performance.

DistortionsUnlimited· 72,755 views
Buzz Saw
0:22
Prop Reviews

Buzz Saw

This short clip showcases the "Buzz Saw," a Halloween animatronic prop produced by Distortions Unlimited. The provided metadata is minimal and does not include detailed specifications, so the focus appears to be on presenting the prop itself rather than a build or tutorial. It is geared toward haunt operators and enthusiasts evaluating commercial animatronic offerings.

DistortionsUnlimited· 71,382 views
Top 10 RETURNING Spirit Halloween Animatronics for 2015
8:07
Prop Reviews

Top 10 RETURNING Spirit Halloween Animatronics for 2015

This video counts down the top 10 animatronics and animated props returning to Spirit Halloween stores for the 2015 season. Rather than focusing on what's new, the host highlights fan-favorite pieces making a comeback that year. It's a quick, enthusiastic rundown aimed at helping shoppers and collectors know which beloved props to look out for before they sell out.

Haunt Former· 70,244 views
Top 10 Spirit Halloween 2015 ANIMATRONICS
7:29
Prop Reviews

Top 10 Spirit Halloween 2015 ANIMATRONICS

Haunt Former counts down his personal top 10 Spirit Halloween animatronics from the 2015 season, offering a curated guide for shoppers trying to decide which props are worth purchasing. The video serves as an opinionated buyer's reference for that year's retail animatronic lineup. Viewers are also invited to weigh in with their own favorites, making it an interactive community discussion around the season's standout pieces.

Haunt Former· 69,274 views
DIY ANIMATED COFFIN - Best HALLOWEEN Spooky Prop!!
11:03
DIY AnimatronicsIntermediate

DIY ANIMATED COFFIN - Best HALLOWEEN Spooky Prop!!

This tutorial walks through building a self-opening and self-closing animated coffin prop for Halloween. A slow-rotating electric motor drives the lid mechanism, and a motion sensor is integrated so the prop activates automatically when guests approach. The creator also references a companion foam coffin build tutorial for constructing the base prop itself. The result is an interactive, trigger-based yard scare suitable for greeting trick-or-treaters.

Monster Tutorials· 68,766 views
COLOSSUS Animated Prop | Halloween 2020 Distortions Unlimited Animatronics
3:22
Prop Reviews

COLOSSUS Animated Prop | Halloween 2020 Distortions Unlimited Animatronics

Distortions Unlimited showcases Colossus, a massive new animatronic prop introduced for the 2020 Halloween and theme park season. Standing over 11 feet tall, the figure features articulated eyes and mouth, a stand-up motion sequence, and an integrated package of sound, fog, and movement. The video serves as a product demonstration, giving haunted attraction buyers and home haunters a look at the prop in action. Colossus is described as a more sophisticated relative of Distortions' existing Sleeping Giants line.

DistortionsUnlimited· 68,268 views
Shocktronic BEST SCARES at Transworld Halloween Haunt Show
5:26
Professional Haunted Attractions

Shocktronic BEST SCARES at Transworld Halloween Haunt Show

Distortions Unlimited showcases their Shocktronic line of professional haunt props and animatronics at the Transworld Halloween and Attraction Show. The compilation highlights five distinct scare systems in action — Zombie Shock, Zombie Breakout, Scream Generator, Gargoyle Shock, and GOREliath — demonstrating their shock and scare capabilities on unsuspecting trade show attendees. The footage gives haunters a real-world look at how these units perform in a live environment rather than a controlled demo setting.

DistortionsUnlimited· 68,121 views
Butcher Barrel Shock | Distortions Pig Head Horror Shocktronic
0:23
Prop Reviews

Butcher Barrel Shock | Distortions Pig Head Horror Shocktronic

Distortions Unlimited showcases the Butcher Barrel Shock, a 2019 addition to their Shocktronic product line. The prop features a crazed butcher character wearing a pig head and is designed as a hybrid experience combining a live actor with an animatronic element. Intended for professional haunted houses and dark attractions, it promises an extreme scare impact. It joins a roster of established Shocktronic products from Distortions Unlimited.

DistortionsUnlimited· 67,310 views
GPD1122 Giant Puppet Dancer PoisonProps.com
0:44
DIY Animatronics

GPD1122 Giant Puppet Dancer PoisonProps.com

The GPD1122 from Poison Props is a 7-foot pneumatic giant puppet animatronic designed for haunted attractions and dark rides. Starting in a limp, seated position on a wooden box, it activates via motion sensor to stand, wave its arms, shuffle its legs, and move its head in a creepy sideshow performance. The unit arrives as a plug-and-play system with pneumatics, a programmed controller, and an optional audio package. Interchangeable characters allow operators to adapt the mechanism to different themes.

POISON PROPS· 66,506 views
Jolt Electric Chair Animatronic Halloween Prop by Distortions Unlimited
0:31
Prop Reviews

Jolt Electric Chair Animatronic Halloween Prop by Distortions Unlimited

Distortions Unlimited showcases their Jolt Electric Chair, an animatronic haunted house prop that shakes and thrashes to simulate an electrocution effect. The video highlights the company's long history of pioneering electric chair animatronics for the Halloween and haunt industry. It serves as a product demonstration for haunters and attraction operators considering adding the prop to their lineup.

DistortionsUnlimited· 66,071 views
FEC1110 FLESH EATER CLOWN PoisonProps.com
0:39
DIY Animatronics

FEC1110 FLESH EATER CLOWN PoisonProps.com

The FEC1110 Flesh Eater Clown from Poison Props is a towering 7-foot pneumatic animatronic styled after an evil Pennywise-type clown. Upon activation via motion sensor, the figure opens its arms and leans forward in a menacing feeding pose, creating the illusion of devouring a child's hand. The unit ships complete with the character, pneumatics, a programmed controller, and motion sensor, with an optional audio package available. Heads are interchangeable across Poison Props mechanisms for added versatility.

POISON PROPS· 62,944 views
Top 5 Spirit SNEAK PEEKS for 2016
3:20
Prop Reviews

Top 5 Spirit SNEAK PEEKS for 2016

This short countdown video wraps up the Spirit Halloween 2016 sneak peek season by highlighting the five fan-favorite product reveals from the series. The creator reflects on which previews generated the most audience enthusiasm and invites viewers to weigh in with their own opinions. At just three minutes, it serves as a quick recap for followers who tracked the sneak peek campaign throughout the year.

Haunt Former· 62,246 views
Animated Spooky Sign HALLOWEEN Motorized Prop & DIY How-To Video
29:49
DIY AnimatronicsIntermediate

Animated Spooky Sign HALLOWEEN Motorized Prop & DIY How-To Video

This step-by-step tutorial walks viewers through building a motorized, animated Halloween warning sign suitable for yard haunts, front porches, or haunted house displays. The project uses a fixed-speed AC motor to bring a ghostly spooky sign to life with continuous movement. The channel focuses on helping home haunters and crafters achieve professional-looking animated props using accessible DIY methods. At 30 minutes, the video covers both the build process and the materials needed from start to finish.

HALLOWEEN DIY & HOW-TO Props & Special Effects· 61,203 views
Mutant Sci Fi Horror Animatronic Prop with Savage Movement by Distortions Unlimited
2:28
Prop Reviews

Mutant Sci Fi Horror Animatronic Prop with Savage Movement by Distortions Unlimited

Distortions Unlimited showcases their 2022 'Mutant' animatronic prop, a sci-fi horror creature designed for professional haunted houses, theme parks, and dark attractions. The prop is notable for its exceptionally fast movement and an integrated water spray effect that adds a visceral scare element. Distortions Unlimited highlights their longstanding reputation for building durable, high-quality animatronics for the haunt and horror industry.

DistortionsUnlimited· 60,962 views
Best Halloween Spider Wins!
17:39
DIY AnimatronicsPro

Best Halloween Spider Wins!

This behind-the-scenes look from Distortions Unlimited follows the studio as it designs and builds two new monsters for Halloween 2024: an Alien Spider prop and a Banshee animatronic. Viewers watch the full workflow from clay sculpting and armature construction through molding, trimming, and finishing, with several crew members tackling different stages. A highlight is a paint-off between two artists to decide the spider's final color, while the Banshee races to come together before the Transworld Halloween show.

DistortionsUnlimited· 60,000 views
PL1120 Pennywise Lunger PoisonProps.com
0:50
DIY Animatronics

PL1120 Pennywise Lunger PoisonProps.com

Poison Props showcases the PL1120 Pennywise Lunger, a commercial-grade pneumatic animatronic that begins with head down before lifting, twitching, and launching forward up to eight feet on a scissor-throw mechanism while screaming at patrons. The sequence includes articulated head, arm, elbow, and shoulder movements designed to deliver a powerful startle scare. Shorter throw distances are available as selectable options, and the unit ships as a plug-and-play package complete with pneumatics, a programmed controller, and a motion sensor. An optional audio package adds a digital player, powered speaker, and scream effect.

POISON PROPS· 59,285 views
Best DIY Animatronics Videos · Halloween Universe