Walk The Dinosaur
April 15, 2011 9:41 AM Subscribe
Grar friday kids!
posted by clavdivs at 9:43 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by clavdivs at 9:43 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
dear lord, how do I get one of those? The costume I mean. Kids I have aplenty.
posted by jquinby at 9:44 AM on April 15, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by jquinby at 9:44 AM on April 15, 2011 [6 favorites]
Good lord god, "Life Sized Tyrannosaurus Rex?" NOT LIFE SIZED.
Still awesome.
posted by koeselitz at 9:45 AM on April 15, 2011 [4 favorites]
Still awesome.
posted by koeselitz at 9:45 AM on April 15, 2011 [4 favorites]
They actually do have a LIFE-SIZED T-Rex.
I love those things. Amazing how easy it is to forget about the pair of human legs, and how good the movements are.
I would probably react the same way as those kids
posted by Harry at 9:47 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I love those things. Amazing how easy it is to forget about the pair of human legs, and how good the movements are.
I would probably react the same way as those kids
posted by Harry at 9:47 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I was surprised how easy it was to ignore the legs sticking out the bottom of the suit. That's an inspired choice of visual dispersion material/colour. It was weird how I suddenly kept noticing the other legs every now and then, rather than just the dinosaur ones.
That or I have a low attention span and want it to be real, I guess. Maybe it's that.
posted by Brockles at 9:48 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
That or I have a low attention span and want it to be real, I guess. Maybe it's that.
posted by Brockles at 9:48 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Looking at the dinosaur puppet, it appears that with just a few modifications, it could be made to ride a motorcycle.
Just say'n.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:49 AM on April 15, 2011 [66 favorites]
Just say'n.
posted by robocop is bleeding at 9:49 AM on April 15, 2011 [66 favorites]
I thought that was going to be a neener neener let's snark at crying children kind of clip but it wasn't, it was cute. Loved seeing the kids roar back at it, and laugh at themselves when they flinched.
posted by headnsouth at 9:49 AM on April 15, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by headnsouth at 9:49 AM on April 15, 2011 [4 favorites]
Eerily reminiscent of that fainting goats video!
posted by hermitosis at 9:50 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by hermitosis at 9:50 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
> Looking at the dinosaur puppet, it appears that with just a few modifications, it could be made to ride a motorcycle.
...and wield an automatic rifle. An unstoppable killing machine... on an unstoppable killing machine!
posted by ardgedee at 9:50 AM on April 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
...and wield an automatic rifle. An unstoppable killing machine... on an unstoppable killing machine!
posted by ardgedee at 9:50 AM on April 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
That was so much cooler than I was expecting.
posted by roll truck roll at 9:51 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by roll truck roll at 9:51 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
We saw Walking With Dinosaurs at Madison Square Garden, and really enjoyed it. It wasn't dumbed down at all- they used all the big words to go through the history of dinosaurs on earth.
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:52 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by ThePinkSuperhero at 9:52 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
If they tried this in the United States, the parents would sue and the principal would probably be jailed.
posted by CunningLinguist at 9:52 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by CunningLinguist at 9:52 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
That was seriously awesome. I don't imagine I would react any different than the kids.
posted by dry white toast at 9:52 AM on April 15, 2011
posted by dry white toast at 9:52 AM on April 15, 2011
They're just showing the kids what Jesus would have seen every day.
posted by George_Spiggott at 9:53 AM on April 15, 2011 [52 favorites]
posted by George_Spiggott at 9:53 AM on April 15, 2011 [52 favorites]
I'm thrilled that this job exists, and gutted that I'm not doing it.
posted by Optamystic at 9:54 AM on April 15, 2011 [12 favorites]
posted by Optamystic at 9:54 AM on April 15, 2011 [12 favorites]
They DO try this in the United States. I've been in the same room with one of these, and while they look every bit as realistic in person, the smell is incredible (sort of a rubbery industrial smell) and the "pilot" has no awareness of what's behind him/her, so you really have to watch the tail—which is very heavy.
posted by AugieAugustus at 9:54 AM on April 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by AugieAugustus at 9:54 AM on April 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
That's fabulous! Man, between this and USB microscopes, kids today totally have it more awesome than I did when I was their age.
posted by rmd1023 at 9:56 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 9:56 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I still want one for the Village Halloween parade!
posted by CunningLinguist at 9:56 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by CunningLinguist at 9:56 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I just watched this earlier today. how cool is that?? those kids are so lucky to have that awesome scary/exciting experience that I am nearly jealous. I would like that dino to come visit me sometime!!!
posted by supermedusa at 9:58 AM on April 15, 2011
posted by supermedusa at 9:58 AM on April 15, 2011
I want one for my living room.
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:01 AM on April 15, 2011
posted by roomthreeseventeen at 10:01 AM on April 15, 2011
It must be utterly exhausting to operate that puppet. Mad props to the puppeteer.
posted by gurple at 10:01 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by gurple at 10:01 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
We need to combine the puppet with cheerleader eating technology for the full effect.
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:01 AM on April 15, 2011
posted by mccarty.tim at 10:01 AM on April 15, 2011
That got my heart pumping and put a smile on my face! I loved the footrace where the dinosaur got into a runners starting position. Totally need one for the next birthday party.
posted by victoriab at 10:02 AM on April 15, 2011
posted by victoriab at 10:02 AM on April 15, 2011
If this had happened at my kid's school, there would not be enough Ativan in the world to calm her down again.
posted by briank at 10:02 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by briank at 10:02 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I want one to wear while I'm lecturing.
posted by oddman at 10:04 AM on April 15, 2011 [15 favorites]
posted by oddman at 10:04 AM on April 15, 2011 [15 favorites]
Gotta love the (teacher? administrator?) holding up his "quiet sign" fingers at about 0:30. Yeah, that's gonna happen.
posted by unregistered_animagus at 10:05 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by unregistered_animagus at 10:05 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
If they tried this in the United States, the parents would sue and the principal would probably be jailed.
But if the principal made a statement to the effect that people DID walk with dinosaurs, he'd get a promotion!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 10:06 AM on April 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
But if the principal made a statement to the effect that people DID walk with dinosaurs, he'd get a promotion!
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 10:06 AM on April 15, 2011 [5 favorites]
I would wear it everywhere! I promise!
posted by troublewithwolves at 10:09 AM on April 15, 2011
posted by troublewithwolves at 10:09 AM on April 15, 2011
Am I the only one that would have totally pissed my pants if I was in that room?
posted by desjardins at 10:11 AM on April 15, 2011
posted by desjardins at 10:11 AM on April 15, 2011
We need to get one of these for Harry Reid, STAT!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:12 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:12 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Sadly, the dinosaur was undone by a precocious 10-year old girl with an improbably astute grasp of Unix.
posted by Optamystic at 10:13 AM on April 15, 2011 [27 favorites]
posted by Optamystic at 10:13 AM on April 15, 2011 [27 favorites]
Puppetry: I know this!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:14 AM on April 15, 2011 [12 favorites]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:14 AM on April 15, 2011 [12 favorites]
I would wear it everywhere! I promise!
posted by troublewithwolves
And then you would have no more trouble with wolves.
... unless wolves are better at discerning costumes from reality than children are, in which case you are simply a more encumbered target than a normal human.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:24 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by troublewithwolves
And then you would have no more trouble with wolves.
... unless wolves are better at discerning costumes from reality than children are, in which case you are simply a more encumbered target than a normal human.
posted by filthy light thief at 10:24 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I just watched this earlier today. how cool is that?? those kids are so lucky to have that awesome scary/exciting experience that I am nearly jealous. I would like that dino to come visit me sometime!!!
I wonder for how many of those kids, will the realization dawn that, that day when the dinosar came to school, that was the best day of their lives. it never got any better.
posted by ennui.bz at 10:28 AM on April 15, 2011 [12 favorites]
I wonder for how many of those kids, will the realization dawn that, that day when the dinosar came to school, that was the best day of their lives. it never got any better.
posted by ennui.bz at 10:28 AM on April 15, 2011 [12 favorites]
Let's hope, for their sake and ours, that this is just one of many wonderful memories for those kids.
posted by Optamystic at 10:30 AM on April 15, 2011
posted by Optamystic at 10:30 AM on April 15, 2011
That clip is an old one from Jamie's School Dinners and that isn't a T-Rex costume, that is a lunch lady.
posted by srboisvert at 10:30 AM on April 15, 2011
posted by srboisvert at 10:30 AM on April 15, 2011
Toddler Zizzle has a pretty awesome t-rex.
I'm sure he'd react similarly to a life-size moving one as he does to his toy.
He'd feed it yogurt.
posted by zizzle at 10:33 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
I'm sure he'd react similarly to a life-size moving one as he does to his toy.
He'd feed it yogurt.
posted by zizzle at 10:33 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
Everytime I see a t-rex I'm now reminded of this clip.
posted by Salmonberry at 10:36 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Salmonberry at 10:36 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
He'd feed it yogurt.
Like Jamie Lee Curtis doesn't have enough unstoppable killing machines coming after her!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:39 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
Like Jamie Lee Curtis doesn't have enough unstoppable killing machines coming after her!
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 10:39 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
If they tried this in the United States, the parents would sue and the principal would probably be jailed.
Well, in fairness, if the movie "Chopper" taught me anything, Eric Bana is scarier than this dinosaur. And he's a comedian!
I dread to think what Australian children must content with every single day.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:53 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Well, in fairness, if the movie "Chopper" taught me anything, Eric Bana is scarier than this dinosaur. And he's a comedian!
I dread to think what Australian children must content with every single day.
posted by Astro Zombie at 10:53 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
"God creates dinosaurs. God destroys dinosaurs. God creates man. Man destroys God. Man creates dinosaurs."
posted by Fizz at 11:00 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Fizz at 11:00 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
There is one true life-size dinosaur, and Gor-Gor is his name.
Admit you crave the gift he brings you;
fall and worship tyrant king, you
GOR GOR!
posted by FatherDagon at 11:01 AM on April 15, 2011
Admit you crave the gift he brings you;
fall and worship tyrant king, you
GOR GOR!
posted by FatherDagon at 11:01 AM on April 15, 2011
love this.
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:01 AM on April 15, 2011
posted by LobsterMitten at 11:01 AM on April 15, 2011
Why are they moving!? Don't they know his visual acuity is based on movement!?
posted by jnnla at 11:01 AM on April 15, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by jnnla at 11:01 AM on April 15, 2011 [6 favorites]
I'd much rather rent T-Rex than rent Liechtenstein.
posted by squalor at 11:08 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by squalor at 11:08 AM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Same overall volume.
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:10 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by It's Raining Florence Henderson at 11:10 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Am I the only one that would have totally pissed my pants if I was in that room?
Well, my kid probably would. Took him to see the non-mobile animatronic dinosaurs at the museum last week, and the ONLY thing that calmed him down was me pointing out that their back legs were "nailed to the floor."
Seeing this would shatter his trust in me forever. Thankfully, he's too young and illiterate to Google yet.
posted by emjaybee at 11:10 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well, my kid probably would. Took him to see the non-mobile animatronic dinosaurs at the museum last week, and the ONLY thing that calmed him down was me pointing out that their back legs were "nailed to the floor."
Seeing this would shatter his trust in me forever. Thankfully, he's too young and illiterate to Google yet.
posted by emjaybee at 11:10 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
This video is so joyful it brought tears to my eyes. There's something so fantastic about being safely scared out of your wits when you're a child.
posted by PepperMax at 11:11 AM on April 15, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by PepperMax at 11:11 AM on April 15, 2011 [7 favorites]
Love this.
I want one of these, so I can wear it while wandering the streets of Manhattan.
OK, I really just want to stomp through the Hall of Dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History with it on, complaining all the while about what they've done with my long-lost relatives. Is that so wrong?
posted by zarq at 11:12 AM on April 15, 2011 [6 favorites]
I want one of these, so I can wear it while wandering the streets of Manhattan.
OK, I really just want to stomp through the Hall of Dinosaurs at the American Museum of Natural History with it on, complaining all the while about what they've done with my long-lost relatives. Is that so wrong?
posted by zarq at 11:12 AM on April 15, 2011 [6 favorites]
There's a picture of maybe 7-year-old me sitting (barely sitting, poised for flight) on the edge of an exhibit of an animatronic dinosaur (triceratops, maybe? not even carnivorous) at the museum, and I am grinning, but it is a rictus of terror, with all my teeth showing and my mouth frozen partway open. And my eyes are SO. SO. WIDE. and shining. And it's the late 80s, so it's not like the dinosaur technology could have been that impressive. The problem was that periodically a speaker in the fake brush near the dinosaur would play a NOISE oh my god it ROARED at intervals, and my mother had the damnedest time getting me to put my ass down next to that dinosaur for long enough to take the picture. She kept telling me it was just a recorded fake roar, but it did not matter, it made a NOISE.
When I was 4 or so they put me on a pony and I sat paralyzed with fear and demanded to get off because it was MOOOOOVING IT'S MOVING IT KEEPS MOVING.
It was not walking. It was standing completely still, but it was BREATHING.
posted by little cow make small moo at 11:29 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
When I was 4 or so they put me on a pony and I sat paralyzed with fear and demanded to get off because it was MOOOOOVING IT'S MOVING IT KEEPS MOVING.
It was not walking. It was standing completely still, but it was BREATHING.
posted by little cow make small moo at 11:29 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
I remember getting sucked into a documentary about a year ago, showing a behind the scenes look at the Walking with Dinosaurs show. The quality isn't great, but a full version of the doc is available here.
posted by avoision at 11:39 AM on April 15, 2011
posted by avoision at 11:39 AM on April 15, 2011
Looks like the same puppets as in this video. Which I could have sworn I saw via MetaFilter, but maybe not.
posted by hippybear at 11:39 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by hippybear at 11:39 AM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I wonder how realistic the human puppets will be in the elementary schools of our future post-apocalyptic giant insectoid civilizations.
posted by nev at 11:47 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by nev at 11:47 AM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
I saw something sort of like this at a natural history museum in LA. That one wasn't quite as good as this, but it had one thing that made it much more realistic: feathers.
posted by brundlefly at 11:51 AM on April 15, 2011
posted by brundlefly at 11:51 AM on April 15, 2011
If I got to borrow this, I'd go to Randall Munroe's house and stand outside the front door. And wait.
posted by you're a kitty! at 11:58 AM on April 15, 2011 [7 favorites]
posted by you're a kitty! at 11:58 AM on April 15, 2011 [7 favorites]
Wow, this really brought back great memories of being a kid and being able to scream and be scared and laugh and be silly at the same time, all while running around like crazy. And that puppet... I just visited the Ballard Museum (which is great, BTW) and I have to say that is one sweet dinosaur puppet.
No question: I definitely need to spend more time laughing and screaming and playing with puppets.
posted by kinnakeet at 11:58 AM on April 15, 2011
No question: I definitely need to spend more time laughing and screaming and playing with puppets.
posted by kinnakeet at 11:58 AM on April 15, 2011
First impression: Oh hell no. If that thing came by my 2 year old, I would kick it in the....
Second impression: Those knees in camoflauge--that killed it for the realistic part of ...
Third impression: Cool. Whoever constructed it did a great job.
Overall I give it a 6.5, A for effort, and F for "thanks for fucking scaring my kid, asshole."
posted by stormpooper at 11:58 AM on April 15, 2011
Second impression: Those knees in camoflauge--that killed it for the realistic part of ...
Third impression: Cool. Whoever constructed it did a great job.
Overall I give it a 6.5, A for effort, and F for "thanks for fucking scaring my kid, asshole."
posted by stormpooper at 11:58 AM on April 15, 2011
More info on the LA Natural History Museum's dinosaur puppets here. The dino bumped into me one day when I was there with my daughter and when I saw it, I'll admit that I did something of a girly scream.
posted by mogget at 12:03 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by mogget at 12:03 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I was surprised how easy it was to ignore the legs sticking out the bottom of the suit.
Really? I find it somewhat distracting that the dinosaur is apparently birthing a soldier in tights.
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 12:08 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Really? I find it somewhat distracting that the dinosaur is apparently birthing a soldier in tights.
posted by Combustible Edison Lighthouse at 12:08 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I was surprised how easy it was to ignore the legs sticking out the bottom of the suit.
Really? I find it somewhat distracting that the dinosaur is apparently birthing a soldier in tights.
TEACH THE CONTROVERSY!
posted by gompa at 12:10 PM on April 15, 2011 [4 favorites]
Really? I find it somewhat distracting that the dinosaur is apparently birthing a soldier in tights.
TEACH THE CONTROVERSY!
posted by gompa at 12:10 PM on April 15, 2011 [4 favorites]
I'm going to have to go on record saying that not only is this awesome. It is also EXTRA AWESOME.
posted by eyeballkid at 12:12 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by eyeballkid at 12:12 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Gifting suggestion for Halloween this year.
Just sayin'...
posted by Samizdata at 12:16 PM on April 15, 2011
Just sayin'...
posted by Samizdata at 12:16 PM on April 15, 2011
Looking at the dinosaur puppet, it appears that with just a few modifications, it could be made to ride a motorcycle.
...and wield an automatic rifle. An unstoppable killing machine... on an unstoppable killing machine!
"Humans won't pay to watch dinosaurs ride motocross bikes forever," said Tark. "I'm gonna branch out. Target shooting. I'll be like those tough guys in the action movies. Is my chin strap tight?"
posted by mikepop at 12:19 PM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
...and wield an automatic rifle. An unstoppable killing machine... on an unstoppable killing machine!
"Humans won't pay to watch dinosaurs ride motocross bikes forever," said Tark. "I'm gonna branch out. Target shooting. I'll be like those tough guys in the action movies. Is my chin strap tight?"
posted by mikepop at 12:19 PM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
I am not yet tired of the awesomeness of this.
I expected to find an article about how parents were upset that their kids got scared.
Not so.
Very cool.
posted by SLC Mom at 12:19 PM on April 15, 2011
I expected to find an article about how parents were upset that their kids got scared.
Not so.
Very cool.
posted by SLC Mom at 12:19 PM on April 15, 2011
Christ, what an allosaur.
posted by Rhaomi at 12:28 PM on April 15, 2011 [6 favorites]
posted by Rhaomi at 12:28 PM on April 15, 2011 [6 favorites]
If they tried this in the United States, the parents would sue and the principal would probably be jailed.
posted by CunningLinguist at 9:52 AM on April 15 [1 favorite +] [!]
The Los Angeles Natural History Museum has these puppets roaming the halls every Wednesday through Sunday.
posted by sideshow at 12:29 PM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by CunningLinguist at 9:52 AM on April 15 [1 favorite +] [!]
The Los Angeles Natural History Museum has these puppets roaming the halls every Wednesday through Sunday.
posted by sideshow at 12:29 PM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
Brainy:
mogget linked to it up above, but they call the exiibit Dinosaur Encounters.
The video hippybear linked to shows what's like.
posted by sideshow at 12:45 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
mogget linked to it up above, but they call the exiibit Dinosaur Encounters.
The video hippybear linked to shows what's like.
posted by sideshow at 12:45 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
Good lord god, "Life Sized Tyrannosaurus Rex?" NOT LIFE SIZED.
Dude, it's a baby. They make that clear in the stage show. We saw it in Hartford last year--up in the nosebleed seats cuz it was EXPENSIVE, but it was pretty damn cool.
I saw a print story about the dino's visit in the film and an eight-year-old was quoted as saying, when he realized that the thing was standing next to him, “My heart was in my ears.” I loved that.
posted by dlugoczaj at 12:52 PM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
Dude, it's a baby. They make that clear in the stage show. We saw it in Hartford last year--up in the nosebleed seats cuz it was EXPENSIVE, but it was pretty damn cool.
I saw a print story about the dino's visit in the film and an eight-year-old was quoted as saying, when he realized that the thing was standing next to him, “My heart was in my ears.” I loved that.
posted by dlugoczaj at 12:52 PM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
Puppets, puppets, puppets! How amazing are puppets?
I love puppets.
posted by ducky l'orange at 1:17 PM on April 15, 2011
I love puppets.
posted by ducky l'orange at 1:17 PM on April 15, 2011
Good lord god, "Life Sized Tyrannosaurus Rex?" NOT LIFE SIZED.
>Dude, it's a baby. They make that clear in the stage show.
Then it should have feathers.
But really, I can't complain. That was thoroughly delightful.
posted by phunniemee at 1:33 PM on April 15, 2011
>Dude, it's a baby. They make that clear in the stage show.
Then it should have feathers.
But really, I can't complain. That was thoroughly delightful.
posted by phunniemee at 1:33 PM on April 15, 2011
little cow make small moo: I saw that exhibit when the tour took it to the Museum of Science in Boston. I was an adult at the time. But at some point, I was looking at something and suddenly realized that the hair at the base of my skull was trying to crawl onto the top of my head and something was VERY FUCKING WRONG. I turned slightly and realized that the animatronic dinosaur over to the side of me was doing a thing where it shifted into a 'predator-stalking' sort of position, repeatedly. Clearly, this spoke to some ancient tiny mouse-sized mammal part of my brain. It was really quite primal.
posted by rmd1023 at 1:39 PM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by rmd1023 at 1:39 PM on April 15, 2011 [3 favorites]
first of all, the best way to let this robot walk among the kids is have every child walk up to the motionless t-rex and pet it. to let the kids know this robot will not harm them. any child refusing to approach, excuse him from the room. plus we know that other kids laugh at tramatised, scared kids.
the t-rex's size in the video is more life-like as over 90 % of all t-rex who roamed the earth were around two feet tall. the public has been led to believe all t-rex was always that big, thanks to movies and children's books.
posted by taxpayer at 1:59 PM on April 15, 2011
the t-rex's size in the video is more life-like as over 90 % of all t-rex who roamed the earth were around two feet tall. the public has been led to believe all t-rex was always that big, thanks to movies and children's books.
posted by taxpayer at 1:59 PM on April 15, 2011
first of all, the best way to let this robot...
First of all, it's a puppet. The thing has spindly little man-legs sticking out the bottom of it. Second of all...
the t-rex's size in the video is more life-like as over 90 % of all t-rex who roamed the earth were around two feet tall. the public has been led to believe all t-rex was always that big, thanks to movies and children's books.
What? No. You're either mistaken and thinking of velociraptors or you're just trying to poop on everyone else's fun. Either way, welcome to the magical world of no-really-dinosaurs-were-actually-that-awesome.
posted by phunniemee at 2:08 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
First of all, it's a puppet. The thing has spindly little man-legs sticking out the bottom of it. Second of all...
the t-rex's size in the video is more life-like as over 90 % of all t-rex who roamed the earth were around two feet tall. the public has been led to believe all t-rex was always that big, thanks to movies and children's books.
What? No. You're either mistaken and thinking of velociraptors or you're just trying to poop on everyone else's fun. Either way, welcome to the magical world of no-really-dinosaurs-were-actually-that-awesome.
posted by phunniemee at 2:08 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
first of all, the best way to let this robot walk among the kids is have every child walk up to the motionless t-rex and pet it. to let the kids know this robot will not harm them.
I was delighted when I thought this was a suggestion for how to terrorize the children more effectively, beginning with a stock-still t-rex puppet that they can all pet and ending with a OH GOD IT CAN MOVE stampede. Oh well.
posted by little cow make small moo at 2:19 PM on April 15, 2011 [10 favorites]
I was delighted when I thought this was a suggestion for how to terrorize the children more effectively, beginning with a stock-still t-rex puppet that they can all pet and ending with a OH GOD IT CAN MOVE stampede. Oh well.
posted by little cow make small moo at 2:19 PM on April 15, 2011 [10 favorites]
Bet there's at least one or two future paleontologists in that group of kids. These are the experiences of which lifetime fascinations are made.
posted by Kevin Street at 2:43 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by Kevin Street at 2:43 PM on April 15, 2011 [1 favorite]
I know it's not a dinosaur, but for life-size puppet fans, here's a TED lecture put on by the team that built the horse puppet for a stage production of The War Horse. One of the key requirements of the puppet is that a person has to be able to ride on it.
posted by sardonyx at 3:01 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by sardonyx at 3:01 PM on April 15, 2011 [2 favorites]
I'm very pleased that the puppet from the Los Angeles Natural History Museum actually has (proto/pseudo?)feathers. I'm still waiting on more mainstream dino-depictions to catch up with the facts in that regard.
posted by luftmensch at 3:53 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by luftmensch at 3:53 PM on April 15, 2011
I would wear this puppet 24/7 and only date women dressed as Yeti.
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:10 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by Joey Michaels at 4:10 PM on April 15, 2011
That's the most giggles I've had in a week.
posted by hugandpint at 4:15 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by hugandpint at 4:15 PM on April 15, 2011
That is the very definition of awesome. I love my dinosaurs...
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 5:01 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by Alexandra Kitty at 5:01 PM on April 15, 2011
Scareing kids is a wondeful and neccesary part of growing up strong. You want to traumatize kids, get divorced and play tug-'o-war with them
posted by Redhush at 5:11 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by Redhush at 5:11 PM on April 15, 2011
I have watched this now repeatedly throughout the day and it just doesn't get old. The puppeteer is really tremendous, too. I'd love to have one of these but I bet I'd just galumph around in it, instead of doing that sinewy head thrust thing that makes it seem so real.
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:22 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by CunningLinguist at 5:22 PM on April 15, 2011
This is lovely. My daughter saw a similar plant-eating dinosaur at the Australian Museum which was just as scary. They are really a lot louder than you would think, and she had nightmares for a few days. Still, that's all part of being a kid in Australia. You can't really be too timid living in a place like this.
posted by estuardo at 7:06 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by estuardo at 7:06 PM on April 15, 2011
If they tried that in Texas that ole T-Rex would die quickly in a hail of gunfire. Head over someones mantle by dinnertime for certain.
posted by jcworth at 8:10 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by jcworth at 8:10 PM on April 15, 2011
No blood no foul.
posted by From Bklyn at 11:30 PM on April 15, 2011
posted by From Bklyn at 11:30 PM on April 15, 2011
I a very similar dinosaur at an Australian Museum event in rural NSW a few weeks ago. It is really, really cool.
And its name is Winnie.
Yeah, you can see the puppeteers legs, but it's a freaking dinosaur, dammit. It gets +100 for the cool factor.
posted by cholly at 1:16 AM on April 16, 2011
And its name is Winnie.
Yeah, you can see the puppeteers legs, but it's a freaking dinosaur, dammit. It gets +100 for the cool factor.
posted by cholly at 1:16 AM on April 16, 2011
Awesome!!!! My sister is a first grade teacher who occasionally dresses up as Elmo to the delight of her students (and to my delight, when I see the red furry costume hanging in her closet next to little black cocktail dresses and such). She so needs one of these too!
posted by medeine at 8:37 AM on April 16, 2011
posted by medeine at 8:37 AM on April 16, 2011
elmo in a black cocktail dress? that's just wrong. but yay your sister! that's very cool.
posted by rmd1023 at 5:54 PM on April 16, 2011
posted by rmd1023 at 5:54 PM on April 16, 2011
I was expecting traumatized kids. So glad it wasn't.
When my nephew was around 5, he loooooved Barney. So "Barney" was hired to come to his birthday party. A pleasant young man arrived, donned the costume, and came in the house to greet the boy of the hour, who promptly screamed in terror, wet his pants, and hid behind his mother's legs. "Barney" stayed about 10 minutes and then was asked to leave.
Turns out Nephew thought dinosaurs were all about the size of a small dog, since that's how big Barney was on his TV. I can't imagine his reaction to something as life-like as this dinosaur.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:04 PM on April 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
When my nephew was around 5, he loooooved Barney. So "Barney" was hired to come to his birthday party. A pleasant young man arrived, donned the costume, and came in the house to greet the boy of the hour, who promptly screamed in terror, wet his pants, and hid behind his mother's legs. "Barney" stayed about 10 minutes and then was asked to leave.
Turns out Nephew thought dinosaurs were all about the size of a small dog, since that's how big Barney was on his TV. I can't imagine his reaction to something as life-like as this dinosaur.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 7:04 PM on April 16, 2011 [1 favorite]
Very cool! And very few of those children, if any, looked really scared to me-more the shrieking giggly scared than any real fear. My kids would live this.
posted by purenitrous at 10:23 PM on April 16, 2011
posted by purenitrous at 10:23 PM on April 16, 2011
Someone needs to show a japanese gameshow producer this costume!
posted by Iax at 12:51 PM on April 17, 2011
posted by Iax at 12:51 PM on April 17, 2011
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