Animatronics and Props
Nutty the Nutcracker
Upgrade project of an Animatronic Nutcracker Character.
The University of North Carolina School of the Arts presents an annual production of the Nutcracker in December of every year. Our first year grad students designed a window display for the 2022 production. The window display included an animatronic nutcracker character as see in the picture to the left. This photo was from a summer 2023 press conference concerning the relocation of the Nutcracker production for the coming year. I was responsible for retrofitting the Animatronic for the press conference. This involved rapidly building a simple base and programming a new show using Weigel show controllers.
For the 2023 Nutcracker production we wanted to do some upgrades to our animatronics' aesthetic. We wanted Nutty to look like a plastic toy. I was responsible for upgrading the head features. I used Zbrush to model facial parts, hair and a new hat.
Our plan was for Nutty's features to be swappable like a Mr. Potato Head toy. We planned to do this by making the facial parts be attached with magnets. We took the modeled parts into Fusion 360 and added magnet bosses.
We 3d printed the modeled parts in nylon filament for durability. Those parts were then prepped and painted.
Nutty was going to be setup in a lobby instead of a window display, so we also needed a new base for him to stand on. Using reference images of various European guard houses and furniture, I fabricated a base from wood and 3D printed appliqués.
