Gizmodo
Last time I was in a store, I was like, "Why is there no creepy animatronic sea captain here to tell me today's specials?" Apparently that's what the founders of Characters Unlimited thought too, because they've come up with a vast array of Hall of Presidents-style robotic people—and a few animals, too, like the ever-popular dog in overalls, or the smoking buffalo—aimed specifically at retailers who want to jazz up their stores, maybe after striking out with Wacky Waving Inflatable Arm Flailing Tube Men. The things can move and talk, their lips synched to either live or pre-recorded messages. (Was that a tape recorder I saw?) The company president told Aving they'll do custom jobs, can even clone you if you want, but from the look of their lineup, it helps if you're old and/or disfigured. There's a video after the jump if you're not already properly skeeved out. [Aving USA]
Life-Size Robotic Ventriloquist Dummies: The Next Retail Craze?
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6:00 PM on Sun May 11 2008
By Wilson Rothman
3,481 views
12 comments
Comments
What? They don't already have those? I thought that explained some of my retail experiences.
A bit naff. I swear i saw something like this called buck the stag a few years ago. it was like those singing fish but had mp3 input and wireless microphone.
here's the video (from iwantoneofthose.com)
[www.theinternetvideocompany.com]
Hey now, they did a decent job making Keanu Reeves.
As long as those things don't spray me with cologne as I enter a store I won't kick them in the Ventriloquist nuggets.
Wow... a quick look at their very simplistic web site reveals that most of the characters aren't very life-like. Although that's probably not the point. Seems like a waste of money. And what's with the smoking tiger?
[charactersunlimitedinc.com]
"skeeved out?"
Are you like, British or something?
That's the Gorton's Fisherman!!!
Good thing there's no possible way these things can start attacking people.... right?
I want the "Zolton the Crystal Ball Reader in a Box" one at my house to read me my horoscope every day.
Maybe the next Republican candidate
The hell Giz? I must've seen one of these at some cheesy tourist place in South Dakota like a decade ago.
Well, it's probably cheaper than paying somebody to sit on your lap...
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